No New Lessons With This Flick
The News Review:
- No New Lessons With This Flick
- Lionsgate Picks Up Oldman in The Backwoods
- World in Brief
No New Lessons With This Flick
Boise Weekly – Dec 13, 2006
That’s one of the lessons I pulled out of the Sony Classic Pictures release Driving Lessons, along with a few other choice bits, such as, Edinburgh looks like a nice place to visit, and the English drive on the left side of the road (well, I already knew that one). Another thing I learned: English filmmakers use all the same cliches as American filmmakers. Who knew? Here’s how the story goes: Our hero, Ben Marshall–assayed by Rupert Grint, the red-haired co-star of the Harry Potter flicks–is a painfully shy teenager living near London, trapped in a home along with his withdrawn vicar of a father and ruled over by his domineering mother, played by Laura Linney. Laura Linney! What the hell is she doing here, besides looking pretty fine and sporting an ice-cold English accent? Beats me, but she’s pretty good in this. Anyway, Ben’s folks take in a guy recovering from the shock of running over his wife, so Mom–who combines the faith-talking of Tammy Faye Bakker with the warmth and charm of Leona Helmsley–tells Ben he needs to get a job and help out. He answers a want ad for a personal assistant from washed-up actress Evie Walton, played by Julie Walters, who’s usually playing Mr. Grint’s mom in the aforementioned Harry Potter flicks.
Lionsgate Picks Up Oldman in The Backwoods
CanMag – Dec 13, 2006
Lionsgate Acquires Oldman’s The Backwoods
Oldman has actually had some pretty nutty characters in fact. Remember the drug-obsessed cop he played in The Professional or the awkward looking villain in The Fifth Element? Characters that can all be spelled c-r-a-z-y. Well, he hasn’t been doing crazy recently thanks to the Harry Potter franchise (could Sirius be considered a bit nutty?),. We have seen Oldman in all but one, and thanks to Lionsgate, who recently acquired the North American rights to The Backwoods, we can expect to see the latest Oldman installment as well.
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World in Brief
Times Online – Dec 13, 2006
(AP)Martial law markedWARSAW Activists dressed as riot police held a protest to mark the 25th anniversary of the imposition of martial law in Poland, which led to the jailing of thousands of members of the trade union Solidarity. (AFP)Potter books rulingATLANTA The Georgia state Board of Education will decide today whether to keep Harry Potter books in libraries in a suburban school district. Laura Mallory, a parent, claims the books indoctrinate children in pagan religion. (AP) Falconio appealSYDNEY Bradley Murdoch, 48, who was convicted of the murder of Peter Falconio, the British backpacker, in the Outback has begun an appeal against his conviction and 28-year sentence. The appeal is led by Ian Barker, QC.
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