Watch the International Premiere of The Dark Knight Rises live tonight
Tonight, London’s Leicester Square will be taken over by the international premiere of Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises. For those not fortunate (or crazy) enough to be able to brave to crowds to catch a glimpse of their favourite Bat-stars, we’ve got a live stream of the event starting from 17.15 GMT. All the stars are expected to be greeting the crowd and answering some burning questions, so don’t miss it.
The Dark Knight Rises to meet expectations
Fifteen years ago, when Joel Schumacher murdered the Batman franchise with Batman and Robin, he ruined the image of one of the Dark Knight’s greatest modern foes by reducing the monster Bane to little more than a roided-out henchman. So it is fitting that writer/director Christopher Nolan’s triumphant resuscitation of the franchise should close by righting that offensive wrong. In The Dark Knight Rises Nolan has breathed new life into Batman’s deadliest foe and weaves an epic conclusion to his phenomenal trilogy.
The legends ends in glorious fashion from 20 July
While The Dark Knight Rises may take place eight years after the caped crusader was last seen onscreen, the film brings everything up to speed in quick succession. The initial sequence (previously screened as the prologue) works much like the introduction of the Joker does in The Dark Knight. Whether bearing intentional similarities or not, the scene is a breath-taking opening that is instantly memorable. Back in Gotham, familiar faces are reintroduced and newcomers are given ample opportunity to make their mark. Nolan and screenwriter brother Jonathan give Michael Caine terrific dialogue to work with and his scenes as Alfred with Christian Bale’s Bruce Wayne add a new, vital dimension to their relationship. Bale is as reliable as ever and further cements his version of Wayne as definitive. The same can be said of Gary Oldman’s Commissioner Gordon who also returns. One of three Inception alumni new to the scene is Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who turns in a captivating performance as an idealistic young officer in the Gotham police department. In fact, it may be Gordon-Levitt’s superb portrayal that gains the most attention. Anne Hathaway’s agile and clever Selina Kyle is a fierce take on the character and she pulls it off magnificently. The dynamic between Catwoman and Batman is beautiful captured and holds true to their long-established attraction amidst animosity. Finally, as Bane, Tom Hardy is rather limited by the mask, but his physical presence is not to be underestimated and it goes far to make up for an absence of facial expressions. Nolan’s Bane is a truly brutal beast who, beyond remarkable brawn, also has the intelligence and leadership to pose an incredibly menacing and entirely genuine threat. While these characters are brilliantly brought to life by the actors behind them, it is the Nolans’ story that allows them to meet (and, in some cases, exceed) expectations.
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Review: This Means War
Take two best mates, who also happen to be CIA agents, toss in an unlucky-in-love, hot blonde and what is the result? A steaming helping of a McG action-comedy entitled This Means War, that’s what. This rom-com wolf in espionage-thriller sheep’s clothing features Tom Hardy and Chris Pine as the combatants fighting for the hand of fair-maiden Reese Witherspoon to sometimes funny, too often maddening effect.
This Means War disappoints from 2 March 2012 in the UK
Super CIA spies Tuck (Hardy) and FDR (Pine) are introduced via a covert mission in Hong Kong that becomes increasingly un-covert, resulting in a baddie looking remarkably well after a terrible fall and an even worse landing (but still dead, nonetheless). The fallout lands the pair desk-duty punishment as they contemplate their personal lives. Meanwhile, the central villain (in so much that This Means War actually has one) plots revenge for the death of his brother, in a ludicrously underdeveloped and inconsequential plot-line that acts as little more than a plot device in the flick’s final 15 minutes. A broody Tuck turns to an online dating site to find love. Much to her horror, head product tester Lauren (Witherspoon) discovers that she has been signed up to the same site by her neurotic married gal friend, Trish (Chelsea Handler). Needless to say, Lauren meets Tuck and then coincidentally meets FDR who had been inexplicably monitoring their date together. Of course, FDR becomes smitten and wastes no time in worming his way into a date with Lauren as well. Once the pair becomes aware of this highly unlikely coincidence, they agree to both date Lauren and let her decide before vowing that no matter what- bros before hoes. However, This Means War would be pretty boring if these two alphas males abided by their agreement and while the film is massively stupid, it certainly isn’t boring- no matter how tempting it would be to dub it This Means Snore.
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Review: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
After much anticipation, Tomas Alfredson’s take on Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy hits UK cinemas this Friday. Touting an all-star cast of British talent, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is a slow-burn drama brimming with masterfully understated performances. Alfredson’s film is beautifully atmospheric while presenting a pitch-perfect interpretation of early 70s Cold War life in London.
Tom Alfredson & Peter Straughan discuss Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy at the May Fair Hotel
Getting off to a quick, dramatic start, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy soon settles into a methodical pace as MI6 (“the Circus”) head Control (John Hurt) is forced out of the intelligence agency following a bungled operation in Budapest. Control’s departure also leads his right-hand man George Smiley (Gary Oldman) into early retirement. However, it’s not long before Smiley’s services are being called upon in order to seek out the truth behind the rumoured Russian mole at the top of the Circus.
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Review: Warrior
Released 23 September in the UK, Warrioris a thrilling family drama played out in brilliant fashion within the octagonal cage of a fictitious mixed martial arts tournament. Starring Tom Hardy (Tommy) and Joel Edgerton (Brendan) as estranged brothers, the film is based around their personal struggles and fractured relationships with each other and their father- a brilliantly cast Nick Nolte, who shines in the role of recovering alcoholic Paddy.
Tom Hardy and Nick Nolte prepare to go to war in Warrior
Having fled 14 years earlier with his mother, Tommy returns to the family home to find his formerly abusive, alcoholic father off the drink and begging for forgiveness. Hardy is thoroughly convincing as the hardened Tommy, who is harbouring deep-seeded resentment and exudes an air of menace as his recent whereabouts remain shrouded in mystery. Edgerton’s Brendan, who opted to not go with his brother and mother, is now married to his high-school sweetheart and, earning a suspension from his teaching job, is faced with a possible foreclosure on his family’s house. Both brothers find themselves lined up for “the Super Bowl of MMA”, a vicious winner take all fighting tournament with a prize of $5 million.
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