Film Archive (73)
ZANI on One of Britain’s Greatest Actors- Stanley Baker Part One
Written by Matteo Sedazzari
© Words Matteo Sedazzari
It may be a romantic notion to say that Stanley Baker was a working class hero, however it is a label that certainly rings true of one of Britain’s finest actors, who died young at the age of 48, leaving behind a legacy in film, TV and the theatre. Born to a mining family on 28th February 1928 in the Rhonda Valley where the main career choice was mining, and the only escape would either be boxing or football. Rock & roll hadn’t hit the youth of Britain yet,
© Words William Goodchild
You'd be forgiven for expecting Drive 2: Bangkok Boogaloo. However, this is a very different beast from Nicolas Winding Refn and Ryan Gosling's previous collaboration.
Julian (Ryan Gosling) is a drug smuggler in Bangkok operating behind the veneer of a Thai boxing gym. As a result of his vile behaviour, scumbag brother Billy (Tom Burke) meets a grisly end. Julian accepts the consequences of his actions but their mother Crystal (Kristin Scott Thomas) seeks vengeance on corrupt cop Chang (Vithaya Pansringarm).
: Disney's Lone Ranger Takes on Western Film Legends
Written by Richard Williamson
© Words –Richard Williamson/ ZANI Media
Gore Verbinski and Jerry Bruckheimer's Lone Ranger is a lot better movie than the media line and box office receipts so far might suggest. The filmmakers succeed here, and bring home the silver if not the gold, by proving their respects to the entire Western film tradition through strong story-telling, solid performance, glorious visuals and technical excellence. It's a different kind of classic with a lot for eyes willing see what it offers and heads ready to have fun.
Power to the People: War Horse actor Geoff Bell Gets Political.
Written by Staff Reporter
© Words Gia Marie Barbera
Mickey Tobin (Eddie Webber) is on his lunch break reading an article in the local newspaper which triggers a reaction of anger and frustration with regards to how his local borough is being run by the powers that be.
When at home later that evening, he finds himself in front of his laptop researching the practicality of starting up a local political party and comes to the conclusion that it would be difficult but do-able. “The People’s Advocate Party” is born. He explains his epiphany to his long-time friend and full time gambler Terry (Geoff Bell) and his long suffering apprentice Peter Hole AKA P-Hole (Aidan J David). Together they embark on a life changing journey of political adventure driven by Mickey who solely believes he has had a vocational epiphany and with it a chance to make a difference for the everyday folk in the local constituency.
© Words William Goodchild
Shame on all you studios for passing and congratulations to smarter backers HBO, who picked this up. As if we didn’t need further evidence that we’re in a golden age of television, this lends even more dazzle to that credo. Here in the UK - where it has been granted a cinema release - Behind the Candelabra has been doing very respectable business. Possessing a lot of elements that Oscar so loves, it could also have basked in some awards glory. Like Tarantino, biopics are probably this reviewer’s least favourite genre but this particular one is a real riot. One thing it isn’t, as more than one Hollywood exec remarked, is “too gay”. You might equally argue that this look at Liberace is not gay enough.
