The year is well into the swing of things now, and the movie world is going awards crazy with the Oscars imminant, meanwhile at Broadway the fantastic films continue to roll in with another month of top flicks to check out.
Kicking things off is the highly anticipated new offering from the acclaimed Wes Anderson, THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL is the directors first trip to Europe as he takes a look at the story of Gustave H, conceirage at the famous Grand Budapest Hotel during the wars. Featuring an all star cast including Ralph Fiennes, Ed Norton, Saorise Ronan, Harvey Keitel and long time Anderson cohort Bill Murray this looks like being another winner from the man behind The Royal Tenenbaums and Fantastic Mr Fox, well worth checking out when it hits the Broadway on March 7.
Also hitting the screen that week is the 1971 Australian classic WAKE IN FRIGHT, starring Donald Pleasance and, back by popular demand, the amazing NEBRASKA starring an Oscar nominted Bruce Dern.
A week later (14 March) and you can catch Scarlett Johansson in UNDER THE SKIN, Jonathan Glazer’s adaptation of Michel Faber’s extraordinary novel.The film sees Johansson play an alien who falls to earth, ending up in a desolate Glasgow where she assumes the guise of a sexy seductress, luring poor souls to their demise.
Also that week you can catch THE ROCKET, which tells the tale of ten year old Ahlo. When his village in Lao is displaced to make way for a massive dam Ahlo escapes with his father and grandmother in search of a new home. Along the way they stumble across a rocket festival which offers them a lucrative, but dangerous, route to a new life. Also check out dark, jagged and political French move BASTARDS from director Claire Denis.
On 21 March you can catch the first of two documentaries being released this year that look at the life of famed fashion designer YVES SAINT LAUREN. This movie, from French director Jalil Lespert, follows the Lauren from his early days as assistant to the legendary Christian Dior through to setting up his own haute couture fashion house and his eventual demise into drink and drugs. Featuring a stand out performance by Pierre Niney as the famed designer this is a fascinating insight into the fashion world of the 50’s. 60’s and 70’s.
Also coming to Broadway that week is STARRED UP, the story of a complex father/son relationship viewed through a brutal depictition of prison life. Starring Jack O’Connell, who started out at Nottingham’s very own Television Workshop, as a teenage criminal who is so brutal he is prematurely moved to an adult prison where among his fellow prisoners is Neville, the father he hasn’t seen since he was five. A tense, powerful film from director David Mackenzie.
Also out that week is THE MACHINE in which a British scientist is on the brink of developing a new weapon – an android called The Machine – a possible game changer in a world plunged into the midst of a new cold war.
On the final week of March you can catch French film THE PAST which follows the story of an Iranian man travelling from Paris to Tehran to finalise his divorce. Along the way he finds himself suddenly and tradgically drawn back into the lives of his ex and her daughter. Gripping stuff from Academy Award-winning director Asgar Farhadi.
Also out that week is 20 FEET FROM STARDOM, Morgan Neville’s look at the untold true story of the back up singers behind some of the greatest musical legends of the 21st Century.
As ever there are the usual selection of special screenings, including SILVER SCREENINGS, programmed with senior citizens in mind, FAMILY MOVIE MATINEES and BRINGING UP BABY. Check out the Broadway website for the choices available if you’re interested in any of these this month.
Meanwhile this months special selection of films is EAST SIDE STORIES, a selection of Japanese films focusing on youth. The series runs from Friday 21 until Wednesday 26 with a different screening each night. OTAKUS IN LOVE which tells the story of two social misfits who collide in a tale of love amidst a world of manga fandom and cosplay conventions. SHINDO is the story of wonderkid Ula, a childhood prodigy with only music in her life until she meets the talented, but floundering, Wao. COLORFUL meanwhile is the tale of a dejected spirit given a second chance at life when transported into the body of a struggling 14 year old, while THE STORY OF YONOSUKE follows the life of 18 year old student Yonosuke as he arrives in Tokyo. Decades later his friends tales tell the story of his life and whereabouts today, non of them knowing the true fate that has befallen their friend.YOUR FRIENDS is the heartwarming tale of two school girls who form a friendship strengthened by their disabilities that their fellow school mates can neither understand nor accept. Finally wrapping up the series is LOVE STRIKES! the tale of a blogger who finds himself suddenly becoming more popular than ever and based on the hit TV drama of the same name.
There are also some excellent special screenings this month. On Thursday 27 you can catch THE DOUBLE, the latest movie from Richard Ayoade, star of The IT Crowd and director of the charming Submarine. The Double sees Ayoade back behind the camera for and adaptation of the Fyodor Dostoevsky novel and starring an excellent double performance from Jesse Eisenberg. Following the movie there will be a live by satellite Q&A.
A night later there will be a special screening of comedy SVENGALI which includes a special Q&A with the cast and crew, which includes Nottingham’s very own Vicky McClure. Expanded from a cult YouTube series, Svengali is a charming comedy following idealistic Dixie who heads to London to live out his dream of becoming a big time rock star manager, taking is girlfriend Shell along for the ride.
This month also sees some fantastic live comedy come to Broadway with the excellent ROBIN INCE stopping off on Wednesday 5, in his latest stand-up comedy lecture he delves into his mind – and ours.
Then on Monday 31 you can catch a special one man show from JON RONSON. Ronson spent three years as keyboard player in The Frank Sidebottom Oh Blimey Big Band in the late 80’s and is co-writer of the new fictionalise movie about the mystery comedian who performed wearing a huge papier-mache head.
Also this month, in tribute to the great Phillip Seymour Hoffman, who tragically passed away last month, there will be a screening of the hit movie THE BIG LEBOWSKI in which the Oscar winning actor played the small, but key, role of Brandt, assistant to the other – more successful – Mr Lebowski. A true movie classic which also features stand out performances from Jeff Bridges, Steve Buscemi and John Goodman not to mention some of the most quotable movie lines of all time this will be well worth checking out. White Russians will, of course be available at the bar, however rumours that Broadway will be putting in a new rug to tie the room together are, as yet, unconfirmed.
For more on all screenings and events at Broadway during March check out their official website
