The McConnaissance Comes To Talking Pictures!

 

It’s the turn of Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey to take up the hot seat on Talking Pictures.  He’s talking about his new movie, Civil War drama Free State Of Jones, on the latest edition of the show.  That’s not the only new release.  The Obamas go on their first date in Southside With You, British coming of age story Urban Hymn and Film Of The Week goes to the second Daniel Radcliffe film in a fortnight, the unique Swiss Army Man.

On DVD, Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe are The Nice Guys, director Whit Stilman parodies Jane Austen in Love & Friendship and there’s low budget British thriller, Level Up.  And the regulars are there as well – the new top five at the British box office and the latest movie news headlines.

Your essential guide to the movies is packed into exactly 20 minutes.  It’s on iTunes, TuneIn and right here:

 

One of The Nice Guys on Talking Pictures!

There’s something of a buddy movie theme running through this week’s edition of Talking Pictures.  Russell Crowe, one half of The Nice Guys, talks about working with Ryan Gosling on their new movie in The Big Interview.  And among the new releases is emotional Australian drama, Holding The Man, would-be thriller Misconduct and probably the worst film you’ll see all year, Breaking The Bank.

On DVD, there’s half term fodder in the shape of Goosebumps and Snoopy And Charlie Brown:The Peanuts Movie, while for adults there’s old buddies Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel in Youth and Icelandic black comedy, Rams.  Plus there’s an exclusive look at Sundance London, which is happening right now.

All that, as well as the new top five at the British box office, is squeezed into exactly 20 minutes.  It’s on iTunes, TuneIn and right here:

 

Review: The Nice Guys

Hello, down there …..!

 

Title:                        The Nice Guys

Certificate:              15

Director:                  Shane Black

Major Players:         Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling, Angourie Rice

Out Of Five:             Four

 

You don’t, let’s face it, associate Russell Crowe with comedy.  The two just don’t go together.  Ryan Gosling, on the other hand, has done a few rom-coms in his time, but that’s about it.  So how about the two of them in an out-and-out comedy?  Strangely enough, it works – and works really well.  Part of the credit has to go to director Shane Black, who’s back on much the same territory as his cult favourite, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005).  The Nice Guys is a more mainstream offering and, for my money, a better film.

Jackson Healy (Crowe) is a debt collector, whose speciality is beating up people for money.  One of his targets is private detective Holland March (Gosling).  He gives him the usual treatment, puts his arm in plaster and then realises they’re both supposed to be tracking down the same woman.  For a while they go their own separate ways but, as their paths keep crossing, they eventually team up with each covering up the other’s assorted mistakes.  The girl eventually shows up, but that’s nothing compared to the rest of their problems.

It’s a film that starts as it means to go on, taking a convention and doing something different with it.  It’s evening and from inside a house a pair of headlights is visible in the distance.  The next thing you know, a car comes crashing through the house, ploughing through from front to back.  Its only passenger is a voluptuous brunette who, thrown from the car, displays her ample assets like a porn star.  Because that’s exactly what she is, rejoicing in the name of Misty Mountains.

Not that it’s apparent for some time how this all fits with the rest of the story.  And that’s because we’re soon entangled in something vaguely reminiscent of Raymond Chandler, with a glamorous, enigmatic woman at the centre of the action – here, there’s more than one – and a convoluted plot that only really makes sense to the private investigators.  His cynical tone is there as well and, if that’s not enough to keep your attention, the film has plenty more tricks up its sleeve.

The setting for one, a joy for nostalgia freaks.  This is the 70s and it feels like it, from the soundtrack to the clothes (all oranges and pinks and kipper ties) and the cars.  Then there’s the stores – Tower Records is still around – and the protesting hippies on the steps of City Hall, demonstrating about pollution.  It’s all re-created with affection and sense of fun, but better still it also eliminates any intrusions from mobile phones and computers.  The tecs have to figure it out for themselves without any reference to Google – and, believe it or not, it can be done.

Secondly, there’s the humour and the partnership of Crowe and Gosling, which is more successful than anybody could have expected.  Visually, they’re complete opposites: Crowe packs both punch and paunch in his pale blue leather jacket, while Gosling looks almost like a porn star with his droopy moustache and colourful shirts with enormous collars.

The humour itself is both black and noir.  Gosling’s main motive for taking a case is money, and that doesn’t stop him taking it from an elderly client even when he knows that her case is impossible.  His daughter Holly (a very knowing Angourie Rice) makes an unlikely assistant for her dad, part smarty pants, part little girl, while still managing to look as if she’s arrived fresh from a Disney set.   And a lot of the laughs come from Gosling’s cock-ups.  He can’t resist a free drink or five, which lands him in all sorts of trouble – and gleefully funny situations.  Like the party where there’s a giant water tank, populated by girls dressed as mermaids for everybody to admire.  Except that he wants to question them, so we see him pursuing them around the pool …….

The latter stages of the film single-mindedly concentrate on setting up the explosive climax, so all the Chandleresque style and humour are gone.  And, while a bit more consistency wouldn’t go amiss, when you’re having this much fun, who cares?  This is a hugely entertaining riff on the familiar buddy movie concept, although you wouldn’t call the two men buddies as such.  But the chemistry is most definitely there, along with some whipcracking dialogue.  Just in case I haven’t made the point clearly enough, it’s very funny.  And consistently so.

Are they really nice guys?  Well, if you look at the posters, perhaps not.  But they’re a darn sight nicer than the bad guys!

 

The Nice Guys is released in cinemas on Friday, 3 June and reviewed on Talking Pictures on Thursday, 2 June.

 

The Coops Review Christmas Preview

 

Well, you asked for it, so here it is.  The Coops Review Christmas TV Preview for 2015.  Except that I’m doing it a little differently this year.

The rise of on-demand over the past year or so means that the holiday movies on terrestrial and free digital channels aren’t the big deal they once were.  Even if it’s the first time a movie’s been shown on terrestrial TV, the biggest greeting it will get is a shrug of the shoulders.  A bit grim for those without satellite, but a fact of TV life nowadays and what that means is that a lot of this year’s Christmas movies are just fillers.

So it’s no great surprise that the line-up has plenty of familiar titles in it, some of which the various operators have been flogging to death in the run up to the holiday season.  Like the Toy Story trilogy.  We all love it but it’s been on several times already over the past month or so.  Yet, in its infinite wisdom, the Beeb reckons we need to see it all over again – again.  I beg to differ.

Perennials like Gone With The Wind (Christmas Eve, Channel 5, 10.30 am), just about every Carry On film under the sun (ITV3, Christmas Day), Bond, Indiana Jones and The African Queen (New Year’s Eve, More 4, 10.15 am) are givens this year, along with many others.  What I’m going to do here is be very selective and pick out the real gems tucked away in your listings magazine.  They may be comparatively recent, or they may just stand repeated viewings.  But one thing they are is good.

Tuesday, 22 December

Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa.  BBC2, 10.30 pm.              He’s not to everybody’s taste, I know, but the first outing of Norwich’s finest on the big screen is seriously funny, with Coogan’s comic creation at his grotesque best in what essentially is a gag-fest.  For more – although, if you’re a fan, you probably won’t need it! – check out my original review.

 

Christmas Eve

Finding Nemo.  BBC1, 3.50 pm.               Disney Pixar’s story of a little clown fish who ends up in a fish tank and his dad’s quest to bring him home is a must-see.  Populated by some great aquatic characters (including the hippy turtle, Crush, voiced by the film’s director, Andrew Stanton), it’s full of all the Disney values and emotions that you expect, coupled with some great gags – watch out for the seagulls! – and wonderful animation.  The long-overdue sequel, Finding Dory, arrives in the UK next year.  Bring it on!

 

Christmas Day

Here’s a classic example of what I mean about this year’s movies.  I struggled to find something that I know I would both watch and recommend.  Wall-to-wall Carry On?  Well, I may dip into Screaming, which is the best of the bunch.  I’ve seen Happy Feet (ITV, 11.30 am) and it doesn’t really stand a second viewing.  What about Russell Crowe as Robin Hood?  Nah!

The Big Lebowski.  ITV4, 12.05 am.         Technically, the best film on Christmas Day starts on Boxing Day, an irony that would probably have been appreciated by both the Coen Brothers and The Dude (Jeff Bridges).  This comedy/film noir pastiche is regarded by many as Joel and Ethan’s best work ever and improves with age and repeated viewings.

Boxing Day

Oliver Twist.  More 4, 9.50 am.       Nobody has ever bettered David Lean’s 1948 version of the Dickens classic.  Filmed in grimy black and white with Alec Guinness in his first leading role underneath all those prosthetics, its portrayal of the underbelly of Victorian society is tangibly grubby.  And watch how Sykes’ dog reacts to the killing of Nancy …..

 

Those In Between Days

A Man For All Seasons.  Sunday, 27 December, BBC2, 8.15 am.      Paul Schofield’s Oscar winning performance as Sir Thomas More is more than worth getting up for.  Fred Zinneman’s adaptation of Robert Bolt’s stage play has a great British cast and there’s a supporting role for the real Hampton Court Palace.  With TV’s Wolf Hall still fresh in our memories, it’s also an interesting contrast to the portraits we saw there of More and Thomas Cromwell.

Spartacus.  Monday, 28 December, ITV4, 4.10 pm.       Yes, it’s on every year, but this classic epic has the lot and watching it is no hardship.  Whether you relish Peter Ustinov and Charles Laughton shamelessly stealing scenes from Laurence Olivier, laugh out loud at the thought of the Brooklyn accented Tony Curtis teaching “da classics” or just want to wallow in the spectacle of it all, you won’t be disappointed.  And Kirk Douglas’ son, Michael, crops up later in the day as Liberace in Behind The Candelabra (BBC2, 9 pm).

New Year’s Eve

The New Year offerings are often more plentiful and simply better than the ones at Christmas, but not so this year.

Up.  BBC1, 2.50pm.             Disney Pixar again, this time with a 78 year old as the protagonist, flying away in a house powered by balloons and finding he has a young stowaway.  Directed by Pete Docter, who was behind the studio’s wonderful Inside Out this year, this is something of an emotional rollercoaster, as well as an adventure.  And, whatever you do, don’t miss the opening minutes.

 

New Year’s Day

Howards End.  More 4, 9.35 am.               Merchant Ivory were at their absolute best with this adaptation of E M Forster’s story of class and snobbery.  Anthony Hopkins is perfectly cast as the family patriarch, but it’s Emma Thompson’s performance as the woman who becomes his second wife that takes your breath away.  The way her character evolves, develops and changes before your very eyes is flawless and deservedly won her an Oscar.

 

That’s a pretty good bunch of films and, of course, there are plenty more movies on TV over the holiday.  But this year’s schedule seems to be all about quantity, not quality.  It’s the wrong way round but hopefully there’s at least something among my selection that will whet your appetite.

Happy Christmas!

 

 

The Coops Christmas Preview part 2

Welcome to the second part of my TV movie preview for this Christmas.  As before, I’m sticking to films on terrestrial and free digital stations, so none of the pay-to-view channels are included.  This time I’m choosing the best of the offerings for Boxing Day and Bank Holiday Tuesday.

Boxing Day

The epic theme from the start of the holiday continues, only this time BBC Four and ITV1 have managed to screen two films set in much the same era and featuring similar characters.  First comes The Fall Of The Roman Empire, 8.00 pm, BBC4.  Not an obvious choice perhaps, but it’s still a classy epic from the 1960s with an all-star cast (Stephen Boyd, Sophia Loren, James Mason and Christopher Plummer).  Plummer, who is currently having something of a career renaissance, plays Commodus and, if the name sounds familiar, you’d be right.  He crops up again, this time played very creepily by Joaquin Phoenix, in Gladiator, 11.15 pm, ITV1.  Ridley Scott briefly revived the epic with this mixture of Ben Hur and Spartacus.  It probably wasn’t worth all its Oscars – certainly not the one handed out to Russell Crowe – but it certainly has a sense of scale and spectacle, mainly thanks to CGI (which also came in handy after Oliver Reed’s death during filming) and the story keeps your attention.

Dorothy and friends take to the Yellow Brick Road

The Wizard Of Oz   5.10 pm, Channel 5.  Despite being over 70 years old, this Christmas – and cult – classic still looks remarkably fresh.  Dorothy (Judy Garland) finds herself transported to an imaginary world, makes some unusual friends and discovers that there’s no place like home.  Just click your heels …..

Edward Scissorhands      7.00 pm, Film4.  This early collaboration between director Tim Burton and actor Johnny Depp is a touching, quirky fantasy about outsiders and seeing beyond appearances.  Depp stars as a boy built by an inventor and discovered accidentally by the local Avon lady.

The Godfather         1.00 am, Channel 4.  Set the recorder for one of the all-time greats, Francis Ford Coppola’s family saga steeped in crime, greed and blood.  Superbly acted all round, especially by Brando and Al Pacino, it’s peppered with scenes that are now part of cinema history – the horse’s head, the shooting at the causeway etc.  The Godfather Part II, an unusual instance of a sequal being at least as good, if not better, than the original, is on Thursday, 29^th, 12.20 am Channel 4.  Whether you watch or record the decidedly inferior third part of the saga on Friday, 30^th December at 12.15 am on Channel 4, is up to you.

Bank Holiday Tuesday, 27 December

Today’s best films are geared towards a more adult audience but, as they’re all on in the evening, you’ve still more than enough time to shed some pounds beforehand at the sales.

Stand By Me            5.20 pm, 5*.  This coming of age drama is one of the most successful of all Stephen King adaptations (The Shawshank Redemption being at the top of the pile).  Its young cast includes the then rising star River Phoenix and the film tells the story of a group of teenage friends who go off into the country in search of a body.  If you don’t catch it this time round, it’s repeated on the same channel on the following day at 1.30 pm.

Brendan Gleeson (left) and Colin Farrell not having fun In Bruges

In Bruges      9.00 pm, Film4.  You might want to make sure Gran’s tucked up in bed for this one – a black, foul-mouthed crime comedy but it’s a great watch.  Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell are contract killers on the run in the picturesque Belgian city and Ralph Fiennes is their particularly nasty boss.

M*A*S*H        12.55 am, Film4.  Another one to record, Robert Altman’s original satire set in the Korean war spawned the long-running, much-loved TV series.  Anarchic, wickedly funny and sharply acted, especially by Donald Sutherland and Elliott Gould.

Sarah Palin – You Betcha!           10.00 pm, More4.  This hasn’t been listed as a film in the TV guides, but it was recently released in selected cinemas and shown at the London Film Festival in October.  It’s a seasonal dose of American politics through the irreverent lens of documentary maker Nick Broomfield.  This time his target is the controversial former Vice Presidential candidate and he visits Palin’s home city in Alaska, where people are strangely reluctant to talk to him about her.

So, that’s the main part of the Christmas holiday viewing sorted.  But, for those of you lucky enough to be on holiday until after the New Year, part three of this preview will contain my recommendations for those in-between days – plus a few movies that you really should avoid.