Onmovies magazine Issue 3 February 2015

n movies

Issue 3 l February 2015

news and reviews

www.onmovies.co.uk

2015 Oscars

Bringing the red carpet to you live p06

Transcendence

A power driven slice of coding p16

L.A. Confidential

A gritty neo-noir classic p20

Grey

Fifty Shades of

Meet the billionaire batchelor with a thirst for dominance p10 01 On3 Front Cover_Final.indd 1

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CONTENTS 16

n movies YOUR MONTHLY DIGITAL MAGAZINE WITH THE LATEST MOVIE NEWS AND REVIEWS.

06

NEWS

SKY MOVIES: PREMIERE

05 CHRIS PRATT Will this lovable rogue be taking up Indie’s whip?

16 TRANSCENDENCE At the front of the field to create artificial intelligence with the ability to understand and experience the full range of human emotions.

06 2015 OSCARS NOMINATIONS And the winners are... coming to you live.

Issue 3 February 2015

08 NEWS SNIPPETS The latest information.

10

ONE FROM THE VAULT

Editor & Designer Tom Carpenter tom.carpenter@onmovies.co.uk Deputy Editor Robert Hutchins robert.hutchins@onmovies.co.uk Contributors John Conway, Scott Gentry, Fiona Hooper, Tabatha Smalls Advertising ads@onmovies.co.uk

THE BIG SCREEN 10 FIFTY SHADES OF GREY Set to raise a smile, a pulse and a lot of temperatures as Anastasia begins to unlock Mr. Grey’s darkest secrets.

is an independent publisher.

20 L.A. CONFIDENTIAL Corruption, greed, prostitution, and murder on the streets of Sunset Boulevard – L.A. Confidential has it all.

22

NEW THIS MONTH

Cover image courtesy of Universal Pictures. © On movies 2015. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior premission of the copyright owners. On movies cannot take responsiblity for any mistakes or omissions or the views of our contributors or advertisers. All information enclosed is correct at the time of being published, however release dates are subject to change.

20

13 COMING TO THE BIG SCREEN The must see films this month at your local cinema.

19 COMING TO YOUR SOFA Get comfortable and enjoy films at your fingertips.

HAVE YOUR SAY 22 JOHN CONWAY SAYS... ...there’s no reason you wouldn’t enjoy spending an hour and a half in Seth, Rose and Zac’s neighbourhood.

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NEWS

RUMOUR HAS IT...

We all like a bit of gossip, but we love it when those rumours involve Chris Pratt, a whip and an iconic theme tune. On movies has kept its ear to the ground this month to offer you the latest whisperings

SNAKES AND LEADERS Disney has sighted Chris Pratt to play the lead role of whip-cracking adventurer in the studio’s attempts to bring Indiana Jones back to the Box Office.

While The Walt Disney Company may still be in the early stages of rejuvenating the hit franchise, and all rumours are still to be confirmed, Pratt has gone from strength to strength over the last year.

2014 saw the actor make the leap to lead role material when he headed the line-up of rag tag misfits in Marvel’s Guardians of the

Galaxy. This summer will see Pratt go toe to claw with a league of genetically engineered dinosaurs in Jurassic World.

The Magnificent Seven – a remake co-starring Denzel Washington – is also expected to begin filming soon, so Pratt certainly doesn’t seem to be showing any signs of slowing down.

And with projects such as Guardians of the Galaxy 2 on the horizon, will he have the time to step in to Harrison Ford’s well-worn shoes?

AN IMPOSSIBLE MISSION? News of Disney’s Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens hitting screens this December already appears to have cast an ominous shadow over 2015’s end of year box office proceedings.

In response to the announcement, titles such as Warcraft, Kung Fu Panda 3 and Mission: Impossible 5 have each rescheduled their release dates so as not to go head to head February 2015

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with the titanic franchise.

But whereas most have postponed their release until early 2016, Paramount Pictures has opted to bring the release of the action movie, Mission: Impossible forward.

And considering its only competition this summer is Ant-Man and a Point Break remake, it may be a smart move.

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2015 OSCARS

Best Picture Nominees

Best Director Nominees

American Sniper Birdman Boyhood The Grand Budapest Hotel The Imitation Game Selma The Theory of Everything Whiplash

Wes Anderson Alejandro González Iñárritu Richard Linklater Bennett Miller Morten Tyldum

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Clint Eastwood Alejandro González Iñárritu Richard Linklater Wes Anderson Morten Tyldum Ava DuVernay James Marsh Damien Chazelle

Best Actor Nominees Steve Carell Bradley Cooper Benedict Cumberbatch Michael Keaton Eddie Redmayne

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Foxcatcher American Sniper The Imitation Game Birdman The Theory of Everything

Best Supporting Actor Nominees Robert Duvall Ethan Hawke Edward Norton Mark Ruffalo J. K. Simmons

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The Judge Boyhood Birdman Foxcatcher Whiplash

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The Grand Budapest Hotel Birdman Boyhood Foxcatcher The Imitation Game

Best Actress Nominees Marion Cotillard Felicity Jones Julianne Moore Rosamund Pike Reese Witherspoon

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Two Days, One Night The Theory of Everything Still Alice Gone Girl Wild

Best Supporting Actress Nominees Patricia Arquette Laura Dern Keira Knightley Emma Stone Meryl Streep

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Boyhood Wild The Imitation Game Birdman Into the Woods

Best Original Screenplay Nominees Birdman Boyhood Foxcatcher The Grand Budapest Hotel Nightcrawler

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Alejandro González Iñárritu Richard Linklater E. Max Frye & Dan Futterman Wes Anderson & Hugo Guinness Dan Gilroy

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87TH ACADEMY AWARDS Best Adapted Screenplay Nominees

Best Animated Feature Film Nominees

American Sniper The Imitation Game Inherent Vice The Theory of Everything Whiplash

Big Hero 6 The Boxtrolls How to Train Your Dragon 2 Song of the Sea Tale of the Princess Kaguya -

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Jason Dean Hall Graham Moore Paul Thomas Anderson Anthony McCarten Damien Chazelle

Don Hall & Chris Williams Anthony Stacchi & Graham Annable Dean DeBlois & Bonnie Arnold Tomm Moore Isao Takahata

Best Foreign Language Film Nominees

Best Feature Documentary Nominees

Ida (Poland) in Polish Leviathan (Russia) in Russian Tangerines (Estonia) in Estonian Timbuktu (Mauritania) in French Wild Tales (Argentina) in Spanish

Citizenfour Finding Vivian Maier Last Days in Vietnam The Salt of the Earth Virunga

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Paweł Pawlikowski Andrey Zvyagintsev Zaza Urushadze Abderrahmane Sissako Damián Szifrón

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Laura Poitras John Maloof & Charlie Siskel Rory Kennedy Wim Wenders Orlando von Einsiedel

Best Original Score Nominees

Best Original Song Nominees

The Grand Budapest Hotel The Imitation Game Interstellar Mr. Turner The Theory of Everything

“Everything Is Awesome” “Glory” “Grateful” “I’m Not Gonna Miss You” “Lost Stars”

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Alexandre Desplat Alexandre Desplat Hans Zimmer Gary Yershon Jóhann Jóhannsson

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The Lego Movie Selma Beyond the Lights Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me Begin Again

Best Production Design Nominees

Best Cinematography Nominees

The Grand Budapest Hotel The Imitation Game Interstellar Into the Woods Mr. Turner

Birdman The Grand Budapest Hotel Ida Mr. Turner Unbroken

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Adam Stockhausen Maria Djurkovic Nathan Crowley Dennis Gassner Suzie Davies

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Emmanuel Lubezki Robert Yeoman Łukasz Z`al & Ryszard Lenczewski Dick Pope Roger Deakins

Best Film Editing Nominees

Best Visual Effects Nominees

American Sniper Boyhood The Grand Budapest Hotel The Imitation Game Whiplash

Captain America: The Winter Soldier - Dan DeLeeuw Dawn of the Planet of the Apes - Joe Letteri Guardians of the Galaxy - Stephane Ceretti Interstellar - Paul Franklin X-Men: Days of Future Past - Richard Stammers

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Joel Cox & Gary D. Roach Sandra Adair Barney Pilling William Goldenberg Tom Cross

Find out the rest of the nominees and who the big winners are on Sunday 22 February when Sky Movies Oscars brings you all the red carpet action and the live coverage of the 87th Academy Awards hosted by Neil Patrick Harris from 23.30

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NEWS

OOT B E R OW cially R C E TH offi ng s n a v Luke E from playi ff o s n g en i v s a r D Eric

T S A E B HE T & y Y a l T p U o A t BE on s t a W Emma le in Disney ke a Bel m e r ion t c a e liv

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THE BIG SCREEN

FIFTY SHADES OF GREY 18 Well what could be sexier than a multi-billionaire bachelor with a thirst for dominance and a penchant for handcuffs?

Oh, you could give the lead role to Jamie Dornan.

Yes, it’s the movie guaranteed to raise a smile, a pulse and a lot of temperatures across the nation this valentine’s, as the world prepares for sensual lashings of cheek (bones and otherwise), leather and gratification.

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THE BIG SCREEN

After a long four year wait – filled with teasing rumours and whisperings – the book that boosted the sex toy industry among the middle aged in 2011 has finally made its transition to cinema, with the release of Fifty Shades of Grey.

Starring the ludicrously chiselled Dornan as Christian Grey – a handsome yet tormented billionaire – the story (as if we’re really that fussed with narrative at this point) follows the life-changing journey of literature student, Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson), as she grows closer to the mysterious world of Grey, while together the pair begin to unlock some of their darkest secrets.

Adapted from the E.L. James novel of the same name, this film promises to plunge in to the depths of BDSM, with the odd bit of gratuitous kissing and fondling thrown in for good measure. Yes, the name of the game here is sex, and lots of it.

The focus of much critical dispute following its original release among feminists, social scientists and literary lovers alike, James’ trilogy whipped up frenzy among audiences and shocked readers with its exploits in to the realms of sexual fantasy.

And if the Rated R certificate has anything to suggest, it looks like the movie – also starring the likes of Luke Grimes, Jennifer Ehle and Rita Ora and hitting cinemas this February 13th - is destined to follow suit.

It’s February release date makes it a handy film for a valentine’s treat, unless of course you are in a blissfully ignorant relationship, in which case, perhaps just stick with a late showing of SpongeBob: Sponge Out of Water.

For the sake of my own self-confidence, I will probably see you there.

In Cinemas: 13 February 2015 Running Time: 117 minutes Director: Sam Taylor-Johnson Starring: Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan, Jennifer Ehle, Victor Rasuk, Luke Grimes, Rita Ora

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SOUNDS GOOLSDO LIKE...

YOU MAY A

18 9 1/2 WEEKS 1986

18 THE LOVER “L’ AMANT” (ORIGINAL TITLE) 1992

15 NOTES ON A SCANDAL 2006

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NEW THIS MONTH: IN CINEMAS

JUPITER ASCENDING 12A From the directors of The Matrix, Mila Kunis and Channing Tatum star in the intergalactic sci-fi adventure, Jupiter Ascending. Jupiter Jones (Kunis) - a toilet cleaner of the future - always dreamed she was destined for bigger things.

When Caine (Tatum) - a genetically engineered former military hunter who has arrived on Earth to track her down - addresses her as ‘Your Majesty’, Jones learns that she alone is at the heart of a war between rival galactic dynasties.

In Cinemas: 6 February 2015 Running Time: 125 minutes Directors: Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski Starring: Mila Kunis, Channing Tatum, Tuppence Middleton, Sean Bean, Eddie Redmayne, Douglas Booth

SELMA 12A

PROJECT ALMANAC 12A

THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL PG

David Oyelowo excels as Martin Luther King in this dramatic account of Spring, 1965 a key moment in the US civil rights struggle. The small town of Selma, Alabama, has become the unlikely flashpoint for the fight for racial equality.

A group of teens have plenty of fun zipping back to beat bullies, correct their mistakes and win the lottery until their foolhardy exploits set in motion a life-threatening ripple effect through time with shocking consequences in this cautionary time travelling sci-fi thriller.

Sonny Kapoor (Dev Patel) has his eye on a promising property now that his first venture, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel for the Elderly and Beautiful, has only a single remaining vacancy - posing a rooming predicament for fresh arrivals Guy (Richard Gere) and Lavinia.

In Cinemas: 6 February 2015 Running Time: 128 minutes

In Cinemas: 11 February 2015 Running Time: 106 minutes

In Cinemas: 27 February 2015 Running Time: 122 minutes

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Just look up...

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SKY MOVIES: PREMIERE

TRANSCENDENCE 12

By Fiona Hooper and Tabatha Smalls

Transcendence is classed as a sci-fi, fantasy-thriller, and while Johnny Depp may be on hand to provide 50 per cent of the latter for most, this cautionary tale of the dangers of artificial intelligence, provides little more thrill than a bucket of whelks.

Which may be a little harsh, because a lot of people like whelks.

And if you are one of them, then you might even enjoy Paul Bettany’s presence within the title, which equates to something similar.

But let’s backtrack. Transcendence does have some plus points, and it is worth sticking it out until the end.

Dr. Will Castor (Depp) is at the front of the field in his work to create artificial intelligence with the ability to understand and experience the full range of human emotions. However, his work is not welcomed by everyone and when he is shot by an extremist, it is a race against time to upload himself onto a computer with the help of his wife,

Evelyn (Rebecca Hall) and his best friend Max Water (Bettany).

What follows is a fight for survival.

Or, a struggle for your attention.

Depp – pleasingly unnerving as his character that evolves from a loving husband into a power driven slice of coding- provides arguably the only cohesive performance throughout the film’s running time.

Bettany, Hall and even Morgan Freeman, each fail to deliver, boiling their roles down to that more of an army of vastly overpaid extras. In fact, this film could easily have played out just with Will (Depp) and Evelyn (Hall) and come to the same conclusion.

But what can we conclude? For a start, as a film centered on the exploits of artificial intelligence, Transcendence isn’t nearly as clever as it thinks it is.

Perhaps its writers could have held out just a few years to employ an egotistical robot to help out with the screenplay?

That said, chances are, they already did.

Sky Movies: 6 February 2015 Running Time: 119 minutes Director: Wally Pfister Starring: Johnny Depp, Rebecca Hall, Paul Bettany, Morgan Freeman

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SKY MOVIES: PREMIERE

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15 THE MATRIX 1999

15 LUCY 2014

12 EDGE OF TOMORROW 2014

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NEW THIS MONTH: ON SKY MOVIES

FADING GIGOLO 15 Dr. Parker (Sharon Stone), a wealthy dermatologist, mentions to her patient Murray (Woody Allen) that she and a woman friend, Robbie, wish to experience a ménage à trois and asks if he knows a

willing man. Murray, whose used bookstore has failed, convinces his friend Fioravante (John Turturro) to take the gig, as both are short of money. Soon, they build a thriving gigolo trade with Murray as the pimp.

Sky Movies: 6 February 2015 Running Time: 86 minutes Director: John Turturro Starring: John Turturro, Woody Allen, Sharon Stone, Liev Schreiber

RIO 2 U

MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN U

THE ART OF THE STEAL 15

Blu and Jewel enjoy life in Rio with their three kids, Carla, Bia and Tiago. Meanwhile, Blu’s former owner, Linda and her ornithologist husband, Tulio are on an expedition in the Amazon and eventually discover a quick-flying spix’s macaw that loses one of its feathers.

Mr. Peabody a Super-smart dog was rejected by every owner, leading him to devote his life to science. One day, he adopts an infant boy by the name of Sherman.

When his son takes their time machine out for a spin they play havoc with history.

With his apprentice Francie (Jay Baruchel), the well-connected Paddy, expert forger Guy, and idea man Nicky by his side Crunch Calhoun (Kurt Russell), a semireformed art thief sets his sights on one last score that will set him up for life.

Sky Movies: 13 February 2015 Running Time: 101 minutes

Sky Movies: 20 February 2015 Running Time: 89 minutes

Sky Movies: 27 February 2015 Running Time: 90 minutes

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ONE FROM THE VAULT

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ONE FROM THE VAULT

L.A. CONFIDENTIAL 18

By Scott Gentry

1997 was the year in which Paul Thomas Anderson dared to show the unthinkable in Boogie Nights, David Fincher tackled troubled minds with The Game and Con Air reaffirmed our undying love for Nicholas Cage.

It was in fact, an outstanding year for film.

But, for every awards-nominated picture, nothing captured sassy and thrilling quite like L.A. Confidential, a riveting neo-noir featuring some of Hollywood’s most bankable stars, the leading man from gritty Nazi-themed indie-flic, Romper Stomper (Crowe), and ‘that kid’ from Neighbours (Pearce).

Director Curtis Hanson had always been a fan of James Elroy’s novels (The Black Dahlia, for one) but without the help of co-writer Brian Helgeland and Elroy’s blessing, would have struggled to capture the grit, whip-smart dialogue and blood-drenched horror that made the novel of the same name, such an intriguing piece.

“Come to Los Angeles...the orange groves stretch as far as the eye can see,” is the opening discourse, spouted by the delightfully slimy, Sid Hudgens (DeVito). But beneath the groves, the movie descends in to a dark menagerie of corruption, greed, prostitution, and an L.A. where murder runs rife on the streets of Sunset Boulevard.

As crime reaches an all-time high, three

detectives (one by-the-book, one a womaniser and one with tendencies for rage) are charged with an investigation into a string of crimes. But as the labyrinthine chain unfolds, call girl (the spectacular Kim Basinger), a mysterious billionaire (David Strathairn) and some celeb look-alikes throw the trio into a journey of betrayal and lust.

Intelligently written by Hanson and Helgeland, L.A. Confidential has audiences questioning the morality of the leads at every turn, while the score

by Jerry Goldsmith compliments the murky tone of 50s L.A. wonderfully.

Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce and Kevin Spacey present the perfect choices, each delivering Oscar-worthy performances. However – and in line with the noir film tendency – it is our femme fatale who steals the show, and Kim Basinger plays her role as call girl with heart excellently.

Meanwhile, the supporting cast is astounding with noteworthy turns from David Strathairn, James Cromwell and the hilarious Danny DeVito.

Sadly, 1997 also saw L.A. Confidential go head to head with that juggernaut of a movie, Titanic and as a result took home only two of its nine nominated Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay.

However, audiences the world over herald the title as a modern day classic, and if you don’t agree, we’ll let you answer to Russell Crowe.

On BLU-RAY & DVD: Now Running Time: 138 minutes Director: Curtis Hanson Starring: Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, James Cromwell, Kim Basinger, Danny DeVito

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HAVE YOUR SAY

BAD NEIGHBOURS 15

By John Conway

Do you like Seth Rogen? Because, if you do, chances are you’ll enjoy ‘Bad Neighbours’ as much as you have enjoyed the rest of his output. If you don’t like him, then there’s not much here that will change your mind.

Seth Rogen plays Seth Rogen (character name Mac Radner – and that’s probably as far as Seth’s preparation for the role went). This time, he’s married to Rose Bryne (yes, for the film’s sake, we need to believe that she’d marry him) and they’re living happily with their baby daughter in the leafy suburbs, until a bunch of college students turn next door into a frat house.

Naturally, this is going to cause some tension and provide the basis of the film, while the ensuing war between camp Seth, Rose and baby and the students is the focus of its humour.

That’s the story in a nutshell.

However, what makes it very watchable is the fact that the characters are fairly endearing.

Seth and Rose work well together, making it easy for the audience to

root for them. But where it would be easy to turn leader of the Frat house, Zac Efron in to a total villain, the movie deviates and delivers a balanced perspective.

Yes, Efron is very full of himself and immature, but this masks something a little deeper than just another loud-mouthed college jock. He exhibits a sensitive side which gives the battle something a little less superficial than a few fart jokes.

Instead, it’s funny. And that’s worth a mention as a concept that more and more ‘comedies’ coming out of Hollywood quite simply don’t seem to take a hold of. The humour is adult in nature, so expect plenty of swearing and sex-gags. It’s only an hour and a half long and that’s plenty enough.

So, if you’re still in camp Rogen and you don’t mind pretty much watching the likes of Knocked Up or Pineapple Express again only in a different suburb, then there’s no reason you wouldn’t enjoy spending an hour and a half in Seth, Rose and Zac’s neighbourhood.

Sky Movies: 27 February 2015 Running Time: 97 minutes Director: Nicholas Stoller Starring: Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Zac Efron, Dave Franco

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