10 British films to look out for in 2009
Whilst everyone is looking forward to the big blockbusters of next year already, we thought we’d have a look at 10 British Films that we think could be real big next year.
Slumdog Millionaire
Estimated budget: $15,000,000
UK Release Date: 9th January
Danny Boyle’s latest film looks set to be one of the feel good films of the year, and the good news is that it comes out soon. Its already gathering a lot of Oscar buzz and has picked up six nominations at the London Film Critics’ Circle Awards. Its up for British Director of the year, Screenwriter of the year (for Simon Beaufoy), best British actor and young performer of the year (for Dev Patel, the lead) and most importantly, British film of the year.Slumdog Millionaire is the story of an orphan from Mubai named Jamal Malik (Dev Patel), who is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India¹s “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?”
But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; how could a street kid know so much? Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, and of Latika, the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show’s questions.
Lesbian Vampire Killers
Estimated Budget: Unknown
UK Release Date: 20th March
Britain’s newest funnymen, James Corden and Matthew Horne (Smithy and Gavin from TV’s Gavin & Stacey) unite to do battle with a hoard of lesbian vampires. They head to Wales for a boozy weekend in the hope of some debauchery, but end up in a cursed village full of bloodsucking locals.
Corden was recently quoted on Walesonline.co.uk, “I’d probably call it Shaun Of The Dead with boobs. People are always going to compare any funny British horror to Simon’s film, and rightly so because it’s by far the best one, I’ve no problem with it at all.” He went on to say, “I got to knock someone’s head off with a frying pan. It doesn’t get better than that!”
If this film ‘does what it says on the tin’ then it should be one of the cult hits of the year.
There’s no trailer at the moment but we managed to find a bit of Xmas promotion for the movie.
Doghouse
Estimated Budget: £2,000,000
UK Release Date: April T.B.C
Here’s another UK film hoping to do well in the horror/comedy genre. Directed by Jake West and starring Danny Dyer, Stephen Graham and Noel Clarke, Doghouse is the story about a group of men who head to a remote village to help one of their friends get over his divorce; when they get there, though, they discover that all the women have been infected with a virus that makes them man-hating cannibals.
At the time of going to press there wasn’t too much info available on this production and unfortunately the unofficial trailer has been removed from the web but we really liked what we saw on the trailer and were especially surprised to hear that the footage we saw was put together for investors after just 2 weeks of filming. Also we’re huge fans of Jake West (Evil Aliens rules!!!) so we’re hoping for a real treat with this movie.
At the moment the official site for the movie looks like its just one that the production company used to generate finance.
Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince
Estimated Budget: $170,000,000
UK Release Date: 17th July
This is bound to be the biggest British film of the year. Pushed back from November 08, this is the sixth installment from the Harry Potter heptalogy (oooh, look at us using the posh word for series of 7 pieces of creative work).
Harry begins his sixth year at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry. However when he finds a mysterious book marked as ‘property of the half-blood prince’ he begins to unearth dark secrets about Lord Voldemort’s shadowy past, that would be best left undiscovered.
Bronson
Estimated Budget: Unknown
UK Release Date: 27th February
Vertigo Films in conjunction with 4DH Films will be releasing Bronson in February. The movie is already garnering some critical acclaim and has been nominated for the Grand Jury Prize of 2009’s Sundance Film Festival.
The film tells the story of Michael Peterson (played by Tom Hardie) who in 1974 wanted to make a name for himself and so, with a homemade sawn-off shotgun and a head full of dreams he attempted to rob a post office. Swiftly apprehended and originally sentenced to just 7 years in Jail, Peterson has subsequently been behind bars for 34 years, 30 of which have been spent in solitary confinement. Throughout the years Peterson changes his name and metamorphosis into Britain’s most dangerous prisoner, Charles Bronson.
The Boat That Rocked
Estimated Budget: Unknown
UK Release Date: 1st May
The Descent 2
Estimated Budget: Unknown
UK Release Date:
So Neil Marshall has gone but all the girls are back in the caves for one more outing. When this film was first announced it was quite confusing as everyone remembers that most of the girls didn’t make it al the way through the first but they were all signed up to appear in this sequel. Well according to Fangoria most of the footage of the deceased appears in camcorder footage found deep inside the caves.
Apparently the new movie picks up where the first movie left off with Sarah as the lone survivor, or is she??? Sarah emerges from the caves and is forced to return underground with the police to help find her five missing friends.
Here at Film Chair we really enjoyed the Descent. It was a good old fashioned, terrifying, horror movie with balls, even though none of the leads had any. We hope that this sequel doesn’t ruin the first. Jon Harris has stepped into Neil Marshall’s boots as director and we hope he’s up to the job.
No official site at the moment but here’s the original’s:
And unfortunately there’s no trailer as yet but we managed to find a small feature on it with some behind the scenes action.
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Estimated Budget: $30,000,000
UK Release Date: T.B.C
This year sees the return of Terry Gilliam who hasn’t directed anything since 2005’s Tideland and The Brothers Grimm, the latter being quite a flop.
A fantastical morality tale, “Doctor Parnassus” follows the story of Dr. Parnassus and his extraordinary traveling troupe called “Imaginarium”. Making deals with the devil long time ago which gives him immortality, he is cursed with a dark secret that jeopardizes his daughter’s freedom. Desperate to protect his daughter from her impending fate, he must now find a man that will help him undo the mistakes of his past once and for all.
In early 2008, this drama fantasy was put in a jeopardy when its leading actor, Ledger, was found dead in his apartment while the production was still halfway through. But with the joining of Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law in place of Ledger’s vacant role, it has since been pushed forward. All three stars have apparently agreed to give their fees for the movie to Ledger’s daughter as unfortunately at the time of his demise he had not updated his will.
Gilliam always has a great eye for fantasy so we’re sure that this movie will be a great spectacle. If you check out the below feature he seems pretty pleased with it too.
Sherlock Holmes
Estimated Budget: $80,000,000
UK Release Date: 20th November
“Watson you slag!”, “F**k you Holmes you C*nt!” If Guy Ritchie sticks to his usual film making style we could see quite a unique take on Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective hero.
Although according to the Guardian, Ritchie has been quoted as saying it would not be “a traditional Guy Ritchie thing.” and they will be more faithful to the original stories as opposed to any other previous filmatic escapade.
At the moment little is known about the plot, all IMDB have got is; Detective Sherlock Holmes (Downey Jr.) and his stalwart partner Watson (Law) engage in a battle of wits and brawn with a nemesis whose plot is a threat to all of England. And there’s no footage of any sorts at the moment but we are fairly sure this will be a hit as Robert Downey Junior just can’t go wrong at the moment after Iron Man and Tropic Thunder, and Guy is improving as a filmmaker thanks to RocknRolla.
There’s no official site at the moment so here’s a few more pics.
44 Inch Chest
Estimated Budget:
UK Release Date: 19th June
The guys behind the sleeper hit of 2000, Sexy Beast, team up once again to put together what promises to be another rip-roaring British gangster drama.
In an interview with Empire magazine, Ian McShane jokingly said that “44 Inch Chest will make Sexy Beast look like Mary Poppins”. So I guess we won’t be expecting it to be a PG then.
Colin (played by the gruff Ray Winstone) is in agony, shattered by his wife’s (Joanne Whalley) infidelity. However, he has friends who do more than stand by - they kidnap the wife’s Italian lover (Melvil Poupaud) and hold him prisoner so that Colin can restore his manhood with revenge. Old Man Peanut (John Hurt), is the Biblical patriarch of the group, with a mean streak; Meredith (Ian McShane), is stylish and tough - a fashion victim with a cutting edge; Mal (Stephen Dillane), is a man who lives in the shadows and explodes with telling, quick violence. As the hostage situation escalates, so do the emotional stakes for each of these damaged, prideful men.
There’s no official site at the moment and no trailer either I’m afraid but if you’re desperate for some footage you can see a scrap of it on this Youtube clip.
We’ve only really touched the tip of the iceberg with the films listed above, we’re sure that there’s going to be a load more great British films finished and released in 2009. What are you looking forward to the most?
Didnt know Bronson was coming out nice list looks like a few good ones.