Movie & DVD Reviews

John Lennon’s image will never stop inspiring movie-makers imaginations. Lennon was not only one of the brightest artists in the world, but also an interesting phenomenon in music. He, together with his band mates, redefined the rules of acceptable behavior in the music world. Sam Taylor, whose 2008 short film “Love You More” was nominated for the Short Film Palme d’Or, will direct a new film about John Lennon: “Nowhere Boy.”

The new film recently received funding from the UK Film Council, which means that Beatles fans can be sure to have it in their collection very soon. There were many films and documentaries telling the story of “The Beatles’s” early years, or focusing on Lennon’s killing. This one is unique in its content. “Nowhere Boy” will cover Lennon’s childhood, which had a crucial influence on his entire life, as well as on the formation of his artistic views. The film is based on the book written by his half-sister Julia Baird - “Imagine This: Growing Up With My Brother John Lennon”.

In fact, Lennon’s childhood was a quite difficult period for him, because of a difficult relationship between his mother and his aunt and John being stuck in between. John was raised by his Aunt Mimi, who disapproved his mother’s behavior, saying she was “living in sin”. Guardian reports scriptwriter Greenhalgh’s words:

And his early life as told in Julia’s book took me into a world that illuminated so much about this legendary genius. I could see the drama and film immediately. The women in his life, the men who weren’t, the birth of rock’n'roll; all imposing on a brilliantly complicated adolescent mind.

Lennon was not only a musician, but also very active politically. His political views and ideologies were reflected in his songs. “You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one,” he sang in “Imagine”, a song which became a real symbol of peace: “I hope someday you’ll join us, and the world will live as one.”

Therefore, with all his talent and his creative mind, he was a quite complicated individual, with many complexes, which were mainly caused by his difficult childhood. In a song “Mother”, where he repeatedly cried “Mother, don’t go”, in another one “So I sing a song of love for Julia” (Julia is his mother’s name) - these are the profs how deeply he was affected by separation from his mother. From this point of view “Nowhere Boy” will be unique and very original.

Film producer Robert Bernstain said to Screen Daily, “I’m truly excited at the prospect of Sam Taylor-Wood bringing her singular artistic vision to the story. Combined with the genius of John Lennon I think that’s a very arresting and dynamic combination.”

The film is planned to be shot in Liverpool, Lennon’s hometown. His music will accompany the whole movie, giving to it all the charm and beauty of teens, where Beatles “were more famous than Jesus”.

Photo: © johnlennon.com

According to the latest rumors, Cher is going to be playing the role of Catwoman in the next Batman film . Of course, it is difficult to imagine the 62-year-old actress in this role, but it is said that Christopher Nolan hand-picked her for the role. Sunday Mirror wrote,”Cher is Nolan’s first choice to play Catwoman. He wants to portray her like a vamp in her twilight years. The new Catwoman will be the absolute opposite of Michelle Pfeiffer and Halle Berry’s creations.” Julie Newmar was the first actress to take on the role in the 1960s Batman television series. The supervillainess has also been played by Eartha Kitt, Lee Meriwether, Michelle Pfeiffer and Halle Berry.

Angelina Jolie is also a choice for this “new” Catwoman, but second to Cher. krikormusiccorner.blogspot.com reports, “Nominated also for the role is Angelina Jolie, though it’s almost sure that the 62 year old super star Cher will be the final choice”.

Well, it is indeed difficult to imagine Cher in a Catwoman costume instead of Angelina Jolie, but Nolan wants some kind of opposition as compared with the preceding actresses.

In spite of the fact that many magazines are eagerly reporting this news, Cher’s manager Risa Shapiro announced that she hadn’t even received a phone call from Christopher Nolan. Risa also added that she would love to see Cher as Catwoman, that is why she would herself call Nolan and find out what all the rumors are about.

The third Batman is provisionally entitled The Caped Crusader, and Johnny Depp is said to be signed for the role of the Riddler and Phillip Seymour Hoffman as The Penguin in the film. Filming of the new Batman movie is set to commence at the beginning of next year, in Vancouver.

Photo: © Asha Tank

Again a new film about the legendary French fashion designer Coco Chanel’s biography will be on screen! Financed and produced by Warner Bros, in collaboration with Haut and Cine @, the upcoming movie’s production will start no later than September, in Paris. It seems that cinematic world’s interest towards the famous lady’s biography has been increasing recently. I wrote already about a recent TV film produced by Lifetime, two mini-series telling Chanel’s life story with Shirley MacLaine, which provoked a lot of controversy with critics (see it in Controversy Around New “Coco Chanel” TV Film).

According to Variety, this upcoming movie will be entitled “Coco Avant Chanel” (”Coco Before Chanel”). According to its title, we can guess that it will be mainly about the younger years of the designer, years where she was only known as Coco, the girl and not yet the famous brand. As Cinematical reports, producer Caroline Benjo describes the film as “not really a biopic”. It tells the story of her life period where Chanel sang in a cabaret and than met two wealthy men, who led her to a fashion career.

The new movie is scripted and directed by Anna Fontaine. The script is partially based on Edmonde Charles-Roux’s book “L’Irreguliere” (”The Non-Conformist”).

Therefore, I guess the enthusiasm around this film is in some way tied in with Audrey Tautou’s participation. It was officially announced during last year’s Cannes Film Festival that Tautou will star as Chanel’s character. Famous for her marvelous character in “The Fabulous Destiny of Amelie Poulin“, more widely know to the American audience as just “Amelie”, Audrey Tautou for me will always stay as just that, Amelie- a girl with her own original perception of the world, a bit simple-minded, but at the same time creative and charming. Sincerely, it’s hard for me to imagine her in Coco’s character, but the filmmaker doesn’t seem to share my opinion. “Audrey Tautou embodies all the qualities that made Coco such a fascinating individual, and the support we’ve received from The House of Chanel is incredibly gratifying”, reports Digital Spy, the director is speaking about House of Chanel’s art director Karl Lagerfield, who will supervise the re-creation of costumes and accessories.

It’s quite possible that it’s because of the upcoming movie that Audrey Tautou will be replacing Nicole Kidman in Chanel advertising, as I learned from Audrey’s official website. Audrey will become the new face of Chanel No.5, and a new TV commercial will be shot featuring her.

“Coco Avant Chanel” will be on screen next year. I hope that it will not share the destiny of the first one. Besides, I’m sure it will be quite amazing to see Audrey Tautou in such a difficult character as Coco was. Let’s wait and see!

Photos: © hpod.com, bp2.blogger.com

The greatest movies of the century, “The Godfather” and “The Godfather Part II” are returning to the screen again! New York City’s Film Forum will be screening first two parts of Francis Ford Coppola’s chef-d’oeuvre during three weeks. Maybe this is not a very original news, because this trilogy is very often presented in many repertory houses, but this is a special case.

According to Cinematical, “The Godfather” and “The Godfather Part II” were newly restored on 35 mm prints by Paramount. Their production was directed by legendary Coppola, with cinematographer Gordon Willis and supervised by film historian and master preservationist Robert A. Harris. The restored versions will be shown exclusively in New York Film Forum: the first part will be showing from September 12 to September 18, the second part from September 19 through September 25, and both of them will run till October 2.Cinematical adds also, that “neither of these digitally restored classics includes new computer-generated characters or backgrounds”. And we’ll say “thanks” to producers for staying close to original versions and not damaging them with their technological “high developed” skills.

New York might be too small of a target for these movies with such a huge fan following. This is why Paramount is considering plans to screen the restored movies in other selected cities too, such as Los Angeles and San Fransisco. But even this step is not enough to satisfy all viewers! If you are one of those fans that doesn’t live in these cities and is panicking right now, about to write an angry letter to someone, anyone, who will listen, have no fear. As Cinematical reports, you can find the new versions of “The Godfather, the Coppola Restoration collection” on DVD, which includes Part III as well, also digitally restored.

However, if you didn’t watch the movie on the big screen, and even if you are too far from New York, I would advise you to find the nearest cinema where the movie would be screening. I assure you, this trilogy must be seen on big screen. Afterwards, you’ll appreciate Coppola’s work from its theatrical aspects which are invisible on TV screens.

And lucky are the people in New York - who get to enjoy the return to the big screen of “The Godfather” and “The Godfather Part II” in restored version . This film can be watched again and again, each time as entertaining as the last. As Stanley Kubrick said quite shortly and sweetly- “Possibly the greatest movie ever made.”