Celebrating Up and Coming Movies : and the writing that made them.

Life of Pi (opens 1 Jan 2013)

Variety Review

Gold Rush Review

Based on one of the best books EVER. Directed in 3D by Ang Lee. Stars Suraj Sharma. “An inspiring and visually stunning tale of faith, hope and discovery” (R. Perez). Excellent previews.

Les Miserables (opens 26 Dec 2012)

Official movie site 

Directed by Tom Hooper (The King’s speech). Stars Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean, Russell Crowe as Javert, Anne Hathaway as Fantine, Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter as the innkeepers. All songs were recorded live on set.

Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption–a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. Jackman plays ex-prisoner Jean Valjean, hunted for decades by the ruthless policeman Javert (Crowe) after he breaks parole. When Valjean agrees to care for factory worker Fantine’s (Hathaway) young daughter, Cosette (Seyfried), their lives change foreverWikipedia on Le Mis

The Hobbitt : an unexpected journey 

Trailer    

                

Directed by Peter Jackson, in 3 parts.   Stars Martin Freeman as Bilbo.  Includes Benedict Cumberbatch as Smaug, Stephen Fry as an unsavoury town leader , Billy Connolly as a dwarf warrior and Dame Edna as the Great Goblin.

Part 1: An unexpected journey (2012)   Pt 2: The desolation of Smaug (Dec 2013)    Pt 3: There and back again (mid 2014).

The Great Gatsby (now due to open mid 2013)

The Celebrated 1st Edition Cover :  ‘The cover of The Great Gatsby is among the most celebrated pieces of jacket art in American literature.^[A little-known artist named Fracis Cuget was commissioned to illustrate the book while Fitzgerald was in the midst of writing it. The cover was completed before the novel, with Fitzgerald so enamored of it that he told his publisher he had “written it into” the novel.^{‘ from Wikipediahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Gatsby}

Directed by Baz Luhrmann. Stars Leonardo Di Caprio. Rumour says it will have an ultra-modern soundtrack, a bit of Luhrmann’s signature style – possibilities include Lady Gaga, Prince, Kanye West, Jay-Z…

Superstars go gaga for Gatsby

Trailer

On the road (out now)

1st edition cover.

Directed by Walter Salles (The motorcycle diaries). Stars Sam Riley and Kristen Stewart. Based on the book by Jack Kerouac (his manuscript was typed on a 120 foot roll of paper). For senior students studying American literature and the postwar Beat Generation.

Redfern Now (ABC 1 Nov at 8.30pm; 6 x 60 min.)

Stars Deborah Mailman, Wayne Blair (director of The Sapphires), Jimi Bani (Mabo), Leah Purcell. A rich and diverse series of 6 stories about 6 indigenous families living in Redfern, Sydney, whose lives are changed by extraordinary events. Directors include Rachel Perkins, Wayne Blair, Leah Purcell. This is the first drama project developed by the ABC Indigenous Dept, with more programs to come from indigenous writers, filmmakers and actors.

Better man (SBS 2013)

Written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Khoa Do (brother of Anh Do). 4 part mini-series about 25 year Vietnamese-Australian Van Nguyen, who was convicted of drug trafficking and executed in Singapore in 2005 after a 3 year legal battle. The series has been described as compelling, inspiring and thought-provoking.

Ender’s game (end 2013)

Directed by Gavin Hood. Based on the scifi books Ender’s game and Ender’s shadow by Orson Scott Card. Stars Asa Butterfied (from Hugo) Abigail Breslin, Harrison Ford, Ben Kingsley. An unusually gifted youth is sent to a military space school to prepare for an alien invasion 

Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)

A Teaser Poster

Directed in 3D by Sam Raimi. Stars James Franco, Michelle Williams and Mila Kunis. Prequel to The Wizard of Oz. A small-time conniving Kansas circus magician gets blown to Oz (yes by a twister), where he meets several witches, gets involved in the problems of Oz and transforms himself into a better man.

Madam Bovary (2014)

Based on the book by Gustave Flaubert. Directed by Sophie Barthes. Stars Mia Wasikowska.

More superheroes!

Coming up soon: Iron Man 3 (2013), Thor: the dark world (2013), Man of Steel (2013) (a misunderstood Superman), Captain America 2 (2014), 300: rise of an empire (2014) (prequel to 300, Xerxes and Themistocles battle it out; based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller). Watch this space…