Cemetery Junction - Teaser trailer featuring Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Ralph Fiennes

Do not expect to learn too much about the film in this one, but if you are a fan of The Office or Extras then you'll enjoy this.

Cemetery Junction is due out next year and as well as Ricky and Ralph it stars Christian Cooke, Jack Doolan, Felicity Jones, Tom Hughes, Emily Watson and Matthew Goode.

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The Hurt Locker, 2009 - Movie Review

Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Starring: Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, David Morse, Ralph Fiennes, Guy Pearce, Evangeline Lilly

This brilliant review is by Richard Bodsworth

It has been almost 18 years since Kathryn Bigelow brought us the 100% adrenaline thrill ride that was Point Break, and after a 7 year hiatus following K-19: The Widowmaker she is back with Iraq war set, THE HURT LOCKER.

Jeremy Renner stars as the maverick leader of the U.S Army's Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit, charged with the dangerous job of defusing bombs in the unpredictable war zone that is modern day Iraq. Anthony Mackie and Brian Geraghty play the other key members of the EOD, struggling to adapt to their leaders gung-ho attitude in an environment where it could all go wrong in a split second.

Hollywood war movies these days usually focus on the dangerous nature of the job, an Action Man figure, scar and all, overcoming ridiculous odds to defeat a stereotypical villain in emphatic fashion, accompanied with emphatic explosions and gore. Bigelow manages to turn this on its head and present us with a gripping, psychological character study into the minds of the men on the front line. But that is not to say the film is void of any action, the opposite in fact. Bigelow directs the many set pieces with outstanding flair and tension without the use of an instrumental score and it works to perfection. Filmed handheld style, this usually unnecessary and overused technique is perfect for the harsh unpredictable terrain of the war zone. This style, accompanied by the authenticity of Mark Boal’s script, you almost get the feeling you are there, perspiring, as Renner attempts to diffuse a rogue device. Even with several disposal scenes, they manage to seem original and fresh and sometimes bloody terrifying. A brilliant example of tension is a silent standoff, peppered only occasionally with the sound of a sniper rifle. Renner directs Mackie's aim to the enemy as they remain under fire themselves. Another one of my favourite scenes is as Renner attempts to disarm a car bomb, Mackie and Geraghty scour the surrounding buildings panicking over possible conspirators watching on. Here Bigelow teaches a master class in building tension without the need of an instrumental score to bump it up. The enemy here are the actual devices themselves as we very rarely see an actual living enemy attack, this makes it all the more terrifying and is a nice twist for the genre.

The cast themselves are perfect. Renner excels in the lead role, stepping out of his usual supporting roles in the likes of SWAT and 28 Weeks Later. His performance as adrenaline junkie, William James, goes much deeper than normal as we are revealed to deeper problems in his psyche. His scenes with a local Iraqi child and the films final ten minutes or so would usually be omitted from you usual fare, but work so well to build an understanding of a fragile soldier under pressure. Geraghty is also well cast as the nervous member of the group, continuing to build on his indie status and Mackie once again shows he has what it takes to be a great actor. Following on from his standout turn in Half Nelson, he makes the most of a character who could have most easily developed into the stereotypical ‘angry black man’ .

I felt the film could have trimmed a slither of fat from the middle, and I was also left confused by the cameo roles of Guy Pearce, David Morse and Ralph Fiennes. These however are only minor gripes in a almost flawless film.

Time and time again Kathryn Bigelow has taken the Hollywood big boys on at their own game, and she succeeds once again. You have to wonder what she has been up to in the past 7 years and what the future holds. For me the film drew comparisons with TV mini series Generation Kill, showing the army as human beings rather than sensationalised heroes. However of all films set during any Middle East conflict, The Hurt Locker is one of, if not the best depiction. It was a great film to start my film festival run, and it will be very hard to beat.

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Cemetery Junction - Filming has begun on Ricky Gervais' new film

Principal photography is set to commence on location in London today on Cemetery Junction, the first motion picture written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the multi-award winning team behind The Office and Extras.

Ralph Fiennes (The Reader, Schindler’s List), Ricky Gervais (The Office, Extras, The Invention of Lying, Ghost Town), Emily Watson (Synecdoche, New York, Breaking the Waves) and Matthew Goode (Watchmen, Brideshead Revisited) feature alongside stars-of-the-future Christian Cooke, Felicity Jones, Tom Hughes and Jack Doolan.

Cemetery Junction tells the funny, touching and universal story of being trapped in a small town and dreaming of escape.

In 1970s England, three blue-collar friends spend their days joking, drinking, fighting and chasing girls.

Freddie (Christian Cooke) wants to leave their working-class world but cool, charismatic Bruce (Tom Hughes) and lovable loser Snork (Jack Doolan) are happy with life the way it is.

When Freddie gets a new job as a door-to-door salesman and bumps into his old school sweetheart Julie (Felicity Jones), the gang are forced to make choices that will change their lives for ever.

The photo is a costume/makeup test of the three leads. Gervais and Merchant saw them as "the English 23 year-old, John Travolta, James Dean and Lou Costello." I can kind of see where they are coming from with that photo.

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Photo of Gemma Arteton on the set of Clash of the Titans

This is the first photo of actress Gemma Arterton (Quantum of Solace) in costume on the set of Louis Leterrier's Clash of the Titans as a new character called Io. The photo was debuted on Gemma Arterton Online.

Born of a god but raised as a man, Perseus (Sam Worthington) is helpless to save his family from Hades (Ralph Fiennes), vengeful god of the underworld. With nothing left to lose, Perseus volunteers to lead a mission to defeat Hades before he can seize power from Zeus (Liam Neeson) and unleash hell on earth. Leading a daring band of warriors, Perseus sets off on a journey deep into forbidden worlds. Battling unholy demons and fearsome beasts, he will only survive if he can accept his power as a god, defy his fate and create his own destiny. Louis Leterrier is directing from a script by Lawrence Kasdan (Raiders of the Lost Ark).

The photo doesn't really tell us much, but I am looking forward to seeing more from the film.

Source: First Showing

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Clash of the Titans - First proper look at Perseus

This is out first proper look of Sam Worthington in action as Perseus and it does look pretty cool. Looks like he will be kicking serious ass and makes me wish they would do a David Gemmell adaption with this kind of look.

Born of a god but raised as a man, Perseus (Sam Worthington) is helpless to save his family from Hades (Ralph Fiennes), vengeful god of the underworld. With nothing left to lose, Perseus volunteers to lead a mission to defeat Hades before he can seize power from Zeus (Liam Neeson) and unleash hell on earth. Leading a daring band of warriors, Perseus sets off on a journey deep into forbidden worlds. Battling unholy demons and fearsome beasts, he will only survive if he can accept his power as a god, defy his fate and create his own destiny. Louis Leterrier is directing from a script by Lawrence Kasdan (Raiders of the Lost Ark).

Source: First Showing

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Cemetary Junction - Gervais and Merchant's new film

Principal photography commences on June 15th 2009 on Cemetery Junction, the first motion picture written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the multi-award winning team behind The Office and Extras.

With a cast including Ralph Fiennes and Ricky Gervais plus stars-of-the-future Christian Cooke, Felicity Jones, Tom Hughes and Jack Doolan, Cemetery Junction tells the funny, touching, universal story of being trapped in a small town and dreaming of escape.

In 1970s England, three blue-collar friends spend their days joking, drinking, fighting and chasing girls.

Freddie (Christian Cooke) wants to leave their working-class world but cool, charismatic Bruce (Tom Hughes) and lovable loser Snork (Jack Doolan) are happy with life the way it is.

When Freddie gets a new job as a door-to-door salesman and bumps into his old school sweetheart Julie (Felicity Jones), the gang are forced to make choices that will change their lives for ever.

Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant:

“ We want to capture the spirit of those classic British New Wave movies of the 1960s that made stars of Albert Finney, Julie Christie and Michael Caine. We are so excited about our fresh young cast – they are all film stars in waiting. Cemetery Junction is going to be glossy and glorious, full of humour, romance and drama as well as our usual observations on the truth and absurdity of real life. The fact that Ralph Fiennes is also on board to add depth and class to the whole thing is just unbelievable icing on the cake.”

Deborah Schindler, President of International Motion Picture Production at Sony Pictures added " We are delighted to be partnering with two of the UK's foremost writing and directing talents. Ricky and Stephen's past successes have proved not only their unparallelled understanding of comedy but also their ability to create realistic stories and characters with worldwide appeal. Add to this the exciting ensemble cast and we know we have a movie for all audiences."

Cemetery Junction will shoot on location in and around London, and will be based at Shepperton studios. The film is produced by Sue Baden-Powell and Charlie Hanson and executive producers are Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant.

Sony Pictures Entertainment will be releasing Cemetery Junction in cinemas in 2010

Thanks to Stuart for sending me the info.

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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - Trailer

The third trailer for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Voldemort is tightening his grip on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds and Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it once was. Harry suspects that dangers may even lie within the castle, but Dumbledore is more intent upon preparing him for the final battle that he knows is fast approaching. Together they work to find the key to unlock Voldemort's defenses and, to this end, Dumbledore recruits his old friend and colleague, the well-connected and unsuspecting bon vivant Professor Horace Slughorn, whom he believes holds crucial information. Meanwhile, the students are under attack from a very different adversary as teenage hormones rage across the ramparts. Harry finds himself more and more drawn to Ginny, but so is Dean Thomas. And Lavender Brown has decided that Ron is the one for her, only she hadn’t counted on Romilda Vane's chocolates! And then there's Hermione, simpering with jealously but determined not to show her feelings. As romance blossoms, one student remains aloof. He is determined to make his mark, albeit a dark one. Love is in the air, but tragedy lies ahead and Hogwarts may never be the same again.

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Holy Zeus' beard! Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes join Clash of the Titans

Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes will play warring gods in Warner Bros. and Legendary's "Clash of the Titans," the Greek-god epic directed by Louis Leterrier.

Neeson is playing Zeus, the wise yet sometimes ill-tempered king of the gods and father of Perseus (Sam Worthington).

Fiennes will play Hades, ruler of the underworld who aims to overtake Zeus and rule over all. Fiennes' deal is in still in negotiations.

The two actors join Mads Mikkelsen, Gemma Arterton and Alexa Davalos in the production, which begins shooting later this month in the U.K.

Legendary is co-producing and co-financing the pic. Thunder Road's Basil Iwanyk is producing with Kevin de la Noy. Jon Jashni and Thomas Tull are executive producing.

The deal marks Neeson's first since the tragic death of his wife, Natasha Richardson. The deal was initiated before her death. His film "Taken," released earlier this year, has proven to be a surprise hit, earning almost $140 million domestically.

Fiennes last starred in "The Reader."

Neeson as Zeus is a brilliant idea. Fiennes just has to bring his Voldermort attire and he's sorted.

Source: THR

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Hurt Locker - New Photos for Kathryn Bigelow's latest film

The Hurt Locker is a riveting, suspenseful portrait of the courage under fire of the military’s unrecognized heroes: the technicians of a bomb squad who volunteer to challenge the odds and save lives doing one of the world’s most dangerous jobs. Three members of the Army’s elite Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) squad battle insurgents and one another as they search for and disarm a wave of roadside bombs on the streets of Baghdad—in order to try and make the city a safer place for Iraqis and Americans alike. Their mission is clear—protect and save—but it’s anything but easy, as the margin of error when defusing a war-zone bomb is zero. This thrilling and heart-pounding look at the psychology of bomb technicians and the effects of risk and danger on the human psyche is based on the first-hand observations of journalist and screenwriter Mark Boal, who was embedded with a special bomb unit in Iraq. These elite military men spoke of explosions as sending you to “the hurt locker.”

Acclaimed director Kathryn Bigelow brings together groundbreaking realistic action and intimate human drama in a landmark film starring Jeremy Renner (Dahmer , The Assassination of Jesse James ), Anthony Mackie (Half Nelson , We Are Marshall) and Brian Geraghty (We Are Marshall , Jarhead), with cameo appearances by Ralph Fiennes (The Reader), David Morse (“John Adams”), Evangeline Lilly (“Lost”) and Guy Pearce (Memento). The Hurt Locker is produced by Kathryn Bigelow, Mark Boal, Greg Shapiro and Nicolas Chartier. The screenplay is written by Mark Boal (In the Valley of Elah) . Barry Ackroyd, BSC (United 93, The Wind That Shakes the Barley) is director of photography. Production designer is Karl Juliusson ( K19: The Widowmaker, Breaking the Waves ). Editors are Bob Murawski (Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man 3) and Chris Innis. Costume designer is George Little (Jarhead , Crimson Tide). Music is by Academy Award Nominee Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders (3:10 to Yuma), and sound design by Academy Award Nominee Paul N.J. Ottosson (Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man 3).

In the summer of 2004, Sergeant J.T. Sanborn (Anthony Mackie) and Specialist Owen Eldridge (Brian Geraghty) of Bravo Company are at the volatile center of the war, part of a small counterforce specifically trained to handle the homemade bombs, or Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), that account for more than half of American hostile deaths and have killed thousands of Iraqis. The job, a high-pressure, high-stakes assignment, which soldiers volunteer for, requires a calm intelligence that leaves no room for mistakes, as they learn when they lose their team leader on a routine mission.

When Staff Sergeant William James (Jeremy Renner) cheerfully takes over the team, Sanborn and Eldridge are shocked by what seems like his reckless disregard for military protocol and basic safety measures. And yet, in the fog of war, appearances are never reliable for long. Is James really a swaggering cowboy who lives for peak experiences and the moments when the margin of error is zero – or is he a consummate professional who has honed his esoteric craft to high-wire precision? As the fiery chaos of Baghdad threatens to engulf them, the men struggle to understand and contain their mercurial new leader long enough for them to make it home. They have only 38 days left in their tour, but with each new mission comes another deadly encounter, and as James blurs the line between bravery and bravado, it seems only a matter of time before disaster strikes.

With a visual and emotional intensity that makes audiences feel like they have been transported to the dizzying, 24-hour turmoil of life in the bomb squad, The Hurt Locker is both a gripping portrayal of real-life sacrifice and heroism, and a layered, probing study of the soul-numbing rigors and potent allure of the modern battlefield.

The Hurt Locker is set for release on June 26, 2009.

Source: Film School Rejects

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The Hurt Locker - English language trailer for Kathryn Bigelow's Iraq war movie

At long last we get the english language trailer for Kathryn Bigelow's The Hurt Locker (check out the review). It stars Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, Guy Pearce and Ralph Fiennes.

Baghdad, 2007: Not where you want to be.

The cradle of civilization has become a city of bombs. Every fifteen minutes an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) explodes with deadly impact … or must be disarmed.

Enter the bomb squad – the only unit trained to disarm these deadly devices. B-Company is the elite of the elite, running to ticking bombs when everyone else runs away. Still, the daily confrontations have begun to take their toll on two of its best soldiers, Sergeant Sanborn, an ex-Ranger who never threw a punch he didn’t think was well-deserved, and Specialist Eldridge, a young Socrates with a rifle, who believes all men are created equal – except the ones in his M4 scope.

With only 38 days left in their tour, Sanborn and Eldridge are forced to work with a new team leader, a mysterious tech named William James who treats the job like a cowboy going for a Sunday ride. James is good – maybe too good – and his strut scares the other men. It’s almost as if he enjoys toying with death.

As the insurgency escalate their attacks and the bomb squad must face increasingly tougher odds in the dangerous game of cat and mouse, James’ strange urge for danger pushes Sanborn and Eldridge to the edge of acceptable risk – and then takes them way beyond what they thought possible … until they are forced to choose between following James and saving their own lives.

With just 16 days left, the team receives its hardest mission yet: charge into the blazing aftermath of an exploded oil tanker. James is ready. Sanborn puts on his gloves. Eldridge cocks his rifle. And they go. The three men charge into that smoky inferno … shots ring out … a body falls … and only two men come walking back.

Now, they’re all in the Hurt Locker. And there are still 15 days left in the tour.

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