Only time will tell whether the series' striking thematic similarities with Kinji Fukasaku's Battle Royale (2000) will be a help or a hindrance, but it seems likely that the film's producers will cut back on the violence and visceral bloodletting of the source texts in order to appeal to a wider teen audience. Here's the teaser trailer for the first film adaptation - as fans of the books, we're beginning to get excited.
Unless you've been under a rock for the past four days, it won't have escaped your attention that we've just entered award season - a hallowed time when everyone gets to play the critic and heap praise and adulation on their favourite films of the year, regardless of whether or not pick up any accolades (or even receive a single nomination). The Golden Globes took place on Sunday evening, with a slightly more restrained Ricky Gervais returning to hosting duties. Following suit with numerous film of the year lists, Michel Hazanavicius' The Artist came out on top, picking up three Globes for Best Comedy or Musical, Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical (for Jean Dujardin) and Best Score. However, The Artist may have a strong Oscar competitor in the form of Alexander Payne's superb The Descendants - which picked up the Best Picture and Best Actor dramatic awards for George Clooney. Click here for the full award winners list.
On Tuesday, it was the turn of the UK film industry to announce its shortlist for the annual BAFTAs. The Artist once again figured prominently, as did Tomas Alfredson's Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Martin Scorsese's Hugo and - perhaps most surprisingly - Tate Taylor's The Help. A small scale Twitter backlash ensued after the omission of Olivia Colman in the Best Actress category, in a week that has seen substantial industry criticism directed at PM David Cameron and the Culture Department for planned reforms of British filmmaking. Click here for the full nominations shortlist.This week sees the release of several films largely overlooked by both the Golden Globes and BAFTA. Whilst Steven Soderbergh's action-thriller Haywire (2011) was never seen as awards bait (read our review here), Ralph Fiennes' debut directorial feature Coriolanus (2011) (review) and Clint Eastwood's Hoover biopic J. Edgar (2011) (review) will be disappointed to receive so little attention. As for Madonna's Wallis Simpson drama W.E., (2011) (review)...perhaps the less said the better.
Finally, 67-year-old Star Wars director George Lucas has apparently called time on making blockbusters after the upcoming release of fighter pilot drama Red Tails (2012). In an interview with the New York Times, Lucas stated "I'm moving away from the business, from the company, from all this kind of stuff.", instead moving back into the arthouse scene where he first got his big break. At least the upcoming Star Wars 3D re-releases should keep his back balance in the black.
Our trailer of the week is for the latest entry in the American Pie cycle, the imaginatively titled American Pie Reunion (2012), which sees Jim, Kevin, Oz, Finch and Stifler returning home to East Great Falls for a high school get-together. The brand new trailer (below) comes courtesy of MSN Movies UK - enjoy.
Daniel Green
