Here’s a nice new set of posters for Wrath of the Titans, the sequel to the 2009 movie, Clash of the Titans. This 2012 movie stars Sam Worthington, Ralph Fiennes, Liam Neeson, Danny Huston, Edgar Ramirez, Bill Nighy, Toby Kebbell, Rosamund Pike and is directed by Jonathan Liebesman.

Rather like these new posters although what the heck is going on with Sam Worthington’s hair?! I think it’s the background but it makes him look like he has a lovely perm from 1982! We can expect to see the movie 30th March. No doubt we’ll see the other characters appear on their own poster rather than in the montage that we see below…..

A decade after his heroic defeat of the monstrous Kraken, Perseus (Worthington) –the demigod son of Zeus (Neeson)–is attempting to live a quieter life as a village fisherman and the sole parent to his 10-year old son, Helius. Meanwhile, a struggle for supremacy rages between the gods and the Titans. Dangerously weakened by humanity’s lack of devotion, the gods are losing control of the imprisoned Titans and their ferocious leader, Kronos, father of the long-ruling brothers Zeus, Hades (Fiennes) and Poseidon (Danny Huston). The triumvirate had overthrown their powerful father long ago, leaving him to rot in the gloomy abyss of Tartarus, a dungeon that lies deep within the cavernous underworld. Perseus cannot ignore his true calling when Hades, along with Zeus’ godly son, Ares (Edgar Ramirez), switch loyalties and make a deal with Kronos to capture Zeus. The Titans’ strength grows stronger as Zeus’ remaining godly powers are siphoned, and hell is unleashed on earth. Enlisting the help of the warrior Queen Andromeda (Rosamund Pike), Poseidon’s demigod son, Argenor (Toby Kebbell), and fallen god Hephaestus (Bill Nighy), Perseus bravely embarks on a treacherous quest into the underworld to rescue Zeus, overthrow the Titans and save mankind.

Click the posters to enlarge.

Source: Digital Spy

Man on a Ledge hits UK cinemas this Friday 3rd January and to celebrate Entertainment One have given us this exclusive clip from the movie called Here they Come.In the clip, we get to see what happens when money starts raining from the sky as Sam Worthington does his best to cause a distraction while balancing on the edge of a building.

Man on a Ledge is directed by Asger Leth and stars Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks​​, Jamie Bell​​, Edward Burns​, Ed Harris​​ and Anthony Mackie. If you missed our review, you can have a read here.

Nick Cassidy (Worthington) was an honest cop. Now he’s in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Desperate, he seizes the first chance to escape. Hours later, he is freshly shaven in an expensive suit, standing on a window ledge high above New York City. As a crowd gathers below, police cordon off the area and agree to Nick’s request to speak with pretty police negotiator Lydia Anderson (Banks). But Lydia doesn’t know that she is part of his grand plan, a plan that could give them both a second chance.

Speaking quietly into a lapel microphone, Nick coordinates the high-tech theft of a $30 million diamond—the same diamond he was convicted of stealing. It’s the only way he can prove his innocence, but he needs Lydia’s help—and he’s running out of time. When his identity is exposed, a SWAT team positions itself on the roof, read to take him out.  Lydia isn’t sure he’s telling the truth, but if he really was set up for the diamond heist, it had to be an inside job, which means at least one of the cops on the scene wants Nick dead. With SWAT about to move, cops destroying the evidence that could save him and nowhere to go but down, Nick’s chances of survival are getting slimmer by the minute.

If you missed the previous coverage of the movie  click here.

Expect the unexpected with Man on a Ledge, Ghosts of Cité Soleil documentary filmmaker Asger Leth’s first feature film that offers an ever varying, well-paced and highly enjoyable crime thriller scenario. In fact, Leth might well have succeeded where other directors have failed; casting Sam Worthington in a comfortable role for once, an action-man niche for his ‘reserved’ – some might argue ‘wooden’ – acting personality.

Ex-cop Nick Cassidy (Worthington) has been convicted and jailed for stealing a $40 million dollar diamond from unscrupulous Manhattan property tycoon David Englander (Ed Harris). After being released for the day to attend his father’s funeral, Cassidy escapes then ends up checking into upmarket Manhattan hotel, the famous Roosevelt Hotel, and climbing onto his hotel room window ledge, 21 stories up, in what looks like an attempted suicide bid brought on by grief. But nothing is as it seems, and everything is for a reason.

Think ‘Noughties Phone Booth meets Ocean’s Eleven’, with a touch of Statham rough-and-ready flung in from Worthington. Apart from the nicely stimulated tension and intrigue as to where the whole narrative is heading, one of the main reasons Leth’s film works is we like Worthington’s Cassidy for no apparent reason from the start, other than we have a ‘cop’s hunch’ that he’s a guy who has taken a fall and must be allowed to restore justice – by any means. Like a Statham character – albeit minus the slick action moves, Cassidy isn’t squeaky clean, but he fights his corner and has values that we can relate to. It’s certainly a time-honoured premise that allows us to feel the world isn’t such a bad place after all, full of latter-day, flawed ‘heroes’.

Admittedly, while some parts are amusingly far-fetched – as in one gravity-defying fall at the end, another obvious reason Leth’s film is a potential hit is the attractive cast. Aside from Worthington, Elizabeth Banks is a cop negotiator playing on borrowed career time who tries to coax Cassidy off the ledge then gets a lot more on her plate than she bargained for. An athletic-looking Jamie Bell also plays Cassidy’s kid brother, Joey, teamed up with equally toned and sultry Genesis Rodriguez as his high-maintenance girlfriend, Angie. Coupled with the eye-popping gymnastics and outfits, the pair also creates a foolish comedy repartee that keeps things interesting while the tension mounts all around.

In times of austerity, Harris as Englander symbolises the latter-day folk devil – the greedy, corrupt businessman we all love to hate – and is faultless in the part. In fact, Leth’s fictional story is almost a self-serving diversion from his gritty documentary making, in that ‘the wronged’ and deserved triumphs – even if it ends with a groan-inducing slap-on-the-back for honest Irish roots and integrity.

Leth also cloaks a lot of the characters’ responses in a healthy dollop of dirty cop cynicism, which permeates proceedings and takes the edge off delivering a more polished and serious crime affair. Indeed, the film’s minor flaws, subtle self-mockery and irony work in its favour, bolstering the detailed observations and its characters’ complexed anxieties. Nobody is privy to how things will pan out, and there is a nice little twist at the end in an action flick where the sexes get to play equal in driving proceedings to fruition.

****~ (4/5)

Love this! Summit have released a new trailer with Elizabeth Banks narrating over the top of it in a rather comical way. A lot of it is her talking about how she things Sam Worthington is fit and how she’d  love to ‘tap’ Ed Harris comparing him to a fine bottle of wine that gets better with age! She also does an awesome job at taking the mickey our of herself acting in the trailer and I am now even more gutted that my interview with her tomorrow got cancelled! Gotta love Elizabeth Banks!

Check out the fun trailer below and then go and see Man on a Ledge when it comes out 3rd February or tomorrow in the US cos it looks fab!

In the heart-pounding thriller “Man on a Ledge,” Nick Cassidy (Sam Worthington) makes a desperate and life-threatening move to prove his innocence after he is framed for the theft of a rare, prized diamond. Recently escaped from prison and with nowhere else to go, Nick climbs onto the ledge of a towering skyscraper, inviting the eyes of New York City to anxiously watch as one wrong step could mean plunging to his death. But as one police negotiator soon learns, Nick’s daredevil stunt, captivating the eyes of the public and media, masks a dangerous ploy to reveal the truth about his tarnished name.With the help of his brother and with time running out, Nick’s intricate plan must work perfectly, but when you’re on the 25th floor ledge of a building, going down takes on an entirely more hair-raising meaning.   With unpredictable twists and electrifying turns, “Man on a Ledge” features an amazing ensemble cast including Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell, Anthony Mackie, Edward Burns, Genesis Rodriguez, Kyra Sedgwick, and Ed Harris.

Here’s our third batch of images from Sam Worthington’s new movie, Man on a Ledge and you’ll never guess what, some of these images feature a man on a ledge! These new images come from Entertainment One who are distributing the movie here in the UK and is released February 3rd.

Man on a Ledge is directed by Asger Leth and stars Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks​​, Jamie Bell​​, Edward Burns​, Ed Harris​​ and Anthony Mackie.

Nick Cassidy (Worthington) was an honest cop. Now he’s in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Desperate, he seizes the first chance to escape. Hours later, he is freshly shaven in an expensive suit, standing on a window ledge high above New York City. As a crowd gathers below, police cordon off the area and agree to Nick’s request to speak with pretty police negotiator Lydia Anderson (Banks). But Lydia doesn’t know that she is part of his grand plan, a plan that could give them both a second chance.

Speaking quietly into a lapel microphone, Nick coordinates the high-tech theft of a $30 million diamond—the same diamond he was convicted of stealing. It’s the only way he can prove his innocence, but he needs Lydia’s help—and he’s running out of time. When his identity is exposed, a SWAT team positions itself on the roof, read to take him out.  Lydia isn’t sure he’s telling the truth, but if he really was set up for the diamond heist, it had to be an inside job, which means at least one of the cops on the scene wants Nick dead. With SWAT about to move, cops destroying the evidence that could save him and nowhere to go but down, Nick’s chances of survival are getting slimmer by the minute.

If you missed the previous coverage of the movie including the other batches of images, click here to view.

With the release of the first trailer and poster for the Clash of the Titans sequel, Wrath of The Titans, a few weeks ago, a set of new posters have been recently put online, showing more of the incredible looking Titans themselves.

Directed by Jonathan Liebesman, The Wrath of the Titans follows Perseus (Sam Worthington), the demigod son of Zeus, who, a decade after his historic defeat of the monstrous Kraken, is attempting to live a quieter life whilst looking after his 10-year old son, Helius.

Meanwhile, weakened by humanity’s lack of devotion, the gods are losing control of the imprisoned Titans and a struggle for supremacy rages between the gods and the Titans. When Hades (Ralph Fiennes), along with Zeus’ godly son, Ares (Edgar Ramírez), switch loyalty and make a deal to capture Zeus, Perseus can no longer ignore his true calling. Enlisting the help of the warrior Queen Andromeda (Rosamund Pike), Poseidon’s demigod son, Argenor (Toby Kebbell), and fallen god Hephaestus (Bill Nighy), Perseus must embark on a treacherous quest into the underworld to rescue Zeus (Liam Neeson) and overthrow the Titans and save mankind.

Wrath Of The Titans is set to be released on 30th March, 2012. Here is the new Titan poster for the film, courtesy of IMP Awards, as well as the individual posters for each creature.

The Titans poster:

The gigantic Minotaur:

The two-headed beast Chimera:

The sword-yielding Makhai:

The thunderous Kronos, the father of Zeus:

More pictures from Asger Leth’s Man on a Ledge for you today, and there are men, woman and ledges on offer here so that’s plenty for everyone.

Sam Worthington is the titualr Man on a Ledge and the film also stars Elizabeth Banks​, Jamie Bell​, Ed Harris​ and Anthony Mackie​, some of whom can be seen below. We here in the UK have until the 3rd of February next year to wait to see if the man stays on the ledge or not.

Here’s a more than adequate synopsis to tease and tantlise.

Nick Cassidy (Worthington) was an honest cop. Now he’s in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Desperate, he seizes the first chance to escape. Hours later, he is freshly shaven in an expensive suit, standing on a window ledge high above New York City. As a crowd gathers below, police cordon off the area and agree to Nick’s request to speak with pretty police negotiator Lydia Anderson (Banks). But Lydia doesn’t know that she is part of his grand plan, a plan that could give them both a second chance.

Speaking quietly into a lapel microphone, Nick coordinates the high-tech theft of a $30 million diamond—the same diamond he was convicted of stealing. It’s the only way he can prove his innocence, but he needs Lydia’s help—and he’s running out of time. When his identity is exposed, a SWAT team positions itself on the roof, read to take him out.  Lydia isn’t sure he’s telling the truth, but if he really was set up for the diamond heist, it had to be an inside job, which means at least one of the cops on the scene wants Nick dead. With SWAT about to move, cops destroying the evidence that could save him and nowhere to go but down, Nick’s chances of survival are getting slimmer by the minute.

 Click here to see a recent batch of photos from the film featuring Sam Worthington

Earlier this month, we put up the UK trailer and poster for the brand new Entertainment One movie, Man on a Ledge which is directed by Asger Leth and also stars Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks​, Jamie Bell​, Edward Burns, Ed Harris​ and Anthony Mackie​ and we didn’t have a release date. We can now tell you that the movie is released 3rd February in the UK.

We’ve been sent these brand new high resolution images to share with you lovely readers so scroll down and click the to make them grow very large! Anyone else looking forward to this movie as much as me? Let me know in the comments section below. The news images show Sam Worthington, Jamie Bell, Ed Harris and Edward Burns.

Nick Cassidy (Worthington) was an honest cop. Now he’s in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Desperate, he seizes the first chance to escape. Hours later, he is freshly shaven in an expensive suit, standing on a window ledge high above New York City. As a crowd gathers below, police cordon off the area and agree to Nick’s request to speak with pretty police negotiator Lydia Anderson (Banks). But Lydia doesn’t know that she is part of his grand plan, a plan that could give them both a second chance.

Speaking quietly into a lapel microphone, Nick coordinates the high-tech theft of a $30 million diamond—the same diamond he was convicted of stealing. It’s the only way he can prove his innocence, but he needs Lydia’s help—and he’s running out of time. When his identity is exposed, a SWAT team positions itself on the roof, read to take him out.  Lydia isn’t sure he’s telling the truth, but if he really was set up for the diamond heist, it had to be an inside job, which means at least one of the cops on the scene wants Nick dead. With SWAT about to move, cops destroying the evidence that could save him and nowhere to go but down, Nick’s chances of survival are getting slimmer by the minute.

Here’s the first UK poster and trailer for Sam Worthington’s new movie, Man on a Ledge. The post is a slightly different version of the US one that we saw a little while ago but the trailer gives us some nice new footage although again, a lot of it is the same as we saw in the domestic teaser. Man on a Ledge is directed by Asger Leth and also stars Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell, Ed Harris and Anthony Mackie.. No UK release date as yet but we’ll keep you posted.

Nick Cassidy (Worthington) was an honest cop. Now he’s in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Desperate, he seizes the first chance to escape. Hours later, he is freshly shaven in an expensive suit, standing on a window ledge high above New York City. As a crowd gathers below, police cordon off the area and agree to Nick’s request to speak with pretty police negotiator Lydia Anderson (Banks). But Lydia doesn’t know that she is part of his grand plan, a plan that could give them both a second chance.

Speaking quietly into a lapel microphone, Nick coordinates the high-tech theft of a $30 million diamond—the same diamond he was convicted of stealing. It’s the only way he can prove his innocence, but he needs Lydia’s help—and he’s running out of time. When his identity is exposed, a SWAT team positions itself on the roof, read to take him out.  Lydia isn’t sure he’s telling the truth, but if he really was set up for the diamond heist, it had to be an inside job, which means at least one of the cops on the scene wants Nick dead. With SWAT about to move, cops destroying the evidence that could save him and nowhere to go but down, Nick’s chances of survival are getting slimmer by the minute.

Click the poster to enlarge.

Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell, Ed Harris and Anthony Mackie.

Although he has occasionally showcased his softer side with P.S. I Love You, Nim’s Island and The Ugly Truth, Gerard Butler’s action hero credentials are now firmly established. With 300, Law Abiding Citizen, Gamer and Machine Gun Preacher all on his CV, producers clearly see him as a go to guy for anything robust and physical.

It is very much in that vein that we seem likely to find Butler, for Hunter Killer. The film, based on an upcoming novel Firing Point, is about the inexperienced captain of a US submarine who teams up with a US Navy SEALS team to rescue the Russian President, who has been captured during a coup.

Butler is said to be currently considering the role of the submarine captain and apparently Sam Worthington is considering a role as the leader of the SEALS. That would give us Leonidas alongside Perseus, which is different.

A December 2012 release date is being eyed for Hunter Killer, so everyone is going to have to get their skates on. Philip Noyce was lined up to direct, though Antoine Fuqua’s name is now being bounced around. With a little over a year to complete the whole project, it is surely decision-making time for him.

Source: Variety.

Last Night is a joint Miramax and Gaumont production centred around an element crucial to all relationships- monogamy. Writer/Director Massy Tadjedin toys with themes of jealousy, lust, temptation and infidelity in a way that absorbs you into the relationship of Joanna and Michael played by Keira Knightly and Sam Worthington.

Three years into married life, they appear to have reached the well reported difficult stage where despite being happy, the true meaning of lifelong commitment dawns and doubtful questions of marrying too early begin to surface. This enticing combination of curiosity and desire acts as the fuse waiting to be lit on the inevitable relationship bomb.

The spark is provided when Joanna becomes jealous after witnessing an obvious attraction between Michael and his colleague Laura, played by the beautiful Eva Mendes. Accusations fly and this is indubitably heightened by the fact that Laura will be accompanying him on the classic business trip away the following day. The next evening, with Michael away, Joanna unexpectedly bumps into Alex (Guillaume Canet), an old flame kindled during the married couples fleeting break.

The film continues in a back and forth motion between the lust for something new and the longing for a past romance. With each couple slowly inching their way over that invisible line of trust, there is a build up of suspense which leaves us continuously guessing; Will they or won’t they fall into the hands of betrayal? It is a little slow paced but this momentum allows us to better understand the characters and moreover to feel the emotions being displayed.

It targets more of an adult audience who will relate to that feeling of attraction which, if acted on, will essentially cause more harm than good. It plays on the fact that we are only human and allows you to choose a character and become them for the duration of the movie.

The ending was rather abrupt which can be somewhat disappointing if you are expecting a fiery rounded conclusion. Nevertheless, it was also rather powerful and completely different to where I presumed the story would reside in this genre of film.

Out To Own On DVD & BLURAY October 17th 2011. Click here to order your copy.

***½~ (3.5/5)

There are big names both before and behind the camera for The Texas Killing Fields with Ami Canaan Mann’s film being produced by her father Michael, and Sam Worthington, Jessica Chastain and Chloe Moretz telling the story of two detectives from very different parts of America joining forces to try and solve a killing spree which has lasted decades.

It’s a fine cast and the trailer we saw recently did its job well and to complement what we’ve already seen our good pals at Upbeat spoke to the cast and crew about the film which is out in the UK this weekend.

Here’s the video,

To mark the release of Last Night on DVD and Blu-ray 17th October, Studio Canal have given us five copies to give away on DVD. Last Night stars Keira Knightley, Guillaume Canet, Eva Mendes and Sam Worthington and is directed by Massy Tadjedin.

Set in New York City, Last Night is a tightly woven tale exploring the psyches of four people over one life defining evening, beginning with a married couple that while apart for one night, is confronted by temptation that may decide the fate of their marriage. Joanna (Keira Knightley, Atonement, Pride & Prejudice) and Michael Reed (Sam Worthington, Avatar, Terminator: Salvation) are 7 years into a successful and happy relationship. They are moving along in their lives together until Joanna meets Laura (Eva Mendes, Hitch, Bad Lieutenant), the stunningly beautiful work colleague whom Michael never mentioned. While Michael is away with Laura on a business trip, Joanna runs into an old but never quite forgotten love, Alex (Guillaume Canet, Tell No One, The Beach) and agrees to have drinks with him. As the night progresses and temptation increases for the couple, each must confront who they are inside and outside of their relationship. Last Night is ultimately a film about choices – the choice you make to be with someone, to give yourself physically and emotionally, and how to survive all three. Last Night is the directorial debut of Iranian-American writer Massy Tadjedin (The Jacket, Leo)

To be in with a chance of winning the movie, answer the following question using the form below:

Who directed the movie, Last Night?

COMPETITION NOW CLOSED

The small print:

• Open to UK residents only
• Only one entry per household will be counted
• The competition will close 17th October at 23.59 GMT
• The winner will be picked at random from entries received
• No cash alternative is available

The usual T&Cs can be found here. Good Luck!

We got a terrific first trailer for Texas Killing Fields back in August that showed some great scenes packed with action and thrills from the upcoming crime thriller, helmed by relative newcomer director Ami Canaan Mann, daughter of director Michael Mann.

We’ve now got an interesting first clip to share, courtesy of Yahoo Movies, in which local detective, Sam Worthington, and NY detective, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, add another person to the growing list of people missing in the Texas Killing Fields.

The film is the writing debut of Don Ferrarone, who’s previously worked as a producer on some big-name films, including Bad Boys II, Man on Fire, and The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3. And alongside Worthington and Morgan, the film boasts a great cast that also includes Jessica Chastain (The Tree of Life), Chloë Grace Moretz (Kick-Ass), Jason Clarke (TV’s The Chicago Code), Annabeth Gish (TV’s The West Wing), and Stephen Graham (Snatch).

With only a few weeks to go before its 14th October release here in the UK, we don’t have long at all to wait to see how the final product has turned out, and to give us an idea of whether Ami Mann will be following in her father’s four-time Oscar-nominated footsteps in the years to come. Until then, here’s the new clip, entitled In The Fields, to enjoy.

Here’s the first trailer for Sam Worthington’s new movie, Man on a Ledge which does what it says on the tin! This trailer looks fabulous and really shows the intensity of Worthington stepping out onto a ledge above a city.

Man on a Ledge, also stars Jamie Bell​, Anthony Mackie​ and Edward Burns​, Ed Harris​, Elizabeth Banks​ and is directed by Asger Leth.

An ex-cop and now wanted fugitive stands on the ledge of a high-rise building while a hard-living New York Police Department negotiator tries to talk him down. The longer they are on the ledge, the more she realizes that he might have an ulterior objective.

Man on a Ledge will be with us at the beginning of 2012.

Source: Yahoo

Summit have sent over the the first poster for Sam Worthington’s new movie, Man on a Ledge which I can confirm has nothing to do with documentary ‘Man on Wire’! Jamie posted the synopsis a little while ago which you can see below and if you missed it, you can see an image of Worthington hanging off said ledge from earlier in the year.

Man on a Ledge, also stars Jamie Bell​, Anthony Mackie​ and Edward Burns​, Ed Harris​, Elizabeth Banks​ and is directed by Asger Leth. It should be with us early next year.

Nick Cassidy (Worthington) was an honest cop. Now he’s in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Desperate, he seizes the first chance to escape. Hours later, he is freshly shaven in an expensive suit, standing on a window ledge high above New York City. As a crowd gathers below, police cordon off the area and agree to Nick’s request to speak with pretty police negotiator Lydia Anderson (Banks). But Lydia doesn’t know that she is part of his grand plan, a plan that could give them both a second chance.

Speaking quietly into a lapel microphone, Nick coordinates the high-tech theft of a $30 million diamond—the same diamond he was convicted of stealing. It’s the only way he can prove his innocence, but he needs Lydia’s help—and he’s running out of time. When his identity is exposed, a SWAT team positions itself on the roof, read to take him out.  Lydia isn’t sure he’s telling the truth, but if he really was set up for the diamond heist, it had to be an inside job, which means at least one of the cops on the scene wants Nick dead. With SWAT about to move, cops destroying the evidence that could save him and nowhere to go but down, Nick’s chances of survival are getting slimmer by the minute.

Filled with clever twists, Man on a Ledge is a smart, pulse-pounding thriller about a man determined to clear his name, exact revenge and get the girl…if he can just stay one step ahead of the men who put him behind bars.

When I wrote about this film back in February of 2010 it was to announce the casting of Jeffrey Dean Morgan, then fresh from his Watchmen duties. I hadn’t seen anything other than the general synopsis for the film and drew a comparison with Zodiac, something that this new trailer appears to compound.

Morgan teams up with Sam Worthington in Ami Mann’s film based, as the title card in the trailer has it, on the true story of two detectives ploughing through a long running unsolved case in the titular fields. The trailer sets the scene nicely and though a few guns are brandished you get the impression that this is a slow burning film which will focus on the central dynamic as the story unfolds. Jessica Chastain and Chloe Moretz also star along with, if IMDb is to be believed, Sheryl Lee and if the quick shots in the trailer of bodies wrapped in plastic are anything to go seems entirely appropriate.

The film will open at the Venice Film Festival before its 7th of October release date in the US. No date yet for its UK date, but hopefully this one will be worthy of a theatrical run here.

Sourcery: Deadline

The Debt is a gripping political thriller, that uses a fantastic cast and great script, to bring to life the story of three Mossad agents and their mission to find a Nazi war criminal.  The story jumps between 1997 and 1965, and uses the thriller genre as a shell for the film’s narrative which, makes for a story that feels like one continuous piece, even with the two different time-periods.  It is a tale of how people live up to the legends they make for themselves and how a nation can buy into that legend without knowing the whole story.  For most of the film, it all works together very well, however, at times loses steam when it should be gaining speed, which makes for moments that most will see coming and the ones that don’t, will disappoint.

The film, directed by John Madden, is a remake of a 2007 film of the same name and starts in 1997, with ex-agent’s Rachel (Helen Mirren) and Stefan (Tom Wilkinson) learning of the fate of their colleague, David (Ciaran Hinds).  After a book is penned about the three agents and their mission, we flash-back to 1965 where young Rachel (Jessica Chastain) meets up with young David (Sam Worthington) and young Stefan (Marton Csokas).  This is where the majority of the story takes place and for much of the film it works very well.  Chastain’s performance is restrained and works well off of the often quiet performance by Worthington.  The flash-back story is where most of the weighty drama occurs in the story, however, these quieter moments are peppered with some great high-stakes sequences.  Where the movie shines is in the “present” day scenes, simply because Helen Mirren is in them.  Mirren’s performance is strong, and her presence in the movie dwarfs all the other actors and only enhances the story, which at times is flat when it should be kicking.  The script, by Peter Straughan, Jane Goldman and Matthew Vaughn, hooks you in and gives you the info without giving anything away, the problem is when the big reveals come, there a tad predictable.  Some parts of the story feel out of place and the second act of the film drags into the climax that most will see coming before it needs to be seen.  Madden, who is best know for directing Shakespeare in Love, establishes a tense atmosphere in the 1965 part of the film and knows the presence of Mirren in the 1997 part is the driving force, which makes Madden’s job all that much easier.

These days, the thriller in general is losing it’s thrill, for lack of a better term, and for that fact, it’s hard to nitpick the film too much.  The political-thriller is even more down in the dumps, and with The Debt, the intelligence of the story paired with the performances make for a refreshing running time.  Helen Mirren is icing on the cake and overall, the film is quite good and will play very well if you are a fan of the genre.  The already delayed film is set for a fall release, and most that had the film on their radar a year-ago are more than likely over the film completely, which will make it all that much better when they actually get to see it.  All and all, this is a solid thriller that at times is thought-provoking and more often than not, is actually very entertaining.

***½~ (3.5/5)

Temptation is the name of the game of The Jacket writer Massy Tadjedin’s quietly profound directorial debut, Last Night. The temptation of such an intriguingly sexy and good-looking cast of Keira Knightley, Sam Worthington, Eva Mendes and French actor Guillaume Canet is the film’s obvious draw, and what drives a story full of acute observations and exquisite nuances. But this slow burner, which increases in intensity and passionate purpose, really impacts after viewing, posing the thought-provoking debate of whether long-term adoration is worse than the physical act of a one-night stand?

Professional couple, Joanna (Knightley) and husband Michael Reed (Worthington) have an affluent middle-class existence and apparent marital bliss, when doubt creeps in after Joanna spots her betrothed having an intimate balcony meeting with a very attractive and flirtatious work colleague, Laura (Mendes), at a party. Suspicion fuels a marital quarrel back home, the night before Michael is due to fly out of town with Laura on business. While he is away in LA, Joanna bumps into an old flame – and seemingly the love of her prior life, Frenchman Alex who is visiting New York. Joanna is invited out to dinner with him. What seems innocent enough soon ignites her passion for Alex, and his for her. Meanwhile, with Laura around, Michael has temptation of another kind to deal.

At the start, Tadjedin fittingly captures the damaging goading and ugly atmosphere in a relationship when one partner accuses the other of wandering, and how a seemingly idyllic existence is ever ready to be threatened by outside forces at any given moment. Granted, Laura is a seductive sight, and one any attached woman can rightfully relate to in a social situation, but we never really know what Michael’s previous misdemeanours are – if any – as Tadjedin keeps her cards close to her chest.

The writer/director divides her film into a compelling double dose of intrigue that turns the viewer into a betting animal as to who will stray first, and the cagey characters add to the film’s teasing and infectious mystique. On the downside, certain situations raise blunt questioning from some supporting characters that seem a trifle erroneous at times, as does the often-wordy dialogue of either party, in an attempt to not lose control, when in real-life things would surely be different in the heat of the moment.

Nevertheless, the power of the film is in the prolonging of being proven right, and Knightley’s performance far outshines her ‘husband’ Worthington’s, in one of her finest since Antonement. Annoying ‘cat-that’s-got-the-cream’ girly giggle aside that spoils an accomplished delivery, Knightley simply oozes sexual chemistry with Canet, with Tadjedin resisting pointing out apparent signs of desire, instead keeping a tight framing on her characters, and like cinéma vérité, lets events play out. In fact, all the cast look amazing, as do the sumptuous locations Tadjedin sets each individual dilemma in, adding to the extravagant nature and allure of her first work that’s kind of reminiscent of a Woody Allen piece, but without the somber humour and philosophical nature.

Sadly, the weakest link in this provocative tale is Worthington who never really ignites the screen in quite the same way as Knightley – even opposite sexy Mendes who steals their scenes together and almost makes him appear like an uncommunicative oaf, rather than an obvious intellectual equal. This is either deliberate to allow Worthington’s average ‘man-next-door’ appeal to shine through, and paint Michael as victim of female empowerment, or that the actor who excels in ‘robotic’ mode (Avatar, Terminator) just doesn’t portray enough of a spark or depth for such a part. Looking good is the first step in this film. Projecting inner emotional turmoil is the next and is vital for the two parts of the debate to be fully composed and sustained.

Apart from the tiff at the start, Tadjedin wisely makes sure there is never a dramatic, imploding climax of the relationship, allowing doubt to fester after each infidelity, even up until the very last moment and ‘cut-short’ ending, which is very apt when, again, we are challenged to wonder whether either tormented party tells the other.

Last Night has some inquisitive ingredients to make for a tantalising film. It’s just a shame that the pleasure is lessened by its impact being more unbalanced in favour of the Laura-Alex side of the equation, as one of the players on the other side is not strong enough for us to really care if he does stray or not. In fact, cut the Michael-Laura scenes out of the equation, and Tadjedin would still have a valid exploration of seduction, infidelity and guilt. The film-maker has the beginnings of a gifted directorial career which is as exciting a future prospect as a chance meeting with an old beau any day.

***½~ (3.5/5)

Starring Keira Knightly, Eva Mendes, Sam Worthington and Guillaume Canet, LAST NIGHT comes to cinemas on 3^rd June 2011. To mark it’s release we have a Optimum DVD bundle consisting of VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA, CRACKS, and COCO BEFORE CHANEL to give away.

Synopsis: Keira Knightley and Eva Mendes join forces in this tantalizing and emotionally powerful story of trust, lust and deception. Last Night is a brilliant evocation of all the grey zones of fidelity – how a choice made in a mere instant can be of regrettable and irrevocable consequence. Michael and Joanna Reed (Sam Worthington and Keira Knightley) seem to have it all. Young, attractive and successful, they’re a married couple who’ve lucked into spiritual and material well-being, sharing a comfortable and seemingly perfect life in their trendy Manhattan apartment. But when the

Reeds attend one of Michael’s work parties, Joanna witnesses a suspicious moment between her husband and his beautiful new co-worker, Laura (Eva Mendes). The incident is fleeting and ambiguous – Joanna can’t be sure what she did or didn’t see – but it sows an insidious seed of doubt that festers at the core of their love. When Joanna reunites with her former flame Alex (Guillaume Canet), the chemistry that comes to life threatens to overwhelm her own feelings of fidelity towards Michael. Turning conventional concepts of morality on their head, Massy Tadjedin cleverly manipulates our sympathies for each character, making Last Night a provocative film about modern love and marriage.

To be in with a chance of winning, just answer this simple question using the form below:

Keira Knightly starred alongside James McAvoy in which literary adaptation?

1. The DaVinci Code
2. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
3. Atonement

LAST NIGHT is in Cinema’s nationwide 3^rd June 2011

COMPETITION NOW CLOSED

The small print:

• Open to UK residents only
• Only one entry per household will be counted
• The competition will close 6th June at 23.59 GMT
• The winner will be picked at random from entries received

The usual T&Cs can be found here. Good Luck!