stuff
Trailer for The History Boys, a British drama/comedy based on the by-all-accounts brilliant play by Alan Bennett about a group of grammar school boys, their teachers, and the process of teaching. Dead Poets Society this is NOT. Since it's about the teaching of history, no doubt politics are in there somewhere. I'd be interested to hear the views of anyone who's seen the play. Michael Billington (Guardian) said this about it: "...Bennett's play outshines its predecessors because it is about the tragic and fulfilling aspects of teaching, about the changing face of England and ultimately about the nature of history itself." I wonder who will write the first inevitable comparison between this and this year's other film about a high school teacher, Ryan Fleck's Half Nelson. The History Boys is directed by Nicholas Hytner (The Madness of King George). The cast is full of unfamiliar names, with the exceptions of Stephen Campbell Moore (Bright Young Things) and Richard Griffiths. There are some production photos here. [Fox Searchlight] [imdb]
After Batman Begins came out last year, I remember one of the things rez_lo and I found fascinating about the direction Nolan decided to take with the movie was the idea of escalation: Bruce's extreme reaction prompting an equally violent avalanche. In this interview, Nolan states that escalation is indeed going to be the key issue to the second film, The Dark Knight. He talks about the character of the Joker, and he also says, "The title has been chose very specifically. It's quite important to the film". [imdb]
Brenden Fraser and Paul Bettany will star in Inkheart, which is based on the best-selling children's novel (no wait, a trilogy, actually) by Cornelia Funke. The books are about a girl, Meggie, whose father, a bookbinder called Mo, has the ability to "read" characters in books into existence. Fraser will play Mo, and Bettany is in talks to play a character called Dustfinger, a mysterious fire-breathing performer. The main villain, Capricorn, has not been cast. Iain Softley (The Skeleton Key) will direct. All these cute names, and the articles that credit the books with a "Dickensian" flavour, remind me very much of Joan Aiken's "Wolves Chronicles". Want to talk memorable childrens books, I loved that series. (Moviehole) [imdb]
Tim Roth! Naomi Watts! The two will star in Michael Haneke's remake of his own 1997 German-language horror/drama Funny Games. (Coming Soon) [imdb]
Children of Men knockout teaser posters. Love them. (JoBlo) [Official Site] [imdb]
Long, very long Q&A with David Simon, creator of HBO's incredible series, The Wire.
Finally, a very nicely put together trailer for Driving Lessons, a coming of age film starring Rupert Grint, Julie Walters and Laura Linney. [imdb]