Danny Elfman Royal Albert Hall Concert Review
The Event:
Composer Danny Elfman and the BBC Concert Orchestra performed a selection of music from the films of Tim Burton, from Edward Scissorhands to Alice In Wonderland, showcasing a comprehensive collection of kooky musical magic in the lavish surroundings of the Royal Albert Hall.
The Good:
There are few creative collaborations that have yielded such marvellous and unique results as the union between Director Tim Burton and Composer Danny Elfman. It’s simply impossible to understate how much of a debt Burton’s work owes to the haunting, beautiful and anarchic soundtracks Danny Elfman has given them.
Burton is often praised for his wondrous dark visuals, but they would be utterly robbed of magic and personality without Elfman’s music. Elfman’s distinctive sounds gave Big Fish it’s whimsy, Batman its heroism and Pee-Wee his hysterical energy. It’s a rare privilege to hear them all performed by a premium quality orchestra under the expert conduction of John Mauceri.
It’s especially fascinating to see Elfman’s trademark sounds created live, with crashing drums and trumpets mingling with the haunting harmonies of the Maida Vale Singers. An array of strange instruments and frantic orchestral work matches perfectly with a giant screen showing memorable artwork and clips from Burton’s accompanying films.
Fans were also treated to a surprise performance by one of Tim Burton’s other loves/muses. Helena Bonham Carter took to the stage armed with huge hair and gothic charm to croon her way through Sally’s Song. What she lacks in vocal power she easily makes up for in sheer stage presence.
The undisputed highlight of the night is when Elfman himself took to the stage to perform a medley of songs from cult classic The Nightmare Before Christmas. His theatrical performance and jerky dancing compliments a stellar vocal performance as Jack The Pumpkin King. Elfman’s obvious glee at getting to personally bring his beloved songs to one of the most famous stages in the world is infectious, spreading quickly from the front row to the farthest comers of the theatre. Throughout the hall endless rows of spectators sat happily captivating by Elfman’s eerie melodies.
The Bad:
In truth the only slight disappointment on an otherwise rapturous night of musical celebration is that the performance is limited to Elfman’s endless collaborations with Tim Burton. Elfman is responsible for so many iconic scores, from Spider-Man to The Simpson that in an ideal world the programme might have sacrificed less adored works like Planet of The Apes in favour of a little more variety and those crowd-pleasing favourites.
The Ugly Truth:
Danny Elfman proudly proclaimed the night to the best of his entire life. Many of the ecstatic audience seemed to share that sentiment, honouring his eccentric genius with frequent bouts of thunderous applause and eager standing ovations. Seeing Burton and Elfman stand hand in hand at the final curtain call is the perfect way to draw a close to over two hours of musical magnificence.
Programme Set List:
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure
Beetlejuice
Sleepy Hollow
Mars Attacks!
Big Fish
Batman/Batman Returns
Interval
Planet of The Apes
Corpse Bride
Dark Shadows
Frankenweenie
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Edward Scissorhands
Alice In Wonderland
Stars Attending London Film Festival 2013
The 57th BFI London Film Festival has announced further stars and directors joining the line up for this year’s Festival. Talent gracing the red carpet will include Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin, Jason Reitman, Tom Hiddleston, Jesse Eisenberg, John Curran, Dane DeHaan, Alex Gibney, Greg Wise, Robin Wright, Ari Folman, Anna Kendrick, Emily Mortimer, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Charlie Cox, Jodie Whittaker, Christian Cooke, Annabelle Wallis, Tahar Rahim, David Thewlis and Terry Gilliam. Colin Farrell and Ruth Wilson join the stellar line up for the Closing Night film, the World Premiere of SAVING MR. BANKS.
They join previously announced Festival guests Paul Greengrass, Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Barry Ackroyd, John Lee Hancock, Emma Thompson, Alison Owen, Stephen Frears, Judi Dench, Steve Coogan, Steve McQueen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Alfonso Cuarón, David Heyman, Sandra Bullock, Joel & Ethan Coen, Carey Mulligan, Oscar Isaac, Ralph Fiennes, Abdellatif Kechiche, Léa Seydoux, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Alain Guiraudie, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Alexander Payne, Lukas Moodysson, Glenda Jackson, Peter Brook and Daniel Radcliffe.
The 57th BFI London Film Festival will welcome over 500 guests for the 12 day event; including over 150 directors and over 110 actors attending for the 235 feature films.
Filmmakers supporting their work in Official Competition for Best Film include: Catherine Breillat and Isabelle Huppertwith ABUSE OF WEAKNESS; Richard Ayoade, Yasmin Paige, Craig Roberts, Noah Taylor with THE DOUBLE; Pawel Pawlikowskiwith IDA; Hirokazu Kore-eda with LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON; Ritesh Batra with THE LUNCHBOX; Jahmil X.T. Qubeka, Mothusi Magano, Petronella Tshuma with OF GOOD REPORT; Ahmad Abdalla, Asser Yassin with RAGS AND TATTERS; Clio Barnard, Conner Chapman and Shaun Thomas (both Shaun and Conner are also Best British Newcomer nominees) with THE SELFISH GIANT; Peter Landesman with PARKLAND; David Mackenzie and Jonathan Asser (another Best British Newcomer nominee) with STARRED UP; John Curran with TRACKS and Jonathan Glazer with UNDER THE SKIN.
The directors of some of the year’s major international festival hits present their features in UK and European premieres: Director Steven Knight brings LOCKE, his Venice and Toronto sensation; Golden Bear winner Călin Peter Netzer attends with CHILD’S POSE; Silver Bear winner Danis Tanović attends with AN EPISODE IN THE LIFE OF AN IRON PICKER, and Sebastián Lelio joins the Festival to present GLORIA, a Berlin favourite. Un Certain Regard Best Director Alain Guiraudie is joined by his STRANGER BY THE LAKE cast Christophe Paou, Patrick d’Assumçao. Dan Krauss presents THE KILL TEAM which won Best documentary at Tribeca, and Andrew Worsdale brings DURBAN POISON which won Best South African film at Durban IFF. Brie Larson who won Best Actress at Locarno for SHORT TERM 12 will also attend with director Destin Cretton. Morgan Neville will present his Sundance hit TWENTY FEET FROM STARDOM. San Sebastian’s Golden Shell winner Mariana Rondón presents BAD HAIR.
Directors supporting their work in First Feature Competition for the Sutherland Award include: Chika Anadu with B FOR BOY; Daniel Patrick Carbone with HIDE YOUR SMILING FACES; Anthony Chen with ILO ILO; John Krokidas with KILL YOUR DARLINGS; Alphan Eşeli with THE LONG WAY HOME; Michalis Konstantatos with LUTON; Fabio Grassadonia and Antonio Piazza with SALVO; Rob Brown (also Best British Newcomer nominee) with SIXTEEN; Vivian Qu with TRAP STREET; Fernando Franco with WOUNDED and Tom Shoval with YOUTH.
More debut features showcase the rich array of innovative new film talent across the programme and include Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s DON JON (Laugh Gala); Jill Soloway’s AFTERNOON DELIGHT; Adam Wimpenny’s BLACKWOOD; Destiny Ekaragha’s (Best British Newcomer nominee) GONE TOO FAR!; Biyi Bandele’s HALF OF A YELLOW SUN, Anthony Wilcox’s HELLO CARTER; Valeria Golino’s HONEY; Chiemi Karasawa’s ELAINE STRITCH: SHOOT ME; Frank Pavich’s JODOROWSKY’S DUNE; Gracie Otto’s THE LAST IMPRESARIO; Justin Hardy’s LOVE ME TILL MONDAY; Tom Berninger’s MISTAKEN FOR STRANGERS; Sini Anderson’s THE PUNK SINGER, and João Pedro Moreira’s OFF THE BEATEN TRACK.
Directors supporting their work in Documentary Competition for the Grierson Award include: Jessica Oreck withAATSINKI: THE STORY OF ARCTIC COWBOYS; Alex Gibney with THE ARMSTRONG LIE; Frederick Wiseman with AT BERKELEY;Zachary Heinzerling with CUTIE AND THE BOXER; Mark Cousins with HERE BE DRAGONS; Nicolas Philibert with LA MAISON DE LA RADIO; Greg Barker with MANHUNT; Rithy Panh with THE MISSING PICTURE; Paul-Julien Robert with MY FATHERS, MY MOTHER AND ME, Vitaly Mansky with PIPELINE; Matt Wolf with TEENAGE, and Kitty Green with UKRAINE IS NOT A BROTHEL.
Real lives provide cinematic inspiration this year. Festival guests attending to support films inspired by their own stories include: Philomena Lee and Martin Sixsmith join their on-screen counterparts for PHILOMENA; the subject of THE LAST IMPRESARIO, Michael White will attend the Festival; Freda Kelly joins director Ryan White for GOOD OL’ FREDA about her time with The Beatles, while former President of Poland and Nobel Peace Prize winner Lech Wałęsa attends the LFF to present WAŁĘSA. MAN OF HOPE.
Many filmmakers return to the Festival to present new work: Joanna Hogg, who won the FIPRESCI Prize for Unrelated during the LFF in 2007 screens EXHIBITION; Jordi Cadena (Elisa K - LFF 2010) attends with THE FEAR and Asli Özge (Men on The Bridge - LFF 2009) with LIFELONG. Walter Fasano attend with BERTOLUCCI ON BERTOLUCCI; Joey Figueroa and Zak Knutson with MILIUS; Cédric Klapisch (L’Auberge Espagnole) with CHINESE PUZZLE and Rebecca Zlotowski (Belle Épine) with GRAND CENTRAL. DRINKING BUDDIES director Joe Swanberg attends with actress Anna Kendrick, while Nicole Holofcener attends with Julia Louis-Dreyfus for ENOUGH SAID. Bruce Goodison brings his leads Noof Ousellam, Yasmin Mwanza for LEAVE TO REMAIN, while Nanouk Leopold presents IT’S ALL SO QUIET and Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani attend with their THE STRANGE COLOUR OF YOUR BODY’S TEARS.
American Hustle Cast Posters
Check out this new set of character posters for Director David O Russell’s new film American Hustle. The film tells the true story of the notorious FBI ABSCAM sting operation in the late 1970s, which ultimately resulted in the trial and resignation of a number of the high profile American politicians.
In real life the operation was the first FBI effort to target corrupt public officials and masterminded by a former con-man who used a fictional Middle Eastern Sheik to tempt 31 politicians with bribes in exchange for political favours.
Filth Review
The Plot:
Bruce Robertson is an unapologetically depraved bigoted and misogynistic Edinburgh cop. Fuelled by drugs, alcohol and obvious mental health issues he ruthlessly pursues a promotion by systematically attempting to discredit and humiliate his colleagues. It’s soon clear however that the ultimate goal of his vicious schemes is to win back his estranged wife and daughter.
The Good:
Trainspotting proved that Irvine Welsh’s ironically rude and bold words could successfully be lifted from the page to the big screen. With Filth director Jon S. Baird follows a similar template and produces an adaptation which captures much of the tone, furious wit and vitriol of the original novel.
Leading man James McAvoy physically transforms himself completely to deliver a brutally powerful performance that’s equally charismatic and repulsive. In his hands Bruce lurches convincingly from likeable schemer to despicable villain with the full force of bipolar moods swings. It’s the highest compliment to McAvoy’s performance that audiences will despise, enjoy and pity Bruce throughout the course of the entire film.
Around McAvoy’s vicious central performance the supporting cast of Filth breathes grimy life into the world of 1990s Scotland. Eddie Marsan deserves particular praise as the nerdy accountant Bruce befriends and unrelenting bullies.
Trainspotting was heavily reliant on a note perfect soundtrack and thankfully Filth is able to rely on an equally evocative mix of memorable music. Deliberately misplaced joyful tracks help take the edge of some of the film’s more harrowing moments, whilst a haunting rendition of Radiohead’s iconic anthem Creep adds heightened poignancy to the film’s end game.
The Bad:
Much like Irvine Welsh’s seminal classic Trainspotting, Filth plunges head first into the darkness of deranged depravity and human failure. Watching our vice ridden anti-hero’s increasingly horrific downward spiral will undoubtedly offend, disgust or sadden more sensitive viewers. A deceptively upbeat soundtrack and black comedy won’t be enough to distract everyone from the grim realities the sordid tale truly exposes.
It you scratch beneath the thin veneer of foul mouthed comedy and lurid distractions, Filth is really a disturbingly honest look inside the deeply tormented mind of an alcoholic junkie haunted by nightmarish hallucinations. It’s not an experience everyone will welcome or easily forget.
Those hoping to merely enjoy the maniacal ride with an unapologetic anti-hero will be disappointed to see Bruce left at times so pathetically pitiable and tragic. However equally there won’t be nearly enough soul searching redemption for some people to overcome their initial revulsion to the character.
The Ugly Truth:
Filth is a loud lurid tale that eagerly tries to live up to all the visceral promise of its provocative title. At least in that regard, the film certainly succeeds, thanks to a relentless unashamed parade of smirking smut and sneering cynicism. James McAvoy delivers a transformative performance that adds nasty menace to his usually sweet natured repertoire. Whether good or bad, Filth is certain to provoke an intense reaction.
Red Carpet Interview with James McAvoy his co-stars, director and author Irvine Welsh below:
Elizabeth Olsen Joins Avengers Sequel
Samuel L. Jackson who plays Avengers spy master Nick Fury has let slip tat Elizabeth Olsen is indeed now a confirmed cast member for Avengers Sequel Age Of Ultron. Most likely taking the role of Scarlet Witch, the sister of new hero Quicksilver, who is in turn set to be played by Kick-Ass star Aaron Taylor-Johnson. The pair have actually recently teamed on the forthcoming Godzilla reboot.
Here’s what Jackson had to say about the eagerly anticipated superhero sequel:
“I don’t think we begin shooting before March of next year. I know we’re shooting in London, that James Spader is Ultron and going to be the bad guy, and that we added Ms Olsen. But I don’t know what she’s doing; if she’s on the inside or the outside. I haven’t seen a script.”