Film News>> Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time

THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIMEbroadcast to cinemas worldwide by NATIONALTHEATRE LIVE – IN NZ CINEMAS 4 OCTOBER 2012

4 stars Sunday Times, The Times, Guardian, Time Out, Evening Standard, Telegraph, Independent, Independent on Sunday, Daily Mail, Daily Express

“Funny and extremely moving” – Daily Telegraph

“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a marvel” – Observer

“If ever there was a perfect theatrical marriage of performance and effect, this is it” – The Times

“Nothing short of a triumph” – Variety

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, based on the novel by Mark Haddon, adapted by Simon Stephens, will be screened in select cinemas around New Zealand for a limited season from 4 October to 18 October.

Directed by Marianne Elliott, the cast includes Niamh Cusack, Paul Ritter, Una Stubbs, Luke Treadaway and Nicola Walker.

Simon Stephens’ adaptation offers a richly theatrical exploration of the touching and bleakly humorous, award-winning novel by Mark Haddon.

Christopher (Luke Treadaway), fifteen years old, stands beside Mrs Shears’ dead dog. It has been speared with a garden fork, it is seven minutes after midnight and Christopher is under suspicion. He records each fact in a book he is writing to solve the mystery of who murdered Wellington. He has an extraordinary brain, exceptional at maths while ill-equipped to interpret everyday life.  He has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road, he detests being touched and he distrusts strangers. But his detective work, forbidden by his father, takes him on a frightening journey that upturns his world.

The cast also includes Matthew Barker, Sophie Duval, Rhiannon Harper-Rafferty,  Nick Sidi, and Howard Ward.  The designer is Bunny Christie, with lighting by Paule Constable, movement by Scott Graham & Steven Hoggett for Frantic Assembly, video by Finn Ross, music by Adrian Sutton, sound by Ian Dickinson and fights by Kate Waters.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Timeruns at 180 minutes, including a 20 minute interval.

NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE performances are filmed live in high definition and broadcast via satellite to over 500 cinemas around the world, live in the UK and Europe and time delayed in countries further afield.  There are over 160 venues in the UK alongside venues in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Mexico, India, Scandinavia and Europe.  The performances at the National are nominated in advance to allow cameras greater freedom in the auditorium.   

Film News>> Hot new trailer out for Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters

So here you go… hot off the press here’s the trailer for Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters starring Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton.

//www.youtube.com/get_player

Coming to New Zealand Cinemas In January 2013

The Premise>> 15 years after their traumatic gingerbread-house incident, siblings Hansel and Gretel have become a formidable team of bounty hunters who track and kill witches all over the world.

Salmon Fishing in The Yemen DVD Review

Releases: September 2012

Rating: M – Contains offensive language

Duration: 107 minutes 

Genre:  Drama Comedy

Starring: Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt and Amr Waked

Director: Lasse Hallstrom (Hachi: A Dog’s tale, Casanova, Dear John)

Reviewer: Jon E Clist 

The Premise>> A visionary sheik believes his passion for the peaceful pastime of salmon fishing can enrich the lives of his people, and he dreams of bringing the sport to the not so fish-friendly desert. Willing to spare no expense, he instructs his representative to turn the dream into reality, an extraordinary feat that will require the involvement of Britain’s leading fisheries expert who happens to think the project both absurd and unachievable. That is, until the Prime Minister’s overzealous press secretary latches on to it as a ‘good will’ story. Now, this unlikely team will put it all on the line and embark on an upstream journey of faith and fish to prove the impossible, possible.

The Review>> So following on from the release of The Five year Engagement at the movies and The Muppets on DVD, the Emily Blunt movie marathon May continues with Salmon Fishing in Yemen. Now I have noticed quite a few movie sites have this pitched as a drama, however I think it sits closer in the Romantic Comedy genre. Although there are moments of drama and even a little tension towards to the end, the film is more about two people finding each other despite their current situation and differences.

McGregor certainly shines as the uptight civil servant, while Blunt develops her mover and shaker character with general ease. They work well on screen together in a film that is not too taxing but is still filled with some lovely emotional moments and even some clever funny moments. The comedy in general comes from the somewhat OT OCD McGregor, who’s inability to connect with people towards the start of the film helps to build a little anticipation in the growing of the relationships around him.

The element that I really enjoyed in this film was the whole political maneuvering that goes on. The government is desperate for something that can fill the news and make them look popular, and of all the things they could go with… It ends up being salmon fishing. Of course the complexities of how that happens lead them on a political media rollercoaster of love and hate. Which of course leads to some brilliant funny moments mostly orchestrated by Kristin Scott Thomas’ Press Secretary character, who is always looking for a great photo opportunity.

The Verdict>> A lovely safe and very funny date night film. Of course for the ladies it doesn’t need to be a date. It could be a girls night out. Even though it features fishing, not sure it’s truly an appropriate blokes night out film.

Some extra bits to know about the film and to look out for>> Ewan McGregor had to learn the art of fly fishing for his role as Dr. Alfred Jones.

The salmon are delivered to the project in tanks slung under Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopters. US (military) helicopter manufacturers tend to name aircraft after American Native tribes, in this case the Chinook people of Pacific Northwest region of the United States. However, the Chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) is also a species of salmon.

The khanjar or jambilla (the curved daggers carried in the belts by many of the Yemeni in the movie) are the Omani style, typically in Yemen the sheath is much narrower and highly curved at the tip. Also, normally they are only worn at formal occasions with national dress – similar to sgian dubh in Scotland.

When rehearsing with an instrumental ensemble in the church, Mary Jones is playing the sackbut (a Baroque precursor to the trombone) and Dr Jones is playing a bass viol (a precursor to the ‘cello).

Win Tickets to Wunderkinder

Wunderkinder is coming to the big screen from the 6th of September, so Big Screen NZ are giving you the chance to WIN a double passes to the film.

All you need to do is answer this simple question… 

Name three of the actors from Wunderkinder? 

Email your answer with your name and contact details to  win@bigscreennz.com

Competition closes 11:59pm Friday 14th of September 2012, (you must be a resident of New Zealand, and judges decision in final.)

The Premise>> Hanna, Larissa and Abrascha , three child prodigies meet in 1941. Violinist Abrascha and pianist Larissa perform in large concert halls in Russia, sponsored by Stalin. Hanna, a German brewer’s daughter, is a talented violinist whose biggest dream is getting tutored togetehr with the Russian prodigies. Larissa and Abrascha are first not very fond of the idea, but when their teacher Irina Salmonova agrees to include Hanna in her lessons, a deep friendship between the three ensues. When the Germans attack Russia, their friendship is put to a test.

In Cinemas 6th September 2012

Rating M – Contains adult themes

Win Tickets to See Hysteria

Hysteria is coming to the big screen from the 6th of September, so  Big Screen NZ are giving you the chance to WIN a double passes to the film.

All you need to do is answer this simple question… 

What are two movies that Hugh Dancy has previously starred in? 

Email your answer with your name and contact details to  win@bigscreennz.com

Competition closes 11:59pm Friday 14th of September 2012, (you must be a resident of New Zealand, and judges decision in final.)

The Premise>> Based on true events in 1880 London, the handsome young Dr. Mortimer Granville (Hugh Dancy), a believer in modern medical theories, lands a position as the assistant to society doctor Robert Dalrymple. Dalrymple is a specialist in the female ailment “Hysteria” – a catch-all diagnosis that seems to be affecting half of England’s women! Their treatment involves a literal hands-on method, and demand becomes so great that Dalrymple and Mortimer cannot keep up with ‘curing’ women. To keep Mortimer working, Dalrymple promises him his business, and marriage to his beautiful, young daughter, (Felicity Jones). But when Mortimer falls for Dalrymple’s older and unconventional daughter Charlotte (Maggie Gyllenhaal), his future looks doubtful. In desperation, he invents a machine that will at least solve his medical challenges – the world’s first vibrator. In the delightful spirit of Calendar Girls, Hysteria takes a rather remarkable and daring true story and turns it into a gentle, warm-hearted comedy.

Click Here to Read the Review

In Cinemas 6th September 2012

Rating M – Contains sexual references