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Some movies endure as a treasured soundtrack to which the film itself becomes a mere footnote. That seems likely to prove the case with “Creation Stories,” a biopic of Creation Records’ founder Alan McGee that duly draws sonic fuel from the stellar array of Britpop bands he was involved with. But as directed by Nick Moran in obvious imitation of executive producer Danny Boyle’s most hyperbolic style, scripted by Irvine Welsh and Dean Cavanagh, this apparently loose interpretation of the subject’s memoir becomes a hyperventilating “Behind the Music” caricature, all familiar flash and precious little substance. Rlj Entertainment is releasing on demand and digital platforms in the U.S. on Feb. 25, following openings in most other territories.

McGee’s 2013 same-titled tome is a breezy yet cogent chronicle of a whirlwind career, written in the clear-eyed retrospect of sobriety after years of chemical excess. But the film immediately lunges...

Don Wilson, co-founder and rhythm guitarist for the influential instrumental rock band the Ventures, died Saturday at the age of 88.

Wilson’s family first confirmed to Seattle journalist Saint Bryan that the guitarist “passed peacefully” of natural causes in Tacoma, Washington.

“Our dad was an amazing rhythm guitar player who touched people all over world with his band, The Ventures,” Don’s son Tim Wilson said in a statement. “He will have his place in history forever and was much loved and appreciated. He will be missed.”

Wilson and guitarist...

French rock idol Johnny Hallyday, remembered as the nation’s answer to Elvis Presley in the 1960s, has died at age 74.

The legendary singer died from lung cancer, his family confirmed.

“Johnny Hallyday has left us,” Hallyday’s wife, Laeticia, said in a statement to The Guardian. “I write these words without believing them. But yet, it’s true. My man is no longer with us. He left us tonight as he lived his whole life, with courage and dignity.”

Beginning in 1960, Hallyday was the heartbeat of Gallic rock n’ roll, becoming its best known and best-selling artist for nearly six decades.

Taylor Swift took us all on a trip down memory lane with her latest Apple Music commercial, in which she rocked out to the Darkness' 2003 hit "I Believe in a Thing Called Love". The British band - which includes Justin Hawkins, his little brother Dan, Frankie Poullain and Rufus Taylor - rose to popularity in the early 2000s. Their smash 2003 hit helped land the Darkness' first album, Permission to Land, the number one spot on the U.K. charts for at least four weeks, according to Billboard. Despite the fact it's been 13 years since the band released their most famous song,...

Taylor Swift took us all on a trip down memory lane with her latest Apple Music commercial, in which she rocked out to the Darkness' 2003 hit "I Believe in a Thing Called Love". The British band - which includes Justin Hawkins, his little brother Dan, Frankie Poullain and Rufus Taylor - rose to popularity in the early 2000s. Their smash 2003 hit helped land the Darkness' first album, Permission to Land, the number one spot on the U.K. charts for at least four weeks, according to Billboard. Despite the fact it's been 13 years since the band released their most famous song,...

After making its world premiere at FrightFest, The Dead 2: India is headed to La’s Screamfest next month for its first screening in the Us. We already gave you a look at the first trailer, but a brand new trailer has just been released and we have it for you to check out.

“Another darkly mysterious Continent becomes an inhospitable dead zone in The Dead 2: India. The highly anticipated follow-up to the award-winning Ford Brothers’ critically acclaimed zombie road movie The Dead sees the cult commercial franchise move to the hustle and bustle of India as the devastating outbreak takes hold. Set against the spectacular vistas and stunning scenery of Rajasthan, known as The Land of the Kings and one of the world’s first and oldest civilizations, The Dead 2: India puts the Ford Brothers’ unique apocalyptic vision on a far bigger canvas in terms of breathtaking scope,...

James Corden has opened up his brand new BBC Two comedy series The Wong Mans.

The Gavin and Stacey actor wrote the sitcom with Horrible Histories actor Mathew Baynton.

Baynton told the Daily Express of the series: "James and I met in 2008 on the set of a film called Telstar.

"James wrote a part for me, as Deano, in Gavin & Stacey. And then we started talking about other ideas."

British Comedy Awards winner Baynton plays council worker Sam Pinkett, who witnesses a car crash on an isolated road. When he answers an abandoned mobile phone, he hears a message not intended for him that wreaks havoc on his life.

Corden said of the show's format: "We'd talk about how dramas such as 24 or the Bourne films have moments where the characters might go 'we have to go to Paris' and they cut to two shots of Paris and Jason Bourne...

James Corden has had his setbacks, but not recently. He is on a roll with a new film and a television series he has co-written. Yet while the critics love him, he can't help but doubt himself. Carole Cadwalladr meets the hardest working man in show business

It amazes me that despite appearing in one of the biggest theatrical hits of recent years, One Man, Two Guvnors, a show that was loved by critics and adored by audiences, that was a triumph in the West End before becoming even bigger on Broadway, James Corden still worries about what people think of him. Despite winning a Tony (beating Philip Seymour Hoffman), and being cast as the lead in a big-budget film by the man who directed The Devil Wears Prada, and winning the leading role in an even bigger-budget Hollywood musical starring the one and only Meryl Streep, despite getting married and having a son,...

As is often the way with costume designers, Stephanie Collie is something of an unsung hero. We will not reel off her entire back catalogue, but it does include South Riding (2011, TV), Telstar (2008) Peter’s Friends (1992) and perhaps most exciting of all, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998).

Now, anyone old enough to remember when Lock, Stock arrived will remember just what an incredible influence its Mod inspired costumes had on the world of fashion. You could not pick up a men’s magazine of the time without seeing some guy in slim trousers and a jersey polo shirt. Stephanie Collie invented this look, thus providing one of the clearest examples of how costume design can transcend a movie and become something more. We would go so far as to say Stephanie Collie helped define an era.

The young cast of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels wearing the soon...

The Dead 2: India will have its world premiere as the opening film of FrightFest 2013 and we have a look at the new poster that will be available to purchase at the festival. Film4 FrightFest, the UK’s biggest genre film festival, runs from Thursday, August 22nd to Monday, August 26th at the Empire Cinema, Leicester Square.

We’ve included The Dead 2: India poster and trailer below. For more information on Film4 FrightFest, visit:

http://www.frightfest.co.uk/

“Another darkly mysterious Continent becomes an inhospitable dead zone in The Dead 2: India. The highly anticipated follow-up to the award-winning Ford Brothers’ critically acclaimed zombie road movie The Dead sees the cult commercial franchise move to the hustle and bustle of India as the devastating outbreak takes hold. Set against the spectacular vistas and stunning scenery of Rajasthan, known as The Land of the Kings and one of the...

It has been announced that The Dead 2: India will have its world premiere as the opening film of Film4 FrightFest 2013:

“We are continuing the tradition of the last few years of announcing our opening and closing films ahead of the big main announcement of the full programme, which will be at 2pm on 28 June.

Each year we strive to give the platform of our opening slot to a locally produced British film, and this year is no different. We are delighted to be able to announce this year’s opening film will be the world premiere of The Ford Brothers latest, The Dead 2: India, the first-ever International production of a zombie film shot in India.

Howard and Jon Ford, the director, writer and producer team behind the acclaimed African-set zombie road movie ‘The Dead’ said today: “It’s truly an honour to be the opening film – mind-blowing!

Yesterday, we showed you the new trailer for The Dead 2: India. We wanted to bring Daily Dead readers more information on the upcoming zombie movie and Howard J. Ford provided us with new plot details:

“Another darkly mysterious Continent becomes an inhospitable dead zone in The Dead 2: India. The highly anticipated follow-up to the award-winning Ford Brothers’ critically acclaimed zombie road movie The Dead sees the cult commercial franchise move to the hustle and bustle of India as the devastating outbreak takes hold. Set against the spectacular vistas and stunning scenery of Rajasthan, known as The Land of the Kings and one of the world’s first and oldest civilizations, The Dead 2: India puts the Ford Brothers’ unique apocalyptic vision on a far bigger canvas in terms of breathtaking scope, thrilling action, death-defying stunts, emotional resonance and spine-tingling fright.

A ship docked fresh from Somalia, containing one...

Believe us when we tell you we're exploring some of the best cults and quasi-religious groups on film. Join us ...

This week's Clip joint is by David Biddle.

Think you can do better? Email your idea for a future Clip joint to [email protected]

Next month sees the release of Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master, a film about a drifter who founds a cult with absolutely no relation to any litigious, real-life organisation whatsoever.

Cults and other shadowy quasi-religious organisations are common in pop culture, generally as antagonists, largely because the past few decades have seen some genuinely terrifying real-life examples. Here are some of my cinematic favourites.

1) The Wicker Man

This 1973 horror film has the distinction of being not only about a cult but also a cult film. Led by Christopher Lee's charismatic Lord Summerisle, a group of pagan islanders with a fondness for...

Okay, so the "Rum Diary" wasn't a big hit and frankly, wasn't a very good movie either. All the promise of a sun soaked Hunter S. Thompson surrogate in Johnny Depp was wasted with a narrative that went nowhere in a movie that is really only notable for Amber Heard looking great in it. But the music was pretty top shelf, and in fact, it seems to have been so good that a second soundtrack album is on the way. You might remember the first one featured Patti Smith, Dean Martin and Depp himself along with a good chunk of the score, well Smith's "Mermaid" is back, along with a batch of other tunes from the film including the quirky novelty hit "Telstar" by The Tornados, "Surfing Dreams" by Dick Dale & The Del-Tones and "After All (I Live My Life)" by Frankie Miller. All told, this spans 16 tracks (including a...

Later this month, actor Jj Feild will be courting fame as one of Captain America's sidekicks.

Feild plays Montgomery Falsworth, a British peer and secret agent who, in the comics at least, takes the codename Union Jack and wears a costume with the national flag emblazoned across the front (see picture right). In World War II, Falsworth fought alongside Captain America as part of a team called the Invaders.

But before the $140million Hollywood blockbuster is released, Feild was on screen in British movie Third Star, shot on location in Pembrokeshire with an ensemble cast of four for just $650,000.

The actor, who joined co-stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Burke and Adam Robertson in the low-key film, is well aware of the gulf between the two movies.

The actor, who finished filming on Captain America in early May, said: "I play one of the Captain's sidekicks, so I've been running around,...

London -- U.K. sales and finance banner Intandem Films, listed here on the Alternative Investment Market, told the market it is forecasting a fall in revenues in the year to June 30, 2010 ahead of its scheduled November full results release.

But the London based group said it also expects to show the reduction of losses this year from the same period in 2009.

The company issued its trading update ahead of the publication of its report and accounts for the year ended 30 June 2010, which are scheduled for release in November 2010.

It noted that sales have been brisk for Nick Moran's "The Kid" and "Beneath Hill 60," scheduled for DVD release here in September, is also doing good business.

The company also added the Kevin Spacey starrer "Telstar" to its roster of international sales slate and aims to continue its strategy to secure worldwide sales rights for films in the $10 million to $25 million budget range.

Compared with last year, Fortissmo Films come packing with only a single title, but that doesn't mean their sales agent won't be spending pretty much the entire festival from their rented office balcony. They signed a fairly ambitious deal with Fox - first time I've heard of a major studio outputting their titles to a films sales company of this nature and they've got one receiving a world preem at the festival in Sergei Loznitsa's My Joy. - Compared with last year, Fortissmo Films come packing with only a single title, but that doesn't mean their sales agent won't be spending pretty much the entire festival from their rented office balcony. They signed a fairly ambitious deal with Fox - first time I've heard of a major studio outputting their titles to a films sales company of this nature and they've got one receiving a world preem at the...

Compared with last year, Fortissmo Films come packing with only a single title, but that doesn't mean their sales agent won't be spending pretty much the entire festival from their rented office balcony. They signed a fairly ambitious deal with Fox - first time I've heard of a major studio outputting their titles to a films sales company of this nature and they've got one receiving a world preem at the festival in Sergei Loznitsa's My Joy (see pic) has the unique distinction of being from a first-timer – it's a rare feat to see a first timer in the Main Comp – so, we might be looking at a gem here folks. Among the hot titles on the sales side of things is Anh Hung Tran's Norwegian Wood – a pic that I was sure was going to land a spot in Cannes this year, but appears to still be in post prod.

One of the movies that caught my eye last week was that of Centurion. Until then, I hadn’t seen or head anything about it and how that is rapidly changing. Centurion is scheduled for release 23rd April which isn’t a million miles away. Yesterday, we got invited along to a screening so you can expect our review towards the end of the month / early next.

Below the synopsis, we’ve got the opening 2 minutes of this new movie which from the trailer, looks fantastic. Let us know what you think in the comments below.th

Synopsis: Written and directed by Neil Marshall (The Descent) Centurion stars Michael Fassbender (Inglorious Basterds, Hunger), Dominic West (300, The Wire) and Olga Kurylenko (Quantum Of Solace, Hitman).

A relentless, action-packed thriller in the tradition of Apocalypto, Last Of The Mohicans and Deliverance, Centurion is set against a background of conquest and invasion and...

After Dark Films is ready for another “8 Films to Die For.”

The After Dark Horrorfest, started in 2006, has become a genre staple of sorts by releasing eight films to die for every year.

This year’s After Dark Horrorfest 4 includes a wide range of horror.

8 Films have been announced:

“Dread,” “The Final,” “The Graves,” “Kill Theory,” “Lake Mungo,” “The Reeds,” “Hidden” and “Zmd: Zombies of Mass Destruction.”

HorrorFest 4 is scheduled for January 29 through February 4, 2010

Check out the plots for these horror movies below.

“Dread“

Red-hot young star Jackson Rathbone, fresh from the smash film Twilight Saga and the upcoming The Last Airbender, stars in the stylish horror/thriller Dread. Stephen (Rathbone) and Cheryl (Laura Donnelly, Insatiable) are college students making a documentary about what people dread in life. But they have no idea that their partner Quaid (Shaun Evans, Boy A, Telstar), witnessed his parents being murdered by an axe-wielding...

The low-budget rock'n'roll biopic is fast emerging as British cinema's favourite new genre. Anton Corbijn's Control (2007), about Joy Division's ill-fated lead singer, Ian Curtis, kick-started a wave of films that has continued with Nick Moran's Telstar (about record producer Joe Meek), and now Sam Taylor-Wood's Nowhere Boy (about the youthful John Lennon) and Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll (about Ian Dury). A feature is being planned about The Kinks and there have also been a rash of British-made feature documentaries about everybody from Scott Walker to Joe Strummer and Dr Feelgood. The new wave of rock biopics follows on from films like 24 Hour Party People, Backbeat and Stoned.

A film about fear Dread will be part of the After Dark Horrorfest 4. To show in late January 2010 Dread centers around a group of college documenters who want to know more about what people fear. However, things take a turn for the horrific as tales of murder are told of the past with one character, Quaid, taking things too far. Check out all the info' on this film written by Clive Barker that will be the centerpiece of Horrorfest 4!

A synopsis for Dread here:

"Stephen (Rathbone) and Cheryl (Laura Donnelly, Insatiable) are college students making a documentary about what people dread in life. But they have no idea that their partner Quaid (Shaun Evans, Telstar), witnessed his parents being murdered by an axe-wielding lunatic and wants to make others experience his own personal horror.

The three set out to document people revealing their life’s most terrifying moments. But Quaid...

Patricia Clarkson, Woody Harrelson, Ben Foster, Emmy Rossum, Jeremy Renner and Hugh Dancy will be honored during the 12th annual Savannah Film Festival, which runs Oct. 31-Nov. 7 in Savannah, Ga., under the auspices of the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Clarkson, Harrelson and Foster will be lauded with Achievement in Cinema Awards. Clarkson will screen Woody Allen's latest film, "Whatever Works," in which she appears. Foster and Harrelson star in Oren Moverman's "The Messenger," the festival's opening-night film.

Rossum will receive the Young Hollywood Award before a screening of her film "Dare."

Spotlight Awards will go to Renner for his performance in "The Hurt Locker" and Dancy for "Adam." Both films are slated to unspool during the fest.

Miguel Arteta's "Youth in Revolt" is the latest feature to be added to the fest lineup.

Special screenings also are planned for Jean-Marc Vallee's "The Young Victoria," Grant Heslov...

Observe & Report

Also known as the slightly smarter version of Paul Blart: Mall Cop. Observe & Report stars likeable Seth Rogan as Ronnie, an obsessive mall security guard that dreams of being a cop. It’s actually quite funny and has some great set pieces.

Rogan is a great comedic actor and this is his show. Worth watching, you might be pleasantly surprised.

Also available in Blu-Ray

Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past

Matthew McConaughey has made a career out of playing smug bachelors recently and he continues the trend with this latest rom-com. He plays Connor Mead who, while attending his brothers wedding is reminded of his past conquests. It’s predictable stuff but passable enough. It boasts an impressive supporting cast led by Jennifer Garner and Michael Douglas and it’s directed by Mark Waters who also helmed Mean Girls. It’s light, fluffy and will give fans of rom-coms exactly what they want.

Kevin Spacey would rather be a drug addict than a politician. The 'Telstar' actor insists that despite being a close friend of former Us President Bill Clinton he has no plans to follow in his footsteps and run for office. He told Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper: "I would never ever think about going into politics. "I would rather become a crack addict. I think you can be just as effective in public service." One reason why Spacey does not want to run for election in America is his continued love of the UK. The 49-year-old star is even thinking of applying for dual citizenship after seven years living in London. He added: "I love living in London. I can...

Kevin Spacey would rather be a drug addict than a politician. The 'Telstar' actor insists that despite being a close friend of former Us President Bill Clinton he has no plans to follow in his footsteps and run for office. He told Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper: "I would never ever think about going into politics. "I would rather become a crack addict. I think you can be just as effective in public service." One reason why Spacey does not want to run for election in America is his continued love of the UK. The 49-year-old star is even thinking of applying for dual citizenship after seven years living in London. He added: "I love living in London. I can say...

Kevin Spacey would rather be a drug addict than a politician. The "Telstar" actor insists that despite being a close friend of former U.S. President Bill Clinton he has no plans to follow in his footsteps and run for office.

He told Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper: "I would never ever think about going into politics."

"I would rather become a crack addict. I think you can be just as effective in public service."

One reason why Spacey does not want to run for election in America is his continued love of the U.K.

“Revenge is coming” hollers the tag-line to this week’s new release so you know what’s coming – Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. The big-budget sci-fi spectacle is out today in the UK, a full six days before it opens in the States (strange, no?) and is sure to prompt endless queues of overgrown boys, techie fiends, car lovers and all red-blooded males (it stars Megan Fox in skin-tight leather – say no more) desperate to see it. But what if shiny cars and massive robots aren’t your thing? Then fear not, as there’s also an offbeat indie romance and a retro musical biopic. That should see you right.

If you see… College-bound Sam Witwicky (Shia LeBeouf) inadvertently learn the secrets of the Transformers, leading the evil Decepticons to hunt him down only for the Autobots to come to his rescue in epic machine mash-up, Transformers: Revenge of the...

Check out the trailer for the film embedded below, and then head on over to Empire Magazine for an exclusive new clip!

“Telstar” will hit UK Cinemas this Friday the 19th of June and stars Nick Moran, Kevin Spacey, Con O’Neill, Ralph Little, Jj Feild and Pam Ferris.

Telstar is the stranger-than-fiction true story of legendary independent record producer Joe Meek. A maverick musical genius who wrote and recorded a string of number one hits in the early 60s, Meek famously enjoyed phenomenal early success with Telstar – the biggest selling record of its time and the first Brit band single to top the Us charts. Named after the first communications satellite, which launched in 1962, the unique instrumental single was released later that same year, becoming a number one hit on both sides of the Atlantic for Meek’s band The Tornados, all from a flat on the Holloway Road.

Directed and co-written by Nick Moran, Telstar, the biopic of '60s pop producer Joe Meek, is out this week and judging by this clip it'll offer music lovers a bumper bag of psychedelic delights.Pop impresario Meek has a uncanny genius for turning out deliriously other-worldly records in the late '50s and early '60s. His tracks had catchy tunes that propelled them to the top of the charts - think Buddy Holly played by the Max Rebo Band - while his darker, obsessional side meant he was unafraid to draw a gun on his musicians when the situation demanded. The Phil Spector-like producer is played by Con O'Neill with Kevin Spacey as his business partner Major Banks. Ralf Little is Chas Hodges, better know as one half of Chas and Dave, who worked with Meek as a session musician in his pre-Snooker Loopy days.Telstar is out this Friday 19 June.

Nick Moran has said that the late Joe Meek was not a British version of the recently-imprisoned Us producer Phil Spector. The director of new Meek biopic Telstar told Metro that there were key differences between the two music makers. Moran said: "Phil Spector wandered around with his wigs and firearms, trying to be overtly - as a small Jewish guy - heterosexual, whereas Joe Meek, who is built like a farm hand and could rip your (more)...

• What would Cannes be without Fortissimo Films? Actually what would any of the other big festivals be without this kind of 'company'? They got a foursome of projects which I am eagerly awaiting to see from helmers Pen-Ek Ratanaruang, Kore-eda Hirokazu, Tsai Ming-Liang and a Latin American product from Michel Franco. Sadly, this will be a bitter sweet Cannes for the company with the passing of an industry vet Wouter Barendrecht, who was an anchor in bringing the best of Asian films to North American audiences. In the near future we can look forward to the next Todd Solondz and Stephan Elliott projects and a "Marley" docu around the corner. Against The Current by Peter Callahan - Completed Air Doll (Kuki Ningyo) by Kore‐eda Hirokazu - Completed Black Oasis by Stephan Elliott - Pre-Production Children Of The Pyre by Rajesh Jala - Completed Daniel & Ana by Michel Franco

...

Which will include Coppola's Tetro which premiers at Cannes for a total of 392 films which includes 31 world premiers and 203 narrative features. Man, Siff always has good stuff, I wish I could go. Any writers in Seattle want to provide coverage for us?

Check out some of the premiers after the break.

World Premieres

Back to the Garden, Flower Power Comes Full Circle, directed by Kevin Tomlinson (USA, 2009)

Dancing Across Borders, directed by Anne H. Bass (USA/Cambodia, 2009)

Facing Ali, directed by Pete McCormack (Canada, 2009)

The Hills Run Red, directed by Dave Parker (USA, 2009)

Icons Among Us, directed by Michael Rivoira, Lars Larson, Peter J. Vogt (USA, 2009)

I’m No Dummy, directed by Bryan W. Simon (USA, 2009)

Pop Star On Ice, directed by David Barba (USA/Canada/Russia/Japan, 2009)

The Spy and the Sparrow, directed by Garrett Bennett (USA, 2009)

talhotblond, directed by Barbara Schroeder (USA, 2008)

The Whole Truth, directed by Colleen Patrick (USA,...

London -- James Fox has joined the cast of Nick Moran's "The Kid," which is due to start shooting here next week.

Fox joins Rupert Friend, Natascha McElhone and Ioan Gruffudd in Moran's sophomore directorial outing, which is based on Kevin Lewis' best-selling autobiography. It details the story of a young man who survives a vicious upbringing and a violent past.

Tin House Films and London-based finance and sales banner Intandem Films will produce the film, due to begin an eight-week shoot on Monday.

Moran's directorial debut, "Telstar," debuted at last year's London Film Festival.

Kevin Spacey will star in and produce the indie comedy "Father of Invention." Trent Cooper (Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector) will direct from a script he penned with Jonathan Krane and Nichole Beattie. Story centers on a humble inventor-turned-egomaniacal billionaire who loses it all when one of his inventions goes horribly awry. After eight years in federal prison, he returns bankrupt, homeless and determined to rebuild his reputation and fortune. Spacey has several films in the can, including "Men Who Stare at Goats," alongside George Clooney; "Telstar"; and "Shrink."...

Actor Nick Moran is taking a second stab at directing, and has nabbed Ioan Gruffudd, Rupert Friend and Natascha McElhone for his latest project, The Kid. Liam Cunningham will also star in the pic, which adapts Kevin Lewis’ best-selling true-life story. Lewis grew up an abused child and managed to untangle himself from the criminal underworld in London to lead a better life. Moran pulled the movie together after winning praise fir his first music biopic Telstar. [Source: Variety] .

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British actors Rupert Friend, Ioan Gruffudd, Natascha McElhone and Irish actor Liam Cunningham have all boarded actor-turned-director Nick Moran's sophomore project The Kid . The project is an adaptation of writer Kevin Lewis' best-selling true story of an abused child who manages to extricate himself from the criminal underworld to lead a more fulfilling life. Moran earned critical kudos for his debut directorial effort Telstar last year.

I’ve commented before that of the major players in Guy Ritchie’s Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels I had always expected it would be Nick Moran and not Jason Statham who made the big breakout internationally. Moran had the looks, the charisma and is - in my opinion - a vastly superior actor. But while Statham and - to a lesser degree - Jason Flemyng have both gone on to have thriving careers in front of the camera, Moran has been largely absent from the screen. And it turns out that this is because he has entirely different aspirations. Moran, you see, is a successful playwright and theater director and after having success with one of his theater plays he has now adapted it for the big screen with Telstar.

Set against a backdrop of early 60’s London, Telstar is the story of the world’s first independent record producer,...

The nominees for the eleventh annual British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs) have been announced. On Tuesday, October 28, at Soho House in London, it is unveiled that IRA prison drama "Hunger" and crime comedy "In Bruges" have dominated the list by collecting seven nominations each.

Both of them will battle it out for the title of Best British Independent Film, contending also with "Slumdog Millionaire", "Man on Wire" and "Somers Town". They will also go head-to-head for Best Screenplay and Best Debut Director. The latter is also known as The Douglas Hickox Award.

On the performers' category, past Variety Award recipient Keira Knightley has been nominated for Best Actress for her performance in "The Duchess". She will be facing Vera Farmiga, Samantha Morton, Kelly Reilly and Sally Hawkins. Moreover, "In Bruges" star Colin Farrell will be up against Michael Fassbender, Brendan Gleeson, Riz Ahmed and Thomas Turgoose for the Best Actor.

George Clooney and Grant Heslov are assembling an all-star cast for their Mandate Pictures-produced "The Men Who Stare at Goats."

Ewan McGregor, Oscar winner Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges are in negotiations to star opposite Clooney in the feature, which Heslov is directing from a script by Peter Straughan.

Based on the book by the Guardian columnist Jon Ronson, "Goats" is set in Iraq and centers on Bob Wilton (McGregor), a desperate reporter who stumbles upon the story of a lifetime when he meets Lyn Cassady (Clooney), who claims to be a former secret U.S. military psychic soldier who was re?activated post-9/11.

"Goats" chronicles the two men's travels through Iraq and offers glimpses into the supposedly real secret Army unit tasked with creating soldiers with paranormal powers.

Bridges will play Bill Django, the founder of the psychic soldier program and Lyn's mentor. Spacey will play Larry Hooper, a...