Category Archives: Film

TIFF FILM REVIEW: Al Pacino in ‘The Humbling’

Posted on September 5, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett Barry Levinson’s “The Humbling”, starring Al Pacino as an actor past his prime, is an example of how a lousy novel can sometimes make a good movie. Philip Roth’s pretentious and sexist 2009 novel tells of an … Continue reading →

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TIFF FILM REVIEW: Downey Jr. and Duvall in ‘The Judge’

Posted on September 5, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett Robert Downey Jr. stakes a claim as a serious actor in David Dobkin’s family and courtroom drama “The Judge” and thanks largely to past master Robert Duvall he makes it. It’s a familiar tale. The two stars … Continue reading →

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TIFF FILM REVIEW: David Cronenberg’s ‘Maps to the Stars’

Posted on September 5, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett David Cronenberg has made some terrific pictures but his latest, “Maps to the Stars”, is not one of them. Filled with bile, it spins a risible yarn about two generations of a family who find that lust … Continue reading →

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Toronto International Film Festival 2014: Sounding the gun

Posted on September 4, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett With its extraordinary track record of screening hit movies and eventual award-winners on their way out of the gate, the Toronto International Film Festival kicks off for the 39th time. The 39th Toronto International Film Festival commences … Continue reading →

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My dinner with Richard Attenborough

Posted on August 25, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett I met Lord Richard Attenborough, who has died aged 90, at the Ghent Film Festival in 2004 and it was a memorable encounter that included Sir George and Lady Martin. At a Ghent restaurant, Lady Martin sat … Continue reading →

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Distributors put focus back on movies

Posted on August 1, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett With the World Cup only a memory, distributors aim to play catch-up in August with a wide range of theatrical releases to attract fans back to cinemas. There’s plenty of action, animation, comedy, drama, fantasy and suspense … Continue reading →

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New ‘Doctor Who’ to bow in cinemas and on TV

Posted on August 1, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett BBC Worldwide said that Peter Capaldi’s debut in the title role of “Doctor Who” will be shown in cinemas across the UK and Ireland as well as on BBC One on Aug. 23.

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Alan Rickman’s ‘A Little Chaos’ to close TIFF

Posted on July 22, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett The Toronto International Film Festival announced that its closing film will be Alan Rickman’s period romance “A Little Chaos” starring Kate Winslet and Matthias Schoenhaerts, which Lionsgate will release in the UK.

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‘The Imitation Game’ to open London film fest

Posted on July 21, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett “The Imitation Game” starring Benedict Cumberbatch as World War II code-breaker Alan Turing will be the opening film at the 58th BFI London Film Festival on Oct. 8 with simultaneous showings of the red-carpet event in cinemas … Continue reading →

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So long, Gentleman Jim Garner …

Posted on July 20, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett Three times I interviewed James Garner, who has died aged 86, once in a long phone call and twice on set in Hollywood, and each time it was because he agreed to talk about someone else.

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