Every month, I’ll introduce you to some little-known British films and even some from across the Channel in Europe, along with any entertaining pieces of news or perhaps an actor or director profile of someone well-known or someone up-and-coming.
UK at Sundance: “The Trip to Italy” (2014)
This is the sequel to 2010's "The Trip," starring Steve Coogan (“24 Hour Party People”) who’s racking up a quite a film bio with 2013's "Philomena," and Rob Brydon, also of British comedy fame. It’s actually a BBC series made into a feature-length film for release in the U.S., which premiered at Sundance this January.
If winter is getting you down and you feel a need for some Italian sunshine, this film will hit the spot. The pair embarks on a culinary enlightenment tour, following the trail of the Romantics – Keats, Byron, Shelley. This is a far more glamorous setting than the North of England, which they toured in the first installment. Director Michael Winterbottom successfully showcases Italy’s rural delights with glorious scenes of Italian landscape and its culinary wares.
The comedy sparks between Coogan and Brydon during quieter moments in the film, where they reflect on meals had and places visited. A nice burst of sunshine and relaxation to get you through the pre-spring chill and gloom.
UK at Sundance: “Frank” (2014)
There have been a couple of oddball films circulating in recent months, "A Field In England" for one. "Frank" is another, the latest from director Lenny Abrahamson, who's a well-known director on the festival circuit.
1970s/'80s cult icon Frank Sidebottom had a sort of cameo recently in "Filth," a 2013 Scottish film, and returns again in “Frank,” which follows untalented musician Jon (Domnhall Gleeson of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows"), who is recruited by Frank and his strange pop band during their UK tour.
Frank’s band, Soronprfbs, is dominated by his full-on sidekick, Clara (Maggie Gyllenhaal). After recruiting Jon, they hole up in retreat of sorts, a cabin in the woods, to create an album. Tensions mount with increasing creative differences.
Frank, played by Chris Sievey, was originally frontman of the Freshies in the late '70s and then on British TV in the '80s. The film is loosely based on his life. Interestingly, Michael Fassbender ("X-Men: First Class") takes on the papier-mâché head.
Is there such a thing as too outrageous? Screenwriter Jon Ronson (who wrote the book "Men Who Stare at Goats") also played keyboard for the FS band.
“The Double” (2014)
Richard Ayoade (eye-oh-ah-dee) returns to the big screen this spring with his second feature film after "Submarine." It’s based on a novel by 19th-century Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky about a man’s discovery of his doppelganger.
The film stars Jesse Eisenberg as a man who discovers someone who looks exactly like him in his seat on the subway and charming his colleagues at his job. And, in traditional "alter-ego" style, the doppelganger is everything he’s not.
Simon is the socially awkward failure. James is confident and charming, but also superficial. There’s the love interest, of course, played by Mia Wasikowska (2011's "Jane Eyre"). The magic of the story will come from Ayoade’s directing.
“Man Up” (2014)
Actor/director extraordinaire Simon Pegg and Lake Bell ("No Strings Attached") were spotted filming in London recently. “Man Up” is a romcom from “The Inbetweeners” director Ben Palmer that takes place all in one night.
Nancy (Bell) is on her way to her parents' anniversary party when she is mistaken for a blind date who actually turns out to be the ideal boyfriend.
The film was written by Tess Morris and is her first feature after penning an eclectic mix of TV shows. She made the 2011 Brit List of screenplays that need to be made (like the Black List). Lake Bell wrote, directed and starred in “In a World...” last year as a voice coach competing against her father to land a job narrating trailers. The film received rave reviews and won the award for Best Screenplay at Sundance last year.
With Palmer leading the way and Pegg on board as producer as well as starring, the comedy should be top-notch and maybe a little on the cheeky side.
And the award goes to…
It’s a girl-power year for the Brits in the 2014 awards season. At the SAG Awards, Emma Thompson (“Saving Mr Banks”) and Judi Dench (“Philomena”) were nominated for Best Actress and, in the TV film category, Helen Mirren received a nomination for her role as defence attorney Linda Baden in “Phil Spector."
Kate Winslet also received a nomination at the Golden Globes for her role as single mum Adele Wheeler in Jason Reitman’s “Labor Day." Up-and-comer Sally Hawkins has received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at this year’s Oscar’s for “Blue Jasmine."
The only British film pitted against the list of Hollywood entries up for an Oscar is “Philomena,” directed by Stephen Frears and released in summer 2013.