At the Movies

4 years ago in Culture Insight by Paul Anderson

Paul Anderson is an Arts broadcaster, radio presenter, producer and journalist. He’s known for work on BBC 6 Music, Xfm, Capital as well as hosting his own one-hour film show ‘At The Movies’ on Smooth Radio.Paul is also a member of the London Film Critic’s Circle.Follow him on Twitter @afilmguy.

RADIOACTIVE: 12a

A film about Marie Curie feels somewhat overdue given how important to our modern life she is. For the most part, Radioactive is a conventional biopic. The film covers about forty years from Marie’s early days struggling to get noticed as a scientist and being thrown out of her lab space by boring boffins in white coats at the Sorbonne, to being married to Pierre Curie played by Sam Riley. Then we get the years in the sun when she is rightly recognised as one of the leading scientists of her age and the inevitable decline.

The discovery of radium is ridiculously exciting, like playing River Deep Mountain High for the first time, and the possibilities are endless. However this is radiation and, you know, that’s dangerous so by the time we get to see Marie’s daughter Irene played by Anya Taylor Joy, who is just everywhere just now, excited to want to try X-Rays on soldiers from the first world war we all know that this stuff is a killer.

There is a lovely cutting in of 20th century moments which adds to the documentary feel to the film; and we get both sides of the sword with the early treatment of tumours to the bombing of Hiroshima and the Chernobyl disaster.

Rosamund Pike – as you might expect – brings a fiercely intelligent performance of a fiercely intelligent woman. There is a certain stiffness throughout until the moment her husband Pierre dies, and her passion is revealed. She is a passionate woman for her science and her life and to an extent lived a personal life without shame when more was expected of women in the era. However, thankfully, by the end of her life Marie’s achievements overshadow whatever scandal society decided she was embroiled in. A bit long but a fascinating insight and history lesson on one of the most important figures, let alone women, of the modern age.

MY SPY: 12a

JJ played by Dave Bautista, was a member of the Special Forces and he was pretty good at it. Unfortunately, when it comes to being a spy for the CIA he’s rubbish. After his last disaster of a mission, he is teamed up with a super smart teccy in Bobbi played by Kristen Schaal to embark on a surveillance job.

The niece of the guy they are watching is Sophie played by Chloe Coleman a nine-year-old obsessed with French who turns out she could be useful to the spies after all.

JJ is desperate not to be humiliated again so he agrees to be a kind of babysitter to Sophie, taking her ice-skating and going to parents and special friends days at school. Having honed his comedic skills in the Guardians of the Galaxy films Bautista shows his physical and verbal comic moves here.

The action isn’t sophisticated, and the soundtrack and dance moves may make you squirm but there is still plenty to make you chuckle, especially the interaction between Bautista and Schaal.

Coleman is a real find and for one so young a charismatic lead who we should keep an eye on. It’s a super thin plot with some uneven performances but in a world of chaos a decent distraction at just over an hour and a half.

Download and subscribe to the Gibraltar Insight: At The Movies – available on both Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and smart speakers.

At the Movies

4 years ago in Features by Paul Anderson

Paul Anderson is an Arts broadcaster, radio presenter, producer and journalist. He’s known for work on BBC 6 Music, Xfm, Capital as well as hosting his own one-hour film show ‘At The Movies’ on Smooth Radio.Paul is also a member of the London Film Critic’s Circle. Follow him on Twitter @afilmguy.

EMMA: U

Possibly one of Jane Austen’s least likeable characters, Emma Woodhouse, when we meet her, is a sweet natured, well-heeled young woman living with her dad (Bill Nighy). Played by Anya Taylor-Joy (who is better known for creepy roles in Witch and Split), Emma, after one successful attempt, decides a career in matchmaking is the right one for her. She starts messing in the lives of her friends and neighbours, including a vicar Mr Elton who eventually gets the wrong end of the stick, gets drunk and proposes to her. Then there is the busy body and talkative Miss Bates (a wonderful Miranda Hart), to whom she is simply rude and nasty. As with all Austen there is a twist and there is one liaison that leaves Emma reeling; that’s not a spoiler the book was published over 200 years ago; and then the foppish George Knightly appears and although dismissive of her at first, he warms as the film progresses. The score is typically sweeping from Isobel Waller-Bridge and if you are a fan of Austen, Downton, Sunday night TV period pieces or any rom com you will love this.

MILITARY WIVES: 12a

Life in the services, with all its uncertainty and anger is difficult enough for the men and women serving, so for their partners and families there must be many obstacles to overcome, not least of which is boredom. Sharon Horgan plays Lisa a brash and funny grab-life-by-the-lapels mum of teenagers who is asked to organise events for the wives and partners. Kristin Scott Thomas plays Kate and is the polar opposite of Lisa. Aloof, organised, controlled and stiff. Lisa decides the best way to ease the boredom and tension for the wives is to get together with booze and rubbish food. Kate does not approve and does her best to derail everything Lisa tries to organise. Based on a true story the Director Peter Cattaneo has drawn authentic characters – as he did in 1997’s The Full Monty – and takes us through their journey of how to alleviate the fear while waiting for the doorbell or the phone call that may lead to news of a loved one lost. Lisa and Kate gradually realise each other’s strengths and weaknesses and work together on the idea of a choir. Cue hilarious terrible singing and heart-warming solos. This really happened, and they bagged themselves a UK number one with it. While it will resonate to service personnel, there are enough uplifting, funny and moving moments to keep all audiences entertained and not a little moist eyed.

Download and subscribe to the Gibraltar Insight: At The Movies – available on both Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and smart speakers.

New Year, New You? Same old love of Movies, I hope.

4 years ago in Features by Paul Anderson

Paul Anderson is an Arts broadcaster, radio presenter, producer and journalist. He’s known for work on BBC 6 Music, Xfm, Capital as well as hosting his own one-hour film show ‘At The Movies’ on Smooth Radio. Paul is also a member of the London Film Critic’s Circle. Follow him on Twitter @afilmguy.

1917: 15

If you’ve watched any of the Bond movies directed by Sam Mendes, then you’ll know the opening scenes which can last nearly ten minutes before the opening credits, are things of beauty and wonder. The man has an eye. So, don’t be surprised when dipping your toe into this hard-hitting World War One drama if you find yourself completely immersed. Partly based on Mendes own grandfather’s experience, it is a fictional account of two young soldiers Blake played by Dean-Charles Chapman and Schofield by George MacKay who are asked by their commanding officer Colin Firth to deliver a message to Benedict Cumberbatch a colonel about to attack the Hindenburg Line. The message is to abort the attack as thousands of British troops are likely to be slaughtered; including Blake’s older brother. So, that’s the story but it’s the look that will take you breath away the cinematographer is Roger Deakins who has worked with Mendes four times and is known for his brilliance in filming continuously in one shot. The effects are invisible, and it is a technical masterpiece but 1917 has heart and soul and two young brave and earnest lead actors.

It is also not a typical war movie, more of an ode to the fallen and the score by Mendes regular collaborator Thomas Newman emphasises the surreal nature of parts of the film and the futility of war. And don’t worry no rats were injured during the making of the film.

THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD: PG

Stuffed full of stars this is the tale of Copperfield’s life as told by him. Armando Iannucci has written with his long-time collaborator Simon Blackwell, a beautiful tale of being down and falling on hard times only to rise again several times over. Dev Patel plays Copperfield, who gets called various names throughout until he eventually has the courage to own up to his own. All your favourite characters are here including Peter Capaldi as McCawber, Ben Wishaw as Uriah Heap and Tilda Swinton is sublime as Betsy Trotwood; and a film stealing turn from Hugh Laurie as her companion Mr Dick. The language and dialogue are rich and wonderful as you’d expect from both Charles Dickens and Armando Iannucci. The characters are fully rounded an in turns likeable and despicable. There is cruelty and class snobbery and at the heart of the film a generous spirit and good soul depicted by Dev Patel. Some might say it’s a bold move to have Dev Patel in the lead role and also spotlight the diversity of the cast. It’s just brilliant casting all round, right people in the right characters. Iannucci has written brilliantly for women here too and in my view has improved on the Dickens original.

Don’t expect arch satire or establishment bashing, well not in addition to what Dickens may have implied, this is Iannucci in full on good spirt, bringing joy to the soul.

Going to the movies

4 years ago in Features by Paul Anderson

A new year is here and as January bites these big screen offerings
are the pick of the midwinter bunch.

Paul Anderson is an Arts broadcaster, radio presenter, producer and journalist. He’s known for work on BBC 6 Music, Xfm, Capital as well as hosting his own one-hour film show ‘At The Movies’ on Smooth Radio. Paul is also a member of the London Film Critic’s Circle. Follow him on Twitter @afilmguy

1917: 15

Sam Mendes is back in cinemas and has directed this tale of two British soldiers at the height of the First World War. The boys (George Mackay and Dean-Charles Chapman) are given orders to complete a ridiculous mission which involves crossing enemy lines. Impossible and suicidal. A thrilling race against time ensues, to deliver a message that will halt a deadly attack on hundreds of soldiers including one of the boys’ own brother. A strong cast completes the line up including Benedict Cumberbatch, Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, and Colin Firth.

THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD: PG

AAce satirist and comedy genius Armando Iannucci is back with his rich take on the life of one of Charles Dickens’ best loved characters. Iannucci is not only a fan of Dickens but believes he is owed a debt of gratitude for the comedy he has gifted the world. Dev Patel plays David a good hearted and kind young man desperate to be a writer and surrounded by misery, wickedness and kindness in equal measure. The overall tone is upbeat without the acerbic and caustic nature of much of the director’s work. There is poverty and wealth and a lot of fun with Iannucci’s regular screenwriting partner Simon Blackwell giving Peter Capaldi’s Mr Micawber some delicious material. For example, when asked if he’s homeless, Mr. Micawber replies, “We do primarily exist alfresco,” cheerily adding, “Every meal is a picnic! Patel and Capaldi are alongside a fine cast including Ben Wishaw, Paul Whitehouse, Tilda Swinton and Hugh Laurie.

Also look out for…

DARK WATERS : PG

Inspired by the true story of a tenacious attorney played by Mark Ruffalo who uncovers a shocking dark secret that connects a growing number of unexplained deaths due to one of the world’s largest corporations. In the process, he risks everything; his future, his family, and his own life in order to expose the truth. As with the Oscar winning Spotlight this is the kind of film that is not often made and is likely to stay with you a while. The cast also includes Anna Hathaway, Tim Robbins, and Bill Pullman. Todd Haynes directs.

BOMBSHELL: 15

Fox News is just as famous for the occupant of the White House talking about it on social media a lot as it is for its news output. It found itself making the news recently thanks to the behaviour if its CEO Roger Ailes. Fox is one of the most powerful and controversial of media empires and the man who created it is the centre of a scandal thanks to the courageous women who brought him down with their exposure of his sexual harassment. Margo Robbie, Nicole Kidman Charlize Theron and John Lithgow all star in a film for our times, directed by Jay Roach

Download and subscribe to the Gibraltar Insight: At The Movies – available on both Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and smart speakers.

Movies

4 years ago in Culture Insight by Paul Anderson

Paul Anderson is an Arts broadcaster, radio presenter, producer and journalist. He’s known for work on BBC 6 Music, Xfm, Capital as well as hosting his own one-hour film show ‘At The Movies’ on Smooth Radio. Paul is also a member of the London Film Critic’s Circle. Follow him on Twitter @afilmguy.

Download and subscribe to the Gibraltar Insight: At The Movies – available on both Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and smart speakers.

JOKER : 15

As with Hamlet in the theatre, the role of The Joker on screen is fast becoming the defining role for male actors. It is all Heath Ledger’s fault for setting the bar so high and even with a gargantuan talent and presence such as Joaquin Phoenix that bar remains just out of reach. Todd Phillips is the director and gave us The Hangover, if you’re expecting laughs there’s nothing to be seen here. Arthur Fleck is just out of hospital clutching a veritable jamboree bag of medication. He has the Tourettic affliction of involuntary unstoppable laughter. Arthur works as a clown by day and as the worst stand up you’ve ever seen or heard at night. He has dreams of dating Sophie who lives in his block and cares for his sick mother. One day he gets beaten up and acquires a gun. He’s fired by the clown boss for taking the gun into a children’s ward at a hospital. Arthur becomes more unhinged and reliant on the Joker persona eventually killing some boys on a train. He is lured into the Gotham underworld and kills repeatedly. Phoenix is brilliant at playing unhinged and his ability as a physical actor is underrated. However, without Batman to rail against, be the nemesis of and seek to destroy, Joker lacks bite. It is an adequate study of the psychopathic tendencies of a truly disturbed character and the seductive nature of the underworld in a city such as Gotham, but it is no superhero movie. Phoenix is genuinely jaw-droppingly brilliant at times and Robert De Niro superb as chat show guy Murray Franklin. But yes, Heath Ledger is looking over your shoulder.

JUDY : 12A

Renée Zellweger tends to do extraordinary in most of her performances and in her role as icon Judy Garland she does it again. The movie centres mainly on Garland’s attempted comeback at ‘The Talk of the Town’ nightclub in London. In so doing it relies on flashbacks to establish her childhood struggles during the filming of The Wizard Of Oz; which included being fed a cocktail of pills to help her sleep and keep her from gaining weight (Ahh, the glory days of the studio system eh?) So, begins a journey of bad habits and child custody battles, temporary homelessness and demeaning work for money way below her worth. Hence the offer snapped up to appear in London, complete with a minder (Jesse Buckley) to try and keep her in order. A barnstorming performance from Zellweger is Oscar worthy, and if anything, it feels as if that was the reason for the whole thing. Garland’s life is well documented, the drugs and booze battles alongside the incredible talent; hats off to Zellweger for studying for a year with a vocal coach although she could already sing. She’s funny, oozes personality and just about captures the essence of Garland. Judy has an excellent supporting cast with Rufus Sewell as ex-husband Sid Luft. Directed by top notch theatre guy Rupert Goold, the movie is all about Zellweger and worth the admission fee alone for that joyous performance. C’mon Get Happy!

Movies

5 years ago in Culture Insight/Features by Paul Anderson

Paul Anderson is an Arts broadcaster, radio presenter, producer and journalist. He’s known for work on BBC 6 Music, Xfm, Capital as well as hosting his own one-hour film show ‘At The Movies’ on Smooth Radio. Paul is also a member of the London Film Critic’s Circle. Follow him on Twitter @afilmguy.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD: 18

It’s 1969 and the air is full of pot, hippies, and great music. This is a love letter to both Hollywood and Los Angeles and if it is Tarantino’s last film, his ninth, then it’s a beauty to go out with.

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood is everything you want from a Tarantino film if you are a fan of his film making. Leonardo di Caprio plays a veteran movie star who believes his career is over and he’s a has been washed up no hoper. His stuntman is Brad Pitt who is now his PA but he is still in his corner cheering him on. The cast is huge and brilliant. Margot Robbie plays Sharon Tate, Al Pacino as a wonderfully greasy Hollywood agent. It’s almost 3 hours long so take a cushion and don’t drink too much but there are enough surprises to keep you entertained. Plus, some lovely scenes with a pit bull called Brandy and Brad Pitt; and Damien Lewis as Steve McQueen.

As with all the best Tarantino movies there are multiple storylines, so the faded western star Di Caprio is just one. The Sharon Tate/Roman Polanski story and the emergence of Charles Manson and the Family – Lena Dunham pops up as a member and that maybe is one of the less believable aspects. A bit like Pulp Fiction we bounce around the one-off stories, but it isn’t as good as that movie. It’s a unique approach and will keep you on your toes but it is thrilling.

A killer soundtrack from the era including Neil Diamond, The Stones, Paul Revere and The Ravers, Mamas & The Papas. Lots of swearing and sexual references from what may seem a Jurassic age; and some drug references so not family viewing. One criticism of Tarantino of late, is his reliance on cartoon violence and bloodbaths and there are plenty here. He is brilliant with dialogue though and the closest cinema has to Elmore Leonard. There is a darkness in the background which is not brought to the front and you could say the Manson storyline is not properly explored and developed.

It is unapologetically nostalgic and, in its way, beautiful to look at with some sumptuous overhead crane shots. The chemistry between Pitt and Di Caprio is brilliant and Robbie is superb with little to do. It’s muscular and masculine and if you like that stuff, you’ll love it.

BLINDED BY THE LIGHT: 12A

More nostalgia, this time from the 80s, and not in Hollywood but Luton. Javed lives with his parents and two sisters and is bored out of his brains. He is trapped between his father’s expectations of him as a good Muslim and his own friends around him at school who are listening to pop music and, more importantly, dating girls. When he gets to college, he befriends a Sikh called Roops who is a fanatical Bruce Springsteen fan; suddenly Javed here’s Bruce talking to him in his lyrics.

The director is Gurinder Chadha from Bend It Like Beckham, based on the memoir of journalist and author Sarfraz Mansoor, called Greetings From Bury Park (as opposed to Asbury N.J).

It was a time of high tension with far-right marches and graffiti strewn all over the houses of Pakistani families, some being spat on and punched in the street. Some of this nostalgia is uncomfortable viewing but forms the authentic background to Javed’s desire to escape. The film is, in part, a musical with street scenes akin to west side story and even Rob Brydon pops up as Javed’s best friend’s dad who runs a market stall and is also a huge Bruce fan, and joins in the singing.

Javed is desperate to be a writer and his dad thinks he is doing economics at college, but his creative writing tutor, played by Hayley Atwell, encourages him to continue and use his voice through his writing. Blinded By The Light is a wonderfully uplifting film that could easily be the feel-good movie of the summer. It helps if you’re a Springsteen fan, but there are plenty of 80s pop to keep your toes tapping. All performances are universally good with Viveik Kalra a standout as Javed. A lovely, funny, clever uplifting movie perfect for summer.

Check listings at l eisurecinemas.com

Movies

5 years ago in Culture Insight/Features by Paul Anderson

Paul Anderson is an Arts broadcaster, radio presenter, producer and journalist. He’s known for work on BBC 6 Music, Xfm, Capital as well as hosting his own one-hour film show ‘At The Movies’ on Smooth Radio. Paul is also a member of the London Film Critic’s Circle. Follow him on Twitter @afilmguy.

MEN IN BLACK
INTERNATIONAL: 12A

Seven years after MIB 3 we have Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson who are the secret agents protecting us from alien invasion. The plot loosely resembles the first film in 1997, with Thompson playing the raw recruit to Hemsworth’s troubled veteran. Controlling them are Liam Neeson and Emma Thompson, as the heads of MIB offices in London and New York. This version has had a ton of money thrown at it and amazing digital special effects that would have been too fantastical in 1997. But, for all this it still fails to tell us an engaging, or even particularly coherent, story. The leads are familiar from Thor Ragnarok and Hemsworth is good at the slapstick and strong-arm comedy, however it’s overlong and mostly unfunny.

X MEN: DARK PHOENIX: 12a

Here we go again with the flashback generations. The 19-year-old, 12 film franchise comes to a substandard halt with this saga of Jean Grey (Sophie Turner). Teenage Jean’s mutant gifts inadvertently caused the fatal car crash that killed her mother, landing her in the care of wheelchair-bound Professor Charles Xavier (James McAvoy), who recognizes the traumatized orphan’s telepathic/telekinetic skills. Enter a shape-shifting alien entity named Vuk (Jessica Chastain) who begins twisting Jean’s mind by asking, ‘Are you a scared little girl who answers to the man in the chair, or are you the most powerful being on the planet?’ So, then we get the whole, ‘You’re stronger than you know. You’re special’ malarkey which inevitably leads to disaster, causing grumpy Magneto (Michael Fassbender) to resurface in his remote, rural hut. There are Fleeting visits from Hank/Beast (Nicholas Hoult), Nightcrawler (Kobi Smit-McPhee), Quicksilver (Evan Peters) and Storm (Alexandra Shipp) and a prolonged appearance from empowered Raven/Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) notes that the X-Men should become the X-Women because “The women are always saving the men around here.”

ROCKETMAN: 15

The story of how Reg Dwight became Elton John. In a recent interview about the film’s rating Eton said I haven’t led a PG 13 life and the best part about the film and certainly the thing that makes it superior to Bohemian Rhapsody the Freddie Mercury biopic, is that it doesn’t hold back. The early stuff is emphasized, mixing genius Reginald Dwight’s stunted suburban childhood with his arrival as a nimble songwriter, upon meeting lyricist Bernie Taupin, played by Billy Elliot’s Jamie Bell. We also meet a remote, homophobic father (Stephen Mackintosh), a self-absorbed mother (Bryce Dallas Howard) and a protective granny (Gemma Jones). These figures haunt Reg, an energetic and vocally talented Taron Egerton. There’s a neat conceit of a choreography of jumbling songs into multiple time frames.

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

5 years ago in Community Insight by Paul Anderson

A double-bill of fundraisers at Ocean Village helped local causes in terms of raising both funds and profile.

On 8th June, a Toy Story event took place in aid of Childline Gibraltar, which ended up raising in excess of £400.

Many children attended the event dressed as their favourite Toy Story characters and lucky winners Luca, Evie & Noah (pictured) won tickets to the Toy Story 4 premiere at Leisure Cinemas.

Ocean Village Fundraisers
Turbo-charge Local Causes

Annie Green, Chairperson for Childline Gibraltar commented, “We are very grateful to Ocean Village for organising this wonderful event. Fundraising initiatives like this allow us to offer our service and keep going on our mission to end all forms of cruelty to children in Gibraltar. Lots of children, lots of treasure hunting fun, games and dancing with Woody, Buzz and Jessie, all in aid of Childline Gibraltar. Childline volunteers and the Childline bear were on hand to get the proceedings off to a good start, and we were delighted to see so many children joining the fun. What a lovely time we had with the Toy Story gang!”

Later in June, the mystique and intrigue of the untamed jungle arrived at Ocean Village as Go Wild For Fashion turned up the heat for Alameda Wildlife Park. It takes care of exotic animals confiscated by HM Customs, plus unwanted pets – giving them a much-needed home – and also works to raise awareness and sustainability for important endangered species by taking part in captive breeding programmes which helps support species in the wild.

Over £1,600 was raised during the evening for the Alameda Wildlife Park, with funds earmarked for the Alameda Overground Project, a structure of tunnels and tree-top walkways which will enrich the lives of a specific set of animals at the park (especially lemurs, cotton-top tamarins, common marmosets and long-tailed macaques) and create a much more exciting and immersive visitor experience.

Emilia Hazell-Smith, Marketing and Social Media executive for Ocean Village said: “Holding these kinds of events at Ocean Village allows us to give back to the local community and raise money for important local causes, while providing a fun day out for families.”

Paul Anderson

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ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD: 18

BLINDED BY THE LIGHT: 12A

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Ocean Village Fundraisers Turbo-charge Local Causes

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Ocean Village Fundraisers
Turbo-charge Local Causes