The world's most lethal odd couple - bodyguard Michael Bryce (Ryan Reynolds) and hitman Darius Kincaid (Samuel L. Jackson) - are back on another life-threatening mission. Still unlicensed and under scrutiny, Bryce is forced into action by Darius's even more volatile wife, the infamous international con artist Sonia Kincaid (Salma Hayek). As Bryce is driven over the edge by his two most dangerous protectees, the trio get in over their heads in a global plot and soon find that they are all that stand between Europe and a vengeful and powerful madman (Antonio Banderas). Joining in the fun and deadly mayhem is Morgan Freeman as... well, you'll have to see.
The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard is in cinemas Monday 21st June 2021. Watch the new trailer at the link above.
Graeme Clark
[14 May 2021 at 00:49]
UK Cinemas Welcome Back Audiences
In case you were understandably worried
Latest survey findings confirm that eagerness amongst cinema audiences to return to the big screen is at an all-time high. This comes as many cinemas across the UK are given the green light to reopen from 17 May in the next stage of the roadmap out of lockdown, with over 80 per cent of UK cinemas set to welcome audiences back in the next few weeks.
An ongoing tracking study, commissioned by the cross-industry body Cinema First, and in-field between 21 - 27 April, confirms that 38 per cent of audiences plan to return within the first month of sites reopening, and another 34 per cent within the first few months of reopening.
The survey, which has repeatedly flagged cinemagoing as the most missed out-of-home entertainment activity, also confirms that teens, young adults, and families will be amongst the first to return, re-engaging with the immersive and thrilling experience that only comes from watching the latest films on the big screen. Over 59 per cent of audience members surveyed agreed that the cinema experience cannot be recreated at home, citing spectacular visuals and immersive sound and the unique atmosphere that only the cinema can provide.
Returning audiences will be able to enjoy a strong slate of new films over the coming months and beyond. Just within the first month following reopening, that diverse selection will include: newly-crowned Oscar winners Nomadland, Minari, The Father, Judas and the Black Messiah, Sound of Metal and Another Round; big-hitting sequels such as Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway and A Quiet Place Part II; keenly anticipated crowd-pleasers like Cruella and In the Heights; and global box office smash Demon Slayer.
The recent research also confirmed cinemas as being seen as safer than other indoor environments such as theatres and music venues, with UK venues receiving praise for their response to the pandemic last year and the subsequent implementation of wide-ranging safety measures, all put in place to protect the health and safety of audiences and staff. 93 per cent of cinemagoers who returned last year would recommend the experience to others, and 99 per cent were satisfied with the health and safety measures at their local cinema.
Graeme Clark
[14 May 2021 at 00:44]
The Most Beautiful Boy in the World
Visconti thought so
Fifty years after the premiere of Death in Venice, Kristina Lindström & Kristian Petri's celebrated documentary explores the life of Björn Andrésen, the former teen star who embodied the legendary character Tadzio and whom director Luchino Visconti dubbed "the most beautiful boy in the world".
In 1970, filmmaker Luchino Visconti travelled throughout Europe looking for the perfect boy to personify absolute beauty in his adaptation for the screen of Thomas Mann's Death in Venice. In Stockholm, he discovered Björn Andrésen, a shy 15-year-old teenager whom he brought to international fame overnight and led to spend a short but intense part of his turbulent youth between the Lido in Venice, London, the Cannes Film Festival and the so distant Japan. Fifty years after the premiere of Death in Venice, Björn takes us on a remarkable journey made of personal memories, cinema history, stardust and tragedy.
The Most Beautiful Boy in the World is released in UK / Irish cinemas 30th July.
Unseen for over 50 years, Network is proud to present all 52 episodes of the classic BBC television murder mystery series Maigret on Blu-ray for the first time ever, with an award-winning performance from Rupert Davies' as the cunning sleuth Commissaire Jules Maigret.
A French counterpart to Agatha Christie's detective characters Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, detective Jules Maigret was created by author Georges Simenon for a hugely popular series of crime novels, and adapted for British television in the 1960s. This definitive BBC adaptation of Georges Simenon's world famous novels stars Rupert Davies as the dogged French detective Maigret and though Simenon's books have been adapted many times for film and television, Davies' celebrated, BAFTA-winning portrayal was Simenon's favourite, with the writer stating, 'at last, I have found the perfect Maigret!'
Running to 52 episodes and a feature-length play, this complete 1960s series has been remastered in high definition from existing film elements. Maigret stars Rupert Davies, Ewen Solon, Helen Shingler, Neville Jason and Victor Lucas. Script Editors Donald Bull and Giles Cooper. Music composed by Ron Grainer. Produced by Andrew Osborn and Bill Luckwell.
Network presents Maigret: The Complete Series on Blu-ray 23 August 2021 - watch the trailer at the link.
Snoopy plays doctor to Charlie Brown, Lucy and Linus, teaching the importance of health care workers.
See the link above for an official short animation debut from Peanuts for Healthcare Workers Appreciation!
"Feel Better" is the fifth original video and activity released as part of the "Take Care with Peanuts" initiative, a global multi-year enterprise. Featuring favourite characters such as Snoopy, Woodstock and Charlie Brown, the initiative reminds all of us to be good global citizens, especially in these tumultuous times. Each month focuses on one of three vital messages - Take Care of Yourself (focused on physical and mental wellness), Take Care of Each Other (community and philanthropy) and Take Care of the Earth (nature and sustainability) - inspiring a major worldwide philanthropic endeavour, social messaging and educational activities. Children and communities are at the heart of each activation.
Graeme Clark
[13 May 2021 at 10:46]
Thunderbird's Spring/Summer Line-up 2021
Thunderous announcement
Thunderbird Releasing announce four films - poignant drama ELYSE, gripping thriller SAFE INSIDE, giallo-tinged AGONY, and adventure romance TYGER TYGER - to be released on digital platforms in May and June 2021.
Thunderbird's eclectic and exciting spring/summer slate kicks off with Oscar-winner Anthony Hopkins (The Father) as a psychiatrist wrestling with the troubled mind of a patient in ELYSE, directed by his wife Stella Hopkins; then in June comes SAFE INSIDE, a beautifully filmed and enigmatic mystery starring Andrea Tivadar (Killing Eve) and Joanna Kulig (Cold War); AGONY, the directorial debut of Michele Civetta, which boasts an impressive international cast including Asia Argento (Mother of Tears), Jonathan Caoette (award-winning star and director of Tarnation), Django legend Franco Nero, and Rade Serbedzija (Eyes Wide Shut); and finally TYGER TYGER, a deliriously energetic post-apocalyptic-style pandemic romance.
ELYSE- 31st May 2021
A woman, Elyse, is institutionalized in a State Hospital, following a catastrophic accident. Deeply traumatised and seemingly unreachable, only the care from her doctor and the unconditional love from her nurse might lead to her recovery.
SAFE INSIDE - 7th June
Young lovers Tom and Ana, travelling through Europe, find work at the estate of the otherworldly Richard. Remote and cut off, they soon realise that they need to escape Richard's powerful and controlling mind, before he traps them in his imagined world.
AGONY - 14th June
A discontented New Yorker, travelling to Tuscany to take care of her estranged mother's will, must decipher visions of her forgotten childhood and confront a spectral 'Lady in Red', whose dark secret will unlock her terrifying destiny.
TYGER TYGER - 28th June
After robbing a pharmacy, an unlikely trio hit the road to distribute a 'life-saving' medication during a pandemic - but find themselves stuck, and out of their depth, on the fringes of a lawless psychedelic city.
Graeme Clark
[13 May 2021 at 10:42]
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete
Aye, aye, CGI
Fully remastered in 4K FINAL FANTASY VII: ADVENT CHILDREN COMPLETE is debuting on 4K Ultra HD on June 14 courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
Two years have passed since peace was won, and the ruins of Midgar stand as a testament to the sacrifices made to win that battle. But when a mysterious illness is linked to an insidious plot to resurrect an old enemy, Cloud must choose between the life of solitude he committed to or taking up the sword once more to save the planet he so loves.
Featuring an extended director's cut containing 26 minutes of explosive additional footage and over 1,000 revised scenes, FINAL FANTASY VII: ADVENT CHILDREN COMPLETE is a senses-shattering CGI sci-fi adventure that you can't afford to miss!
Vertigo Releasing is proud to present SURGE, the first feature film from Aneil Karia (Beat, The Long Goodbye) starring BAFTA award winning actor Ben Whishaw (The Personal History of David Copperfield, Paddington, the James Bond franchise). Surge will be released in the UK and Ireland in cinemas and on digital platforms from 28th May 2021.
Joseph (Whishaw) is trapped in a soulless job, living a life devoid of emotion and meaning. After an impulsive act of rebellion, Joseph unleashes a wilder version of himself. He is propelled on a reckless journey through London, ultimately experiencing what it feels like to be alive.
Karia says of his protagonist, "Though Joseph might seem to be a unique case, I hope that his story is speaking to something much more universal. Now more than ever it feels like we have had enough of surface-existence and are yearning for a deeper more present experience of the world. I hope watching this film feels like a visceral and meaningful trip."
SURGE is a powerful must-see thriller showcasing a transformative, groundbreaking performance from Ben Whishaw. Watch the trailer at the link above.
