Category Archives: News

Oscars envelope snafu boosts ‘Moonlight’ box office

Posted on March 3, 2017 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Worldwide headlines about the Oscar fiasco over mixed-up envelopes that saw “Moonlight” triumph over “La La Land” as best picture has been a big help to the low-budget picture’s international theatrical release. I’m happy to … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Music, News, Television | Tagged 'Arrival', 'Fences', 'Hacksaw Ridge', 'Hidden Figures', 'Kubo and the Two Strings', 'La La Land', 'Lion', 'Manchester by the Sea', 'Moonlight', 'O.J. Simpson: Made in America', 'The Jungle Book', 'The Salesman', 20th Century Fox, Altitude Film Distribution, BBC World News, Curzon Artificial Eye, Dogwoof, E1 Entertainment, Entertainment in Video, Lionsgate, Paramount, Studiocanal, Universal Studios, Walt Disney Studios | 1 Comment

“Love and Friendship’, ‘Moonlight’ top London critics noms

Posted on December 20, 2016 by admin

By Ray Bennett Very pleased to see that Kate Beckinsale (pictured right) has won two nominations in the 37th London Critics’ Circle Awards for her sparkling performance in Whit Stillman’s Jane Austen adaptation “Love and Friendship”, which garnered seven nominations … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, News | Tagged 'Love and Friendship', 'Moonlight', Amy Adams, Kate Beckinsale, London Critics' Circle Film Awards, Mica Levi, Michael Shannon | Comments Off

Kraków Film Music Festival: ‘A total pleasure!’

Posted on June 1, 2016 by admin

By Ray Bennett KRAKÓW – Cliff Martinez said it best. The genial but taciturn favourite movie composer of filmmaker Steven Soderbergh, said, “It is simply very exciting to be in a place that celebrates film music.” Martinez was speaking at … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Krakow Film Music Festival, Music, News | Tagged AUKSO Chamber Orchestra of the City of Tychy, Cliff Martinez, Heitor Pereira, Joseph Trapans, Krakow Film Music Festival, Ludwig Wicki, Marek Moś, Pro Musica Mundi Choir, Robert Piaskowski, Sinfonietta Cracovia, Tauron Arena | 1 Comment

Art meets science in space at the Natural History Museum

Posted on February 12, 2016 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – The Natural History Museum’s exhibition “Otherworlds: Visions of Our Solar System”, on show now through May 15, is as good as a movie as it takes visitors on a journey through space with spectacular still … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, News, Reviews | Tagged 'Otherworlds: Visions of Our Solar System', ESA, Joseph Michalski, Michael Benson, NASA, Natural History Museum | Comments Off

Academy Awards diversity: a look at the numbers

Posted on January 29, 2016 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – In the discussion about diversity in the top prizes of the Academy Awards, the depth of the problem for the Academy is clear as in the 14 awards from 2001 to last year, on the AMPAS … Continue reading →

Posted in Comment, Film, News | Tagged Academy Awards, diversity | Comments Off

London Critics’ Circle film awards: Ovation for Alan Rickman

Posted on January 18, 2016 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – There was only one standing ovation at the London Critics’ Circle Film Awards Sunday night and it was for someone who was not there: Alan Rickman, who died on January 14. The audience responded immediately … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, News | Tagged Alan Rickman, Charles Spencer, Charlotte Rampling, Dilys Powell, George Miller, Judi Dench, Kate Winslet, Kenneth Branagh, London Critics' Circle Film Awards, Maisie Williams, Mark Rylance, Saoirse Ronan, Tom Courtenay, Tom Hardy | Comments Off

David Bowie: When Ziggy played guitar

Posted on January 11, 2016 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – On Oct. 8 1972, a new young artist from England played his sixth U.S. concert in Detroit at the Fisher Theatre. This is what I wrote in The Windsor Star newspaper two days later: Remember the name. … Continue reading →

Posted in Memory Lane, Music, News | Tagged David Bowie, Fisher Detroit, Mick Ronson, Ziggy Stardust | Comments Off

Composers Williams, Morricone up for Bafta film awards

Posted on January 8, 2016 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – The nominees for original music in the Bafta Film Awards announced this morning are Thomas Newman for “Bridge of Spies”, Ennio Morricone for “The Hateful Eight”, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Carsten Nicolai for “The Revenant”, Jóhann Jóhannsson for … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, News | Tagged Bafta Film Awards, Carsten Nicolai, Ennio Morricone, Jóhann Jóhannsson, John Williams, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Thomas Newman | Comments Off

Why Omar Sharif preferred bridge to movies

Posted on July 10, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Omar Sharif, who has died of a heart attack in Cairo aged 83, was an international movie star who was always rather embarrassed about the way he earned a living. He said, ‘The things going … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Interviews, News | Tagged 'Che!', 'Dr. Zhivago', 'Funny Girl', 'Lawrence of Arabia', 'The Last Valley', Barbra Streisand, bridge, Michael Caine, Omar Sharif | Comments Off

‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ does right by LAMDA

Posted on July 8, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – A fund-raiser for LAMDA, the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art, attracted a packed house to a performance of hit West End show “The Play That Goes Wrong” on Tuesday.

Posted in News, Theatre | Tagged 'The Play That Goes Wrong', Benedict Cumberbatch, Carne Studio Theatre, Duchess Theatre, John Lithgow, Jonathan Sayer, LAMDA, London Academy of Music & Dramatic Arts, Simon Sainsbury Theatre | Comments Off