Just noticed how the opening credits pertain to the movies they're about to discuss. There's quite a cool montage from the movie, RED (2010), accompanying the Film Programme's rather iconic theme.
Billy Taylor and Dick Dallas' 1967 rendition of 'I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Feel Free'
RED Retired and Extremely Dangerous (2010)
Brief 'snippet-sentence' interviews with Bruce Willis (looking quite nonchalant, almost indifferent), Morgan Freeman, and Mary Louise Parker (looking quite aged from 'recent' work on Weeds). Bruce Willis singing the praises of Director Robert Shwentke.
Winkleman described it as 'WRONG' and alluded to a word game she used to play with her family when younger, where in this instance she would be struggling to find the right letters to form a *what-the-fuck?* sound-effect.
Danny says that he's always suspicious of movies where actors look like they're having too much fun, as in Soderbergh's Oceans Eleven, for which he wasn't a fan. Said he was looking forward to seeing the cast list in action, notably Ernest Borgnine, Brian Cox, and Richard Dreyfuss. But it felt like a Pro-Celebrity Golf Tournament. 'Drab' was the closing word of the review, in it's emphatic isolation.
Top 5 John Malkovich Movies by Antonia Quirke:
- Dangerous Liaisons (1988)
- Shadow of the Vampire (2000) - praised for playing a German Expressionist Director
- The Sheltering Sky (1990) - who she deems Malkovich to be at his most natural, like how she imagines him to be in real life: quirky and pretentious.
- In the Line of Fire (1993) - for how at 40 years old, he's not ashamed to show off a gut hanging out.
- The Killing Fields (1984) - who Quirke deemed Malkovich an instantly natural star in such an early film.
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole
Interviews with Director Zack Snyder, and the young actor Jim Sturgess (playing a character called Soren). Snyder says that the story is very Knights of the Round Table-esque. He approached it like he would a live-action movie, and the animators met him half way: this is how I would do it, this is how they (the animators) would do it - so they had a mesh of styles.
Also an interviews with Geoffrey Rush (playing a character called Ezylryb) and Sam Neil who looked a bit crazy, like he didn't have faith in the production as was doing promotional stuff routinely: 'Don't forget your gizzard when flying. It's the most important thing' quite seriously, or words to that effect.
Danny Leigh said that the movie for him, invited a disturbing trip down memory lane for when he was younger it reminded him of Watership Down and Star Wars. A 'Saga of Owls' if you will! Claiming that would probably be his way to sell it! Claudia said that it 'looked magnificent', and Danny said that he would trump that with it 'looking sumptuous'. The flying sequences in particular were praised by both, which bodes well for Snyder's work for Superman. The CGI flying is also fantastic, and works well in 3D, following the trend (How to Train Your Dragon). This is no real kid's flick though, with some heavy Owl-on-Owl violence!
The re-release of Back to the Future - Does it qualify for 'Classic' status?...
A talking-head sequence including:
Boyd Hilton
Anna Smith
Nev Pierce
David Gritten
Huey Lewis
Xan Brooks
Phillip French
Robbie Collin
Bob Gale said that the script was rejected so many times. That Disney weren't too impressed with the idea of a teenage kid alone in a car with his Mum!... Phillip French said that it's a movie with serious issues and tragic undertones. Interesting fact: Eric Stoltz was taken off the shoot six weeks into filming (to be replaced by Michael J Fox) because it wasn't working!
Hailed as a Classic covering major themes, the Frank Capra's 'It's A Wonderful Life' for a different generation.
Danny Leigh loves Crispin Glover, and think the movie's all about him! Says he gets the best line: 'You are my Density!' Hard to disagree. Another interesting fact: apparently the studios wanted him for the sequel, but he refused to do it. So they used a likeness of him, for which he sued, against Steven Spielberg, and was successful! Though it didn't do him favours for his career.
Africa United (2010)
About African kids travelling across 8 countries to get to the World Cup in South Africa. A road movie, by a first-time director. An interview with her. Said she didn't adhere to the first rules of first time Directors: don't work with kids, don't work with animals, watch your budget! She did the complete opposite. Also an interview with the kids. They looked all over for the right cast native to the story, and one of them was found from a newspaper article a year back in the UK.
Claudia says it's sold as a kid's film about football. Danny says that although the nature of the production might have been epic, that's as far as the comparison goes to Slumdog Millionaire. That latter film was a large-scale emotional adventure, compared to this rather small-scale quest. It's an ambitious movie to try and bring serious issues (the HIV epidemic, child soldiers with access to guns) to 12-13 year old kids. Although there's a lot to like, Danny says he has his reservations.
Mary and Max (2009)
Looks fucking crazy! Claymation. Immediately reminds you of Wallace and Gromit, but it's far from it. A dark story with a certain poignancy. A very human story. Danny compares it to Harold and Maude (1971). Excellent voice-casting with Eric Bana, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman whose presence is felt (unlike Despicable Me's voice cast who you hardly notice).
Carlos
About a terrorist... Comes in two formats: 330min version, and the 165 min version. Claudia and Danny both recommend the longer format to see. Originated as a French TV Series. The Director has European arthouse sensibility, but incorporates Hollywood-esque action sequences that easily best RED for a weekend movie.
Interview with Guillermo del Toro
Guilty Pleasures?
The Car (1977) with James Brolin. Has a still of it, and is having it hand-made in steel for everyday use at home in Los Angeles.
What makes you cry?
City Lights (1931) with Charlie Chaplin, especially the ending when she finally realises who he is.
I have to admit...
Wasn't a huge fan of Todd Browning's Dracula. He loves Browning, but never loved Lugosi. He liked him in more wild parts, playing against Karloff, but not on his own.
Wish you had Directed?
Eyes without a Face
Beauty and the Beast (1946) Jean Cocteau
Touch of Evil - Orson Welles
Seven Chances (1925)
Greed (1924) Erich von Stroheim
Most influential filmmaker?
Is sadly not working enough.
Terry Gillingham.
In Brazil (1985) his aesthetic influenced european Directors.
On the night that this particular episode was airing, it was the premiere of 'The Great White Silence' - Captain Scott's tragic polar expedition, which the BFI are to release in May 2011 on DVD. Footage of this closed the episode.
Personal thoughts:
First impressions, they're reacting too heavily to Twitter users, it seems!... Antonia Quirke's Top 5 is supposed to be an antidote to last week's fun-fest by an enthusiast, which by contrast, I found to be quite dull, serious, and self-absorbed. That it's filmed live is also telling. Feels very pressurised and rushed. Would have wanted it to be more relaxed and edited more neatly. Billed as 'with Claudia Winkleman', what about Danny Leigh! Methinks he's got a 'Get out of Jail Free' clause in his contract, in case the programme and it's format go tit's up. Not as engaging as the first episode, but would definitely still continue to watch regardless.
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