Jack Reynor And Benedict Wong Join Philip K. Dick’s Impossible Dreams For Episode 2

by with No Comment Movie NewsNews

We always like it when shows fly under the radar a little. Philip K. Dick‘s Impossible Dreams is one of those, commissioned by Channel 4 and produced by Ronald D. Moore, Bryan Cranston (Yes that Bryan Cranston), Michael Dinner and Sony Pictures TV.

The 10-episode series will feature adaptations of some of the deeply eclectic, obtuse and often brilliant writer’s best work. Some of the very best writers in the West are adapting them too with Dinner (Justified) and Moore (Battlestar Galactica) joined by Tony Grisoni (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas), Jack Thorne (National Treasure), Matthew Graham (Life on Mars), David Farr (The Night Manager) Dee Rees (Mudbound) and Travis Beacham (Pacific Rim).

Jack Reynor and Benedict Wong have joined the show too, and will star in the second episode, The Impossible Planet adapted for the screen and directed by David Farr. The pair will play thoroughly grumpy and bored space tourism staff who are hired by an old lady (Geraldine Chaplin) to take her back to Earth. No one believes Earth is real anymore and the pair decide to fleece the old lady. But as the journey continues it becomes clear something very odd is going on…

We’re really excited about this show. Firstly because it’s clear Channel 4 felt the loss of Black Mirror and are doing something about it and secondly because of the sheer talent present at every level of this show. Dick’s work is immensely divisive and unfriendly but it’s also hugely rewarding and the top-flight cast and crew should be able to do great things with it. Plus both Wong and Reynor are genuinely brilliant talents who rarely get to flex their acting muscles on screen. Wong’s astonishing turn as Ghengis Khan in Netflix’s Marco Polo shows that as does Reynor’s movie-making turn in the brilliant Sing Street.

No word on when Philip K. Dick’s Impossible Dreams will air yet but we’ll let you know as soon as we have more.

Argo Review poster Ben Affleck sci-fi movie Iran true story 470

Argo: Review

by with No Comment CinemaReviews

“This would be one of the worst films ever made if it wasn’t a true story,” Ben Affleck admits in a press interview for Argo, and he’s right.

This pottiest of pot boilers sees six US Embassy staff escape into Tehran when a crowd breaches their secure complex and takes everyone else hostage. Fearing for their lives if they are caught by the Iranian hardliners, their possible escape routes sit squarely between a rock and a hard place.

That’s until CIA exfiltration expert Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) comes up with a crazy plan to shoot a made-up sci-fi film in Iran, sneaking the six out as Canadian filmmakers once they’ve scouted possible locations. Cue the creation of a fake studio, the interest of a known director and the search for a suitable script. The premise is bonkers – but given that it is true, also fascinating.

Affleck doubles up on directing duty and manages to pull off a difficult task in that area. Mixing the very real fear of execution with some genuine humour and sly digs at the LA film industry is a difficult juggling act, but for the most part it hangs together. He gives Argo the pace and attitude of a heist movie, the weird vibe of Star Wars and even occasionally throws in the swagger of Anchorman as part of his ’70s setting. Some of the taches are so luscious it’s a wonder part of the ticket price isn’t being handed over to charity for Movember.

His cast also do him proud. Victor Garber, Tate Donovan, Clea DuVall, Scoot McNairy, Rory Cochrane and Christoper Denham excel as the bickering Embassy staff unsure of whether to trust Mendez or not. Meanwhile, John Goodman (glib as hell as real-life make-up artist John Chambers) and Alan Arkin (on his best grumpy form) handle the Hollywood (or should that be ‘LLYWO D’ as the sign read in those days) side of things with aplomb. Bryan Cranston also continues an excellent run as Mendez’s boss, proving it’s almost impossible to pigeonhole him.

In fact, the only real weak link is Affleck himself. Directing, producing and starring is a tough gig and perhaps it took its toll, as it’s his character that rises least to the challenges facing all those involved. Waking up in what looks like Tracey Emin’s bed and chatting to his 10-year-old son on the phone feel like lazy attempts to fill out Mendez’s backstory. And while, admittedly, he’s supposed to be the cool and professional one of the group, we never really get the sense that he feels the danger or the pressure of the situation – despite the inclusion of the inevitable fuck-you scene as he argues with his superiors.

As for Affleck’s quote, about Argo being one of the worst films ever made had it not been true? It easily avoids that thanks to its effective period recreations, fine character acting, some truly gripping moments and a plot that really does defy belief.

VERDICT: 8/10

Argo was released in US cinemas on 12 October 2012 and is in UK cinemas 7 November 2012.