Thursday, April 28, 2011

Apr 27th
The Big Bus*
US 1976. Paramount. 88m. Panavision

The world's first nuclear-powered transit bus is beset by attempted sabotage.
Trivial if topical spoof of disaster movies with mostly silly but occasionally fitfully amusing jokes. The makers of Airplane! hit this nail squarely on the head four years later.

Written/Produced by: Fred Freeman, Lawrence J. Cohen.
Director: James Frawley.
Starring: Joseph Bologna, Stockard Channing, John Beck, Jose Ferrer, Lynn Redgrave, Ned Beatty, Richard Mulligan, Sally Kellerman, Ruth Gordon, Rene Auberjonois, Harold Gould, Bob Dishy, Larry Hagman.
Photography: Harry Stradling Jnr.
Music: David Shire.
Production Design: Joel Schiller.

Tuesday, April 05, 2011

Apr 5th
The Flying Scotsman**
GB 2006. Content Film International/Freewheel International/Flying Scotsman Films/Doosra/Zero West Films. 96m.

The true story of Scottish cyclist Graham Obree who struggles to break the World Speed Cycling record in spite of regulations and his own inner demons.
Powerful but also quite enjoyable sports drama using a variety of cinematic styles including the mental perspective of its central character, and also with the courage of some of its convictions in focusing on his tragedies as much as his triumphs.

Written by: John Brown, Simon Rose, Declan Hughes, based on the book by Graham Obree.
Producers: Peter Brougham, Claire Chapman, Peter Gallagher, Sara Giles, Damita Nikapota.
Director: Douglas Mackinnon.
Starring: Johny Lee Miller, Billy Boyd, Laura Fraser, Brian Cox, Morven Christie, Steven Berkoff, Niall Greig Fulton.
Photography: Gavin Finney.
Music: Martin Phipps.