68th British Academy Film Awards Live

Welcome to our BAFTA hub for 2015. Tonight is the biggest night of the British film calender as the esteemed academy elects its triumphant films, directors and stars. Keep on refreshing the page for the latest updates.

If you’re not preoccupied before the ceremony, try out our prediction game. Rank the nominees for Best Film, Director, Actor/Actress, Supporting Actor/Actress, Cinematography, British Film and Rising Star from 1-5. If your number one pick is correct you receive five points, number two gets four, number three gets three and so on. Comment your score from a maximum of 59. Unsure where to start? Try our own predictions as a primer. Get the full nominations list here.

The red carpet lineup is amassing: Benedict Cumberbatch! Eddie Redmayne! Keira Knightley! Steve Carell! Ralph Fiennes! Ethan Hawke! Mike Leigh! Jack O’Connell! Michael Keaton! Mark Strong!

Here we go!

Stephen Fry begins his annual interrogation of the esteemed audience members. Rosamund Pike! Julie Walters! Edward Norton!

Outstanding British Film:

The Theory of Everything
Pride
Under the Skin
The Imitation Game
’71
Paddington

Beckham awards the first win of the night. Does that put Theory in the front seat for Best Film?

Special Visual Effects:

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Interstellar
X-Men: Days of Future Past
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Guardians of the Galaxy

It missed out on the main categories but it made up here. Jones and Hawking’s humour shining through again.

Supporting Actor:

Steve Carell – Foxcatcher
Edward Norton – Birdman
Ethawn Hawke – Boyhood
Mark Ruffalo – Foxcatcher
JK Simmons – Whiplash

Witherspoon on her way to Leading Actress as she awards J Jonah Jameson a BAFTA.

Next two British greats award a third.

Outstanding Contribution to British Cinema:

BBC Films (Revolutionary Road, We Need to Talk About Kevin, Jane Eyre, Made in Deganham, Notes on a Scandal, Billy Elliott, Coriolanus, Pride, An Education, Quartet, In the Loop, Philomena, Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa)

The Butler’s Cuba Gooding Jr dishes out the second acting category.

Supporting Actress:

Rene Russo – Nightcrawler
Emma Stone – Birdman
Keira Knightley – The Imitation Game
Patricia Arquette – Boyhood
Imelda Staunton – Pride

A rising star and Bilbo himself award Birdman’s first win.

Cinematography:

Mr Turner (Dick Pope)
The Grand Budapest Hotel (Robert Yeoman)
Interstellar (Hoyte Van Hoytema)
Ida (Lukasz Zal)
Birdman (Emmanuel Lubezki)

The ever sharply suited Loki and MI6 Head celebrate a great career beginning.

British Debut:

’71
Northern Soul
Lilting
Kajaki
Pride

A fitting tribute to a true great, Lord Richard Attenborough, from Prince William and Robert Downey Jr.

Best Actress favourite Julianne Moore arrives.

Best Original Screenplay:

Richard Linklater – Boyhood
Wes Anderson, Hugo Guinness – The Grand Budapest Hotel
Alejandro Gonalez Inarritu, Alexander Dinelaris, Nicolas Giacobone, Armando Bo -Birdman
Damien Chazelle – Whiplash
Dan Gilroy – Nightcrawler

Two JJ Abrams collaborators on stage. Shared universe? It’s all a conspiracy!

Foreign Language:

Leviathan
The Lunchbox
Two Days, One Night
Ida
Trash

He’s semi-bald! Future Lex Luthor Jesse Eisenberg and Noomi Rapace turn up.

Best Adapted Screenplay:

Gillian Flynn – Gone Girl
Anthony McCarten – The Theory of Everything
Graham Moore – The Imitation Game
Jason Dean Hall – American Sniper
Paul King – Paddington

We taking a minute off to honour the In Memoriam section.

X-Men’s James McAvoy arrives – we forgot he was Scottish again.

EE Rising Star:

Gugu Mbatha Raw
Miles Teller
Shailene Woodley
Jack O’Connell
Margot Robbie

Your new one to watch is Jack O’Connell, one of the many protogee’s of E4’s Skins who’s starred in the acclaimed likes of Starred Up, Unbroken and ’71.

Brick is back.

Director:

Alejandro Gonzale Inarritu – Birdman
Richard Linklater – Boyhood
Damien Chazelle – Whiplash
James Marsh – The Theory of Everything
Wes Anderson – The Grand Budapest Hotel

Only God Forgive’s Kristen Scott Thomas compliments her opposite number.

Leading Actor:

Eddie Redmayne – The Theory of Everything
Michael Keaton – Birdman
Benedict Cumberbatch – The Imitation Game
Jake Gyllenhaal – Nightcrawler
Ralph Fiennes – The Grand Budapest Hotel

Another crossover in the work: Superman V Captain America!

Leading Actress:

Felicity Jones – The Theory of Everything
Amy Adams – Big Eyes
Julianne Moore – Still Alice
Reese Witherspoon – Wild
Rosamund Pike – Gone Girl

That was a surprise: Tom Cruise!

Film:

The Imitation Game
The Theory of Everything
Boyhood
Birdman
The Grand Budapest Hotel

Fellowship:

Mike Leigh (Mr Turner, Life is Sweet, High Hopes, Career Girls, Abigail’s Party, All or Nothing, Topsy Turvy, Secrets and Lies, Naked, Vera Drake, Happy Go Lucky, Another Year)

Here comes the quickfire awards.

Original Music:

Alexandre Desplat – The Grand Budapest Hotel

Documentary:

Citizenfour

Makeup and Hair:

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Production Design:

The Grand Budapest Hotel

British Short Film:

Boogaloo and Graham

British Short Animation:

The Bigger Picture

Editing:

Whiplash

Sound:

Whiplash

Animated Film:

The Lego Movie

Costume Design:

The Grand Budapest Hotel

We managed 53/59 so comment how you did. Here’s the winners leaderboard.

The Grand Budapest Hotel – 5
Boyhood, The Theory of Everything, Whiplash – 3
Ida, Interstellar, The Lego Movie, Pride, Citizenfour, Still Alice, Birdman – 1

Paddington review

Director: Paul King

Starring: Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Nicole Kidman, Samuel Joslin, Madeleine Harris, Julie Walters, Peter Capaldi, Jim Broadbent, Imelda Staunton, Michael Gambon, Simon Farnaby, Matt Lucas

Michael Bond’s novels and subsequent TV show depicting the ever inquisitive bear Paddington have garnered the mass of international following his character now has. Remaking him in 2015 (almost sixty years on from his debut) can only be problematic. Appealing to modern audiences perhaps slightly more atuned with Ted or winning over the doubtful die hard fans seems to be two very different goals.

After a natural disaster destroys his home, a bear (Whishaw) journeys from Darkest Peru to London, where he wishfully expects a warm welcome. Reluctantly, Mr Brown (Bonneville) and his family (Hawkins, Joslin, Harris, Walters) accept him into their madcap home, unaware that a mysterious taxidermist, Millicent (Kidman), is strangely willing to take him off their hands.

The first step to ensuring excellence here was hiring the right people. Harry Potter producer David Heyman elevates this far from low rent productions like Pudsey, which this so easily could have been. Not only his Paddington himself visually fantastic; his whole Peruvian environment is remarkably stunning before he slickly slips into the city streets. Writers Paul King and Hamish McColl fill their script with childish immaturity and adult wisdom in equal measure.

Ben Whishaw, who famously replaced the voice of Colin Firth for the titular role, applies those same qualities into his own performance excellently while Downton’s Hugh Bonneville and Godzilla’s Sally Hawkins poignantly resemble the two halves of Britain today: the xenophobic or the welcoming. Youngsters Sam Joslin and Madeleine Harris don’t greatly impress as the children of the Browns but at least they’re far more likeable than the usual annoying infants occupying family films.

Even the stern Mr Brown is soon won over but the villains of the piece aren’t so easily charmed. New Doctor Who Peter Capaldi inexplicably creepy as the Farage-next-door type Mr Curry. Oscar winner Nicole Kidman shines as the comically cruel but undeniably scary Millicent, who has the twisted and macabre intention of killing and stuffing Paddington and actually poses a half decent twist in the ending.

The aforementioned finale may overly extend the amount of peril that the usual mild mannered past instalments contained but simultaneously gives a defiant emotional gut punch. Still retaining the classic quintessential charm while inserting an uncanny relevance to modern issues. The most iconic refugee of all time triumphs in this potentially timeless update.

8/10

” Long ago, people in England sent their children by train with labels around their necks, so they could be taken care of by complete strangers in the country side where it was safe. They will not have forgotten how to treat strangers.”

Weekend box-office – 6th to 12th of December 2014 – will Mockingjay or Penguins be the Thanksgiving turkey?

Although a franchise low, when the penultimate Hunger Games film, Mockingjay, hit cinemas last weekend it became the year’s biggest debut in the US. Its $120 million takings surpassed the likes of Transformers: Age of Extinction, Guardians of the Galaxy, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, X-Men: Days of Future Past, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and Godzilla. Its takings could excel in the traditional Thanksgiving weekend boost but two highly lucrative new entries are posing a threat: Penguins of Madagascar is Dreamworks’ new spin off of their smash hit animation franchise, Madagascar; Horrible Bosses 2 is a dark, star studded comedy sequel to a first that gained over $200 million worldwide in 2011. In the UK it challenges the new release of family comedy Paddington. Last week, we predicted that it’d be The Hunger Games slaying for the second week in a row but let’s find out what happens in this tough battle.

US:

1. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 – Director: Francis Lawrence – $57 million
2. Penguins of Madagascar – Eric Darnell, Simon J Smith – $25.4 million
3. Big Hero 6 – Don Hall, Chris Williams – $18.8 million
4. Interstellar – Christopher Nolan – $15.7 million
5. Horrible Bosses – Sean Anders – $15.5 million

UK:

1. Paddington – Paul King – £5.1 million
2. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 – Francis Lawrence – £4.9 million
3. The Imitation Game – Morten Tyldum – £1.4 million
4. Horrible Bosses 2 – Sean Anders – £1.3 million
5. Interstellar – Christopher Nolan – £1.2 million

Mockingjay has won but it has still conceded a 53% drop but its new contestants have truly suffered: Penguins’ $25 million will disappoint, especially considering Madagascar 3’s $750 million worldwide; Horrible Bosses 2’s major slip from the first film’s $28 million calls into the question the possibility of a sequel. Franchise figureheads Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day would sign on but this flop may deter the A-listers Jamie Foxx, Kevin Spacey, Chris Pine, Jennifer Aniston and Christoph Waltz from returning. Despite a shaky opening, Interstellar actually gained traction this week with a minor increase in takings and entering the year’s global top ten. Paddington’s very British brand of humour has evidently appealed in its home market. This week I’ve scored 3/10.

US:

1. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 – Francis Lawrence
2. Penguins of Madagascar – Eric Darnell, Simon J Smith
3. Interstellar – Christopher Nolan
4. Big Hero 6 – Don Hall, Chris Williams
5. Horrible Bosses 2 – Sean Anders

UK:

1. Paddington – Paul King
2. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1
3. Penguins of Madagascar – Eric Darnell, Simon J Smith
4. The Imitation Game – Morten Tyldum
5. Black Sea – Kevin MacDonald

Jennifer Lawrence and Julianne Moore in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, this week’s US number one.

Sally Hawkins and Ben Whishaw in Paddington, this week’s UK number one.

Deadpool confirmed as part of X-Men universe, new Hobbit poster and Michael Gambon joins Paddington

Deadpool made a mediocre introduction in the vastly disappointing prequel X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Five years on, the persistence of star Ryan Reynolds (Safe House) has finally got the project greenlit for a 2016 release, just before studio tentpole X-Men: Apocalypse. When asked about whether Deadpool will still be part of the main series, producer/writer Simon Kinberg explained that “There’s definitely a sort of overall plan that we’ve all been talking about for the X-Men universe now, and Deadpool obviously fits into that.

“I guess I would say it’s part of certainly an overall timeline and the thought process that goes into these films, some of which is inspired by the comics and some of which is inspired by seeing what Marvel’s done with telling a larger tapestry and linking all those movies together, even as they stand independently, as well. The same kind of thought is going to go into these X-Men movies at Fox.” Tim Miller directs.

Harry Potter producer David Heyman is behind the new adaptation of Michael Bond’s Paddington. He’s now added to his stellar cast with two HP stars. Michael Gambon (Gosford Park), who played Professor Dumbledore, and Imelda Staunton (Vera Drake), who played Professor Umbridge, have been cast as the voices of Paddington’s Uncle Pastuzo and Aunt Lucy. They join the the ensemble of Ben Whishaw (Cloud Atlas), Nicole Kidman (The Hours), Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey), Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine), Peter Capaldi (The Thick of It), Julie Walters (Billy Elliot) and Jim Broadbent (Iris, Topsy Turvy, Hot Fuzz).

This Christmas Peter Jackson (The Lord of the Rings, Heavenly Creatures, The Lovely Bones, King Kong) concludes his Hobbit trilogy with The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. A new poster has been released today. The film stars Martin Freeman (Fargo), Ian McKellen (X-Men), Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth), Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock), Hugo Weaving (The Matrix), Richard Armitage (Into the Storm), Luke Evans (Fast and Furious 6), Evangeline Lilly (Lost), Orlando Bloom (Pirates of the Caribbean), Sylvester McCoy (Doctor Who), James Nesbitt (Millions), Ken Stott (Shallow Grave), Lee Pace (Guardians of the Galaxy), Ian Holm (Time Bandits) and Christopher Lee (Dracula).

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies – December 12th

Paddington – November 28th

Deadpool – February 12th 2016

The Best Films of 2014 – the Half-Way Point

Looking at any annual film schedule, its evident that the first half of the year can never quite live up to the second and 2014 is no exception. This year really did get off to a rotten start with 47 Ronin, The Legend of Hercules and I Frankenstein dragging their heals at the box-office but this did pave a way for others; The Wolf of Wall Street and Ride Along both enjoyed three consecutive weeks at the top of the UK and US box-office respectively. Following that came some genuine surprises. Wes Anderson’s ensemble comedy The Grand Budapest Hotel reached 1st and 3rd in the UK and US against all odds and The Lego Movie, one of the most poorly marketed films in recent years, was an unexpected treat and certainly and future cult classic.

The biblical format seemed to increase in popularity around Easter with the low-key Christian dramas Heaven is For Real, Son of God and God’s Not Dead taking nearly thirty times their micro-budgets but these religious flicks aren’t proving successful outside of America, besides Aronofsky’s star-driven epic Noah. The “Katniss-effect” of The Hunger Games has evidently given studios the faith to put stronger female characters into the fray of action and adventure with Angelina Jolie’s Maleficent and Shailene Woodley’s Divergent winning out over Johnny Depp’s Transcendence or Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Sabotage financially. Edge of Tomorrow even managed it to the extent of Tom Cruise needing saving from Emily Blunt’s ultimate warrior.

In the last six months, certain individuals are lighting up the box-office left, right and centre. Former comedian Kevin Hart has lead a trio of success, Ride Along, About Last Night and Think Like a Man Too, while the Jump Street quartet (director Phil Lord and Chris Miller/stars Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill) have a cinematic Midas-touch. It’s evident that Lego’s Chris Pratt can do no wrong and, with Jurassic World and Guardians of the Galaxy coming soon, he’s well on his way to man-of-the-year status. The biggest winners of the year have to be Marvel. Even though their heroes are divided across Sony, Fox and Disney, Stan Lee’s creations of Spider-Man, Captain America (kind-of) and the X-Men are currently the three biggest films of the year so far and they’ll only continue to grow bigger.

Below you can find the international box-office top ten followed by our own personal picks of the year so far as well as the ten to look for in the rest of 2014:

International Box-office Top 10:

1. Captain America: The Winter Soldier – Director: Anthony and Joe Russo – Starring: Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Robert Redford, Cobie Smulders, Frank Grillo, Emily Van Camp, Samuel L Jackson, Hayley Attwell, Toby Jones – Box-office: $710.8 million
2. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 – Marc Webb – Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Dane DeHaan, Jamie Foxx, Colm Feore, Felicity Jones, Paul Giamatti, Sally Field, Chris Cooper – $703.3 million
3. X-Men: Days of Future Past – Bryan Singer – Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, Michael Fassbender, Nicholas Hoult, Peter Dinklage, Ellen Page, Evan Peters, Shawn Ashmore, Halle Berry, Ian McKellen, Josh Helman, Omar Sy, Fan Bingbing, Adan Canto, Booboo Stewart, Lucas Till – $700 million
4. Maleficent – Robert Stromberg – Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley, Sam Riley, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple, Lesley Manville – $531.8 million
5. Godzilla – Gareth Edwards – Aaron Taylor Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Ken Watanabe, Bryan Cranston, Sally Hawkins, Juliette Binoche – $478.7 million
6. Rio 2 – Carlos Saldanha – Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, Leslie Mann, Bruno Mars, Jemaine Clement, Jamie Foxx, will.i.am – $469.4 million
7. The Lego Movie – Phil Lord, Chris Miller – Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Ferrell, Will Arnett, Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman, Alison Brie, Nick Offerman, Charlie Day, Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Cobie Smulders – $467.2 million
8. Noah – Darren Aronofsky – Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Ray Winstone, Emma Watson, Logan Lerman, Douglas Booth, Anthony Hopkins – $356.2 million
9. 300: Rise of an Empire – Noam Murro – Eva Green, Sullivan Stapleton, Lena Headey, Jack O’Connell, Rodrigo Santoro, Callan Mulvey, David Wenham – $331.1 million
10. Edge of Tomorrow – Doug Liman – Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton, Brendan Gleeson, Jonas Armstrong – $298.8 million

Tuorhoth’s Top 10:

1. X-Men: Days of Future Past – Bryan Singer – Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, Michael Fassbender, Nicholas Hoult, Peter Dinklage, Ellen Page, Evan Peters, Shawn Ashmore, Halle Berry, Ian McKellen, Josh Helman, Omar Sy, Fan Bingbing, Adan Canto, Booboo Stewart, Lucas Till
2. Godzilla – Gareth Edwards – Aaron Taylor Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Ken Watanabe, Bryan Cranston, Sally Hawkins, Juliette Binoche
3. The Lego Movie – Phil Lord, Chris Miller – Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Ferrell, Will Arnett, Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman, Alison Brie, Nick Offerman, Charlie Day, Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Cobie Smulders
4. Captain America: The Winter Soldier – Anthony and Joe Russo – Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Robert Redford, Cobie Smulders, Frank Grillo, Emily Van Camp, Samuel L Jackson, Hayley Attwell, Toby Jones
5. Edge of Tomorrow – Doug Liman – Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton, Brendan Gleeson, Jonas Armstrong
6. The Two Faces of January – Hossein Amini – Viggo Mortensen, Oscar Isaac, Kirsten Dunst
7. Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom – Justin Chadwick – Idris Elba, Naomi Harris
8. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit – Kenneth Branagh – Chris Pine, Keira Knightley, Kenneth Branagh, Kevin Costner, Nonso Anozie, Gemma Chan
9. RoboCop – Jose Padilha – Gary Oldman, Joel Kinnaman, Abbie Cornish, Michael Keaton, Jay Baruchel, Jennifer Ehle, Jackie Earle Haley, Aimee Garcia, Michael K Williams, Samuel L Jackson
10. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 – Marc Webb – Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Dane DeHaan, Jamie Foxx, Colm Feore, Felicity Jones, Paul Giamatti, Sally Field, Chris Cooper

Top 10 Anticipated:

1. Interstellar – Christopher Nolan – Matthew MacConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Michael Caine, Topher Grace, Casey Affleck, David Oyelowo, John Lithgow, Matt Damon
2. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies – Peter Jackson – Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Evangeline Lilly, Luke Evans, Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Aidan Turner, James Nesbitt, Ken Stott, Sylvester McCoy, Lee Pace, Manu Bennett, Benedict Cumberbatch, Hugo Weaving, Christopher Lee
3. Gone Girl – David Fincher – Ben Affleck, Neil Patrick Harris, Rosamund Pike
4. Kingsman: The Secret Service – Matthew Vaughn – Taron Egerton, Colin Firth, Michael Caine, Samuel L Jackson, Mark Hamill, Mark Strong
5. Guardians of the Galaxy – James Gunn – Chris Pratt, Bradley Cooper, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldana, Vin Diesel, Lee Pace, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin, John C Reilly
6. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes – Matt Reeves – Jason Clarke, Andy Serkis, James Franco, Judy Greer, Gary Oldman, Toby Kebbell, Kodi Smit McPhee
7. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 – Francis Lawrence – Jennifer Lawrence, Donald Sutherland, Woody Harrelson, Julianne Moore, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Jena Malone, Sam Clafin, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Toby Jones, Natalie Dormer, Philip Seymour, Hoffman
8. Fury – David Ayer – Brad Pitt, Logan Lerman, Jason Isaacs, Michael Pena, Shia LeBeouf
9. Exodus: Gods and Kings – Ridley Scott – Christian Bale, Aaron Paul, Sigourney Weaver, Joel Edgerton, Ben Kingsley
10. The Judge – David Dobkin – Robert Downey Jr, Robert Duvall, Billy Bob Thornton, Vera Farmiga

Mark Ruffalo talks potential new Hulk film and Colin Firth departs from Paddington

Despite only having one performance and one cameo in the role, Mark Ruffalo’s (Now You See Me, The Kids Are All Right, Zodiac, Foxcatcher, Shutter Island) portrayal of Bruce Banner/Hulk is one of the most loved in the whole of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and yet looking into the future he’s only signed up for Avengers: Age of Ultron. There’s nothing official yet but there have been talks of Hulk solo film, a concept that’s failed twice before. Oscar nominee Ruffalo has himself now spoken out on the possibility of the film. “I think they are, for the first time, entertaining the idea of it,” Ruffalo told Digital Spy.

“When we did The Avengers it was basically ‘No!’, and now there is some consideration for it. But there’s still nothing definitive, not even a skeletal version of what it would be. I look forward to going down that road, if we could crack that nut.” I’m unsure if Hulk by himself would work third time round but I’d love a two-man Avengers team-up of Banner and Chris Hemsworth’s Thor (whose third instalments isn’t going too far in development). Or, depending on where A2:AoU leaves us, perhaps Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr) will be still be kicking around. As for directors who can make great beasts full of character, we’d tip Monsters/Godzilla man Gareth Edwards were he not busy on Godzilla 2 and a Star Wars spin off.

Paddington, a Peruvian bear who travels to London in order to find a family, has, over the years, become a British icon and in the UK there has been a fair amount of hype for the new reboot, brought to us by Harry Potter producer David Heyman and Bunny and the Bull director Paul King. It’s gathered the ensemble supporting cast of Hugh Bonneville (The Monuments Men, Downton Abbey), Nicole Kidman (The Hours, Moulin Rouge), Jim Broadbent (Iris, Cloud Atlas), Julie Walters (Billy Elliot, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix), Matt Lucas (Bridesmaids, Alice in Wonderland), Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine, Godzilla) and Peter Capaldi (Doctor Who, World War Z, The Thick of It) before making the huge casting of Oscar winner Colin Firth (The King’s Speech, A Single Man, Love Actually) as Paddington himself,

It’s now reported that Firth has made a late withdrawal from the film. “It’s been bittersweet to see this delightful creature take shape and come to the sad realisation that he simply doesn’t have my voice,” Firth explains, “After a period of denial we’ve chosen conscious uncoupling. I’ve had the joy of seeing most of the film and it’s going to be quite wonderful. I still feel rather protective of this bear and I’m pestering them all with suggestions for finding a voice worthy of him.”

Paddington – November 28th 2014

The Hulk – 2017?

Godzilla review

Director: Gareth Edwards

Starring: Aaron Taylor Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Ken Watanabe, Bryan Cranston, Carson Bolde, Sally Hawkins, David Straithairn, Juliette Binoche

The King of the Monsters has been dormant for sixteen years after Roland Emmerich did for the Japanese icon what Joel Schumacher did for Batman but that horrifying franchise slayer allowed a Phoenix-like rebirth in 2005 with Batman Begins. Our first query was if Legendary’s new Godzilla could now have a Nolan-esque reboot? The second was how can visual effects maestro Gareth Edwards gain a huge hit when his only feature film directing credit is the micro-budget horror/drama Monsters? Finally, we questioned Godzilla’s relevance in a modern world of Pacific Rim and Cloverfield.

Fifteen years after the supposed natural disaster at the Janjira nuclear plant, frantic physicist Joe Brody (Cranston) is determined to prove that the destruction of his site was no accident. He enlists the help of his soldier son Ford (Taylor Johnson) but they discover that decades of conspiracy and cover ups have been hiding the truth of monsters. However, as the creatures return and threaten apocalypse, Ford is torn away from his family to fight against Godzilla, the King of the Monsters.

A common trait of disaster films is an unequal distribution of a focus on the monsters or the danger and development of characters. What Godzilla has undoubtedly done excellently is build up a greatly credible set of human characters to allow a presentation of humanity’s personal and political reaction to the apocalypse, not dissimilar to the World War Z novel.

Across the all star ensemble, the power of the film comes from two astonishing supporting performances. First off is Bryan Cranston who unsurprisingly dominates the screen in whatever time he’s given; he consistently burns a hole into each scene.

Elizabeth Olsen who’s making a huge impression in her first blockbuster role. She portrays Ford’s wife with great strength and presence putting genuine heart into the narrative. It’s just as well as there’s a lack of heart in the main plot threads.

Taylor Johnson (although he has a good dynamic with Olsen), as well as the rest of his frustratingly underdeveloped army buddies, is far too annoyingly nondescript to be the film’s lead while the immense talents of Ken Watanabe and Sally Hawkins seem to be wasted on generic scientist roles. The motives for obsessing over the monsters, and also their relationship, is hinted at but never fully explained.

Sadly the main storyline of Godzilla battling the irradiated MUTOs is slightly disappointing but it gets right the horror-like build up of suspense for the epic final reveal. The finale kicks off in style with the much-hyped parachuting sequence which has to be the most tense, well constructed and electrifying action sequence I’ve seen on film. From that, it evolves into a brilliant three-way brawl that genuinely pushed boundaries of filmaking – hats off to cinematographer Seamus Montgomery.

Comparing this, or any reboot for that matter, to Batman Begins is a harsh example but Godzilla, through its faults, honours the original while still being this year’s freshest and most horrifying action film. Daring yet successful, Gareth Edwards has cemented his place as Hollywood’s new king of monsters. Bring on Mothra!

9/10

“You’re hiding something out there! And it is going to send us back to the Stone Age!”

Fantastic Beasts rumours Alfonso Cuaron and work begins on Godzilla 2

The obvious next step for JK Rowling’a Harry Potter spin off Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, having likely got together a script, is to find a director but they are going back through their list of former Potter directors to see if they’re interested. There were four director across the eight films: Chris Columbus, Alfonso Cuaron, Mike Newell and David Yates. Unsurprisingly, Cuaron is rumoured to be the first director to be approached for the film. Since he made his mark on the series with Prisoner of Azkaban (our personal favourite from the bunch), the Mexican has made the smash hit sci-fi thrillers Children of Men and Gravity (which one seven Oscar – winning Best Director, Cinematography and Editing and nominated for Best Picture and Best Leading Actress – last year) so his return will be most welcome.

Our review of Gareth Edwards’ new vision of Godzilla is coming very soon but you’ve likely picked up that it became the US’ second biggest opening weekend release of the year so far, only slightly behind Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and took an astonishing $190 million worldwide. It isn’t too far fetched to expect distant roars of a sequel headed our way. Writer Max Borenstein has expressed interest but everyone’s wondering what could be the new film’s focus. The word of the day seems to be Mothra, another legendary monster from the time that certainly was hinted at in the new film, but we’re interested if the sequel will just stick with Godzilla. Many monster film, and disaster films in general, give very little thought to its human characters but that’s something the new film got right. It needs to dedicate to that ideal by reviving the likes of Aaron Taylor Johnson, Ken Watanabe, Elizabeth Olsen and Sally Hawkins to retain humanity’s presence.

Godzilla 2 – 2017?

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – November 18th 2016

The Empire Awards 2014 – 12 Years! Hobbit! Gravity! Alan Partridge! World’s End! Filth! Hunger Games and more!

The fantastic Empire unload their biggest awards yet with their 25th anniversary special. They, like us, let the worthy blockbusters to go head to head with the awards bait. It’s not as prestigious as the Oscars but does show us for of the fans’ view. So in that respect, this really is quite major.

Best Male Newcomer:

Aidan Turner – The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Barkhad Abdi – Captain Phillips

George MacKay – Sunshine on Leith

Oscar Isaac – Inside Llewyn Davis

Tye Sheridan – Mud

Will Poulter – We’re the Millers

Best Female Newcomer:

Margot Robbie – The Wolf of Wall Street

Adele Exarchopoulos – Blue is the Warmest Colour

Antonia Thomas – Sunshine On Leith

Elizabeth Debecki – The Great Gatsby

Freya Mavor – Sunshine on Leith

Lupita Nyong’o – 12 Years a Slave

Best Horror:

The Conjuring

A Field in England

Evil Dead

World War Z

You’re Next

Best Comedy:

Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

This is 40

This is the End

The World’s End

Best Thriller:

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Captain Phillips

Now You See Me

Prisoners

Trance

Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy:

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Gravity

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Pacific Rim

Star Trek Into Darkness

Best Supporting Actor:

Michael Fassbender – 12 Years a Slave

Daniel Bruhl – Rush

Sam Clafin – The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Richard Armitage – The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Tom Hiddleston – Thor: The Dark World

Best Supporting Actress:

Sally Hawkins – Blue Jasmine

Evangeline Lilly – The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Jennifer Lawrence – American Hustle

Lupita Nyong’o – 12 Years a Slave

Mia Wasikowska – Stoker

Jameson Best Leading Actor:

James McAvoy – Filth

Chiwetel Ejiofor – 12 Years a Slave

Leonardo Di Caprio – The Wolf of Wall Street

Martin Freeman – The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Tom Hanks – Captain Phillips

Best Leading Actress:

Emma Thompson – Saving Mr Banks

Amy Adams – American Hustle

Cate Blanchett – Blue Jasmine

Jennifer Lawrence – The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Sandra Bullock – Gravity

Best Director:

Alfonso Cuaron – Gravity

Edgar Wright – The World’s End

Paul Greengrass – Captain Phillips

Peter Jackson – The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Steve McQueen – 12 Years a Slave

Empire Icon:

Hugh Jackman

Empire Hero:

Simon Pegg

Empire Inspiration:

Paul Greengrass

25 Years Award – The Action Hero of Our Lifetime:

Arnold Schwarzenegger

25 Years Award – The Legend of Our Lifetime:

Tom Cruise

Best British Film:

The World’s End

Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa

Filth

Rush

Sunshine on Leith

Best Film:

Gravity

12 Years a Slave

Captain Phillips

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

The Matrix rumoured for a further sequel and 12 Years a Slave wins at the Indie Spirit

Tonight is Oscar night but we’re focussing on a less mainstream event. The Indie Spirit Awards tend to provide a more alternative view but this year’s results seem to be going the same way as the others.

Best Feature:

12 Years a Slave

All is Lost

Frances Ha

Inside Llewyn Davis

Nebraska

Best Director:

Steve McQueen – 12 Years a Slave

Shane Carruth – Upstream Colour

JC Chandor – All is Lost

Jeff Nichols – Mud

Alexander Payne – Nebraska

Best Leading Actor:

Matthew MacConaughey – Dallas Buyers Club

Bruce Dern – Nebraska

Chiwetel Ejiofor – 12 Years a Slave

Oscar Isaac – Inside Llewyn Davis

Michael B Jordan – Fruitvale Station

Robert Redford – All is Lost

Best Leading Actress:

Cate Blanchett – Blue Jasmine

Julie Delpy – Before Midnight

Gaby Hoffman – Crystal Fairy

Brie Larson – Short Term 12

Shailene Woodley – The Spectacular Now

Best Screenplay:

John Ridley – 12 Years a Slave

Woody Allen – Blue Jasmine

Julie Delpy, Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke – Before Midnight

Nicole Holofcener – Enough Said

Scott Neustadter, Michael H Weber – The Spectacular Now

Best Supporting Actress:

Lupita Nyong’o – 12 Years a Slave

Melonie Diaz – Fruitvale Station

Sally Hawkins – Blue Jasmine

Yolanda Ross – Go for Sisters

June Squibb – Nebraska

Best Supporting Actor:

Jared Leto – Dallas Buyers Club

Michael Fassbender – 12 Years a Slave

Will Forte – Nebraska

James Gandolfini – Enough Said

Keith Stanfield – Short Term 12

The first Matrix film, 1999, was the biggest sci-fi game changer since Star Wars and subsequently launched itself to icon status. While massively profitable, its sequels were frostily received. Andy and Lana Wachowski haven’t quite reached those heights since, with the flop Speed Racer and the brilliant but widely misunderstood Cloud Atlas. Its now apparent that the brother/sister duo are negotiating a return to the series with a fourth, possibly fifth or sixth, instalment. Latino Review’s report doesn’t really suggest facts or speculation however stars Keanu Reeves, Hugo Weaving, Carrie Anne Moss and Laurence Fishburne have themselves become icons for their own performances as Neo, Agent Smith, Trinity and Morpheus say can we expect them to return?

The Matrix 4 – 2017?