West Hampstead Life | nw6 film club

Posts

NW6 Film Club May: Mad Max Fury Road

by Mark L. / May 15, 2015/0 Comments/in Film /

Thirty six years ago (yes really!) – Australian ex-doctor George Miller made his astonishing first feature, Mad Max.This low budget post apocalyptic cost less than half a million dollars to make but grossed more than 100 million – making it one of the most successful movies (dollar for
dollar) of all time.

Not surprisingly it spawned a couple of sequels, Mad Max 2 being one of those rare sequels general regarded as superior to the original.

What’s perhaps more surprising is the 30 year gap between the third installment and the fourth, Mad Max Fury Road, which is this month’s Film Club choice.

Mad Max 4 should provide quite a contrast to our recent more restrained Film Club movies. That said, for all its high octane action, this movie is getting plenty of critical support too – currently a massive 99% on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s even being attacked as being “feminist propaganda“!

More than filling Mel Gibson’s shoes is the always superb Tom Hardy – whilst Charlize Theron apparently is at least his equal.

To get the full sensory overload we’re going to see it at the Imax Odeon Swiss Cottage on Wednesday 20th May at 9pm.

Tickets aren’t cheap but you can get a discount with Meerkat Movies. By all means tweet/search using #nw6filmclub to pair up. It could well be busy so best book well in advance.

We’ll meet in the bar at 8.30pm and assemble there after for a drink if we’re still conscious.

See you there!

Nathan, Mark and Jonathan

NW6 Film Club April 22nd: Force Majeure

by Mark L. / April 17, 2015/0 Comments/in Culture Hub, Film /

For a while it’s seemed like you can’t turn on the TV without coming across yet another high quality Scandinavian drama series. It’s a remarkable achievement for a relatively small population a long way from the resources of Hollywood. The Nordic Noir phenomenon has also had some success in the cinema and now we have a new Swedish film getting rave reviews: Force Majeure.

The Times calls it “one of the most perceptive and savagely funny films of the year”; the Standard “a gripping film with a superb cast,” and the Guardian says it’s “compelling, intelligent and grimly entertaining”. It also warns that its not a date movie. So, the perfect film to see with your Film Club friends!

Force Majeure tells the story of a Swedish family on holiday in the French Alps. A tragic event changes everything and the film follows the repercussions. It may not sound like a cheery premise but many reviews describe the film as darkly funny. Come along and decide for yourself whether it’s a comedy, a tragedy or both.

We’re seeing the film at our usual home The Tricycle, but not on the usual day! We’ll be going to the 8.40pm screening on Wednesday April 22nd. As usual, we’ll meet in the bar beforehand from 8.10.

We’re delighted that once again there’s a special NW6 Film Club discount. Just quote WHAMPFILM when you book online or on the phone and you get £1 off.* To get the discount you must book ahead of the screening, if you just turn up on the day you’ll have to pay full price, and unfortunately it can’t be combined with other offers so if you’re already a Tricycle member, you’re better off using that to get £1.50 off.

As usual – book Row G if you want to sit with the rest of us (you don’t have to).

The film will end fairly late but hopefully there will be time to head to the Black Lion across the road for a very quick drink and discussion.

See you there,

Nathan, Mark and Jonathan

FILM CLUB FAQ
How do I join Film Club?
There’s no membership as such. Just come along to the screening and join us in the Tricycle bar beforehand to say ‘hi’.

How often does Film Club meet?
Usually once a month. The exact date depends on the schedules at The Tricycle (our usual home) and other local cinemas.

How can I hear about future Film Club events?
Just subscribe to the West Hampstead Life weekly newsletter, check the website or follow @NxNW6 on twitter.

* T&C’s: Limited offer, advance booking only. Not available retroactively or in conjunction with any other offer. Available at management’s discretion.

NW6 Film Club March 22nd: Still Alice

by Mark L. / March 13, 2015/0 Comments/in Film /

We’re now in that delicious post-Oscars season when the award-winning films we’ve heard so much about finally get a UK release and we get to see what all the fuss is about.

This month we’re going to see Still Alice, which won Julianne Moore a Best Actress Oscar. Perhaps surprisingly, this is her first despite having been nominated four times before. But by all accounts she gives an astonishing performance, quite possibly the best of her career – high praise indeed given her superb record. The rest of the cast is impressive too with Alex Baldwin and Kristen Stewart playing supporting roles.

The film is the story of a linguistics professor diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. It’s based on a novel written by a working neuroscientist, which was itself a phenomenon: it was self-published but went on to reach the New York Times bestseller list.

What’s also unsual is that the film is co-directed by a married couple – Wash Westmoreland and Richard Glatzer. What’s more, Richard has ALS, another degenerative neurological disease, making this a film of immense personal significance.

The Telegraph calls it “astonishing” and gives it 5 stars. Mark Kermode in the Observer calls it “uplifting”.

We’re seeing it at our usual home The Tricycle, and we’ve negotiated a special NW6 Film Club discount.

Just quote WHAMPFILM when you book online or on the phone and you get £1 off. To get the discount you must book ahead of the screening, if you just turn up on the day, you’ll have to pay full price, and unfortunately it can’t be combined with other offers so if you’re already a Tricycle member, you’re better off using that to get £1.50 off.

As usual – book Row G if you want to sit with the rest of us (you don’t have to).

We’re seeing it on Sunday 22nd March. The film starts at 8.15pm and we’ll be in the bar from 7:45.

Afterwards we’ll head to the Black Lion across the road for a drink and discussion. The film isn’t too long so there should be time.

Hopefully see you there,

Nathan, Mark and Jonathan

NW6 Film Club February 8th: Selma

by Mark L. / January 29, 2015/0 Comments/in Film /

With awards season in full swing we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to high quality movies.

After the superb Birdman, Film Club is going to see another Best Picture Oscar nominee. Selma is a film about Martin Luther King Jr and his fight for equal voting rights. MLK is a towering figure in American history: he has streets in over 700 US cities named after him not to mention his own birthday as a national holiday.

Which makes it extraordinary that this is the first major movie telling any part of his life story (at least I can’t think of any – please comment below if I’ve missed one).

The other astonishing fact about this movie is the sheer array of British acting talent. King himself is played by Brit David Oyelowo (for me best known as Danny from Spooks) and Tom Wilkinson is President Johnson. With King’s wife also British (Carmen Ejogo) and Tim Roth playing a major role – this is a real testament to the quality of British actors.

The film itself is getting rave reviews and numerous award nominations (as well as getting 99% positive review on Rotten Tomatoes). With racial politics in America as important an issue now as it’s ever been this is set to be a powerful and timely film.

We’re seeing it at our usual home – The Tricycle – on Sun 8th Feb.
The film starts at 8pm and we’ll be in the bar from 7:30.

Everyone is welcome, and you can book in advance or turn up on the day Book Row G if you want to sit with the rest of us (you don’t have to).

Afterwards we’ll head to the Black Lion across the road for a drink and discussion if it’s not too late.

Hopefully see you there,

Nathan, Mark and Jonathan

NW6 Film Club January 11th: Birdman

by Jonathan Turton / January 4, 2015/0 Comments/in Film /

Film Club is back in 2015 with a movie that looks like it’s going to set the quality bar high for the new year.

Birdman is an extraordinary film from the visionary filmmaker Alejandro Iñárritu. It stars Michael Keaton; once a Hollywood A-lister thanks to his role as the superhero Batman, but an actor whose recent career hasn’t exactly been triumphant.

He plays an actor – once a Hollywood A-lister thanks to his role as the superhero Birdman – but whose recent career hasn’t exactly been triumphant.

As you can probably tell, this a satire on Hollywood that uses clever casting to blur onscreen and offscreen truths. It’s also a technical masterpiece, much of it filmed in a single take (or at least appearing as such).

Strange, funny, unique, beautiful and fun are just some of the adjectives being used in rave reviews. It has already won many awards and is a hot tip for Oscar success.

We’re going to see it at Kilburn’s Tricycle Cinema on Sunday 11th January. The film starts at 8pm and we’ll be in the bar from 7.30.

Everyone is welcome, and you can book in advance or turn up on the day. Book Row G if you want to sit with the rest of us (you don’t have to).

Afterwards we’ll head to the Black Lion across the road for a drink and discussion if it’s not too late.

Hopefully see you there,

Nathan, Mark and Jonathan

NW6 Film Club December 8th: St Vincent

by Jonathan Turton / November 30, 2014/0 Comments/in Film /

After a great turnout for The Imitation Game, NW6 Film Club is back at the Tricycle on Monday December 8th, for another bargain night.

The movie is St Vincent – the story of a misanthropic hard living old man who unexpectedly ends up looking after a 12 year old boy. This may sound like a familiar set up – but apparently its elevated by superb performances from both from the leads.

Bill Murray has a career to die for and this is said to be one of his best – high praise indeed – while newcomer Jaeden Lieberher gives Bill a run for his money with an astonishingly assured performance as the teenager.

Since it’s the last Film Club of 2014 we’re planning to meet a little earlier: 7.30pm at the Black Lion on Kilburn High Road, for food and drinks. The pub does excellent 2-for-1 burgers on a Monday so you can enjoy bargain food as well as bargain cinema.

At the Tricycle, Monday tickets are just £6 and if you’re a Brent Resident then take along proof of address and you get a ticket for even less (£4.50). The film itself starts at 8.45pm so you might want to get your ticket first and then come and join us in the pub.

Everyone is welcome, and you can book in advance or turn up on the day Book Row G if you want to sit with the rest of us (you don’t have to).

Once again – we’re not meeting in the Tricycle bar but in the Black Lion pub opposite from 7.30. Do tweet us if you’re coming, or just turn up!

See you there,

Nathan, Mark and Jonathan

NW6 Film Club November 17th: The Imitation Game

by Mark L. / November 6, 2014/0 Comments/in Film /

Few people’s lives seem more deserving of the cinematic treatment than Alan Turing’s. His achievements are astonishing: laying the mathematical foundations for all modern computers and helping the Allies win the Second World War by breaking the Enigma code. But his life encompassed tragedy as well as triumph – he was persecuted by the state for his homosexuality, with terrible consequences.

With such an epic life story it’s amazing that there hasn’t been a movie about him before (though there have been plays, books, documentaries and a made-for-TV film starring Derek Jacobi). A film about the Enigma story was made, though it strangely omitted Turing, replacing him with a very heterosexual fictional lead. But finally, Turing’s story is told in The Imitation Game. Lets hope it’s worthy of the man himself. The buzz is certainly extraordinary – it opened the London Film Festival and won the top award at the Toronto Festival.

It seems that if you want a portrayal of a repressed and socially awkward British genius there’s only one actor to turn to: Benedict Cumberbatch. His performance is reportedly so remarkable that it has even won over Turing’s family. With a cast that includes Keira Knightley, Mark Strong and Charles Dance, this looks set to be another showcase for British talent (albeit with a Norwegian director).

For a change, we’re going to see it on a Monday night, which thanks to the Tricycle’s generous Monday pricing means bargain tickets of just £6. Brent residents do even better; take along proof of address and you get a ticket for just £4.50.

The film is at 8.40pm, on Monday November 17th. As usual, we’ll meet in the bar beforehand from 8:15. Everyone is welcome, and you can book in advance or just turn up on the day. Book Row G if you want to sit with the rest of us (you don’t have to).

Afterwards we’ll head to the Black Lion across the road for a drink and discussion if it’s not too late.

See you there,

Nathan, Mark and Jonathan

NW6 Film Club October 19th: ’71

by Mark L. / October 14, 2014/0 Comments/in Film /

After the last month’s Film Club movie – the wonderful Pride – we are going to see another British film dealing with a troubled period of recent British history.

The movie is ’71 and whilst it’s probably not going to have the feel-good factor of Pride, it’s getting spectacular reviews (97% on Rotten Tomatoes) and great audience feedback.

The film is set in Belfast at the height of The Troubles and follows an English paratrooper as he fights to survive, alone, in a seemingly hostile land.

Don’t worry if you’re not an expert on the politics of Northern Ireland. By all accounts this film avoids big “P” politics and uses the real-life situation as the backdrop to a suspenseful thriller that should have everyone biting their nails. With great performances and superb direction from first-timer Yann Demange, this is lining up to be one of the most critically acclaimed films of the year so far:

“This taut drama about a British soldier caught behind enemy lines in Belfast is a cracking debut” The Guardian
“’71 hurtles along, visceral and daring.” This Is London
“This is a tense, gripping thriller that combines real-world relevance with high-concept entertainment.” Empire

The film is on at the slightly earlier than usual time of 5:30 on Sunday 19th at the Tricycle Cinema. We’ll meet in the bar from 5pm and there should be plenty of time to chat about it over a drink afterwards.

Hope to see you there,

Nathan, Mark and Jonathan.

NW6 Film Club September 14th: Pride

by Mark L. / September 5, 2014/1 Comment/in Film /

As the dark nights and drizzle approach there’s something to look forward to: NW6 Film club is back!

Our next film is Pride, a British movie that some are calling the new Full Monty.

It’s not always easy to predict a Brit Hit – who would have thought a movie about speech therapy would be a runaway success? Two themes that do feature in a lot of successful British films are industrial disputes (Billy Elliot, Brassed Off, Made in Dagenham) and sexuality (My Beautiful Laundrette, The Crying Game, Kinky Boots and many others).

Pride brings the two subjects together to tell the story of the Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners campaign.

It’s one of those “so ridiculous it must be true” stories and early signs are promising – all 11 reviews currently on Rotten Tomatoes are positive. And if that’s not reason enough to see it, it has a superb British cast including local regulars Bill Nighy and Imelda Staunton.

What’s more, some scenes were even filmed locally.

We’re seeing the film at 8pm on Sunday 14th Sep at the Tricycle. As usual, we’ll meet in the bar from 7:30.

Everyone is welcome, and you can book in advance or turn up on the day (it pretty much never sells out on a Sunday night). Book Row G if you want to sit with the rest of us (you don’t have to).

Afterwards we’ll head to the Black Lion across the road for a drink and discussion.

See you there,

Nathan, Mark and Jonathan

NW6 Film Club July 21st – Boyhood

by Jonathan Turton / July 11, 2014/0 Comments/in Film /

The next Film Club will be the last before we take a short summer break, but it should be a good one.

The film is Boyhood – a movie as unusual as its creator and the only film to be Film of the Week twice on West Hampstead Life! Director Richard Linklater is truly one of cinema’s unique talents. He’s made everything from mainstream comedy (School of Rock) to obscure animations (Waking Life).

He made the wonderful romantic Before Sunrise/Sunset/Midnight trilogy and now he’s back with perhaps his most ambitious project yet.

Boyhood follows the life of a child, Mason, from the age of 7 through to 19 – nothing too unusual there. What is unique is that it was filmed using the same actor growing up on screen in a sort of realtime – taking 12 years to complete.

The result is, by all accounts, phenomenal. Mark has already seen it called it “unique and brilliant”. On Rotten Tomatoes it currently has a very rare 100% rating. This could well be the film of the year. It’s so good Mark is going to come and see it again!

Because of the Monty Python codgers being broadcast live it’s not showing in the usual Sunday night slot. Instead we’re going to go to the Tricycle’s Monday night showing on July 21st at 8pm. That means we can benefit from the Monday night reduction: tickets are only £6 – what a bargain!

As usual, we’ll meet in the bar from 7:30.

Everyone is welcome, and you can book in advance or turn up on the day (it rarely sells out). Book Row G if you want to sit with the rest of us (you don’t have to).

If there’s time for a swift half afterwards then we’ll head to the Black Lion across the road for a drink and discussion.

See you there,

Nathan, Mark and Jonathan

NW6 Film Club June 1st – Jimmy’s Hall

by Mark L. / May 28, 2014/0 Comments/in Film, Frontpage Article /

After the mega-budget monster mayhem of Godzilla, NW6 returns to its usual home of the Tricycle for an all-together smaller scale drama – Jimmy’s Hall (not to be confused with Jimmy Hall – the harmonica player from Alabama). This is the latest film from veteran British director Ken Loach – with rumours that this might be his last. Loach has made almost two dozen films – including Kes, The Wind That Shakes the Barley and, my personal favourite, Land and Freedom.

His films are often political and Jimmy’s Hall is no exception. It’s based on a true story and deals with the tension between politics and religion in 1930s Ireland. But don’t let the politics put you off; Loach always seeks out the human stories behind the issues and whilst his films often deal the brutal realities of life, The Independent has called this one of his “sunniest, most optimistic films“.

The film is on at the Tricycle Cinema on Sunday 1st June at 8.15pm.

As usual, we’ll meet in the bar from 7.45pm. Everyone is welcome, and you can book in advance or turn up on the day (it very rarely sells out on a Sunday night). Book Row G if you want to sit with the rest of us (you don’t have to).

Afterwards we’ll head to The Black Lion across the road for a drink and discussion.

See you there,

Nathan, Mark and Jonathan

Godzilla – Opening night screening event

by Jonathan Turton / May 2, 2014/0 Comments/in Film /

Up from the depths, 30 storeys high…. breathing fire all over the sky… ~~Ballymore~~. GODZILLA

Thursday May 15th is the opening day of Godzilla and before the screening sells out completely we dived in and got the best 24 Odeon Premier seats in the house for a Film Club special opening night screening at the Swiss Cottage IMAX. Read on for more on the film and how you can join us.

West Hampstead Life‘s film correspondent Mark says, “Godzilla is a huge icon of Japanese cinema and hopes for this latest incarnation are sky high. With an excellent cast including Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston and with red hot Welsh director Gareth Edwards at the helm – this should be the blockbuster of the year.”

The plot synopsis is basic enough: “The world’s most famous monster is pitted against malevolent creatures who, bolstered by humanity’s scientific arrogance, threaten our very existence”.

I’m sure everyone’s familiar with the general Godzilla concept, either from the 1980s cartoon series or the original Japanese films from the 1950s. Godzilla – originally devised as a metaphor for nuclear war – has fluctuated between being the outright enemy, the hero and sometimes the lesser of two evils.

It’s relatively unusual for a mainstream action film to have such an ambiguous character at its heart and it will be interesting to see whether Edwards is able to stick to his aim of capturing the essence of the original Japanese Godzilla while satisfying a contemporary blockbuster audience.

As you’ll see in the trailer, this 2014 reboot leans on the backstory, which is encouraging, and Legendary Pictures has a good track record with the Christian Bale Batman films of understanding the light and dark that makes all the best fictional characters interesting.

This will be the fourth of our #whampIMAX premiere nights after Dark Knight Rises, Skyfall and Man of Steel.

We all meet for a drink in the Odeon’s upstairs bar first and we’ll be talking to the cinema about arranging snacks etc. as well, which they’ve provided before. Then there’s plenty of time after the film to head back to the bar to dissect, criticise or heap unconditional praise on what we’ve just seen. Or talk about the weather.

To get your hands on tickets for the May 15th 7pm screening, simply mail jonathan@westhampsteadlife.com with your name, mobile number and whether you’d like 1 or 2 tickets. The tickets are £20 each and I’ll contact you regarding payment. This is strictly first-come-first-served.

Film Club April 6: The Double

by Mark L. / March 28, 2014/1 Comment/in Film /

What do you get if you cross Dostoyevsky with The IT Crowd? Possibly The Double, a movie from Richard Ayoade (star of TV comedies and director of the impressive debut Submarine) based on a novella by the giant of Russian literature. It’s not a pairing you might expect but, judging by the reviews so far, it’s a good one.

The story on which the film is based was itself inspired by the writings of Dostoyevsky’s contemporary Nikolai Gogol. Gogol also inspired the book and movie, The Namesake. The film The Double itself has a namesake, the 2011 spy thriller staring Richard Gere. However that was pretty dire… so back to the film in question.

With the stellar pairing of Jesse Eisenberg (x 2) and Mia Wasikowska, an intriguing premise, and a great trailer it looks like it could be a hit. The Guardian gave it 5 stars – but what will film club make of it?

I hope you can join us at the Tricycle Cinema on Sunday 6th April. The film starts at 8pm and as usual, we’ll meet in the bar from 7:30.

Everyone is welcome, and you can book in advance or turn up on the day (it pretty much never sells out on a sunday night). Book Row G if you want to sit with the rest of us (you don’t have to).

Afterwards we’ll head to the Black Lion across the road for a drink and discussion.

See you there,

Nathan, Mark and Jonathan

Film Club March 9: Grand Budapest Hotel

by Mark L. / February 28, 2014/0 Comments/in Film /

Wes Anderson is one of those directors whose films you can spot without even a glance at the credits.

His trademark elements: meticulously detailed perfectly composed shots, a timeless retro ambiance, quirky characters and dialogue, and Bill Murray.

If you check all those boxes you’ve got a Wes Anderson film. What his films don’t necessarily have is lots of action. But now Wes is back with Grand Budapest Hotel which has all the above, plus a gun fight, chase scenes, even a jail break.

With a spectacular cast (Ralph Fiennes, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Tilda Swinton to name just a few) and equally spectacular reviews (currently 91% on Rotten Tomatoes) – this looks like it could be the most accessible (and profitable) Anderson film to date.

But what will NW6 Film Club make of it? Is it as perfect as his beautiful composition, or as imperfect as his flawed characters?

To find out, join us at the Tricycle Cinema on Sunday March 9th at 8:30.
As usual, we’ll meet in the bar from 8.

Everyone is welcome, and you can book in advance or turn up on the day (it pretty much never sells out on a sunday night). Book Row G if you want to sit with the rest of us (you don’t have to).

Afterwards we’ll head to the Black Lion across the road for a drink and discussion.

Hopefully see you there,

Nathan, Mark and Jonathan

Film Club: Dallas Buyers Club Feb 9th

by Mark L. / January 23, 2014/0 Comments/in Film /

The envelope has been opened and the award for February’s NW6 film club offering has been decided. And the winner is… Dallas Buyers Club on February 9th at The Tricycle.

Yes, it’s awards season and so our screens are packed with high quality offerings. The next of the main Oscar contenders to get a UK release is Dallas Buyers Club: the true story of an unlikely hero who fought the medical establishment to get the AIDS drugs he needed. With six nominations, including best picture and best actor, and an impressive 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it looks set to be a strong contender.

A few years ago, the idea of Film Club going to a Matthew McConaughey movie might have seemed ridiculous. Although his mainstream rom-com offerings were always successful, they were largely devoid of critical success. Matthew’s acting style tended towards the wooden, earning him the nickname Matthew Mahogany.

Over the past few years that has changed, with Matthew taking on a series of challenging roles in independent films: from Mud to Magic Mike and now Dallas Buyers Club. For his latest role he not only had to lose his plank-like acting style but also his bodyfat – shedding a reported 23kg. It paid off and he’s received rave reviews and his first Oscar nomination.

The film is on at the Tricycle on Sunday 9th Feb at 8.30pm. If you want to book, then we suggest you select Row G (this way you can book online). There’s no compulsion to sit with us though, and you can book in advance or turn up on the day (it pretty much never sells out on a Sunday night).

We’ll meet in the bar from 8pm and head to The Black Lion across the road for a drink and chat afterwards. Everyone’s welcome, so see you there!

Nathan, Mark and Jonathan

Mandela for NW6 Film Club Jan 5th

by Mark L. / December 28, 2013/0 Comments/in Film, Film Club, Uncategorized /

If you’ve been super organised and got your 2014 diary already then here’s a date for it: NW6 Film Club on Sunday 5th Jan.

We’re kicking off the New Year with what should be a great start: the biopic Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. There couldn’t be a more appropriate time to look back at the life of this unique leader – the film’s London premier was on the very day of Mandela’s death.

Despite the subject matter, this film is another triumph for UK talent. Its director (Justin Chadwick), writer (William Nicholson) and stars (Idris Elba and Naomie Melanie Harris as Nelson and Winnie) are all British. The film is based on Mandela’s autobiography – and his life certainly has enough drama to compete with any Hollywood script.

But is the movie the tribute such a great man deserves? Or is it impossible to capture his epic story in a mere 2 1/4 hours? Come along and find out.

We’re returning to The Tricycle in Kilburn, where the film starts at 7pm.
http://www.tricycle.co.uk/current-programme-pages/cinema-program/cinema/mandela-long-walk-to-freedom/

We’ll meet at 6:30 in the Tricycle Bar, which also does light food.

As usual, we have a reserved block of seats so if you book by phone (020 7328 1000) or at the box-office, mention the Film Club if you want to sit with the rest of us (you don’t have to!) Unfortunately you can’t book a seat in that block online – but the film is unlikely to sell out so you should be able to just turn up on the day.

As usual, follow @NxNW6 and we’ll let you know if it’s filling up. If you can, drop us a tweet to let us know you’re coming. Hopefully everyone will have recovered enough to go for a drink and discussion after the film.

Hopefully see you there,

Nathan, Mark and Jonathan

NW6 Film Club is back!

by Mark L. / November 23, 2013/0 Comments/in Film /

December 8th 5.30pm – Blue is the Warmest Colour – JW3

by Nathan Williams

After a slightly extended break (sorry about that!), the film club returns with a special event: an epic romance that’s received rave reviews at a stunning new venue.

The film is Blue Is the Warmest Colour – the story of a passionate affair between two women based on a graphic novel. The film is controversial, both because of its explicit nature (one sex scene reportedly took 10 days to shoot) and because the author of the original novel disowned it as a straight person’s fantasy. Others have been much kinder. It won the Palme d’Or at Cannes and has been getting great reviews.

It’s not often that The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph agree on something but both have given this film 5 stars.

It’s been called “an extraordinary, prolonged popping-candy explosion of pleasure” (Telegraph) and “a film of extraordinary richness and emotional complexity” (Independent). But what will NW6 make of it?

We’re seeing the movie at the neigbourhood’s latest addition to an already stellar collection of cinemas: JW3.

This new Jewish Community centre has a luxury 60 seat cinema that shows a wide variety of films. It also has a cafe/bar where we’ll gather after the film to discuss the movie and enjoy a drink or food.

The film is at 5.30pm on Sunday December 8th. It’s three hours long, so you definitely get your money’s worth – but as it should starting at 5.30 prompt there will be plenty of time to chat afterwards.

We’ll meet around 5pm in the cafe and we recommend you book your cinema ticket in advance as we’ve no idea how popular it will be. There’s a special event page here.

We’ll have a reserved block so, if you book by phone, mention the film club if you want to sit with the rest of us (you don’t have to!)

As usual, follow Mark’s @NxNW6 twitter account and the #nw6filmclub hashtag for the latest and if you can, drop us a tweet to let us know you’re coming.

Hopefully see you there,

Nathan, Mark and Jonathan

NW6 Film Club: The Bling Ring on July 14th

by Mark L. / July 8, 2013/2 Comments/in Film, General News /

It’s nearly time for the next instalment of NW6 Film Club, and this month’s offering is not only a great pick, but also one of the most eagerly awaited films of the year.

Sofia Coppola’s films have fallen into two distinct camps: either they focus on the reality of celebrity, especially its claustrophobic qualities (Lost in Translation, Somewhere), or they feature teenagers who are desperate and isolated from society (The Virgin Suicides). It could be argued that The Bling Ring contains elements from both strands.

The Film Club screening is at The Tricycle Cinema in Kilburn at 8pm on Sunday 14th July. We’ll meet in the bar at the Tricycle from 7.30pm. There’s no need to tell us you’re coming – though a tweet is always welcome.

You can book through the Tricycle Box Office on 020 7328 1000 – we will have a reserved block right in the centre of the cinema so mention “NW6 Film Club” if you want to sit with us (or don’t if you don’t!). It’s unlikely to be booked out so feel free to come along on the night as well.

After the film we’ll go to the Black Lion opposite the cinema for a drink and a chat. We’ll wait at the top of the stairs for a few minutes after the film finishes and head over together but if you miss us there then just head over.

The film is 90 minutes long, so there should be time for a good post-movie discussion. As always, follow @NxNW6 for updates on Twitter (or the #nw6filmclub hashtag), and hopefully we will see you on Sunday 14th.

Mark (@NxNW6) and Nathan (@nathankw)

NW6 Film Club: Once more unto the breach

by Jonathan Turton / May 30, 2013/0 Comments/in Film, General News /

A slightly different tack for June’s NW6 Film Club – and a discount price! The Tricycle is one of the cinemas that’s teamed up with the Globe Theatre to show three productions from last year’s season at the open-air theatre on the South Bank.

First up is perennial crowd-pleaser Henry V, on Sunday June 9th. The screening starts at 5.30pm and there’s a Q&A afterwards with artistic director Dominic Dromgoole, Jamie Parker who plays the title role, and Brid Brennan who plays Queen Isabel. The screening includes the interval.

The production was very well received by the critics (see here, and here), and is always apt whenever the country finds itself in conflict – be it to support or criticise the idea of war and leadership. If you’re not sure about Shakespeare, this might be a good one to try out. The story is easy to follow, there’s not too much witty wordplay or sub-plots involving twins, and it’s fairly action-packed.

The Tricycle has very kindly given us a discount for this screening. Normally, tickets are £15, but NW6 Film Clubbers can get them for £10. To benefit from this, either ring the box office on 020 7328 1000 or book online using code “NW6FilmClub”.

You do need to book in advance for this one and we don’t have a pre-booked block of seats. However, we’ll meet beforehand in the bar as per usual, and we’ll also have a table reserved in the bar for the interval. What’s not to love?

See you there!
Mark, Nathan and Jonathan

NW6 Film Club: The Look of Love

by Jonathan Turton / April 25, 2013/0 Comments/in Film, General News /

In April the film club saw Trance, which was enjoyed by almost everyone.

Our next movie is also London-based and also the work of an original and eclectic British director; in this case Michael Winterbottom. His latest film, The Look of Love, reunites Winterbottom with Steve Coogan (they worked together on 24 Hour Party People and the recent TV series The Trip) to tell the life story of strip club entrepreneur Paul Raymond.

Winterbottom certainly has a thing about sex and movies – his Nine Songs is supposedly the most explicit film to get a general release in the UK. He’s also a highly political director (Road to Guantanamo and The Shock Doctrine). So will this be a thoughtful examination of the politics of pornography and exploitation or a sexy romp through Soho? Come along on May 5th and find out.

The film is screening at The Tricycle at 8pm on Sunday 5th May and tickets are already available.

How do I book?
Through the Tricycle Box Office on 020 7328 1000. We have a block of seats reserved right in the middle of the cinema so mention “NW6 film club” if you want to sit with us (or don’t if you don’t!). It’s unlikely to be booked out so feel free to turn up on the night as well.

How do I find you?
We’ll meet up in the bar area at the Tricycle from 7.15pm, so collect your ticket and come and say hi. You’ll spot the crowd! There’s no need to tell us you’re coming – though a tweet is always welcome.

After the film we’ll go to the Black Lion opposite the cinema for a drink and chat. It’s a bank holiday weekend (hurrah) so do come along for a post movie meetup.

It’s going to be a great night, I hope you can join us. As always, follow @NxNW6 for updates or the #nw6filmclub hashtag.

NW6 Film Club: Trance on April 7

by Mark L. / March 27, 2013/0 Comments/in Film, General News /

It’s nearly time for the third instalment of the monthly NW6 Film Club, and this month’s offering is a great pick!

Trance is Danny Boyle’s (Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire, 28 Days Later) first film since his legendary Olympic opening ceremony last summer and looks set to be another rollercoaster ride.

Simon (James McAvoy), a fine art auctioneer, teams up with a criminal gang to steal a Goya painting worth millions of dollars but after suffering a blow to the head during the heist he awakens to discover he has no memory of where he hid the painting. When physical threats and torture fail to produce answers, the gang’s leader Frank (Vincent Cassel) hires hypnotherapist Elizabeth Lamb (Rosario Dawson) to delve into the darkest recesses of Simon’s psyche. As Elizabeth begins to unravel Simon’s broken subconscious, the lines between truth, suggestion, and deceit begin to blur.

The film is screening at The Tricycle at 20:00 on Sunday 7th April and tickets are already available.

How do I book?
Through the Tricycle Box Office on 020 7328 1000- we have a block of seats reserved right in the middle of the cinema so mention “NW6 film club” if you want to sit with us (or don’t if you don’t!). It’s unlikely to be booked out so feel free to turn up on the night as well.

How do I find you?
We’ll meet up in the bar area at the Tricycle from 19:15, so collect your ticket and come and say hi. You’ll spot the crowd! There’s no need to tell us you’re coming – though a tweet is always welcome.

After the film we’ll go to the Black Lion opposite the cinema for a drink and a chat. The film is only 100-something minutes long so there should be time for a good post-movie discussion.

It;s going to be a great night, I hope you can join us. As always, follow @NxNW6 for updates or the #nw6filmclub hashtag.

Mark (@NxNW6) and Nathan (@nathankw)

Stoker: The NW6 Film Club review

by Mark L. / March 14, 2013/0 Comments/in Film, General News /

What did NW6 Film Club make of Stoker, when we saw it at the start of the month? Nathan’s compiled the meta review:

NW6 Film Club: Stoker on March 3rd

by Jonathan Turton / February 26, 2013/0 Comments/in Film, General News /

It’s nearly time for the second installment of the monthly NW6 Film Club, and this Sunday’s offering should be a nice contrast to Zero Dark Thirty, which we saw last time.

The film this time is Stoker – a film with a heritage as intriguing as its plot.

An American production by a Korean director, inspired by Hitchcock and Bram Stoker – it’s part horror, part romance, part family drama. It has an amazing cast including Nicole Kidman, and is getting great reviews. It sounds like it should have something for everyone!

The film is on at The Tricycle at 8pm on Sunday 3rd March.

We’ll meet up in the Bar Area at the Tricycle from 7:15 once you’ve got your ticket. There’s no need to tell us you’re coming – though a tweet is always welcome.

You can book through the Tricycle Box Office – we have a reserved block right in the centre of the cinema so mention “nw6 film club” if you want to sit with us (or don’t if you don’t!). It’s unlikely to be booked out so feel free to come along on the night as well.

The film is only 90-something minutes long so there should be time for a good post-movie discussion. If you can’t make it to the pub, please tweet your mini-review with the tag #nw6filmclub and we’ll compile them into an online meta-review.

As always, follow @NxNW6 for updates or the #nw6filmclub hashtag, and hopefully see you on Sunday.

Nathan (@nathankw) and Mark (@NxNW6)

NW6 Film Club: Zero Dark Thirty review

by Mark L. / February 2, 2013/2 Comments/in Film, General News /

On the last Sunday of January, more than 20 people turned up to the Tricycle for the first ever NW6 Film Club night. We saw Kathryn Bigelow’s controversial film Zero Dark Thirty. Nathan has collated some of the audience’s reaction:

NW6 Film Club launches

by Mark L. / January 18, 2013/0 Comments/in Film, General News /

This month we’re launching the imaginatively named NW6 Film Club – an informal meetup of local film buffs. It’s basically like a book club only with a screen instead of pages! Or is that what book clubs will be like anyway in a couple of years?

Enough biting satirical commentary. You need details:

When?
The first Film Club will be on Sunday 27th Jan (the plan is to do it on the last Sunday of every month). The exact time will depend on the film time but we’ll usually meet 45 minutes before the Sunday evening showing. This Sunday, that means meeting at 6.45pm.

Where?
Our first and usual venue will be the Tricycle Cinema on Kilburn High Road. If you don’t know it, this lovely cinema has a good screen, comfortable seats and usually shows excellent films.

It’s also good value compared to most London cinemas. Standard tickets are £9.50 and if you plan to go regularly then become a Tricycle member and get £1.50 off.

What films will we see?
Generally whatever is showing at the Tricycle; they usually show interesting films – not too blockbuster but not too “art-house” either.

The first film is Zero Dark Thirty – Kathryn Bigelow’s dramatisation of the capture of Osama bin Laden.

How does it work?
Just buy a ticket for 7.30pm showing on the 27th, and come and join us at the Tricycle Bar before the film. We’ll be there from 6.45.

After the film we’ll head across the road to the Black Lion to drink and chat about the film for as long as we want (or until we get thrown out).

We’re not arranging tickets – it’s much easier if you just buy your own. You can usually buy tickets on the night, but to be sure you might want to book in advance (online or at the box office). If it looks like its really filling up we’ll let you know via twitter.

The Tricycle has allocated us some seats so if you want to sit together with the group just mention the Film Club when you book over the phone. If you have your own favourite seat you’re welcome to sit there – we won’t be offended!

How to find out more?
The best way is to follow @NxNW6 on twitter and/or read this website. If you want to get in touch with us tweet @NxNW6 or @nathankw or if you’re not a tweeter you can email nw6filmclub@gmail.com.

It would be great to get a rough idea of numbers so if you can let us know if you’ll be coming that would be a real help.

Hope to see you there!

Mark, Nathan and Jonathan

Posts

* T&C’s: Limited offer, advance booking only. Not available retroactively or in conjunction with any other offer. Available at management’s discretion.

Interesting links