Previews: Rogue One Trailer, David Brent and more!

Plenty in this round-up of trailers and posters from this week, including the Rogue One trailer, David Brent: Life on the Road, Ben-Hur and more…

Rogue One Trailer

Here is the Rogue One trailer. The film is the first in a series of stand-alone Star Wars movies. Taking place before the events of Episode IV, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story certainly has the look of the original franchise. Starring Felicity Jones, Forest Whitaker and Riz Ahmed, Rogue One hits UK screens on 16th December 2016.

David Brent: Life on the Road Trailer

The trailer for David Brent: Life on the Road is just as cringe-inducing as you would imagine. Ricky Gervais resurrects his famed character from The Office for this film about Brent’s time on the road as a salesman and amateur rockstar. David Brent: Life on the Road is out in UK cinemas on 19th August 2016.

Ben-Hur Poster

Here is the latest poster for Ben-Hur. The film is a remake of the 1959 epic. Starring Jack Huston and Morgan Freeman, the film is about a falsely accused Jewish nobleman who survives years of slavery. Ben-Hur gallops on to the big screen on 26th August 2016.

The B.F.G. Trailer

Here is the trailer for Steven Spielberg’s The B.F.G. The film is based on the Roald Dahl’s classic and features Mark Rylance as the title character and Ruby Barnhill as Sophie. The B.F.G. hits UK screens on 22nd July 2016.

Captain America: Civil War Featurette

Here is a featurette on the upcoming Captain America: Civil War. The video focuses on the film’s main female characters, with Scarlett Johansson, Elizabeth Olsen and Emily Van Camp discussing their roles in the film. Captain America: Civil War launches onto UK screens on 29th April 2016.

Muppets Most Wanted Press Conference

Kermit, Miss Piggy and Constantine (as well as Ricky Gervais and director James Bobin) were in London to talk about The Muppets sequel Muppets Most Wanted. Here are some of the highlights…

On Kermit’s role in Muppets Most Wanted

Kermit: I think of myself as getting to do a little bit of an action role in this, it’s something I haven’t done before. In order to prepare for that role I watched all of Bruce Willis’ movies, and when that didn’t work I just went to his hairdresser.

On Ricky Gervais landing a role in the film

Ricky Gervais: It’s not a job, is it? This is like fun. I’m a big kid and I can’t believe my luck. I’ve been a fan of the Muppets for thirty years, I used to watch them on Sundays with my family. So yeah, this was a good call to get. I didn’t know this guy[Constantine] before, but now he’s one of my best pals.

Constantine: Yes. We are buddies. You will give me your email address right? I keep asking for it, but he does not give it. How are we supposed to stay in touch?

Ricky Gervais: I think about him a lot. And I say to my girlfriend: “I wonder where Constantine is today?”. Usually in a bag.

Constantine: This is correct.

On Constantine being the bad guy

Constantine: There is part of me that kind of enjoys being the bad guy, and enjoys being hated. I was written that way, so what can I say?

Kermit: We don’t hate him. It’s just a story of the movie. He’s actually an old pal from the swamp. Ricky’s he’s best friend now, he’s a good guy.

Ricky Gervais: In the movie he’s evil. But I think doing this movie and meeting me has thawed his little heart of stone. SHowing him love has made him quite a cuddly little thing.

On the cameos in Muppets Most Wanted

James Bobin: Largely we write those roles in the script, and often we write the name of the particular person. What we find is because there is a great love for the Muppets, the people we ask tend to say yes. Which is really rare.

On Miss Piggy’s beauty

Miss Piggy: I’m so distracting, I’m distracting here at the press conference. They can’t take their eyes off me.

Ricky Gervais: You had to pretend to love her in the movie, didn’t you?

Constantine: Yes. It was my best acting.

Ricky Gervais: She’s a bigger diva [than the actresses he has worked with], and she won’t mind me saying that because she is sort of proud of it.

Miss Piggy: Mmm, it’s a compliment.

On childhood idols

Kermit: For me it was probably Walter Brennan. A great American actor. Nobody has a clue who I’m talking about, do they? I don’t know, I was inspired by so many people. I had great grandparents, old frogs. Old frogs are great inspirations.

Constantine: There is a great safecracker named Thomas Demato, there is an explosives expert, Tommy ‘The Toenail’ Lewis, Al Pacino in The Godfather Part III…

On filming Muppets Most Wanted in the Tower of London

James Bobin: Famously you’re not allowed to film there pretty much ever. And they have turned down everyone who has asked before, but somehow when you have the Muppets with you and you ask for favours, people tend to change their minds.

On deleted scenes

Ricky Gervais: They filmed about four hours of this that they had to cut down.

James Bobin: We had a lot of material in that film.

Kermit: The great thing about James is he tells you that before you shoot the scene.

Muppets Most Wanted is released in UK cinemas on 28th March 2014.

Film Review: Muppets Most Wanted

From the opening number, it is clear that Muppets Most Wanted is going to be a lot of fun. And in this respect, the film certainly does not disappoint.

After the Muppets are reunited, they decide to embark on a world tour. Unbeknownst to them, it is part of a scheme by Kermit lookalike Constantine and his sidekick…

Director James Bobin returns for the sequel to the successful comeback move The Muppets. The film’s plot is rather straightforward, but this allows for the comedy, musical numbers and cameos.

Muppets Most Wanted is a crime caper imbued with the quintessential Muppet brand of comedy. Humour in the film is frequent, and almost always hits the target. There is a good balance of silly humour and self-referential jokes that might go over the head of the youngest viewers but will certainly be appreciated by older audience members.

The plot of Muppets Most Wanted functions effectively to allow for comedy and musical numbers. The songs are entertaining overall. There are not too many musical numbers as if to feel that they have been shoehorned in. Pacing in the film is good, with sufficient energy to keep viewers entertained.

Muppets Most Wanted has less of an emotional quality than The Muppets. The film has a nice message, even though this is played on for laughs, in the classic Muppets style. The well meaning lessons of Muppets Most Wanted aren’t quite a match for the nostalgic exuberance of its predecessor.

Tina Fey and Ty Burrell are great in the film, providing good support to the puppet characters. Ricky Gervais is wisely utilised in a limited capacity. There are some wonderful cameos in the film, and others which serve a finite purpose.

Muppets Most Wanted is a thoroughly entertaining family film. Viewers should find it a satisfying watch.

Muppets Most Wanted is released in UK cinemas on 28th March 2014.

Stuff To Look At

A treasure trove of film stuff, including the latest Thor: The Dark World trailer, Muppets Most Wanted and more…

Thor: The Dark World

Here is the new Thor: The Dark World trailer. It looks as if it will bring the same blend of action and comedy as its predecessor and Avengers Assemble. Thor: The Dark World is set for release in UK cinemas on 30th October 2013.

Muppets Most Wanted

The teaser trailer for Muppets Most Wanted (formerly known as The Muppets… Again) was released this week. There are plenty of celebrity appearances it seems, with Ricky Gervais taking the human lead. Muppets Most Wanted is due for release in Spring 2014.

Upstream Colour

I have seen Shane Carruth’s Upstream Colour and can report it is well worth the watch. The film is rather abstract, but is absorbing viewing. Upstream Colour is released in UK cinemas on 30th August 2013.

Blue Jasmine

Here is the trailer for Woody Allen’s latest, Blue Jasmine. Set in San Francisco, the film features Cate Blanchett, Sally Hawkins and Alec Baldwin. From the trailer alone, it looks as if Blanchett will be fantastic. Blue Jasmine is released in UK cinemas on 27th September 2013.

We’re The Millers

Here is a featurette on We’re The Millers, the new comedy starring Jason Sudeikis and Jennifer Aniston. From previously trailers, the film looks as if it could be pretty funny. We’re The Millers is released in the UK on 23rd August 2013.

Film Review: Cemetery Junction

After Ricky Gervais’ last co-written, co-directed and co-stared feature, The Invention of Lying, you would be forgiven for being a little skeptical about this latest offering. However, Cemetery Junction is an enjoyable picture, combining an adequate amount of laughs with a genuine emotional depth.

Freddie Taylor is the son of a factory worker, living in the dead-end town Cemetery Junction in the early 1970s. Wishing to make more of his life, Freddie thinks working for a big insurance company will help achieve his goal of leaving his old life behind. But things rarely work out as simple as this…

Christian Cooke is bright as the protagonist Freddie; his blossoming friendship with Julie (played by Felicity Jones) is a delight to watch. Ralph Fiennes, Tom Hughes and Jack Doolan are all believable in their roles. The star turn, however, is delivered by Emily Watson, who gives an understated yet strong performance as Mrs Kendrick.

The relationship between Freddie and his friends Bruce and Stork seems very natural. The film is well written; the dialogue and circumstances appear very believable. Gervais and Merchant have succeeded in producing a well-crafted drama with a sufficient amount of comic relief. Aesthetically, the film seems authentic with its depiction of a small British town in the 1970s; the soundtrack is bursting with hits of that decade.

Ricky Gervais has a role in Cemetery Junction, but given his reputation for playing very similar characters, it is thankfully small. Overall, the film should strike a chord with audiences all too familiar with the small-town mentality; the theme is broad enough to be identifiable where ever in the world you watch it.