A History of Violence, 2005. Directed by David Cronenberg. Starring Viggo Mortensen, Maria Bello, Ed Harris, Aidan Devine, Ashton Holmes, Heidi Hayes and William Hurt. SYNOPSIS: When a mild-mannered man thwarts a robbery in his diner, the resulting media exposure brings unwanted attention that will shake his idyllic family life to its core. I was […]

The 1973 thriller Don’t Look Now starring Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie has been named Best British Film in a list compiled by Time Out magazine. The film, directed by Nicolas Roeg, is set in Venice and follows a couple grieving the death of their young daughter. It features an infamous sex scene with the […]

In a special feature running all this week, Alex Williams counts down his Essential Actor / Director Partnerships… Owen Wilson and Wes Anderson Bottle Rocket (1996) Rushmore (1998) [co-wrote but not featured] The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004) The Darjeeling Limited (2007) As well as working for a director on […]

In a special feature running all this week, Alex Williams counts down his Essential Actor / Director Partnerships… Kurt Russell and John Carpenter Elvis (1979) Escape from New York (1981) The Thing (1982) Big Trouble in Little China (1986) Escape from L.A. (1996) Unlike the previous entry, there are no crazy stories of John Carpenter […]

British screenwriter Simon Beaufoy, Oscar nominated for 127 Hours, is working on an adaptation of Toby Barlow’s Sharp Teeth. The novel mixes horror, noir and epic poetry and involves competing packs of werewolves in a dark and seedy Los Angeles underworld, a detective investigating dog-related murders, and a love story between a dogcatcher and a […]

Takers, 2010. Directed by John Luessenhop. Starring Chris Brown, Hayden Christensen, Matt Dillon, Michael Ealy, Idris Elba, Tip ‘T.I.’ Harris, Jay Hernandez, Zoe Saldana and Paul Walker. SYNOPSIS: A team of professional thieves link up with a recently paroled former associate for one last spectacular robbery as an obsessive, hard-boiled police detective looks to bring […]

In a special feature running all this week, Alex Williams counts down his Essential Actor / Director Partnerships… Through history, there have been partnerships that, because of some mystical, unknown chemistry, have created something so great that is it destined to ring through the ages. Lennon & McCartney, the Curies, Tango & Cash. No list […]

True Grit, 1969. Directed by Henry Hathaway. Starring John Wayne, Glen Campbell, Kim Darby, Robert Duvall, Jeff Corey and Dennis Hopper. SYNOPSIS: After her father is murdered a young girl hires an aging U.S. Marshal to track the killer through hostile Indian territory. True Grit has just been through a contemporary revival at the capable […]

Presenting our weekly round-up of the biggest news stories from the world of movie superheroes… Last week’s column came off the back of a dry patch in terms of decent superhero gossip (hey, when the biggest news story is the filming of Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, you know times are tough) but things have […]

The Fighter, 2010. Directed by David O. Russell. Starring Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Melissa Leo. SYNOPSIS: An inspirational drama exploring the remarkable rise of Massachusetts-born junior welterweight boxing champion “Irish” Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg). It seems like every single week through 2011 a new Oscar nominated and much hyped film hits our […]