Monthly Archives: September 2008

Paul Newman dies

By Ray Bennett LONDON – One of the frequent disappointments in meeting film stars is realizing how much their charisma and star power depend on the power of the movie screen. In my experience, only a few stars retain that aura … Continue reading

Posted in Comment, Film | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Paul Newman dies

Headed to the Rio de Janeiro film festival

  By Ray Bennett LONDON – The Hollywood Reporter has assigned me to cover the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival in the first week of October. The 10th Rio festival kicks off Thursday with Brazilian director Bruno Barreto’s “Last … Continue reading

Posted in Film, News, Places | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Headed to the Rio de Janeiro film festival

THEATRE REVIEW: Josh Hartnett in ‘Rain Man’

By Ray Bennett LONDON – In a reversal of the usual path of play to movie, the hit West End production of “Rain Man,” with an adaptation by Dan Gordon, has Hollywood star Josh Hartnett in the film’s Tom Cruise … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on THEATRE REVIEW: Josh Hartnett in ‘Rain Man’

Christopher Walter always asked the right question

By Ray Bennett Christopher Walter sat next to me in class at Ashford Boys Grammar School in Kent. He was smart and went on to the sixth form while I went off to seek my fortune in the newspaper game. … Continue reading

Posted in Memory Lane, Notes, Places | Tagged , | 3 Comments

FILM REVIEW: James Watkins’s ‘Eden Lake’

By Ray Bennett LONDON – British director James Watkins’ “Eden Lake” has the trappings of a low-IQ thriller but it’s really a contemptible tract that feeds the prejudices of the U.K.’s rightwing tabloids who claim the country is overrun by … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on FILM REVIEW: James Watkins’s ‘Eden Lake’

Walter Salles has it right about violence and silence

By Ray Bennett Walter Salles, whose new film “Linha de Passe”, about a mother and her four sons struggling to get by in Sao Paulo, Brazil, opens in the U.K. Friday, says there are two things that bother him about … Continue reading

Posted in Comment, Film | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Walter Salles has it right about violence and silence

FILM REVIEW: ‘The Boy In the Striped Pajamas’

By Ray Bennett LONDON – The home life of the Nazi commandant of a World War Two concentration camp appears bizarrely serene in Mark Herman’s grave and powerful drama “The Boy In the Striped Pajamas,” but the innocent are bound … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on FILM REVIEW: ‘The Boy In the Striped Pajamas’

London Film Festival to have 15 world premieres

By Ray Bennett The 52nd London Film Festival will feature 15 world premieres and just as many international and European debuts after it kicks off with Ron Howard’s screen version of Peter Morgan’s hit play “Frost/Nixon” on Oct. 15 including … Continue reading

Posted in Film, News, Places | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on London Film Festival to have 15 world premieres

Silent screen beauty Anita Page dies at 98

This is how Anita Page’s obituary begins in The Guardian: When Gene Kelly sang You Were Meant for Me to Debbie Reynolds in Singin’ in the Rain (1952), there was an echo of the first time this romantic ballad was performed on … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Music, Notes | Tagged , | Comments Off on Silent screen beauty Anita Page dies at 98

VENICE: Guillermo Arriaga worries about ‘The Burning Plain’

By Ray Bennett VENICE – Veteran screenwriter and first-time director Guillermo Arriaga sat by the pool at a hotel on the Venice Lido and confessed that he was not calm, not calm at all. He completed his film “The Burning … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Interviews, Venice International Film Festival | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on VENICE: Guillermo Arriaga worries about ‘The Burning Plain’