The Alan Partridge Movie
Probably the biggest piece of film news is the much anticipated release of the trailer for the Alan Partridge movie; now titled “Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa”. Not released until August there will undoubtedly be many more teasers and marketing spots for the film over the next few months. Sean Pertwee (“Equilibrium” (2002)) and Colm Meaney (“The Damned United” (2009) co-star in the film (roles unknown).
Anticipation in the UK comes from Steve Coogan/Alan Partridge’s popular comedy shows from an era that produced the best British comedy; namely the 1980s and 1990s. He gained quite a cult following for a very niche kind of humour that you either get or you don’t. For many Coogan’s routine as Partridge is at the very core of what is ‘funny’.
“Alpha Papa” will centre on Partridge’s DJ spot on Radio Norfolk. What exactly the plot is going to be for the film we don’t know yet. It will be something to do with Partridge attempting to resurrect his radio DJ career. Director Declan Lowney has a little experience directing comedy; he directed the first two seasons of Irish comedy “Father Ted” and Jo Brand series “Through the Cake Hole”. Music was the focus of his early career, he directed the Eurovision Song Contest and a Bob Marley biopic “Time Will Tell” (1991).
There is too much to say about Coogan and his alter ego Alan Partridge. Briefly, Coogan started on TV with a puppet show called “Spitting Image” on late night Channel 4 in the 80s (then known as the risqué channel where anything could air after the 9pm watershed). He then began the Partridge part of his career co-starring in spoof news show “The Day Today” with Chris Morris as presenter.
Coogan has already has some success on the big screen with “24 Hour Party People” (2002) about Factory Records and the music scene in Manchester from the late 70s to early 90s. Coogan plays head of the record company Tony Wilson and the film follows some of its big name acts including: Joy Division and New Order to name two. Directed by Michael Winterbottom
At the end of April Coogan and Winterbottom team up again with "The Look of Love". It's a sort of biopic about Paul Raymond and how he became Britain's richest man. Expect unique Coogan comedy mixed in with erotica, directed by Michael Winterbottom. More on this film in the next British Film Focus.
“Stitches”
Featuring stand up comedian Ross Noble as an obnoxious clown who dies in a freak accident and comes back for revenge. After failing miserably to get any laughs at Tom’s (Tommy Knight) birthday party Stitches is killed when he trips onto a kitchen knife standing up in a dishwasher.
Years later, at Tommy’s wild 17th birthday party, he returns for revenge after a black magic clown club performs a ritual over his grave. It’s a bit "League of Gentlemen" (no, not the one with Sean Connery) Britain's answer to Stephen King's "IT". With comedy.
The horror is standard slasher with Tom’s mates/party crashers getting knocked off one by one with plenty of stomach churning moments; balloon animals made of intestines for example. The comedy, however, is lacking, aside from a couple of moments, one being Stitches on a kids tricycle.
Noble, from Newcastle in the North of England, has had a lot of success on the stand up comedy circuit in the UK and Australia with his tour Nobalism selling on DVD. He combines stream of consciousness, an energetic/breathless performance and audience interaction to make a highly distinctive style of stand up. Noble is also known for taking part in quiz show "Have I Got News For You" on the BBC. This is his debut film and it’s interesting to see him in something more serious to his usual funny man act.
“Trance”
After directing a stunning opening ceremony for the Olympics in London last year Danny Boyle has turned his hand back to directing films. His next project, thriller “Trance”, is due for release at the end of March (beginning of April in the US).
This will be another brain scrambler from the director who has already boggled us with “Sunshine” (2007) and more recently “127 Hours” (2010).
The film follows an art heist where inside man Simon (James McAvoy “Atonement” (2007)) has to remember where he stashed the stolen painting.
Despite having a pretty diverse film bio, which is getting increasingly more varied by the year, Boyle’s films very often return to mind bending the audience. The plot usually takes them on a crazy journey through the human mind. Look back to “Trainspotting” (1996) and his films mentioned above. Plus, remember the first person game style scene with Leo DiCaprio running through the jungle in “The Beach” (2000)?
The whole cast for “Trance” is well chosen. Vincent Cassel (“Mesrine: Killer Instinct” (2008)) rightly in place as villain Franck at the centre of the heist. He’s very keen to retrieve the location of the painting from Simon’s brain. Rosario Dawson (“Seven Pounds” (2007)) is the hypnotherapist entering Simon’s mind; a wealth of areas to play with for her. Will her and Simon predictably become lovers? Will she risk her life to protect Simon? Is she under Cassel’s influence? Questionable loyalties?
Music comes from Rick Smith of band Underworld who have been adding atmosphere and a multitude of heady layers to Boyle’s films for a long time (they wrote Born Slippy, the song played over the opening sequence to "Trainspotting"). It will be interesting to see where their music will take the film and us.
Look Out For...
“The Spirit of 45” a documentary about post-war Britain from director Ken Loach. The film is a mix of personal memories and archive footage following the end of the Second World War in 1945. It’s released at a time when Britain is in a recession and a depression. Loach is hoping viewers can take sometime away from revisiting this period and see what we can learn from the spirit of post-war jubilation and community spirit.
“My Brother the Devil” which was already released in the UK last November has won awards at Sundance and the Berlin International Film Festival. Due for release in the US at the end of March, it follows the story of two Egyptian brothers coming of age in East London. Rashid (James Floyd) dabbles in drugs and sneaks out to see his girlfriend but wants more for his little brother Mo (Fady Elsayed) and pushes him to attend college. Some stunning acting from these two newcomers to cinema.