Hot Fuzz

Director: Edgar Wright

  Release Date: February 2007

 Cast: Simon Pegg – Sergeant Nicholas Angel, Nick Frost – PC Danny Butterman, Jim Broadbent – Inspector Frank Butterman, Bill Nighy – Metropolitan Chief Inspector Kenneth, Timothy Dalton – Simon Skinner

Intro: Recently voted as UK movie fans favourite comedy film of all time (Odeon poll 2009) I thought I’d revisit this movie myself and put up a quick review! I’ve always preferred this one to Shaun, but I did see Hot Fuzz first. Strangely, a lot of people I asked about both of these films tend to prefer whichever of the two they saw first. Anyway, enough rambling from me on with the review!

Plot: Sergeant Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg) is the finest police officer London has to offer, with an arrest record higher than any other on the force. However, his superiors have decided that he is making them look bad and so they send him to the seemingly sleepy town of Sandford miles out in the country. It would seem that Sandford is not only winner of ‘village of the year’ several years in a row but also crime free. Once there, Angel is partnered with overeager PC Danny Butterman (Nick Frost) whose police training consists of watching too many cop movies and going to the pub. PC Danny Butterman is also the son of amiable Police Chief Frank Butterman (Jim Broadbent).  Angel’s new assignment sees him growing more and more frustrated and is made even worse when, after a series of grisly ‘accidents’, the villagers and the police seemingly turn a blind eye to the possibility of foul play. Angel is convinced that Sandford is not what it seems and is convinced there is more sinister and darker going on.

Review: Through a montage of chase scenes and action set pieces in London we are introduced to PC Nicholas Angel, presented as one of the greatest officers the Metropolitan police have ever had. However, fearful of Angel upstaging every other policeman in London he is packed off to the sleepy village of Sandford, and he is none to happy about the new assignment.

From the word go the film is packed full of references and draws on this source material brilliantly throughout. It is presented from a very British perspective, in a village where everybody knows each other, but also combines story elements from films such Bad Boys II and Point Break, and puts this kind of explosive Hollywood action into the quaint ‘local’ village of Sandford. This works surprisingly well, and includes some excellent action set pieces with gunfights at the local Somerfield and local pub. The second half is the more action packed of the movie, with car chases through country lanes, a swan chase… and even an action packed fight scene in the towns own model village. This all produces (with a tongue in cheek feel) some funny scenes and great stunt work, including the odd one liner thrown in for good measure.

There are some inventively gory scenes, making this not the usual light hearted British comedy most are used to (as well as making everyone a bit more careful around churches and model villages). There are some great performances from everyone in the cast. Pegg and Frost make an awesome comedy duo. As well as the ‘moustache twiddling’ Simon Skinner played by Timothy Dalton and the supposedly kindly old amiable Chief Inspector Frank Butterman, played by Jim Broadbent.

Conclusion: Hot Fuzz is a homage to all buddy cop action movies in the years gone by. Hot Fuzz, like Shaun of the Dead draws from all the material that makes this kind of movie work. Shaun of the Dead was not only a spoof of all zombie movies, great and small, but it was also a thank you with a ‘tip of the cap’ gesture to all those movies too. Hot Fuzz does the same thing and it does it superbly. Pegg is brilliant as is Frost as his bumbling sidekick Danny Butterman. Overall an enjoyable, action packed comedy. Let’s hope this kind of writing, enthusiasm and feeling of personal input into a film continues. Now, does anyone fancy a cornetto? 

[Somehow this film, too, slipped through the cracks in my trying to get this blog up to speed. I saw it in July, I think.]

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the 6th movie in the Harry Potter series based on J.K. Rowling’s book of the same name. It was directed by David Yates and stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Julie Walters, David Thewlis and Jim Broadbent.

[SPOILERS for the WHOLE SERIES after this point.]

Plot:
Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) is in his sixth year at Hogwarts (school for wizadry). He finds a mysterious book that belonged to the half-blood prince and the notes in it help him star in Prof. Slughorn’s (Jim Broadbent) potion class. At the same time he works together with Prof. Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) to find out more about Lord Voldemort and his weaknesses.

The Half-Blood Prince is definitely the weakest of all the Potter movies so far. The plot’s all over the place, things happen you can only understand if you’ve read the books and HOLY SHIT! they spoil the seventh book/movie. What the hell?

I don’t think I’ve said it here, but if I did, I’ll gladly say it again: David Yates is the worst thing that could have happened to this series and that he gets to do the last four films is even more of a catastrophe. He can’t pace his stories, he can’t even manage to have one constant plot. Instead, his plot is all over the place. Watching the Half-Blood Prince is like watching an ADD bunny: “Oh, I gotta tell you about this it’s so interesting and then oh shit I need to tell you this first and have you seen this and what was I talking about? yeah right there’s this thing I gotta tell you but first have a piece of cake and by the way the whole point of the thing is and yeah so the story…”

It’s unbelievably annoying. And it leads to massive spoilers.

I can live with the fact that they completely butchered the whole Tonks-Lupine thing (no courtship, no nothing, just a “honey” all of a sudden?) because, okay, while I love their story, it’s not really a central one.

But why, why would you go ahead and completely spoil the seventh book/movie and the whole Snape thing? What purpose could that serve?

And all the relationship stuff was so badly done, I really wished Mike Newell would come back. Because he knows how to handle that.

Well. Apart from that, it was fine. The acting’s good, the supporting cast is great and the special effects were well done.

So, summarising: it definitely is the weakest movie so far and it makes me afraid of what the last two will be like but it didn’t put me off watching the rest (I don’t think that anything could).

Não foi o melhor retorno do Indy, na minha modesta opinião, mas rendeu uma ou outra coisa boa, como essa frase, dita pelo professor Dean Charles Stanforth, interpretado pelo pai da Bridget, Jim Broadbent.

We seem to have reached the age where life stops giving us things and starts taking them away.

E o que você achou do último Indiana Jones?

Já viu a versão Lego?

A competência de Nicholas Angel (policial londrino) é tanta que até faz os outros policias parecerem inúteis e com tamanha competência seus superiores resolvem mudar Angel de Londres à uma pequena cidade com festas tradicionais e encontros na vizinhança.
Lá Angel conhece o policial Danny Butterman,policial bobo e bem intencionado,quando tudo parecia perdido uma série de acidentes ediondos motiva Angel a entrar em ação.Convencido que há algo errado , ele percebe que Sanford não é tão tranquila assim.

Na década vemos trocentos filmes americano porcos fazendo paródia de certos filmes e gêneros,mas foi na Inglaterra e com somente dois filmes onde nós encontramos os melhores fazedores de paródias da década.
É impossível falar de Chumbo Grosso sem antes falar do maravilhoso Todo mundo Quase morto,sendo que Chumbo Grosso vai ainda mais além.
Quando todos pensávamos que Chumbo Grosso era só mais um filme fazendo paródia de filmes policiais,vemos que o filme vai além e nos apresenta uma trama um pouco parecida com o filme A Vila,a sociedade totalmente utópica do filme faz o filme de Shyamalan parece só mais um.
O roteiro e a direção são certeiras,sem falhas,alguns momentos previsíveis e alguns surpresos,a mistura de ação e comédia é perfeita e pra ajudar ainda mais temos a absurdamente competente edição.
Fotografias,locações e trilha sonora são também ótimas e notáveis e pra falar do filme é impossível não comentar nas referências engraçadíssimas á Caçadores de emoção,perfeito.As atuações são impecáveis Simon Pegg tá incrível (pra variar) mas quem rouba a cena é Nick Frost que mistura inocência com idiotice na medida certa,ainda temos os ótimos Thimothy Dalton,Jim Broadbent e Paddy Considine espetaculares.

Por fim o filme é impecável,uma das melhores comédias da década e concerteza a mais mal distribuída no Brasil e a mais subestimada de todas é o tipo de filme que se existe algum tipo de erro,me indiquem que eu não enxergo.

Nota:10/10

Chumbo Grosso (Hot Fuzz,2007)
Diretor:Edgar Wright
Roteiro:Edgar Wright e Simon Pegg
Elenco:Simon Pegg,Martin Freeman,Bill Nighy,Nick Frost,Thimoty Dalton,Paddy Considine,Jim Broadbent

E um dia desses da semana passada (desleixado) saiu os indicados do British Independent Film Awards 2009.
Esse ano o filme com o maior número de indicações é Fish Tank com 8 indicações,Fish Tank se trata do relacionamento de Mia com sua mãe meio louca e troca de namorados frequentemente.Outros filmes recordistas em indicações são Moon com 7 Indicações e An Education,In The Loop e Nowhere Boy com 6 indicações,vamos a lista completa de indicados:

Melhor Filme

• An Education
• Fish Tank
• In The Loop
• Moon
• Nowhere Boy

Mãe Diná Feelings:Nessas premiações sempre rola aquela curiosidade esperta entre todos os filmes citados e pra mim é sempre nos filmes britânicos onde ficam as melhores surpresas (Na Mira Do Chefe e Simplesmente Feliz) e já nesse ano In The Loop me aguça muita curiosidade por muita gente tá falando bem e é sempre bom ver James Gandolfini em tela,não importa o tamanho e sem contar Nowhere Boy que é o que mais me atraí por contar a história do início da amizade de John Lennon e Paul McCartney,mas mesmo assim acredito que An Education leva essa.

Melhor Diretor

• Lone Scherfig por An Education
• Jane Campion por Bright Star
• Andrea Arnold por Fish Tank
• Armando Ianucci por In The Loop
• Duncan Jones por Moon

Mãe Diná Feelings:Já essa categoria algo me diz que quem se saiu melhor na direção foi Armando Ianucci (gente não liga é puro tato),mas torcendo mesmo eu torço é pela Jane Campion e novamente algo me diz que Bright Star vai ser fodíssimo.

Melhor Ator

• Tom Hardy por Bronson
• Peter Capaldi por In The Loop
• Sam Rockwell por Moon
• Aaron Johnson por Nowhere Boy
• Andy Serkis por Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll

Mãe Diná Feelings:Nessa acho que a briga fica entre Peter Capaldi e Sam Rockwell,mas eu quero acreditar que Aaron Johnson fez um trabalho muito bom em Nowhere Boy.

Melhor Atriz

• Carey Mulligan por An Education
• Abbie Cornish por Bright Star
• Katie Jarvis por Fish Tank
• Sophie Okonedo por Skin
• Emily Blunt por The Young Victoria

Mãe Diná Feelings:Essas categorias femininas são sempre puta complicadas pra mim porque pra mim todas sempre merecem (menos Gwyneth Paltrow) acho que quem leva é Carey Mulligan pelo fato da mulher tá naquelas de que todo mundo tá amando,mas minha torcida fica com Abbie Cornish,mas correndo por fora temos Katie Jarvis,o filme anda sendo muito bem comentado e sua atuação com críticas muito positivas.
E na categoria ainda tem as deliciosas Sophie Okonedo e a incrível Emily Blunt.

Melhor Ator Coadjuvante

• Alfred Molina por An Education
• Michael Fassbender por Fish Tank
• Tom Hollander por In The Loop
• John Henshaw por Looking for Eric
• Jim Broadbent por The Damned United

Mãe Diná Feelings:Ah,realmente não sei o que tá se passando na categoria,temos nomes conhecidos e entre eles acho que a maior possibilidade de prêmio vai para Alfred Molina (o cara merece reconhecimento mesmo que seja tarde),mas não vamos esquecer de Jim Broadbent ainda mais num filme com roteiro de Peter Morgan.

Melhor Atriz Coadjuvante

• Rosamund Pike por An Education
• Kerry Fox por Bright Star
• Kierston Wareig por Fish Tank
• Anne Marie Duff por Nowhere Boy
• Kristin Scott Thomas por Nowhere Boy

Mãe Diná Feelings:Essa categoria o que ando lendo por aí a briga tá entre Rosamund Pike *entidade desenhada a mão por deus* e Kierston Wareig,mas minha torcida fica com Kristin Scott Thomas,sempre ela!

Tá aí a lista de indicados pro British Independent Film Awards 2009,se quiser conferir a lista completa tá aqui.

Un film del 2009, regia di Tom Hooper, con Michael Sheen / Jim Broadbent / Timothy Spall / Joseph Dempsie. Prodotto da Sony Pictures Releasing Italia ()

Drammatico

Nell’Inghilterra degli anni ‘60 e ‘70, Brian Cloughs rimase per 44 giorni manager della squadra di calcio inglese del Leeds United. Dopo essere stato allenato da Don Revie, il Leeds si distingue per uno stile di gioco cinico e aggressivo che verrà modificato dal lavoro di Brian Clough, il quale aveva ottenuto uno straordinario successo come allenatore dell’Hartlepool e del Derby County .

Haz click en la imagen para verla al detalle

A pesar de que la cinta se ha presentado en ya varios festivales a lo largo del mundo, se acaba de anunciar que Young Victoria se estará estrenando dentro del circuito comercial hasta el priemr trimestre del 2010, e incluso no se sabe de una fecha definida. La cinta aborda los primeros años de reinado de Victoria de Inglaterra, centrándose particularmente en su vida romántica. El film ha recibido críticas excelente en donde se ha exhibido, y todo parece indicar que, si no ha llegado aún a las salas, se trata de problemas de distribución.

Left to Right: Timothy Spall as Peter Taylor and Michael Sheen as Brian Clough. Photo taken by Laurie Sparham © Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics, All Rights Reserved.

The Damned United details the brief  44 days of  Brian Clough’s stint as manager of Leeds United, then England’s top football team, after having taken the Derby club from nowheresville to national and even international pre-eminence in football.

I mean, um, soccer…because I’m American.  Sorry.  Work with me, here.

The Damned United, suprisingly enough, isn’t sports flick.  Not really. We aren’t tugged through the suspense of a crucial play or career-altering blooper.  The action happens off-camera.  Team training scenes (while strong) are brushed in as supporting material for the central subject of the film: the personal and professional relationships that impacted the world of British footballing, centering on four forces in particular:

1.  Don Revie, the brilliantly successful manager of Leeds United, who appoints Clough as his successor.  Colm Meany (American audiences will recognize him from such Irish smash hits as The Commitments and Into the West) shows us a Mr. Revie who earns the (grudging) respect of his enemies, and takes no prisoners.

2.  Sam Longson, the frugal chairman of the Derby football club (played by Jim Broadbent of  Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and The Young Victoria), and the board of the club et al.

3. Peter Taylor (Timothy Spall…aka Peter Pettigrew in the Harry Potter movies, among many other credits), Clough’s indispensable partner in crime.

4. And of course, the dyanmic Brian Clough himself (played by none other than Michael Sheen of Frost/Nixon and The Queen).

If any of these four wobble, down goes the tabletop. This balancing act provides endless comic opportunity for the film, and Michael Sheen’s ability to embrace Clough – good, bad, witty, or irritating – never fails to shine. His natural screen charm is perfect for Brian Clough, who runs on vision, down to the fumes.

Director Tom Hooper is also a man with a clear vision.  He crafts an insider’s look for those who remember this era in British national footballing.  The film focuses on the secret behind-the-scenes strategies, posturing, and aggression that never made the news. I can only  imagine what a confection this movie might have been for me if I’d had a personal history with these events. Indeed this is my only point of disconnection with the film – the feeling that I just don’t, and won’t, get the inside joke.

This is not to say the movie is hard to follow plot-wise; Hooper cleverly connects the dots for us.  Of course, he also throws in some heavy shadows over Sheen’s face and some colorful lighting that teeters on the edge of Bali Hai syndrome…for which I can forgive him in view of the creative ways he uses the cramped and dingy interiors of the Derby football club to reflect, even express, Clough’s dreams for himself and his players.

Clough can be a tough character to like, at times, but Hooper manages to get us on his side throughout.

In short, The Damned United is a fun ride with extremely witty actors and a visionary director.  Laughs guaranteed.

-Margaretta Lantz

2012

(Columbia) John Cusack, Woody Harrelson, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt, Danny Glover, Thandie Newton. Directed by Roland Emmerich

From the director of The Day After Tomorrow comes another end-of-the-world epic, making Roland Emmerich the modern-day Irwin Allen (younger folk not familiar with the name can google him). The Mayan calendar warns that the world will end in December, 2012 and there are several scientists – some fairly notable – who took that seriously. Not seriously enough however, as global cataclysmic mayhem ensues on a blockbuster scale.

See the trailer here.

For more on the movie this is the website.

Rating: PG-13 (for intense disaster sequences and some language)

The Damned United

(Sony Classics) Michael Sheen, Timothy Spall, Colm Meaney, Jim Broadbent. In the late 1960s, the most powerful football club – soccer to us Yanks – in the UK was Leeds United. They were a formidable dynasty with some of the top players in the sport and managed by Don Revie, one of the most revered coaches in the game. When Revie’s greatest rival Brian Clough was tapped to take over the United coaching reign, it would usher in one of the most notorious coaching situations in the history of the game.

See the trailer here.

For more on the movie this is the website.

Rating: R (for language)

Pirate Radio

(Focus) Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Kenneth Branagh, January Jones. In the swinging 60s, British rock and roll bands were changing the face of music and culture forever, yet the English people were only permitted to hear two hours a week of rock music. A group of enterprising and passionate DJs took to the high seas to launch their own pirate radio stations, free of government restrictions and rules. The British government didn’t take kindly to the open defiance of their authority and did everything in their power to shut them down. I’m told this is loosely based on actual events of the time but regardless the soundtrack to this movie is killer!

See the trailer here.

For more on the movie this is the website.

Rating: R (for language, and some sexual content including brief nudity)

Things are going to be a little different around here… without Don.

– Brian Clough

The Damned United was not on my radar whatsoever. I never heard of the film until Mike from Big Mike’s Movie Blog reviewed it. I heard that people were digging this movie. Typically, I don’t like sports films, especially soccer. This movie tries to delve into the genius of England’s greatest soccer coach, Brian Clough, but it barely scratches the surface.

In July 1974, Leeds United fail to make the World Cup that year. The most successful manager of the club’s history, Don Revie (Colm Meaney) leaves his post to manage English National Football Team. His successor is the opinionated Brian Clough (Michael Sheen), who has some choice words about Leeds in the past. His new team does not like the new guy.

The action flashes back six years earlier, the days that he was with a fledging team of Derby County with his assistant manager Pete Taylor (Timothy Spall). During random drawing of which teams would square off, second division Derby is selected to play first division Leeds. The Derby team is humiliated by a loss when Leeds team implements dirty tactics to win their games.

This begins a rivalry between the two clubs. If Derby wants to be the best, they have to beat the best by any means necessary. Brian wants to have a player that could help them reach the top of the second division. The management goes with the over the hill, Dave Mackay (Brian McCardie). This swift action causes strife with chairman of the team, Sam Longson (Jim Broadbent).

His new strategy works as the club move up the second division to capture the cup. The nation takes notice about his accomplishment. Revie wants to humiliate Clough as much as he can.

Michael Sheen gave a very good performance in this movie. Some parts of the movie were very good with the self-realization that we good. I wish that the movie focused more on that. It mainly focused on Clough’s obsession with getting back at Revie. When the movie was over, I thought, “That’s it.” It felt like a hanging chad.

Judgment: There is a good movie here. You have to fish for it.

Rating: ***1/2

 Mi relación con el deporte es prácticamente nula: ni lo practico ni me interesa demasiado verlo practicar a otros. Sin embargo, ello no es óbice para que no pueda disfrutar de una película cuyo tema principal tiene que ver con el fútbol.

“The Damned United” (2009) nos cuenta una parte de la carrera deportiva de Brian Clough, uno de los entrenadores ingleses más importantes del que no había oído hablar en mi vida. Sin embargo que nadie se lleve a engaño, porque la película de Tom Hooper no es ni por asomo un biopic, sino que pretende ser algo mucho más profundo.

En 1967 Brian Clough (ex jugador profesional) y su segundo entrenador Peter Taylor se hacen cargo del club de fútbol Derby County, que lleva una década hundido en la segunda división inglesa, y consiguen su ascenso a primera un año después. En las siguientes temporadas el Derby no sólo mantuvo su plaza en la división de honor, sino que conseguiría su primer título liguero en 1972. Todo parecía marchar sobre ruedas hasta que Clough comienza a tener problemas con la directiva y termina fichando por el todopoderoso Leeds United en el que será cesado 44 días después de firmar el contrato.

Visto así parece un poco raro que una película centre gran parte de su metraje en el fracaso de su protagonista, pero es que es precisamente ahí donde está el verdadero interés de esta cinta o, más bien, el relato de las causas de ese fracaso es lo que convierten “The Damned United” en una de las mejores películas del género deportivo que he visto en mucho tiempo. De hecho, una tiene la sensación de que ese embalaje deportivo es una simple excusa para hablar de qué es lo que ocurre en los vestuarios y en los despachos de los directivos. Es interesante colarse en esos lugares, que nos están vedados, de la mano del ambicioso Brian Clough.

Todo se inicia cuando el Leeds United de primera división, entrenado por el mítico Don Revie, acude al campo del modesto Derby County para jugar una eliminatoria. Clough, que está entusiasmado con el encuentro, se siente despreciado por Revie y, a partir de ese instante, se dedicará en cuerpo y alma a vengarse de la supuesta afrenta. Es así como se nos narrará cómo Clough (egocéntrico, pagado de sí mismo, orgulloso y soberbio, pero tremendamente optimista) hará lo imposible para lograr sus propósitos. En este sentido “The Damned United” se convierte en una película más interesada en analizar la fascinante y compleja personalidad de Clough que en ensalzar sus gestas deportivas.

No os asustéis al pensar que esta película narra sucesos que muchos desconocíamos o que sus protagonistas nos son tan ajenos que, probablemente, nos perderemos entre tantos datos. La trama en la que se sustenta esta cinta puede ser seguida por cualquier persona sea aficionada al fútbol o no sin temor a aburrirse, más bien todo lo contrario.

Tom Hooper (más curtido en el mundo de la televisión) lleva a cabo un excelente trabajo dotando a su película de un ritmo que nunca decae y de una realista ambientación, aunque hay que tener presente que cuenta con la inestimable colaboración del guionista Peter Morgan responsable de títulos tan conocidos como “El último rey de Escocia” (2006), “The Queen” (2006), “Las hermanas Bolena” (2008) o “El desafío: Frost contra Nixon” (2008).

Los protagonistas de la citada película son grandes actores británicos que han participado en producciones muy conocidas y que nos regalan unas estupendas actuaciones. Para dar vida al protagonista encontramos a Michael Sheen al que pudimos ver, por ejemplo, encarnando a Tony Blair o a David Frost. Timothy Spall (el Peter Pettigrew de la saga “Harry Potter”) interpreta a Peter Taylor; Jim Broadbent (“Arma fatal”, “Harry Potter y el misterio del príncipe”) al presidente del Derby County; Colm Meany (“Dublineses”, “La jungla 2: Alerta roja”, “The commitments”, “Café irlandés” o “La camioneta”) a Don Revie y Stephen Graham (“This is England” o “Enemigos públicos”) es Billy Bremer, capitán del Leeds.

Rodada con un bajo presupuesto, huyendo de las manidas escenas de las pelis de deportes (cámara lenta incluida), centrándose en lo que vive un entrenador cuando sale de un campo de fútbol, “The Damned United” está pasando casi desapercibida por nuestros cines. Ay, qué poco nos gusta arriesgarnos con productos que no gozan de una machacona publicidad…

Para ver la ficha de la película, pincha aquí.

Briony 

Il maledetto United (The Damned United) è un film del 2009 scritto da Peter Morgan e diretto da Tom Hooper, basato sull’omonimo romanzo di David Peace.

Leggi altre notizie su: | Drammatico | Tom Hooper | Michael Sheen | Jim Broadbent

I never knew that the mafia was attracted to Broadway so much.

The story follows a hack 1920s playwright (John Cusack) who uses a mobster to finance his newest play. When the gangster’s bodyguard (Chazz Palminteri) starts rewriting the play to make it more believable, he shows more talent than Cusack. The complications of the play come within it’s stars who also include Diane Wiest, Jim Broadbent, and Jennifer Tilly.

This is directed by one of my favorites, Woody Allen, and I thought this film was a whole lot more funnier than any other of his films. The film doesn’t break any new ground or give us a new spin on the way we watch film, but it’s very enjoyable nonetheless.

Allen writes one of his best scripts ever, when in this film he does know that it takes time to create these characters until we find out their funny. I liked how a lot of these antics from these characters were all just so funny. Not the kind of chuckle funny, but really big laugh out loud funny, and found this as a very interesting take on a not so inspired plot.

The film is very funny but it’s also very sly. You can read it as a comedy, but you can also sense that in a subtle way, Woody Allen is making some comments on his own roles as an artist. Is he the Cusack character that is earnest but lacking in emotional strife? Or the gangster who follows art with a sure conclusion of what’s really going on? It’s very fun to actually figure it out for yourself, and keeps you thinking about the statement.

The only problem I had with this film is that it seemed to much of a parody. I felt like it was a Woody Allen parody film on a late-period film. The jokes, stage direction, some of the characters, and even the killings. Though they were funny I still felt the parody sense of the film that lied within.

The performances are one of the most vibrant I have seen in a long time from any film. Cusack does a good job, as usual, but it’s really the witty side characters that are really good. Chazz Paliminteri does one of his best jobs in this film, and is used in the beginning as a side character, then one after another, is used more and more and he creates this wonderful character that you love and hate at the same time. Wiest is amazing in this film and totally steals the show with every scene, also with Jennifer Tilly turning in a surprising Oscar nominee performance.

Consensus: Not very inspired, Bullets Over Broadway features some eccentric performances, a hilarious script and a great message, which ultimately climaxes in one of Woody Allen’s best films.

9/10=Full Priceee!!!

THE DAMNED UNITED (Reino Unido 2.009, 98 Minutos, Drama)
Dirección: Tom Hooper.
Guión: Peter Morgan sobre la novela de David Peace.
Reparto: Michael Sheen, Timothy Spall, Colm Meaney, Jim Broadbent, Stephen Graham, Peter McDonald.
Fotografía: Ben Smithard.
Música: Rob Lane.

Valoración: 8/10

Sinopsis: Brian Clough ha hecho campeón al modesto Derby County y es uno de los técnicos jóvenes mejor valorados del país. Su talento le ha llevado a convertirse en el nuevo técnico del poderoso Leeds United, un equipo de grandes aspiraciones que lo ha ganado todo de la mano de su anterior entrenador, que tras 16 años en el cargo abadona su puesto para ser seleccionador de Inglaterra. Todos esperan lo mejor de Clough, pero lo que no saben es que este odia al Leeds, un equipo que según él lo ha ganado todo gracias a su habilidad para hacer trampas y no por su juego. Clough se propondrá cambiar radicalmente a su peor enemigo y hacer del Leeds un equipo ganador y, además, honorable.

Crítica: Cuan solitaria y desoladora es la profesión del entrenador de fútbol, siempre incomprendido, ignorado en los éxitos y crucificado en los fracasos. Cuando algo falla él es el culpable, cuando algo funciona el mérito es de otros. The Damned United habla de todas esas sensaciones de banquillo y vestuario a través de la historia de Brian Clough, leyenda del deporte rey por méritos deportivos, desde luego, pero también filosóficos. En una época en la que el fútbol empezaba a abandonar los campos embarrados, los viejos estadios de paredes desconchadas y los banquillos astillados, para abrazar el neón y el corporativismo, Clough enseñó a todo un deporte el significado de la palabra victoria. Para Clough, genio con genio e ingenio, el fin no justificaba los medios. Estos eran un fin en sí mismos. La forma de alcanzar la gloria era tan importante como la propia gloria. Haciendo uso de una inteligente narración en la que es imposible perderse a pesar de sus continuos saltos en el tiempo, Hooper nos cuenta la vida y obra de Clough durante sus 44 días al frente del gigantesco United, un equipo imparable con pies de barro al que las luchas de egos terminaron por derrumbar. Tras las bambalinas del mayor espectáculo del mundo, The Damned United y un exquisito Michael Sheen hablan de esa pasión surgida de las entrañas que hace de este deporte algo más. Notable drama con una gran dirección, un guión consistente y un reparto a gran nivel -en especial su citado protagonista- que hará las delicias de los fans del balón. Siempre y cuando visualicen este como una forma redonda deshilachada de cuero desgastado por el barro, las patadas y las redes contrarias, y no como un elemento de diseño a la venta en las mejores tiendas de marca.

Her sene illaki bir dönem filmi çıkar ve Oscar’da kostüm tasarımı dalına aday olur biliyorsunuz.Son yıllardan örnek vermek gerekirse aklıma gelen filmler The Duchess, Elizabeth: The Golden Age ve Marie Antoinette.Üçü de kraliyet saraylarında geçen, aslında Oscar’da diğer kategorilerde pek iddiası olmayan filmler.Dediğim gibi “dönem filmi” işte.Bu sene de kraliyet ailesine ait bir film var elimizde, The Young Victoria.Aslında film bu sene gerçekleşecek 82. Akademi Ödülleri için değil 81. Akademi Ödülleri için The Duchess ile beraber anılıyordu.Ancak filmin gösterim tarihi ertelenince bu senenin yarışına dahil oldu The Young Victoria.Filmin Emily Blunt için de bir adaylık getirisi olacağını düşünenler olsa da bence abartmasınlar, böyle bir şey mümkün değil.

The Young Victoria‘nın konusu 63 yıllık bir süreyle Birleşik Krallık’ta en fazla hükümdarlık sürmüş I. Victoria’nın hayatını anlatıyor.Ama adından da anlaşılabileceği gibi genç zamanlarını.Amcası IV. William’ın ölümü üzerine tahta 18 yaşında çıkan Victoria’nın hayatından tahta çıkış ve Prens Albert’la evlilik dönemlerini izliyoruz filmde, ki bana göre tadı damağımızda kalıyor.

Özellikle 2005 yapımı C.R.A.Z.Y filmiyle tanınan Jean-Marc Vallee yönetiyor filmi.Yemek sırasında bardaklarla yaptığı kamera oyununa hasta olduğumu ekleyerek, Vallee‘nin yönetmenliğinin oldukça iyi olduğunu söylemek istiyorum.Bu tarz filmlerde kostümlerle göz boyanabileceği düşünülse de bana göre yönetmenlik de en az kostümler kadar önemli.Çok berbat bir televizyon yönetmenini koyun Marie Antoinette‘in başına da göreyim.Sofia Coppola olmadan Marie Antoinette nasıl bir hiçse bu diğerleri için de geçerli.

Senaryo ise Gosford Park ile Oscar almış Julian Fellowes‘e ait.Kendisinin yeni Alfonso Cuaron projesi The Tourist‘in senaryosunu da yazdığını ekleyeyim.Filmin oyuncuları ise Angelina Jolie ve Johnny Depp olacakmış.Konumuza tekrar dönersek, Fellowes iyi bir iş çıkarmış ama kesinlikle dört dörtlük değil.Hatta bir sürü kusur sayabilirim size.Bir kere filmin ilk yarısı inanılmaz derecede yavaş işledi ve klişelerle doluydu.Ne olacağını zaten daha önceki dönem filmlerinde görmüştük.İkinci yarısında ise senaryo delice bir hız aldı ve zevki de o zaman çıktı zaten.Eksi puanlar buradan gelsin.

Kadroda ise hakikaten harika isimler var.Victoria’yı canlandıran Emily Blunt tek kelimeyle harika.Zannediyorum The Devil Wears Prada‘da Blunt bize ne kadar yetenekli olduğunu haber vermişti.Bu sene Cheri‘de de izlediğim Rupert Friend ise Cheri‘den bambaşka bir role bürünmüş.Bir sene içerisinde iki dönem filminde oynamasına önce talihsizlik diye yaklaşmış olsam da taban tabana zıt bu iki role de apayrı renkler katmış Friend.Ben bu beye dikkat derim.Kadro bu kadarla bitmiyor.Başta kısaca izlediğimiz Jim Broadbent ve filmde iyiyle kötü olmak arasında giden anne rolündeki Miranda Richardson filmin deneyimlilerinden.Yan rollerin başarılı oyuncusu Mark Strong bir başka süpriz.Bir türlü hak ettiği değeri görmeyen Paul Bettany gözüme takılan son isim.

Bu tarz filmlerde çok önemli olduğunu düşündüğüm müzikler ise fena değildi.The Duchess‘inkilerle boy ölçüşemezdi tabi ama rahatsız da etmedi.Filmin müziklerini besteleyen isim Ilan Eshkeri bu arada.Kendisini Stardust ve Hannibal Rising’den tanıyan vardır.

Kısacası film ortalamanın üzerinde bir seyirdeydi.Yazdıklarımdan pek kusuru yokmuş gibi görünse de senaryodaki durgunluğun gitmediği sıralarda hakikaten sıkılıyorsunuz.Ama Victoria’ya ve Emily Blunt‘a karşı koyamıyorum.Bence izleyin.

B-

LIFE IS SWEET av Mike Leigh (1991)
Med Jim Broadbent, Alison Steadman, Jane Horrocks, Claire Skinner, Timothy Spall, Stephen Rea, David Thewlis, Moya Brady

SPOILERVARNING

Det kanske delvis beror på musiken – som påminner om den lätt igenkännbara dragspelsmusik man så ofta hör i franska filmer – men det är inte primärt därför Life Is Sweet känns som en Jacques Tati-film men skruvad 90 grader åt ett annat håll eftersom den är gjord i England och skruvad ytterligare 90 grader åt ytterligare ett annat håll eftersom den är gjord av Mike Leigh. Det känns mycket sannolikt att Mike Leigh varit inspirerad av Jacques Tati, men till skillnad från Jacques Tati gör han inte en komedi som med förundrade ögon betraktar en värld som är fullkomligt absurd – vår – utan en dramakomedi som betraktar en väldigt engelsk och inte alldeles funktionell familj med en svårt dysfunktionell dotter, som lider av både bulimi och klinisk depression.

Life Is Sweet balanserar förbluffande väl på gränsen mellan drama och komedi, och är alltså båda delarna. Med lyckat resultat är det sällsyntare än man kan tro och de flesta filmer som försöker kantrar omgående. Men här utspelas komedin inte bara mot en klangbotten av tragedi, filmen övergår i och slutar som hoppfull tragedi. Det här är något som Mike Leigh kommit att göra även senare, men kanske inte så uttalat som här.

Man borde bli tokig på Alison Steadman, familjens mamma, som kulsprutesmattrande spottar ur sig som hon själv tycker väldigt skojiga kommentarer till hennes och familjens vardag i en engelsk förort och oavbrutet flamsskrattar åt sina egna skämt, men det blir man inte. Tvärtom blir man oemotståndligt charmad. För dels framstår hon med sitt goda humör som så rörande hjärtevarm i en tillvaro där skälen att vara rörande hjärtevarm är få, dels får man så småningom en känsla av att det här är hennes sätt att klara av tillvaron, att det ligger mer i flamsskrattet än man i förstone kan tro. Den misstanken bekräftas, för det här är inte den flamsigt ytliga människa man ser under nästan hela filmen, det är en empatisk och insiktsfull människa, med oväntat stor förståelse för inte minst den svårt problemfyllda av sina tvillingdöttrar – spelad med en säreget överdriven stil av Jane Horrocks, en stil som borde bli ett självparodiskt magplask men som tvärtom träffar mitt i prick. Jag är inte alldeles på det klara med hur Mike Leigh och Jane Horrocks lyckats så väl med att så skickligt balansera på rätt sida om även den gränsen, men det har de. Och därför känns det desto märkligare att Timothy Spalls insats som familjens vän Aubrey, uppenbart en människa med flera bokstavsdiagnoser, spelas så överdrivet att han framstår som en lyteskomisk pajas utan trovärdighet.

Mike Leigh har alltid befolkat sina filmer med vardagens människor, men inte så sällan med dem av vardagens människor som har problem som gör dem i någon mening dysfunktionella. Jag tror att han utforskar den sidan hos nutidens människa – och ur alla möjliga synvinklar, från oförmåga att skaffa barn och det livstrauma det innebär för ett par som verkligen vill ha barn (inte i den här filmen) till ovanstående nämnda bulimiska, kliniskt deprimerade unga kvinna till en änglamakerska (också en annan film), och så vidare – helt enkelt för att olika former av dysfunktionalitet är väldigt mycket mer utbredda än någon egentligen låtsas om eller för den delen ens tror. Mike Leigh söker sig in bakom väggarna hos utvalda invånare i den enorma, moderna, anonyma storstaden, där sådana väldiga sjok av befolkningen på ytan är så strömlinjeformat lika varandra, där individerna som väller fram i mångtusenhövdade folkmassor på väg till jobbet varje morgon vid en hastig anblick kan förefalla utbytbara mot varandra. Så är det förstås aldrig och när Mike Leigh väljer ut någon eller några av individerna – för det mesta en familj – ur den väldiga folkmassan och tränger innanför huden på dem, visar han oss drama efter drama, med komiska men oftare tragiska inslag, som ständigt pågår runt omkring oss i den verklighet där vi lever, men oftast innanför hemmets väggar.

Mitt i allt detta, mitt i en problemfylld tillvaro som ytligt sett skrattas bort av en flamsig Alison Steadman, vågar folk även drömma och därför mot bättre vetande, som man skulle kunna tycka, exempelvis som hennes man Jim Broadbent köpa sig en rostig gammal husvagn till överpris i avsikt att förvandla den till en ambulerande korvkiosk. Den drömmen ter sig säkert inte särskilt storslagen för nästan någon av oss, för även om den med hårt arbete går i uppfyllelse är den inte rimligen något som står särskilt högt upp på de flesta människors önskelista över livsmål – men är den verkligen så ynklig?! Är det inte det faktum att man fortfarande förmår drömma som är det väsentliga?! Spelar det någon större roll vari drömmen består?!

Det som kanske mer än något annat griper tittaren i Mike Leighs filmer är den respekt och förståelse han visar de på ytan anonyma men i själva verket mycket älsk- , ömkans- och beundrandsvärda människor i vars liv han tränger in, och den respekten och den förståelsen förmedlar han på ett sätt som gör hans filmer till betydande filmkonst.

Kör hårt,
Bellis

Brian Clough endures a televised one-on-one encounter with Don Revie in "The Damned United".

(Tom Hooper, 2009)

November 22, 2009

by Joel Crary

To call football a religion in the UK wouldn’t be far off, entangled as it seems to be in age-old church rivalries and characterized by the devoted support of a working class who would rather sing hymns at the stadium than in a pew on Sunday. “You know it’s illegal to sign someone on the Sabbath,” Manager Brian Clough (Michael Sheen) reminds his assistant Peter Taylor (Timothy Spall) as they approach the front door of a prospective defender. Maybe just a handshake now, to stay on the side of both divine and state law.

It was Clough’s decision to sign Dave Mackay (Brian McCardie) that brought Derby County out of the depths of the English league’s second division in 1969, or so he explains to Sam Longson (Jim Broadbent), the team chairman. Longson believes that the players pull rank on management, as do the fans, for that matter. He has a point. Clough could care less about the fans. He has his sights set on getting the best of Don Revie (Colm Meaney), the manager of the successful first division multi-award-winning Leeds United.

Revie seems to have it all together. Before Leeds’ first lottery match with Derby, he and his players deboard their bus wearing suits and signing autographs for a collection of excited fans. Clough has carefully set out glasses and a wine bottle with the label facing just the right way. He knows everything about Revie, explaining to Peter that they’ve lived almost the same life. He knows the shops he probably frequented while living in Middlesbrough. Tonight, he will be Revie’s equal at last. And then Clough is snubbed. He spends the game watching Revie coach Leeds animatedly, himself sitting quietly, wondering what Revie’s got that he doesn’t have.

“The Damned United” gets by on showing hardly any football action. It isn’t about the players, after all. Clough talks to his Derby men like a prison warden in contrast to Revie’s fatherly demeanor. A former player, he knows the moves but has no gift for relating to his men. He takes on new players like shapeless mounds of clay that he can mold to his liking, never stopping to understand their personalities, only knowing where each man should be according to his ability and what he should do in order to guarantee victory. For a while, things work out for Brian Clough. He’s getting to where he believes he deserves to be.

Then, he is offered the position of manager of Leeds United. Revie has left the opportunity for Clough to move in, though he doesn’t want him as a successor. Peter doesn’t believe that it’s a good idea. So much of a team’s success, it seems, is in correlation to where the men come from. They know each other, know the community and understand how to function as a unit. Clough sees it as an opportunity to become known for being an even better coach than Revie. He is ravenous for fame, fed by moments such as Muhammad Ali calling him out on international television. Yet when he coaches the men, there is a clear disconnect. Leeds is loyal to Revie. So are the fans, who belt out his praises en masse in song at the matches.

Had he not been fired as Leeds manager, “The Damned United” may have served as Clough’s profane epitaph, a curse hurled at all he could never be able to achieve. Director Tom Hooper, who helmed the recent “John Adams” miniseries, positions Sheen in his shots as though he is constantly being outmanned by the upper part of the frame. In one sequence, Clough can’t bear to watch the outcome of a Derby match that could make or break his expensive efforts to revive the club. The light from the stadium shines through high windows, bringing him to squint as he tries to go on crowd reaction. Other shots put him on the far left or right in varying degrees of closeup. It is clear that Hooper and screenwriter Peter Morgan believe that Clough is two men, not one. Without Peter by his side, there is an empty hole in Clough’s life that prevents him from achieving his lofty goals, or at least being able to set more reasonable ones.

Sheen is fantastic in the film, at turns cocky and childishly defeated, and it’s great to see Meaney play a medium-profile legend. The film builds to a first and final confrontation between Clough and Revie that underscores the reality of what Clough tried to achieve in climbing the ranks of the first division. Was all of his pettiness really only sparked by a handshake? I wanted to see more of Clough’s behaviour as a father to his two sons for comparison, given that the film puts such an emphasis on the familial bond that football teams take pride in defending, but it’s clear that his approach is flawed. The league may canonize a man for bringing his club competitive glory, but he’ll be damned if he doesn’t answer to those who made him what he was.

“The Damned United” is showing at the Bytowne Cinema through Thursday, November 26th.

The real Clough and Revie meet in an interview for Yorkshire television:

1837. VICTORIA (17) (Emily Blunt) is the object of a royal power struggle. Her uncle, KING WILLIAM (Jim Broadbent), is dying and Victoria is in line for the throne. Everyone is vying to win her favor. However Victoria is kept from the court by her overbearing mother, THE DUCHESS OF KENT (Miranda Richardson), and her ambitious advisor, CONROY (Mark Strong). Victoria hates them both. Her only friend is her doting governess, LEHZEN (Jeanette Hain), but she is smothering and over-protective.

Victoria’s handsome cousin, ALBERT (Rupert Friend) is invited to visit by her mother. He’s also the nephew of her Uncle, KING LEOPOLD OF BELGIUM (Thomas Kretschmann). It’s obvious that Albert has been coached to win her hand. At first she’s annoyed as she has no intention of being married. She never wants to be controlled again. However Albert is also tired of being manipulated by his relatives. Victoria and Albert talk openly and sincerely and become friends. When he returns home she grants him permission to write to her. King Leopold is delighted and pushes Albert to woo her. Albert refuses because he knows she’s not ready and he won’t return to London until she invites him. Leopold reluctantly waits.

Meanwhile King William dies and Victoria is crowned Queen of England. Victoria’s first decree is to banish her mother and Conroy to a remote palace apartment. She embraces LORD MELBOURNE (Paul Bettany), the charming Prime Minister, as her sole advisor. They become inseparable and although his motives are slightly self serving, he truly cares for her and wants her to succeed. Prince Albert returns to London to witness the coronation and the friendship between Victoria and Albert deepens. They spend happy hours together but it is obvious Victoria is under Melbourne’s spell and he eventually returns to Germany.

The public loves their new Queen. She’s cheered as she rides through the streets but this honeymoon with the public comes to a sudden end. Melbourne’s party is defeated in the elections and his rival, PEEL (Michael Maloney), demands that Victoria replace her ladies in waiting, who are all supporters of Lord Melbourne, with the wives of his own allies. Victoria refuses. Peel resigns and the backlash is furious. The newspapers declare that Victoria is opposing the public’s will. They are outraged.

It is only now that Victoria understands how much she needs Albert’s support. Against Melbourne’s wishes, she summons the young Prince back to England. This time Albert is determined not to be kept waiting in the wings any longer. Seeing his new resolution and struck by how handsome and sincere he is, Victoria invites him to marry her.

The spectacle of the royal wedding wins over the public. The handsome young Prince and Queen are cheered and all seems well in the Royal household.

However tensions between Albert and Victoria start to emerge. She wants an obedient friend and lover, not a controlling husband. But he, reasonably enough, wants to be her partner and equal, to be involved in her political decisions. Victoria is furious. She is the Queen and she will manage her own business! Albert is hurt and has little to do in his new role as Consort. Eventually, with the Dowager QUEEN ADELAIDE’S (Harriet Walter) encouragement, she allows him to re-organize the palace staff. He does a great job – the household is more efficient than it’s been in centuries.

Victoria becomes pregnant. Life should be perfect. But they argue when she sees Albert talking with politicians at a party. She’s incensed that he is taking the lead without her permission. They are later riding through the streets when a crazed man tries to shoot Victoria. Albert throws her to the carriage floor and is wounded trying to protect her. Shocked by the danger and amazed by the strength of his love, Victoria realizes what a selfish woman she’s become. She begs Albert’s forgiveness as he insists that all he’s ever wanted was what was best for her. Trusting him completely, she’s now ready to accept his help. Together they banish Lehzen who could not accept Albert’s place in the family, and her mother’s treacherous advisor, Conroy, who was still wielding influence. In a symbolic move, Victoria moves Albert’s desk next to hers and for the rest of his life they rule together

Starring: Emily Blunt, Jim Broadbent, Mark Strong, Paul Bettany, Miranda Richardson, Rupert Friend

MOVIE TRAILER :

Harry Potter und der Halbblutprinz sorgen für eine zauberhafte Zeit.
Jack Bauer überbrückt im Serien-Special die nächsten 24 Stunden.
Gewinnspielfrage zum Kinofilm Paranormal Activity…

Der Winter lässt noch auf sich warten und die Eichhörnchen bunkern fleißig ihre Beute. Rüsten auch Sie sich für die kalte Jahreszeit und füllen Ihre Wunschliste mit knackiger Filmkost.

Verschieben Sie den Winterschlaf! Harry Potter und der Halbblutprinz sorgen für eine zauberhafte Zeit. Jack Bauer überbrückt im Serien-Special die nächsten 24 Stunden und bleibt hellwach, denn sein Auftrag ist eine wirklich “harte Nuss”.

Werden Sie im Magazin selbst zum Nussknacker und lösen die Gewinnspielfrage zum aktuellen Kinofilm Paranormal Activity hier!

Harry Potter und der Halbblutprinz

In ‘Harry Potter und der Halbblutprinz’ schließt sich Voldemorts Faust immer enger um die Welt der Muggels und der Zauberer – sogar in Hogwarts ist man nicht mehr so sicher wie früher. Harry vermutet die Gefahr in der Burg selbst, doch Dumbledore konzentriert sich eher darauf, Harry auf die Entscheidungsschlacht vorzubereiten, die nun bald bevorsteht.

Gemeinsam suchen sie nach einer Strategie, mit der sich Voldemorts Verteidigungslinien durchbrechen ließen. Zu diesem Zweck engagiert Dumbledore seinen alten Freund und Kollegen, den ahnungslosen Lebenskünster Professor Horace Slughorn. Denn Dumbledore ist überzeugt, dass Slughorn mit seinen guten Beziehungen über entscheidende Informationen verfügt.

Unterdessen bekommen es die Schüler mit einem ganz andersartigen Gegner zu tun: In den Mauern der Burg spielen die Hormone der Teenager verrückt. Harry fühlt sich immer stärker zu Ginny hingezogen – doch Dean Thomas geht es genauso. Und Lavender Brown hat sich Ron ausgesucht, aber nicht mit Romilda Vanes Schokolade gerechnet!

Währenddessen kocht Hermine vor Eifersucht, will aber ihre Gefühle auf keinen Fall zeigen. Nur ein Schüler bleibt inmitten dieser knospenden Romanzen völlig unbeeindruckt. Er will unbedinigt Eindruck machen – und sei es mit dunklen Machenschaften. Während alle Welt verliebt ist, bahnt sich eine Tragödie an, die Hogwarts unwiderruflich verändern könnte.

Darsteller: Michael Gambon, Robbie Coltrane, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, Jim Broadbent, David Thewlis, Warwick Davis, Richard Griffiths, Timothy Spall, Fiona Shaw, David Bradley, Julie Walters, Gemma Jones, Daniel Radcliffe, Mark Williams, Helen McCrory, Emma Watson, Tom Felton, Rupert Grint, Devon Murray, James Phelps, Alfie Enoch, Jamie Waylett, Oliver Phelps, Matthew Lewis, Josh Herdman, Bonnie Wright, Dave Legeno, William Melling, Ralph Ineson, Natalia Tena, Katie Leung, Shefali Chowdhury, Afshan Azad, Jessie Cave, Evanna Lynch, Hero Fiennes-Tiffin, Tony Coburn, Suzanne Toase, Amelda Brown, Nina Voelker, Robert Knox, Georgina Leonidas, Anna Shaffer, Tom Moorcroft, Johnpaul Castrianni, Rod Hunt, Freddie Stroma, Scarlett Byrne, Louis Cordice, Isabella Laughland, Teresa Mahoney, Frank Dillane, River George, Charlie Bennison, Dean Garnham.

Serien-Special
Sein Name ist Bauer, Jack Bauer. Die Zeit, die ihm bleibt:
Vierundzwanzig Stunden.

Video Buster stellt Ihnen eine Serie vor, die echtes Suchtpotential besitzt. ‘Echt’ ist in der TV-Produktion 24 weniger die Handlung, die sich von Staffel zu Staffel überbietet, echt ist zunächst einmal ein geniales Konzept: Eine Serie in Echtzeit, in der wir Zuschauer 60 Minuten unseres Lebens auch 60 Minuten des ereignisreichen Arbeitsalltag eines Mitarbeiters der Anti-Terror-Einheit CTU (Counter Terrorist Unit) begleitet.

Auf einigen Feldern ist ‘24′ mit derben Flüchen und ungeschminkten Gewaltszenarien zur TV-Hauptsendezeit ebenfalls einzigartig. Kritische Stimmen wurde immer dann laut, wenn es um Folter-Darstellungen und Waffeneinsatz zur Erzwingung der moralisch oder zumindest politisch legitimierten Ziele ging, in der inzwischen 8 Staffeln umfassenden Serie (im Januar 2010 startet Episode 1 der Season 8 in den USA).

Hauptdarsteller Sutherland gewann einen begehrten ‘Golden Globe’ und ‘24′ einen ‘Emmy’ für die beste Drama-Serie. Zu Recht? Urteilen Sie selbst und steigen Sie jetzt mit einem wahren Helden der TV-Unterhaltung in Boot: CTU’s Jack Bauer wartet auf Sie, zwar nicht ganz in Echtzeit, aber garantiert echt spannend! Weitere Informationen gibt es hier!