Tag: Film
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Controversy rages over movies ‘based on truth’
From slavery to politics to war, the latest blockbusters are dominated by real-life characters and events. But what happens when truth overlaps with commercial movie-making?
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Year in Review: arts achievements of 2012
The giants of modern culture have been quiet this year. But away from the commercial mainstream, there was a lot going on. We look back at the big hits of a year in the arts.
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Life of Pi brings ‘unfilmable’ novel to the screen
Acclaimed director Ang Lee’s adaptation of ‘Life of Pi’ is set to take cinemas by storm next week. How did the book’s fantastical scenes get adapted to the big screen?
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Physicists take on the real-world Matrix
A group of academics say they want to investigate whether the world is an advanced computer simulation. Was science fiction giving us clues to cutting edge physics all along?
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‘Children’s fairy tale’ becomes cinema epic
When Tolkien’s ‘The Hobbit’ was published, it was reviewed as a bedtime story. This week it hits the big screen as a three-part drama aimed at adults. Has popular culture become too childish?
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Economic misery threatens ‘the death of France’
Businessmen are fleeing France’s new top tax rates while the economy flounders and politicians bicker. Must the government expose the fiercely protected French culture to the free market?
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Fans in raptures over dramatic ‘Twilight’ finale
The final ‘Twilight’ film has taken $341 million in its opening weekend, and left teenage audiences gushing with praise. What made this vampire love story such a sensation?
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James Bond’s patriotism shaken not stirred
To mark the 50th anniversary of the James Bond films, ‘Skyfall’ asks audiences to question the agent’s patriotism. What kind of country has the England he serves become?
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Disney’s first ‘Latina’ princess – or is she?
This week, campaigners cheered as Disney prepared to introduce its first Latin American star. Yet Princess Sofia, when unveiled, looked indistinguishable from a European.
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Driving in decline in the Western world
In countries all over the rich world, people are turning away from their cars – and young people are using them less than anyone. Have we come to the end of the open road?
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‘The Master’ takes arthouse box offices by storm
Festival favourite ‘The Master’ has only been shown in five cinemas, but it has already developed a cult following and broken records. Does mainstream film have a lesson to learn?
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Critics row over film version of Tolstoy’s love story
Anna Karenina, the tale of a doomed woman torn between her family and a compelling love affair, is often called the world’s greatest novel. How does a film director tackle a classic?
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Alcatraz escapees still at large after fifty years
Fifty years ago today, three men disappeared from Alcatraz, the world’s toughest prison. What happened to them – and why are we fascinated by these elusive criminals?
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Comedy ‘dictator’ crashes Cannes on a camel
Sacha Baron Cohen has a talent for causing a stir. Now, the comic actor has stolen the show at Cannes Film Festival in the character of ridiculous dictator ‘Admiral General Aladeen.’
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Avengers smashes records on opening weekend
Spiderman, X-Men, Batman: superheroes are this decade’s Hollywood money-spinners. But in the box office showdown, the combined might of The Avengers has put every lone hero to shame.