The Simpsons went to Scotland on Sunday night’s (December 3rd) episode, and witnessed a performance from Scottish royalty Belle and Sebastian.
The episode, titled “Ae Bonny Romance,” centers around Groundskeeper Willie being whisked away to his Scottish homeland ahead of his marriage to Maisie, voiced by Karen Gillan. Equipped with matching blue suits and a custom bass drum head, Belle and Sebastian perform at Willie’s rehearsal dinner; fittingly, they played “If You Find Yourself Caught In Love,” from their 2003 album Dear Catastrophe Waitress.
For the episode’s end credits, Belle and Sebastian also contributed a new original song called “Willie and the Dream of Peat Bogs,” which, for a brief moment, sounds eerily similar to “Judy and the Dream of Horses.”
Frontman Stuart Murdoch took to social media to share his appreciation for the needle-drops: “I think they did us pretty well, what do you think?” he tweeted in response to their cartoon-ification.
The episode, titled “Ae Bonny Romance,” centers around Groundskeeper Willie being whisked away to his Scottish homeland ahead of his marriage to Maisie, voiced by Karen Gillan. Equipped with matching blue suits and a custom bass drum head, Belle and Sebastian perform at Willie’s rehearsal dinner; fittingly, they played “If You Find Yourself Caught In Love,” from their 2003 album Dear Catastrophe Waitress.
For the episode’s end credits, Belle and Sebastian also contributed a new original song called “Willie and the Dream of Peat Bogs,” which, for a brief moment, sounds eerily similar to “Judy and the Dream of Horses.”
Frontman Stuart Murdoch took to social media to share his appreciation for the needle-drops: “I think they did us pretty well, what do you think?” he tweeted in response to their cartoon-ification.
- 12/5/2023
- by Abby Jones
- Consequence - Music
Belle and Sebastian are celebrating the upcoming 25th birthday of their third album The Boy with the Arab Strap by giving it the anniversary reissue treatment.
After the back-to-back success of 1996’s Tigermilk and If You’re Feeling Sinister, 1998’s The Boy with the Arab Strap saw Belle and Sebastian bandleader Stuart Murdoch share some songwriting credits with band members Stevie Jackson and Isobel Campbell. While their first two albums were each recorded in just a few days, Arab Strap took months, giving the personnel of Belle and Sebastian time to let their creativity wander.
The 25th anniversary edition of Arab Strap exchanges the green-tinted cover photo of keyboardist Chris Geddes for a blue version, along with a pale blue limited edition vinyl to match. It also comes with an exclusive art print of behind-the-scenes photos from the promotional video for the album, taken by band member Sarah Martin.
Pre-orders...
After the back-to-back success of 1996’s Tigermilk and If You’re Feeling Sinister, 1998’s The Boy with the Arab Strap saw Belle and Sebastian bandleader Stuart Murdoch share some songwriting credits with band members Stevie Jackson and Isobel Campbell. While their first two albums were each recorded in just a few days, Arab Strap took months, giving the personnel of Belle and Sebastian time to let their creativity wander.
The 25th anniversary edition of Arab Strap exchanges the green-tinted cover photo of keyboardist Chris Geddes for a blue version, along with a pale blue limited edition vinyl to match. It also comes with an exclusive art print of behind-the-scenes photos from the promotional video for the album, taken by band member Sarah Martin.
Pre-orders...
- 7/12/2023
- by Abby Jones
- Consequence - Music
Tributes have begun to pour in following the death of Andy Rourke, bassist for the Smiths. Rourke died at 59 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, as confirmed by guitarist Johnny Marr on Twitter this morning. Many fellow musicians and collaborators have praised Rourke’s playing and his work with the Smiths.
“Andy will be remembered as a kind and beautiful soul by those who knew him and as a supremely gifted musician by music fans,” Marr noted on Twitter. He shared a much longer memory of his life with Rourke on Instagram.
“Andy will be remembered as a kind and beautiful soul by those who knew him and as a supremely gifted musician by music fans,” Marr noted on Twitter. He shared a much longer memory of his life with Rourke on Instagram.
- 5/19/2023
- by Emily Zemler
- Rollingstone.com
Belle and Sebastian have decided to cancel their 2023 North American tour due to frontman Stuart Murdoch’s longstanding health issues.
“As you might be aware my health took a dive around November 2022,” Murdoch wrote in a statement shared on the band’s Instagram. “While I am hoping that I will improve over the coming months, we felt it would be a safer route to cancel this tour and leave a clear path to recovery, rather than take a risk and have to cancel at the last minute.”
View this post...
“As you might be aware my health took a dive around November 2022,” Murdoch wrote in a statement shared on the band’s Instagram. “While I am hoping that I will improve over the coming months, we felt it would be a safer route to cancel this tour and leave a clear path to recovery, rather than take a risk and have to cancel at the last minute.”
View this post...
- 1/24/2023
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
The last three years have been pretty rough for the world, but there’s no denying that it’s been a good time to be a Belle and Sebastian fan. In late 2020, with touring sidelined, they released an excellent live album to remind us what a dynamic concert act they’ve become; last spring, they re-emerged with A Bit of Previous, their first studio LP in seven years. Now, the Scottish indie-pop heroes are topping that with Late Developers — an all-new, even better album from the same sessions that they...
- 1/9/2023
- by Simon Vozick-Levinson
- Rollingstone.com
Belle and Sebastian have unveiled a music video for their single, “Talk To Me Talk To Me,” off the group’s new LP, A Bit Of Previous. The video was written and directed by 15-year-old south London siblings Freya and Rosalie Salkeld.
“We had a small budget to make the video and were going to make it ourselves, but we ran out of time,” frontman Stuart Murdoch explained in a statement. “So we put out an open call to filmmakers who would be interested in making something for the existing budget,...
“We had a small budget to make the video and were going to make it ourselves, but we ran out of time,” frontman Stuart Murdoch explained in a statement. “So we put out an open call to filmmakers who would be interested in making something for the existing budget,...
- 5/6/2022
- by Emily Zemler
- Rollingstone.com
Belle and Sebastian have released “If They’re Shooting At You,” a new song that pledges support for individuals affected by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The track’s companion video is comprised of images from the frontlines and features work by a variety of Ukraine-based photographers covering the invasion, including Vadim Ghirda, Andreea Alexandru, and Mikhail Palinchak.
“When the situation in Ukraine first started to happen it became clear that the lives of the people there, and probably ‘ours’ too, were never going to be the same,” frontman Stuart Murdoch explained in a statement.
“When the situation in Ukraine first started to happen it became clear that the lives of the people there, and probably ‘ours’ too, were never going to be the same,” frontman Stuart Murdoch explained in a statement.
- 3/11/2022
- by Emily Zemler
- Rollingstone.com
Belle and Sebastian’s tenth album is on its way. On Wednesday, the indie-pop group dropped “Unnecessary Drama,” the first single off their first album since 2015, A Bit of Previous, out May 6.
“The song is about a young person experimenting in being a human again after a forced hiatus”, said frontman Stuart Murdoch in a release. “The person is weighing up whether or not it’s worth the mess! Still, you dip your toe in and it becomes delicious, and you get too much of it. Between trouble and nothing,...
“The song is about a young person experimenting in being a human again after a forced hiatus”, said frontman Stuart Murdoch in a release. “The person is weighing up whether or not it’s worth the mess! Still, you dip your toe in and it becomes delicious, and you get too much of it. Between trouble and nothing,...
- 3/2/2022
- by Tomás Mier
- Rollingstone.com
Photo: ‘Days of The Bagnold Summer’/ Music by Belle and Sebastian Millennials, here’s your daily reminder that we’re getting old: Belle and Sebastian, the Scottish Indie band famous for soundtracking the ennui of ‘The O.C.’, ‘Juno’, and ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’, is twenty-seven years old. While the band has shed some members from the early days, frontman Stuart Murdoch is still doing his thing--the band’s most recent project is providing the score for the film ‘Days of The Bagnold Summer’, directed by Simon Bird and adapted from a 2012 graphic novel by Joff Winterhart. Related article: The Complete List of 2021 Oscar Nominations – Celebrations, Surprises & Snubs | The Show Must Go On Related article: A Tribute to Barry Jenkins: Hollywood’s Most Revolutionary Filmmaker & Oscar Winner Over the years, Murdoch has intermittently leaped into more active roles in the world of Cinema. In 2001, Belle and Sebastian provided an entire album...
- 3/16/2021
- by Trent Kinnucan
- Hollywood Insider - Substance & Meaningful Entertainment
Belle and Sebastian had big plans for 2020, starting with a long-awaited trip to Los Angeles to record a new album with engineer and producer Shawn Everett (Weezer, the Killers, the War on Drugs). When the pandemic ruled that out, the Scottish sovereigns of indie pop settled in and looked for something else to do.
“Personally speaking, I probably adapt better than most folk,” says singer Stuart Murdoch, calling from his Glasgow home after a long walk in inclement weather. He says his experience with chronic fatigue syndrome for much of...
“Personally speaking, I probably adapt better than most folk,” says singer Stuart Murdoch, calling from his Glasgow home after a long walk in inclement weather. He says his experience with chronic fatigue syndrome for much of...
- 12/9/2020
- by Simon Vozick-Levinson
- Rollingstone.com
Read: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time List
Voters were asked to submit ranked ballots listing their 50 favorite albums of all time. Votes were tabulated, with the highest-ranked album on each list receiving 300 points, the second highest 290 points, and so on down to 44 points for number 50. More than 3,000 albums received at least one vote.
Artists, Songwriters, and Producers 9th Wonder Johntá Austin A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie Mick Avory
The Kinks Glen Ballard Alice Bag Bas Jon Batiste Big Boi Beyoncé Branko Michael Brun Eric Burdon
The Animals John Cale
The...
Voters were asked to submit ranked ballots listing their 50 favorite albums of all time. Votes were tabulated, with the highest-ranked album on each list receiving 300 points, the second highest 290 points, and so on down to 44 points for number 50. More than 3,000 albums received at least one vote.
Artists, Songwriters, and Producers 9th Wonder Johntá Austin A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie Mick Avory
The Kinks Glen Ballard Alice Bag Bas Jon Batiste Big Boi Beyoncé Branko Michael Brun Eric Burdon
The Animals John Cale
The...
- 9/22/2020
- by RS Editors
- Rollingstone.com
The other week, Stuart Murdoch of Belle and Sebastian put out a call on Twitter for a collaborative project: “Ok, I’ve got an idea.… How about we make a tune together using remote technology? Send me a few sentences or a paragraph, I’ll try to funnel those words into a song, then I’ll record an acoustic version of it and bounce it back to you.”
Still in bed, I sent him a brief paragraph about how I’m handling self-isolation (the gist of which is that I...
Still in bed, I sent him a brief paragraph about how I’m handling self-isolation (the gist of which is that I...
- 4/21/2020
- by Brenna Ehrlich
- Rollingstone.com
Belle and Sebastian reflect on a past relationship in the new video for “This Letter.” The song appears on the band’s recently-released score for Days of The Bagnold Summer, which serves as the soundtrack for the film of the same name.
Frontman Stuart Murdoch-directed the clip, which opens with a meta shot of the band filming the video for “This Letter,” before cutting to the three members of Glasgow group Wet Look working behind-the-scenes on the shoot. The trio are seen resting between takes as the opening acoustic guitar melody plays,...
Frontman Stuart Murdoch-directed the clip, which opens with a meta shot of the band filming the video for “This Letter,” before cutting to the three members of Glasgow group Wet Look working behind-the-scenes on the shoot. The trio are seen resting between takes as the opening acoustic guitar melody plays,...
- 9/24/2019
- by Althea Legaspi
- Rollingstone.com
Composing an original soundtrack is far different than writing an album of original songs. Now that that is out of the way, culling and piecing together tunes is as much of art as it is a science. It also explains why Belle & Sebastian frontman Stuart Murdoch was willing to go way back into his personal catalog to unearth gems that predated the Scottish band’s existence.
In this case, that means the 1993 deep cut “Safety Valve,” a song that Murdoch re-recorded specifically for the “Days of the Bagnold Summer” soundtrack. It’s a song he stumbled upon while culling through a batch of old material and reading the comic novel that inspired the film.
“It’s ancient! It’s probably the oldest song I’ve ever recorded with Belle & Sebastian,” Murdoch said. “It predates the group by a couple of years, but I was just going through this period of...
In this case, that means the 1993 deep cut “Safety Valve,” a song that Murdoch re-recorded specifically for the “Days of the Bagnold Summer” soundtrack. It’s a song he stumbled upon while culling through a batch of old material and reading the comic novel that inspired the film.
“It’s ancient! It’s probably the oldest song I’ve ever recorded with Belle & Sebastian,” Murdoch said. “It predates the group by a couple of years, but I was just going through this period of...
- 9/11/2019
- by Daniel Kohn
- The Wrap
Belle and Sebastian released a soothing new single from Days of Bagnold Summer, the soundtrack to the upcoming film of the same name directed by actor-comedian Simon Bird. The score will be released on September 13th via Matador Records.
The bossa nova lullaby opens with acoustic guitar, as frontman Stuart Murdoch gently says, “Now I know this letter is right out of the blue.” A trumpet begins to play as he begs the question: “How can this be done, how can I make it through? Teenage dreams do never what they’re meant to do.
The bossa nova lullaby opens with acoustic guitar, as frontman Stuart Murdoch gently says, “Now I know this letter is right out of the blue.” A trumpet begins to play as he begs the question: “How can this be done, how can I make it through? Teenage dreams do never what they’re meant to do.
- 9/5/2019
- by Angie Martoccio
- Rollingstone.com
Frontman Stuart Murdoch encourages strength and sunny optimism in Belle and Sebastian’s new single “Sister Buddha.” The track will be featured in the Glasgow band’s score for Days of the Bagnold Summer, out September 13th.
The monochrome video features a woman getting up out of bed, buttoning her overalls and putting on roller skates that glide her along as she hoists a silver serving tray up in the air. “Step across the lonely threshold of your selfish mind,” Murdoch tells her. “And embrace the loving goodness of your human kind.
The monochrome video features a woman getting up out of bed, buttoning her overalls and putting on roller skates that glide her along as she hoists a silver serving tray up in the air. “Step across the lonely threshold of your selfish mind,” Murdoch tells her. “And embrace the loving goodness of your human kind.
- 7/1/2019
- by Angie Martoccio
- Rollingstone.com
A body found Thursday night is that of missing Frightened Rabbit frontman Scott Hutchison, police in Scotland confirmed Friday. The body was discovered about 8:30 p.m. local time Thursday (12:30 p.m. Pt) in Port Edgar, Queensferry, just west of Edinburgh, the Scottish capital.
No official cause of death was given. A statement from Hutchison’s family, issued Friday afternoon by Police Scotland, said the singer had been struggling with mental health problems.
“As a family, we are utterly devastated with the tragic loss of our beloved Scott,” the statement said. “Despite his disappearance, and the recent concerns over his mental health, we had all remained positive and hopeful that he would walk back through the door, having taken some time away to compose himself. Scott, like many artists, wore his heart on his sleeve and that was evident in the lyrics of his music and the content of...
No official cause of death was given. A statement from Hutchison’s family, issued Friday afternoon by Police Scotland, said the singer had been struggling with mental health problems.
“As a family, we are utterly devastated with the tragic loss of our beloved Scott,” the statement said. “Despite his disappearance, and the recent concerns over his mental health, we had all remained positive and hopeful that he would walk back through the door, having taken some time away to compose himself. Scott, like many artists, wore his heart on his sleeve and that was evident in the lyrics of his music and the content of...
- 5/11/2018
- by Robert Mitchell
- Variety Film + TV
Belle & Sebastian Accidentally Leaves Drummer at a Walmart: 'S---! We Left Richard in North Dakota!'
Scottish pop band Belle & Sebastian showed up to a gig in Minnesota missing something very important: their drummer.
Frontman Stuart Murdoch enlisted the help of Twitter users on Tuesday after the band left North Dakota, forgetting pajama-clad drummer Richard Colburn in a local Walmart in the process.
“S—, we left Richard in North Dakota,” Murdoch tweeted. “Anyone want to be a hero and get him to St Paul, Minnesota somehow. The gig hangs in the balance..”
Shit, we left Richard in North Dakota. Anyone want to be a hero and get him to St Paul, Minnesota somehow. The gig hangs in the balance.
Frontman Stuart Murdoch enlisted the help of Twitter users on Tuesday after the band left North Dakota, forgetting pajama-clad drummer Richard Colburn in a local Walmart in the process.
“S—, we left Richard in North Dakota,” Murdoch tweeted. “Anyone want to be a hero and get him to St Paul, Minnesota somehow. The gig hangs in the balance..”
Shit, we left Richard in North Dakota. Anyone want to be a hero and get him to St Paul, Minnesota somehow. The gig hangs in the balance.
- 8/16/2017
- by Char Adams
- PEOPLE.com
It’s one of the most beautiful and terrible facts about this sick sad world: Talent doesn’t get to choose a person, and a person doesn’t get to choose a talent. It’s a total crapshoot, a lottery that we all have to live with. Few things on Earth are as rewarding, as destructive, or as infinitely varied as the friction generated between the purity of divine inspiration and the pollution of its human host. Sometimes those independent forces are in perfect sync with each other, and we get the Beatles — other times it’s like the fates forgot to carry a number when they were sorting things out, and we get Oasis.
Read More: Nick Cave’s Tragedy and the Very Beautiful Music Documentary: An Interview With ‘One More Time With Feeling’ Director Andrew Dominik
How else to explain how brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher, two absolute wankers from Manchester,...
Read More: Nick Cave’s Tragedy and the Very Beautiful Music Documentary: An Interview With ‘One More Time With Feeling’ Director Andrew Dominik
How else to explain how brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher, two absolute wankers from Manchester,...
- 10/25/2016
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
[Editor's Note: This post is presented in partnership with Time Warner Cable Movies On Demand in support of Indie Film Month. Today's pick, "The D-Train," is available now On Demand.] Giles Nuttgens, the British cinematographer best known for his collaborations with Deepa Mehta ("Fire," "Earth," "Water," "Midnight's Children") as well as Scott McGehee and David Siegel ("The Deep End," "Bee Season," "What Maisie Knew") had two indie films out in 2014, both of which debuted at last year's Sundance Film Festival: Stuart Murdoch's musical "God Help the Girl" and Jake Paltrow's dystopian "Young Ones." His latest project couldn't be more different. Written and directed by Jarrad Paul and Andrew Mogel, "The D-Train," which premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival, is a dark dramedy starring Jack Black and James Marsden. Read More: Jack Black...
- 9/1/2015
- by Paula Bernstein
- Indiewire
Jon Hamm continues to be the greatest human being on the planet. During a surprise appearance at Bonnaroo Saturday, Hamm joined Zach Galifianakis in leading the crowd in a rendition of “We Are the World,” according to Pitchfork. Hamm also fed Galifianakis some gummy bears at the festival’s comedy tent, which enticed Belle and Sedastian’s Stuart Murdoch, who subsequently asked Hamm to feed him some gummy bears, too. Hamm obliged him. Watch Hamm sing, and feed people gummy bears, below:...
- 6/14/2015
- by Greg Cwik
- Vulture
Giles Nuttgens, the British cinematographer best known for his collaborations with Deepa Mehta ("Fire," "Earth," "Water," "Midnight's Children") as well as Scott McGehee and David Siegel ("The Deep End," "Bee Season," "What Maisie Knew") had two indie films out in 2014, both of which debuted at last year's Sundance Film Festival: Stuart Murdoch's musical "God Help the Girl" and Jake Paltrow's dystopian "Young Ones." His latest project couldn't be more different. Written and directed by Jarrad Paul and Andrew Mogel, "The D-Train," which premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival, is a dark dramedy starring Jack Black and James Marsden. Read More: Jack Black and James Marsden Saved Their 'D-Train' Sex Scene for Last Indiewire talked to Nuttgens late last year about "God Help the Girl" and "Young Ones" and followed up with him again recently to discuss the...
- 5/8/2015
- by Paula Bernstein
- Indiewire
Welcome back to This Week In Discs! If you see something you like, click on the title to buy it from Amazon. God Help the Girl Eve (Emily Browning) is suffering from an eating disorder, but while it limits her body she refuses to let it shortchange her creativity and musical interests. She steals off for an adventure in Glascow where she meets two kindred spirits in James (Olly Alexander) and Cassie (Hannah Murray). Together they write and perform songs for themselves, strangers and us as they struggle to decide what they want their futures to hold. Belle & Sebastian’s Stuart Murdoch wrote and directed this incredibly sweet, playful and joy-filled gem, and if you’re even remotely a fan of his band’s music you’ll be equally addicted to the tunes here. They’re all fantastic, and two in particular are so incredibly good that I’ve already made a habit of listening to the...
- 4/14/2015
- by Rob Hunter
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Title Track: Barker-Froyland’s Cloying Debut Plays Familiar Tune
“Sad song at night, hipster’s delight” should be the opening line in Kate Barker-Froyland’s mournful, musically inclined debut, Song One, headlined with wide-eyed sincerity by Anne Hathaway. There have been several indie music-driven, understated dramas recently, and the title premiered alongside Stuart Murdoch’s equally undernourished God Help the Girl at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. Though Barker-Froyland at least canvasses the emotions that accompany the tragic situation at the dramatic heart of her film, its dramatic integrity seems to take a backseat to a more rewarding soundtrack from Johnny Flynn, who also stars. But one can languish in the strumming of melancholy inspiring folk music only for so long before this feels like a crutch that takes the place of material lacking in the narrative.
Henry (Ben Rosenfield) is an aspiring musical artist drifting around the orbit of his musical idol,...
“Sad song at night, hipster’s delight” should be the opening line in Kate Barker-Froyland’s mournful, musically inclined debut, Song One, headlined with wide-eyed sincerity by Anne Hathaway. There have been several indie music-driven, understated dramas recently, and the title premiered alongside Stuart Murdoch’s equally undernourished God Help the Girl at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. Though Barker-Froyland at least canvasses the emotions that accompany the tragic situation at the dramatic heart of her film, its dramatic integrity seems to take a backseat to a more rewarding soundtrack from Johnny Flynn, who also stars. But one can languish in the strumming of melancholy inspiring folk music only for so long before this feels like a crutch that takes the place of material lacking in the narrative.
Henry (Ben Rosenfield) is an aspiring musical artist drifting around the orbit of his musical idol,...
- 1/23/2015
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
As the year winds to a close, Soundtracking looks back at the ten best moments, songs and trends that made 2014 a great year for music on screen.
10. Guardians of the Galaxy
It’s the only way to kick off this list. If the 21st Century truly believed in cassettes, most copies of this soundtrack would be worn out by now. The first ever back catalogue-only soundtrack to hit Number One on the Billboard charts, Awesome Mix Vol. 1 was a masterpiece in Am Radio curation. But you already knew that. Cue the Star-Lord strut:
9. The F Word
Michael Dowse’s rom-com wins the Canadiana Award for 2014 thanks in large part to an original score by New Pornographers founder A.C. Newman and a dappling of Patrick Watson throughout the film. Ironically, the most memorable track from the film comes courtesy of southern duo The Parting Gifts.
8. Tweedy gets out in front of...
10. Guardians of the Galaxy
It’s the only way to kick off this list. If the 21st Century truly believed in cassettes, most copies of this soundtrack would be worn out by now. The first ever back catalogue-only soundtrack to hit Number One on the Billboard charts, Awesome Mix Vol. 1 was a masterpiece in Am Radio curation. But you already knew that. Cue the Star-Lord strut:
9. The F Word
Michael Dowse’s rom-com wins the Canadiana Award for 2014 thanks in large part to an original score by New Pornographers founder A.C. Newman and a dappling of Patrick Watson throughout the film. Ironically, the most memorable track from the film comes courtesy of southern duo The Parting Gifts.
8. Tweedy gets out in front of...
- 12/26/2014
- by Shane McNeil
- Cineplex
For every year that is packed with awards season fodder and memorable movies that will go down in history, there is an equal number of films we wish we could erase from our memories.
The Worst of 2014 includes both people who should know better and repeat offenders, artists with a vision and hucksters out for a quick buck.
Here’s hoping the responsible parties resolve to do better in 2015.
Also Read: TheWrap’s Film Critics Pick 10 Best Movies of 2014
Below, TheWrap‘s Reviews Editor Alonso Duralde, and reviewers Inkoo Kang and James Rocchi present their worst films of the year.
The Worst of 2014 includes both people who should know better and repeat offenders, artists with a vision and hucksters out for a quick buck.
Here’s hoping the responsible parties resolve to do better in 2015.
Also Read: TheWrap’s Film Critics Pick 10 Best Movies of 2014
Below, TheWrap‘s Reviews Editor Alonso Duralde, and reviewers Inkoo Kang and James Rocchi present their worst films of the year.
- 12/24/2014
- by Alonso Duralde, Inkoo Kang and James Rocchi
- The Wrap
Burning Down the House –Talking Heads, Nymphomaniac
It makes sense that an auteur as provocative and anarchic as Lars von Trier would use something as lyrically anarchic as the Talking Heads’ “Burning Down the House”, a track whose title is taken relatively literally as we watch Joe (Charlotte Gainsbourg) burn the car of her sex addiction therapist. Von Trier, to his credit, is a bit more clever than to use the track merely as an on the nose piece of revenge on Joe’s part; her burning the car comes immediately after her self-proclamation of being a Nymphomaniac, a title she finds empowering. She’s not only burning down that car, she’s burning down the entire paradigm of how we think about female sexuality.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVv94T5LF0c
Six Zero Two, We Are the Best!
Sung by the most reserved member of adolescent...
It makes sense that an auteur as provocative and anarchic as Lars von Trier would use something as lyrically anarchic as the Talking Heads’ “Burning Down the House”, a track whose title is taken relatively literally as we watch Joe (Charlotte Gainsbourg) burn the car of her sex addiction therapist. Von Trier, to his credit, is a bit more clever than to use the track merely as an on the nose piece of revenge on Joe’s part; her burning the car comes immediately after her self-proclamation of being a Nymphomaniac, a title she finds empowering. She’s not only burning down that car, she’s burning down the entire paradigm of how we think about female sexuality.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVv94T5LF0c
Six Zero Two, We Are the Best!
Sung by the most reserved member of adolescent...
- 12/21/2014
- by Kyle Turner
- SoundOnSight
Every year in November in Los Cabos, one of the most beautiful places in Mexico, 14,000 attendees, 450 industry professionals, and national and international media join together to celebrate film.
This year the Hurricane Odile took out Los Cabos and we feared for the festival. However, it has survived and its third edition, renamed from “Baja International Film Festival, Los Cabos” to “ Los Cabos International Film Festival ” has added three new sections.
You will find me there for this third edition November 12 – 16, where the Mexican film industry, its cultural and commercial partners in North America meet with invited guests to watch and discuss the best in cinema today.
Read more about its 2014 Official Selection program here. Nine films are in Competition from Mexico, U.S. and Canada, competing for Usd $15,000 cash, six Mexican productions – the first or second film by directors will compete for Usd $15,000 in the Mexico First Section.
The Festival’s three new sections to be presented in its Third Edition are Green Perspective, B-Side and Sunset.
Green Perspective is a section that present stories that generate awareness and force us to reflect on our responsibilities with the environment and the urgent need to create a harmonious coexistence among all the links part of this planet. The films in this new section are:
• “Just Eat It: A Food Waste Story” by Grant Baldwin. (Canada– Latin American Premiere).
• “México Pelágico” (“Deep-Sea Mexico”) by Jerónimo Prieto (Mexico, 2014).
• “ThuleTuvalu” by Matthias von Gunten (Switzerland- Latin American Premiere).
The theater chain, Cinemex will present this as part of the Festival’s Free Outdoor Screenings Program to be held at Plaza Mijares in San José del Cabo.
The Festival also launches, B Side, showcasing the best films portraying music, providing both sonorous and visual enjoyment. The three films presented this year are:
• “20,000 Days on Earth” by Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard (U.K. – Mexican Premiere). After its Sundance 2014 premiere, Hanway picked it up for international sales and has sold it to Drafthouse Films for U.S. as well as to Benelux (Remain In Light Belgium), Brazil (Zeta Filmes), Denmark (Camera Film A/S), Norway (Tour De Force As), Poland (Gutek Film Ltd), Spain (Avalon Distribucion Audiovisual), Sweden (Nonstop Entertainment Ab), U.K. ( Picturehouse Cinemas Ltd/ Picturehouse Entertainment).
• “For Those About To Rock: The Story of Rodrigo y Gabriela” by Alejandro Franco Fernández (Mexico– Latin American Premiere).
• “God Help the Girl” by Stuart Murdoch (U.K.– Mexican Premiere).
This film also premiered at Sundance and is also repped by Hanway and has sold to Amplify (Los Angeles) for the U.S. and to So. Korea (Challan), Spain (Avalon Distribucion Audiovisual), Taiwan ( Atom Cinema).
The third new section, Sunset, intends to provoke with genres of horror, science fiction and black comedy.
“Over Your Dead Body” by Takashi Miike (Japan – Latin American Premiere) premiered at Pusan Film Festival and is being sold internationally by Celluloid Dreams and Mongrel Media. “Spring” by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead (U.S.A. – Mexican Premiere) presented in collaboration with Morbido Fest. Xyz both produced and is the international sales agent for this film which will debut at this year’s American Filkm Market. “What We Do in the Shadows” by Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement (New Zealand, U.S. – Latin American Premiere) also premiered in Sundance and played in Midnight Madness at Tiff. Elle Driver picked it up at its Sundance premiere and has licensed the film to Unison Films for U.S., Australia (Madman Entertainment), Germany (Weltkino Filmverleih Gmbh), Japan (Shochiku Co., Ltd), Russia (Volgafilm), Sweden (Njutafilms), U.K. ( Metrodome Distribution). Within the framework of the second Gabriel Figueroa Film Fund, that supports Mexican filmmakers’ projects in development and in post, the Festival is honoring Gabriel Figueroa, one of the greatest filmmakers of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. In collaboration with photographer Gabriel Figueroa Flores, keeper and film restorer of his father's legacy, the photo exhibition "Homage to Gabriel Figueroa" will be presented, highlighting the work of the cinematographer in several foreign productions filmed in Mexico, including "The Pearl" (1945), "The Fugitive" (1947) and "The Night of the Iguana" (1962).
Los Cabos Film Festival is proud to have as guests, prominent Mexican celebrities who will get together at the red carpets and the Festival events, including Guillermo Arriaga, Ilse Salas, Tenoch Huerta, Sofía Espinosa, Sophie Alexander Katz, Marimar Vega, Luis Ernesto Franco, Erick Elias, Eiza González, Dolores Heredia, Maya Zapata, Chema Yazpik, Patricia Garza, Irene Azuela, Natalia Lafourcade, Tessa Ia, among others.
Among international celebrities confirmed to date are Atom Egoyan (Canada), Denys Arcand (Quebec), Xavier Dolan (Quebec), Frank Grillo (USA), DJ Cotrona (USA), Leonor Varela (Chile), Natalia Tena (UK), Eric Bruneau (Quebec), Sarai Givaty (Israel) and Rich
The Festival will give away 7,000 tickets for Cinemex screenings and 500 tickets for the Opening Gala, 500 tickets for Xavier Dolan’s “Mommy”’s Gala and 500 tickets for “Words with God”’s Gala, and 800 tickets for the Closing Gala.
As part of its commitment to Los Cabos, the Festival will donate to the Municipal Dif (National System for Integral Family Development) 8% of total sales. To promote social support and the provision of services that contribute to the protection, care and improvement of vulnerable groups.
American actress Rosario Dawson will present the Latin American Premier of Atom Egoyan’s “ The Captive” (2014), and will have the honor to grant the Tribute Award to Mr. Egoyan. Dawson plays a detective in the film by the Canadian Director, investigating Cassandra’s case that was abruptly kidnapped; this begins a horrifying race against time where the detective herself must play her part in unraveling the mystery of her disappearance and freeing her from captivity.
Its press conference in Mexico City on October 31st, more details will be announced.
Come And See What The Neighbors Are Doing Mexico, USA and Canada showcase their best films to the world.
This year the Hurricane Odile took out Los Cabos and we feared for the festival. However, it has survived and its third edition, renamed from “Baja International Film Festival, Los Cabos” to “ Los Cabos International Film Festival ” has added three new sections.
You will find me there for this third edition November 12 – 16, where the Mexican film industry, its cultural and commercial partners in North America meet with invited guests to watch and discuss the best in cinema today.
Read more about its 2014 Official Selection program here. Nine films are in Competition from Mexico, U.S. and Canada, competing for Usd $15,000 cash, six Mexican productions – the first or second film by directors will compete for Usd $15,000 in the Mexico First Section.
The Festival’s three new sections to be presented in its Third Edition are Green Perspective, B-Side and Sunset.
Green Perspective is a section that present stories that generate awareness and force us to reflect on our responsibilities with the environment and the urgent need to create a harmonious coexistence among all the links part of this planet. The films in this new section are:
• “Just Eat It: A Food Waste Story” by Grant Baldwin. (Canada– Latin American Premiere).
• “México Pelágico” (“Deep-Sea Mexico”) by Jerónimo Prieto (Mexico, 2014).
• “ThuleTuvalu” by Matthias von Gunten (Switzerland- Latin American Premiere).
The theater chain, Cinemex will present this as part of the Festival’s Free Outdoor Screenings Program to be held at Plaza Mijares in San José del Cabo.
The Festival also launches, B Side, showcasing the best films portraying music, providing both sonorous and visual enjoyment. The three films presented this year are:
• “20,000 Days on Earth” by Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard (U.K. – Mexican Premiere). After its Sundance 2014 premiere, Hanway picked it up for international sales and has sold it to Drafthouse Films for U.S. as well as to Benelux (Remain In Light Belgium), Brazil (Zeta Filmes), Denmark (Camera Film A/S), Norway (Tour De Force As), Poland (Gutek Film Ltd), Spain (Avalon Distribucion Audiovisual), Sweden (Nonstop Entertainment Ab), U.K. ( Picturehouse Cinemas Ltd/ Picturehouse Entertainment).
• “For Those About To Rock: The Story of Rodrigo y Gabriela” by Alejandro Franco Fernández (Mexico– Latin American Premiere).
• “God Help the Girl” by Stuart Murdoch (U.K.– Mexican Premiere).
This film also premiered at Sundance and is also repped by Hanway and has sold to Amplify (Los Angeles) for the U.S. and to So. Korea (Challan), Spain (Avalon Distribucion Audiovisual), Taiwan ( Atom Cinema).
The third new section, Sunset, intends to provoke with genres of horror, science fiction and black comedy.
“Over Your Dead Body” by Takashi Miike (Japan – Latin American Premiere) premiered at Pusan Film Festival and is being sold internationally by Celluloid Dreams and Mongrel Media. “Spring” by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead (U.S.A. – Mexican Premiere) presented in collaboration with Morbido Fest. Xyz both produced and is the international sales agent for this film which will debut at this year’s American Filkm Market. “What We Do in the Shadows” by Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement (New Zealand, U.S. – Latin American Premiere) also premiered in Sundance and played in Midnight Madness at Tiff. Elle Driver picked it up at its Sundance premiere and has licensed the film to Unison Films for U.S., Australia (Madman Entertainment), Germany (Weltkino Filmverleih Gmbh), Japan (Shochiku Co., Ltd), Russia (Volgafilm), Sweden (Njutafilms), U.K. ( Metrodome Distribution). Within the framework of the second Gabriel Figueroa Film Fund, that supports Mexican filmmakers’ projects in development and in post, the Festival is honoring Gabriel Figueroa, one of the greatest filmmakers of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. In collaboration with photographer Gabriel Figueroa Flores, keeper and film restorer of his father's legacy, the photo exhibition "Homage to Gabriel Figueroa" will be presented, highlighting the work of the cinematographer in several foreign productions filmed in Mexico, including "The Pearl" (1945), "The Fugitive" (1947) and "The Night of the Iguana" (1962).
Los Cabos Film Festival is proud to have as guests, prominent Mexican celebrities who will get together at the red carpets and the Festival events, including Guillermo Arriaga, Ilse Salas, Tenoch Huerta, Sofía Espinosa, Sophie Alexander Katz, Marimar Vega, Luis Ernesto Franco, Erick Elias, Eiza González, Dolores Heredia, Maya Zapata, Chema Yazpik, Patricia Garza, Irene Azuela, Natalia Lafourcade, Tessa Ia, among others.
Among international celebrities confirmed to date are Atom Egoyan (Canada), Denys Arcand (Quebec), Xavier Dolan (Quebec), Frank Grillo (USA), DJ Cotrona (USA), Leonor Varela (Chile), Natalia Tena (UK), Eric Bruneau (Quebec), Sarai Givaty (Israel) and Rich
The Festival will give away 7,000 tickets for Cinemex screenings and 500 tickets for the Opening Gala, 500 tickets for Xavier Dolan’s “Mommy”’s Gala and 500 tickets for “Words with God”’s Gala, and 800 tickets for the Closing Gala.
As part of its commitment to Los Cabos, the Festival will donate to the Municipal Dif (National System for Integral Family Development) 8% of total sales. To promote social support and the provision of services that contribute to the protection, care and improvement of vulnerable groups.
American actress Rosario Dawson will present the Latin American Premier of Atom Egoyan’s “ The Captive” (2014), and will have the honor to grant the Tribute Award to Mr. Egoyan. Dawson plays a detective in the film by the Canadian Director, investigating Cassandra’s case that was abruptly kidnapped; this begins a horrifying race against time where the detective herself must play her part in unraveling the mystery of her disappearance and freeing her from captivity.
Its press conference in Mexico City on October 31st, more details will be announced.
Come And See What The Neighbors Are Doing Mexico, USA and Canada showcase their best films to the world.
- 10/31/2014
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Scottish twee veterans Belle & Sebastian have been looking back on their prolific career lately, having recently initiated a series of reissues of their previous albums. But the group -- led by "God Help the Girl" architect Stuart Murdoch -- aren't content to just relive their glory days; they have a new album called "Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance" slated for January, and have just released the set's first single, "The Party Line." By the time the new album hits stores, it will have been nearly five years since B&S' last proper album, "Write About Love," was released. If the new tune is any indication, "Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance" will be living up to its title as a party-ready record. It's a synth-driven, danceable jam which is part of the band's continuing evolution from the more '60s-influenced melancholia of their early work, when even their most upbeat songs were bittersweet affairs.
- 10/28/2014
- by Dave Lewis
- Hitfix
★★★☆☆ The filmmaking debut of Stuart Murdoch, frontman of indie pop band Belle and Sebastian, God Help the Girl (2014) is a wistful modern-day musical structured around tracks from the band’s album of the same name. Starring rising Australian actress Emily Browning, Murdoch’s film is an interesting passion project infused by the musician’s own brand of upbeat and lyrical amiability. Browning plays Eve, an aspiring singer-songwriter trapped in a psychiatric hospital where she's being treated for anorexia nervosa. After escaping the hospital, Eve absconds to Glasgow in the hope of making her dreams of becoming a musician real.
- 10/28/2014
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
Universal Pictures on board film adaptation of classic British series; cast to include Billy Nighy, Catherine Zeta Jones and Toby Jones
The cast of a long-rumoured film based on classic British comedy series Dad’s Army has been revealed.
Toby Jones, best known for roles in The Hunger Games and Harry Potter franchises, will take the leading role of Captain Mainwaring, a stiff-upper-lipped veteran who oversees the Home Guard in a small village toward the end of the Second World War.
His right-hand man, Wilson, will be played by Bill Nighy, known to international audiences for his roles in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Love Actually.
Both were previously rumoured to be attached to the project, an adaptation of a BBC comedy series than ran from 1968-77, but Catherine Zeta Jones is newly attached to the film as journalist Rose Winters.
The all-star British cast will also include Tom Courtenay as Corporal Jones, Harry Potter...
The cast of a long-rumoured film based on classic British comedy series Dad’s Army has been revealed.
Toby Jones, best known for roles in The Hunger Games and Harry Potter franchises, will take the leading role of Captain Mainwaring, a stiff-upper-lipped veteran who oversees the Home Guard in a small village toward the end of the Second World War.
His right-hand man, Wilson, will be played by Bill Nighy, known to international audiences for his roles in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Love Actually.
Both were previously rumoured to be attached to the project, an adaptation of a BBC comedy series than ran from 1968-77, but Catherine Zeta Jones is newly attached to the film as journalist Rose Winters.
The all-star British cast will also include Tom Courtenay as Corporal Jones, Harry Potter...
- 10/8/2014
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Chicago – Opening at Chicago’s Music Box Theater this weekend is a full-length musical conceived by Stuart Murdoch, the lead singer of indie pop darlings Belle & Sebastian, making his debut as a writer/director. Surpassing the notion of a concept album, Murdoch has engineered a vibrant experience that is missing all but the introduction of a new dance move.
Directly similar to the music he created with Belle & Sebastian, “God Help the Girl” starts with poppy intent and then stands out with a few curveballs, ultimately making for some lovely pop sweetness.
Rating: 3.5/5.0
This Scotland musical is light on its feet regarding tone and also narrative. Australian transplant Eve (Emily Browning) is a music-lover and songwriter who sneaks out of her anorexia treatment to spend time playing music in the city, hanging out with new friend James (Olly Alexander). Along with his sister Cassie (Hannah Murray), the three try to...
Directly similar to the music he created with Belle & Sebastian, “God Help the Girl” starts with poppy intent and then stands out with a few curveballs, ultimately making for some lovely pop sweetness.
Rating: 3.5/5.0
This Scotland musical is light on its feet regarding tone and also narrative. Australian transplant Eve (Emily Browning) is a music-lover and songwriter who sneaks out of her anorexia treatment to spend time playing music in the city, hanging out with new friend James (Olly Alexander). Along with his sister Cassie (Hannah Murray), the three try to...
- 9/19/2014
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
The world’s biggest film festival for children and young people will include preview screenings of The Imitation Game and Disney doc Bears [pictured]; Q&A’s with Harry Potter’s David Yates, Stanley Kubrick’s daughter and Selfish Giant director Clio Bernard.
Into Film Festival (Nov 4-21), the world’s biggest such event for children and young people, is preparing to launch its 2014 edition with a raft of previews, filmmaker Q&As and workshops on how to break into the industry.
Formerly known as the National Youth Film Festival, the programme anticipates 300,000 attendees aged 5-19 - up from 200,000 last year - at screenings and events across the UK and is funded by Cinema First and supported by the BFI through National Lottery money.
The programme will roll out across more than 520 cinemas across all the major chains and in a range of venues across the UK. Autism friendly screenings and, for sensory-impaired...
Into Film Festival (Nov 4-21), the world’s biggest such event for children and young people, is preparing to launch its 2014 edition with a raft of previews, filmmaker Q&As and workshops on how to break into the industry.
Formerly known as the National Youth Film Festival, the programme anticipates 300,000 attendees aged 5-19 - up from 200,000 last year - at screenings and events across the UK and is funded by Cinema First and supported by the BFI through National Lottery money.
The programme will roll out across more than 520 cinemas across all the major chains and in a range of venues across the UK. Autism friendly screenings and, for sensory-impaired...
- 9/19/2014
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
This is the Pure Movies review of God Help The Girl, directed by Stuart Murdoch, and starring Emily Browning, Olly Alexander, Hannah Murray, Pierre Boulanger, Cora Bisset, Sarah Swire and Mark Radcliffe. Cinematic history is littered with instances of pop stars and musicians trying their hand at acting: usually turning in less than Oscar-winning performances. Examples of them writing for film then working behind the camera are more rare. Nick Cave has had success as a screenwriter, but here, Belle & Sebastian’s Stuart Murdoch goes one better, writing and directing his surprisingly confident debut feature, God Help The Girl.
- 9/13/2014
- by David Hudson
- Pure Movies
Margaret here with the weekend’s box office report-- which, if you squint, could easily be mistaken for last weekend's box office report.
It was a rough couple days for moviegoers and moviemakers alike. The weekend after Labor Day is famously among the slowest year so all major studios steered clear. Guardians of the Galaxy handily took its fourth #1 and the rest of the top fifteen looks very familiar.
The only new nationwide release was The Identical, an faith-based indie movie that is currently sitting pretty with a RottenTomatoes score of 4%. Even without any competition from other new films it couldn't crack the top ten. New in limited release, Stuart Murdoch's quirkfest musical God Help the Girl did respectable business on two screens but came in around #45.
Weekend Box Office
01 Guardians Of The Galaxy $10.2 (cum. $294.6) Review
02 ...Ninja Turtles $6.5 (cum. $174.6) remember the animated one?
03 If I Stay $5.8 (cum. $39.7)
04 Let's Be Cops $5.4 (cum.
It was a rough couple days for moviegoers and moviemakers alike. The weekend after Labor Day is famously among the slowest year so all major studios steered clear. Guardians of the Galaxy handily took its fourth #1 and the rest of the top fifteen looks very familiar.
The only new nationwide release was The Identical, an faith-based indie movie that is currently sitting pretty with a RottenTomatoes score of 4%. Even without any competition from other new films it couldn't crack the top ten. New in limited release, Stuart Murdoch's quirkfest musical God Help the Girl did respectable business on two screens but came in around #45.
Weekend Box Office
01 Guardians Of The Galaxy $10.2 (cum. $294.6) Review
02 ...Ninja Turtles $6.5 (cum. $174.6) remember the animated one?
03 If I Stay $5.8 (cum. $39.7)
04 Let's Be Cops $5.4 (cum.
- 9/8/2014
- by Margaret de Larios
- FilmExperience
Los Angeles - Stuart Murdoch, frontman and founder of Scotting band Belle & Sebastian, has been juggling a couple projects over the past year. First was his God Help the Girl music side project, then "God Help the Girl," his first film foray as writer and director, and then a brand new album for B&S. It's the one in the middle, he said in our interview this week, that changed everything. He called the big-screen musical "a whole new thing, I won't ever go back." "God Help the Girl" -- starring Emily Browning, Hannah Murray (Gilly on "Game of Thrones") and Olly Alexander -- has been on the festival circuit since January. It's set in Murdoch's homebase in Glasgow, with Browning starring as Eve, a young girl struggling with anorexia and other mental health issues, finding temporary relief in songwriting with two new friends. For any fan of Belle & Sebastian,...
- 9/6/2014
- by Katie Hasty
- Hitfix
Stuart Murdoch, lead singer and songwriter of Belle and Sebastian, has directed a movie. It is called God Help the Girl, it stars Emily Browning, and it opens this weekend. It’s obliquely autobiographical in a sense, its protagonist a spiritual stand-in for the musician. It is also not animated. In fact, there isn’t all that much animation tied to the work of Belle and Sebastian in general. The Scottish indie pop group has mostly stuck with narrative-minded live-action videos over the course of their career. There isn’t even a French cartoon based on the children’s book from which the band took their name, “Belle et Sébastien,” though there is a Japanese anime series from the early 1980s. All 52 episodes are on YouTube. However, that sort of tenuous excuse to watch a cartoon won’t be necessary this week. Belle and Sebastian have actually made two animated music videos, both...
- 9/6/2014
- by Daniel Walber
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
The 34th annual Atlantic Film Festival (Aff) announced its full festival program, featuring over 190 films and a full slate of special events, to be presented over eight days in Halifax, September 11-18.
"A film festival’s primary reason for existing is to celebrate film and to say this year’s line up of films and events is a celebration is a dramatic understatement,” said Wayne Carter, Executive Director. “The sheer breadth and quality of films from both our Atlantic region and beyond offers something for everyone and when you match that with special events that deliver an experience to remember we confidently feel we are raising the bar like never before."
“Our Government is pleased to support this iconic event through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, as part of our commitment to building a strong, competitive regional economy, said the Honorable Rob Moore, Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency). The Festival generates tangible benefits for our region, opening new doors to international markets for local artists and industry professionals.”
The Atlantic Film Festival’s Gala Red Carpet Opening Night will take place at a new venue this year, the Dalhousie Arts Centre’s Rebecca Cohn Auditorium. Sponsored by NBC Universal, Telefilm Canada and the Canada Media Fund, this star-studded evening will feature the
Opening Gala presentation of "Elephant Song," directed by Charles Binamé ("The Rocket," "Seraphin" ).
Set in 1966, a psychiatrist (Bruce Greenwood) cautiously pries one secret after another from a charismatic but unbalanced patient (Xavier Dolan) concerning the disappearance of the patient’s doctor. What begins as a psychological cat-and-mouse game quickly becomes a far more serious exchange about loss, memory and mystery, with deadly consequences all around. Fuelled by moving performances from an all-star cast, including Bruce Greenwood, Xavier Dolan, Catherine Keener and Carrie-Ann Moss, "Elephant Song" is an exceptional trip into the world of imagination and desire. "Elephant Song" is produced Richard Goudreau and Melenny Productions and is distributed in Canada by Entertainment One.
Following the Opening Gala film presentation is the Opening Night Party. Penned as one of Halifax’s ‘most anticipated parties of the year’, the red-carpet event is once again sponsored by NBCUniversal and will take place at the Cunard Centre on Thursday, Sept. 11.
The Festival's Closing Gala presentation on Thursday, Sept. 18 will be "Maps to the Stars" by director, David Cronenberg. His latest feature film sees the veteran horror director veering into satire, comedy, and social commentary while still providing enough shocks to satisfy his old audience as he courts the new. This time out it is Hollywood itself that is the Toronto filmmaker’s target, telling multiple tales of past-it thespians, desperate wannabees and out-of-control child actors all colliding in a fast-paced, fame-obsessed world where nobody holds anything back. Both funny and terrifying, "Map To the Stars" sees "All About Eve" accelerated into Entourage on steroids.
"Maps to the Stars" is distributed in Canada by Entertainment One.
Featuring the newest and most anticipated films of the year, moviegoers will want to be first in line to see the eight films comprising the
2014 Rogers Special Presentations. Savour the sights and sounds of soon to be award-winning films: ’71 , a moving combat film set during a terrifying riot on the streets of Belfast in 1971; "Foxcatcher," starring Steve Carell, Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo; Simon Pegg as a disillusioned psychiatrist on the hunt for meaning in "Hector and the Search for Happiness;" Mike Leigh’s "Mr. Turner," featuring the award-winning performance of Timothy Spall; the hilarious and heart-warming film, "My Old Lady" with Kevin Kline, Kristen Scott Thomas and Maggie Smith; Jake Gyllenhaal’s career-defining performance in Dan Gilroy’s "Nightcrawler;" and Ruba Nadda’s
"October Gale," starring Patricia Clarkson, Scott Speedman and Tim Roth.
The Aff will once again feature French films from Canada and around the world. This year’s Cinéma En Français S.V.P. program will take place from Friday, Sept. 12 to Monday, Sept. 15 and will feature two Gala Presentations. Xavier Dolan’s "Mommy" will be the Gala Français Canadien and Jean-Luc Godard’s "Adieu au langage 3D" ("Goodbye to Language 3D") will be the Gala Français International – reuniting the two Jury Prize winners from this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
Rounding out this year’s complete program is a top-tier line up of features and documentaries from Canada and throughout the world. Viewers will delight in a wide range of features such as: François Girard’s "Boychoir;" Kristen Stewart in both "Camp X-Ray" and "Clouds of Sils Maria;" Chinese director Zhang Yimou’s "Coming Home" (Gui Lai); "God Help the Girl" by Belle & Sebastien’s Stuart Murdoch; Cannes opener, "Grace of Monaco;" Sundance winner, "Whiplash;" Palme d’Or winner, "Winter Sleep;" and many more.
Select documentaries include: Nick Cave-focussed "20,000 Days on Earth;" a career-spanning look at one of film’s greatest directors in
"Altman;" the story of Russian hockey dominance in "Red Army;" a look inside Sesame Street’s most beloved character in "I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story;" and an exposé of bird poaching in "Emptying the Skies," among many other captivating and enlightening titles.
Also included in this year’s line up are Short Film Programs, featuring both a Canadian and international selection, a ViewFinders: Films for Youth program, film retrospectives at the Dalhousie Art Gallery, and the Festival’s always popular Late Shift program, which this year will screen the 40th Anniversary Restoration of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.
The 2014 Festival will host several one-of-a kind special events and parties to celebrate the movies, the people and the city of Halifax. In addition to the Opening Night Party and debuting at this year’s festival is the Festival Music House Atlantic presented by Radio Starmaker Fund . The event offers some of the hottest music acts in the country (open exclusively to Festival Passholders and Festival Delegates).
The event will also feature A State of Mine Exhibition , an exhibition from photographer, Chris Geworsky exploring the personal, intimate and unique place each subject visits when he/she loses themselves in their own music; the Ofe@Aff – an Aff Outdoor Film Experience screening of Aff’s 2012 Atlantic Gala film, The Disappeared on the Dartmouth Waterfront; and the 34th Atlantic Film Festival Awards Reception , honoring the amazing talents of Atlantic Canadian film industry professionals.
Strategic Partners , a one-of-a-kind event focusing on film, television and digital fiction, from across Canada and around the world, will take place as part of Aff, Sept. 11-14. Each year, top Canadian and international industry players, including producers, investors, sales agents, funding agencies, broadcasters, aggregators and distributors are selected to attend. Recognized as one of the world’s pre-eminent co-production markets and celebrating its 17th year, Strategic Partners 2014 is shining the Country Spotlight brightly on Latin America and the U.S., and offering delegates over 1,000 pre-scheduled 1-2-1 meetings, co-production focused roundtable sessions, cutting edge panels, visionary keynote speakers, screenings and receptions as well as the popular Film & Creative Industries Nova Scotia Lobster Dinner By the Sea.
Keynote speakers include: Peter Gerard , Head of Content and Audience Engagement at Vimeo and Mariela Besuievsky , Academy award-winning producer at Tornasol Films. In addition there will be a case study of The Games Maker , a Canada/Agentina co-production success story; digital panel: Web Series Wizards Weigh In , with moderator Catherine Tait (Guidestones, Sos: Save Our Skins ) which will give independent producers insight on how to create/finance successful online content; and TV panel: Beyond Broadcast , with moderator Damon D’Oliveira ( What We Have, The Book of Negroes ) who will explore the changing broadcast landscape and original television programming in an increasingly digital-first world.
Financed with the support of the Canada/Atlantic Provinces Agreement on International Business Development and Telefilm Canada as the Presenting Partner, Strategic Partners is a convergence of talent and innovation, producing tangible results. For more information, visit: atlanticfilm.com/sp
About the Atlantic Film Festival
The Atlantic Film Festival (Aff) is an eight-day celebration of film, media and music from around the world. It’s a festival that turns Halifax – a charming and historic coastal city – into an international Mecca for the arts, abuzz with filmmakers, industry types and film lovers. This year’s event takes place from September 11-18.
Offering a first-look at the best international films of the festival season, the Aff is a champion of local filmmakers, committed to bridging the gap. We attract some of the biggest players in film, media and music from around the world. All of our film selections are chosen with our community in mind and our special events are designed to bring us all together. A not-for-profit organization, the Aff depends heavily upon its strong ties to the surrounding and thriving arts community.
The Atlantic Film Festival began as a tiny, grassroots operation in St. John’s, Newfoundland in 1981, relocating to Halifax the following year. Just three decades later, the Atlantic film Festival has blossomed into one of Canada’s premier film festivals. Whether for industry folk, unabashed film lovers or curious onlookers, the Festival offers a slew of opportunities to engage through film. Today’s Atlantic Film Festival is now a year-round celebration, growing beyond our eight-day cornerstone event in September to include: ViewFinders: Atlantic Film Festival for Youth, Aff Outdoor Film Experience, and Strategic Partners.
Receive the most up-to-date information about the Atlantic Film Festival and its Family of Programs:
atlanticfilm.com , on Facebook page:
/atlanticfilmfestival , on Twitter account:...
"A film festival’s primary reason for existing is to celebrate film and to say this year’s line up of films and events is a celebration is a dramatic understatement,” said Wayne Carter, Executive Director. “The sheer breadth and quality of films from both our Atlantic region and beyond offers something for everyone and when you match that with special events that deliver an experience to remember we confidently feel we are raising the bar like never before."
“Our Government is pleased to support this iconic event through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, as part of our commitment to building a strong, competitive regional economy, said the Honorable Rob Moore, Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency). The Festival generates tangible benefits for our region, opening new doors to international markets for local artists and industry professionals.”
The Atlantic Film Festival’s Gala Red Carpet Opening Night will take place at a new venue this year, the Dalhousie Arts Centre’s Rebecca Cohn Auditorium. Sponsored by NBC Universal, Telefilm Canada and the Canada Media Fund, this star-studded evening will feature the
Opening Gala presentation of "Elephant Song," directed by Charles Binamé ("The Rocket," "Seraphin" ).
Set in 1966, a psychiatrist (Bruce Greenwood) cautiously pries one secret after another from a charismatic but unbalanced patient (Xavier Dolan) concerning the disappearance of the patient’s doctor. What begins as a psychological cat-and-mouse game quickly becomes a far more serious exchange about loss, memory and mystery, with deadly consequences all around. Fuelled by moving performances from an all-star cast, including Bruce Greenwood, Xavier Dolan, Catherine Keener and Carrie-Ann Moss, "Elephant Song" is an exceptional trip into the world of imagination and desire. "Elephant Song" is produced Richard Goudreau and Melenny Productions and is distributed in Canada by Entertainment One.
Following the Opening Gala film presentation is the Opening Night Party. Penned as one of Halifax’s ‘most anticipated parties of the year’, the red-carpet event is once again sponsored by NBCUniversal and will take place at the Cunard Centre on Thursday, Sept. 11.
The Festival's Closing Gala presentation on Thursday, Sept. 18 will be "Maps to the Stars" by director, David Cronenberg. His latest feature film sees the veteran horror director veering into satire, comedy, and social commentary while still providing enough shocks to satisfy his old audience as he courts the new. This time out it is Hollywood itself that is the Toronto filmmaker’s target, telling multiple tales of past-it thespians, desperate wannabees and out-of-control child actors all colliding in a fast-paced, fame-obsessed world where nobody holds anything back. Both funny and terrifying, "Map To the Stars" sees "All About Eve" accelerated into Entourage on steroids.
"Maps to the Stars" is distributed in Canada by Entertainment One.
Featuring the newest and most anticipated films of the year, moviegoers will want to be first in line to see the eight films comprising the
2014 Rogers Special Presentations. Savour the sights and sounds of soon to be award-winning films: ’71 , a moving combat film set during a terrifying riot on the streets of Belfast in 1971; "Foxcatcher," starring Steve Carell, Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo; Simon Pegg as a disillusioned psychiatrist on the hunt for meaning in "Hector and the Search for Happiness;" Mike Leigh’s "Mr. Turner," featuring the award-winning performance of Timothy Spall; the hilarious and heart-warming film, "My Old Lady" with Kevin Kline, Kristen Scott Thomas and Maggie Smith; Jake Gyllenhaal’s career-defining performance in Dan Gilroy’s "Nightcrawler;" and Ruba Nadda’s
"October Gale," starring Patricia Clarkson, Scott Speedman and Tim Roth.
The Aff will once again feature French films from Canada and around the world. This year’s Cinéma En Français S.V.P. program will take place from Friday, Sept. 12 to Monday, Sept. 15 and will feature two Gala Presentations. Xavier Dolan’s "Mommy" will be the Gala Français Canadien and Jean-Luc Godard’s "Adieu au langage 3D" ("Goodbye to Language 3D") will be the Gala Français International – reuniting the two Jury Prize winners from this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
Rounding out this year’s complete program is a top-tier line up of features and documentaries from Canada and throughout the world. Viewers will delight in a wide range of features such as: François Girard’s "Boychoir;" Kristen Stewart in both "Camp X-Ray" and "Clouds of Sils Maria;" Chinese director Zhang Yimou’s "Coming Home" (Gui Lai); "God Help the Girl" by Belle & Sebastien’s Stuart Murdoch; Cannes opener, "Grace of Monaco;" Sundance winner, "Whiplash;" Palme d’Or winner, "Winter Sleep;" and many more.
Select documentaries include: Nick Cave-focussed "20,000 Days on Earth;" a career-spanning look at one of film’s greatest directors in
"Altman;" the story of Russian hockey dominance in "Red Army;" a look inside Sesame Street’s most beloved character in "I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story;" and an exposé of bird poaching in "Emptying the Skies," among many other captivating and enlightening titles.
Also included in this year’s line up are Short Film Programs, featuring both a Canadian and international selection, a ViewFinders: Films for Youth program, film retrospectives at the Dalhousie Art Gallery, and the Festival’s always popular Late Shift program, which this year will screen the 40th Anniversary Restoration of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.
The 2014 Festival will host several one-of-a kind special events and parties to celebrate the movies, the people and the city of Halifax. In addition to the Opening Night Party and debuting at this year’s festival is the Festival Music House Atlantic presented by Radio Starmaker Fund . The event offers some of the hottest music acts in the country (open exclusively to Festival Passholders and Festival Delegates).
The event will also feature A State of Mine Exhibition , an exhibition from photographer, Chris Geworsky exploring the personal, intimate and unique place each subject visits when he/she loses themselves in their own music; the Ofe@Aff – an Aff Outdoor Film Experience screening of Aff’s 2012 Atlantic Gala film, The Disappeared on the Dartmouth Waterfront; and the 34th Atlantic Film Festival Awards Reception , honoring the amazing talents of Atlantic Canadian film industry professionals.
Strategic Partners , a one-of-a-kind event focusing on film, television and digital fiction, from across Canada and around the world, will take place as part of Aff, Sept. 11-14. Each year, top Canadian and international industry players, including producers, investors, sales agents, funding agencies, broadcasters, aggregators and distributors are selected to attend. Recognized as one of the world’s pre-eminent co-production markets and celebrating its 17th year, Strategic Partners 2014 is shining the Country Spotlight brightly on Latin America and the U.S., and offering delegates over 1,000 pre-scheduled 1-2-1 meetings, co-production focused roundtable sessions, cutting edge panels, visionary keynote speakers, screenings and receptions as well as the popular Film & Creative Industries Nova Scotia Lobster Dinner By the Sea.
Keynote speakers include: Peter Gerard , Head of Content and Audience Engagement at Vimeo and Mariela Besuievsky , Academy award-winning producer at Tornasol Films. In addition there will be a case study of The Games Maker , a Canada/Agentina co-production success story; digital panel: Web Series Wizards Weigh In , with moderator Catherine Tait (Guidestones, Sos: Save Our Skins ) which will give independent producers insight on how to create/finance successful online content; and TV panel: Beyond Broadcast , with moderator Damon D’Oliveira ( What We Have, The Book of Negroes ) who will explore the changing broadcast landscape and original television programming in an increasingly digital-first world.
Financed with the support of the Canada/Atlantic Provinces Agreement on International Business Development and Telefilm Canada as the Presenting Partner, Strategic Partners is a convergence of talent and innovation, producing tangible results. For more information, visit: atlanticfilm.com/sp
About the Atlantic Film Festival
The Atlantic Film Festival (Aff) is an eight-day celebration of film, media and music from around the world. It’s a festival that turns Halifax – a charming and historic coastal city – into an international Mecca for the arts, abuzz with filmmakers, industry types and film lovers. This year’s event takes place from September 11-18.
Offering a first-look at the best international films of the festival season, the Aff is a champion of local filmmakers, committed to bridging the gap. We attract some of the biggest players in film, media and music from around the world. All of our film selections are chosen with our community in mind and our special events are designed to bring us all together. A not-for-profit organization, the Aff depends heavily upon its strong ties to the surrounding and thriving arts community.
The Atlantic Film Festival began as a tiny, grassroots operation in St. John’s, Newfoundland in 1981, relocating to Halifax the following year. Just three decades later, the Atlantic film Festival has blossomed into one of Canada’s premier film festivals. Whether for industry folk, unabashed film lovers or curious onlookers, the Festival offers a slew of opportunities to engage through film. Today’s Atlantic Film Festival is now a year-round celebration, growing beyond our eight-day cornerstone event in September to include: ViewFinders: Atlantic Film Festival for Youth, Aff Outdoor Film Experience, and Strategic Partners.
Receive the most up-to-date information about the Atlantic Film Festival and its Family of Programs:
atlanticfilm.com , on Facebook page:
/atlanticfilmfestival , on Twitter account:...
- 9/6/2014
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
This weekend marks the limited and VOD release of God Help the Girl, a musical from Stuart Murdoch, best known as the lead singer of Belle and Sebastian. God Help the Girl, which emerged out of a musical side project for Murdoch, follows three friends who start a band during a summer in Glasgow. It has, yes, been described as “twee,” a word now practically synonymous with Belle and Sebastian.
Belle and Sebastian’s music—cheery melodies paired with vivid, often melancholy lyrics—often feels cinematic, thanks to the band’s knack for weaving intricate mini-stories. In that way, it...
Belle and Sebastian’s music—cheery melodies paired with vivid, often melancholy lyrics—often feels cinematic, thanks to the band’s knack for weaving intricate mini-stories. In that way, it...
- 9/5/2014
- by Esther Zuckerman
- EW - Inside Movies
Performers are often known for naturally exuding self-assurance and fearless when they promote themselves and their work to their audiences, as they’re always supposed to be confident in their ability to entertain. But when their frailties and vulnerabilities begin to take over and plague their courage to effortlessly present their heart-felt work, their creativity surely begins to suffer. The main characters of the new musical drama, ‘God Help the Girl,’ powerfully understand the difficulties many musicians face as they’re on the verge of their big break, as they’re plagued with self-doubt over whether they’re truly talented enough to succeed. The movie, which marks the feature film writing and directorial debuts [ Read More ]
The post Interview: Emily Browning and Stuart Murdoch Talk God Help the Girl appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post Interview: Emily Browning and Stuart Murdoch Talk God Help the Girl appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 9/5/2014
- by Karen Benardello
- ShockYa
Chances are, if you don’t find yourself with an overwhelming need to strangle every single person onscreen, you might actually like God Help the Girl. Written and directed by Belle and Sebastian front man Stuart Murdoch, this emo musical might be the most Belle and Sebastian–y movie imaginable. It tackles subjects such as depression, mental illness, and anorexia — as well as romantic jealousy, coming of age, and the joys of creating beautiful art — and fuses them with adorably ramshackle song-and-dance numbers. And how you respond to those numbers will determine how you respond to the movie.Our heroine is Eve (Emily Browning, never more luminous), a young Glasgow anorexic who one night runs into James (Olly Alexander, never more nerdy), a guitarist whom we first meet arguing with his bandmates onstage. (A funny, throwaway visual gag: Right before they throw down, he and his drummer take off their...
- 9/5/2014
- by Bilge Ebiri
- Vulture
As the Toronto International Film Festival gets underway with North American and World debuts of films that will hit Awards Season and beyond,a good number of seasoned films that have traveled the festival circuit are finally making their way into the Specialty Box Office. Drafthouse Films will open Cannes ’13 title The Congress starring Robin Wright and Harvey Keitel in a dozen locations this weekend, while SXSW’s Juliette Lewis starrer Kelly & Cal will open exclusively in NYC. Sundance’s Last Days In Vietnam will have a theatrical run before heading to PBS next fall and the Guadalajara Film Festival’s Frontera is taking advantage of a timely topic in the U.S. Venice financed its 2013 premiere Memphis, opening exclusively this weekend in NYC. And China Lion hopes to take a successful template for romantic dramas and apply that to But Always.
The Congress
Director-writer: Ari Folman
Writer: Stanislaw Lem (novel)
Cast: Robin Wright,...
The Congress
Director-writer: Ari Folman
Writer: Stanislaw Lem (novel)
Cast: Robin Wright,...
- 9/5/2014
- by Brian Brooks
- Deadline
Title: God Help The Girl Cast: Emily Browning, Olly Alexander, Hannah Murray, and Pierre Boulanger Director: Stuart Murdoch Let me get this out of the way, I’m a big Belle & Sebastian fan. In fact, the Scottish indie pop band is my all-time favorite band. Yes, while they’re music isn’t all too influential, Stuart Murdoch’s music affected my life in a big way, in terms of creativity, mood, and general outlook on life. I’ve been in love with almost everything Murdoch has released and was convinced that he has yet to write a bad song. When his God Help the Girl side project released a soundtrack to a would be [ Read More ]
The post God Help The Girl Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post God Help The Girl Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 9/5/2014
- by Rudie Obias
- ShockYa
God Help the Girl
Written and directed by Stuart Murdoch
UK, 2014
In 2009, Belle and Sebastian mastermind Stuart Murdoch released a concept album under the guise of God Help the Girl, the name of both the album and the collective of musicians behind it. It was a break away from his Scottish band’s usual stylings in that it was primarily penned for female vocalists known and unknown, though male singers like The Divine Comedy’s Neil Hannon and Murdoch himself made memorable appearances on a few tracks. Additionally, while Belle and Sebastian’s most beloved songs can often be taken as their own singular, compelling tales, the God Help the Girl album was a larger narrative project, with the songs tracking protagonist Eve through various woes and successes. Five years later, a long-gestating film adaptation of the album has arrived, courtesy of producer Barry Mendel (Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums) and some support through Kickstarter,...
Written and directed by Stuart Murdoch
UK, 2014
In 2009, Belle and Sebastian mastermind Stuart Murdoch released a concept album under the guise of God Help the Girl, the name of both the album and the collective of musicians behind it. It was a break away from his Scottish band’s usual stylings in that it was primarily penned for female vocalists known and unknown, though male singers like The Divine Comedy’s Neil Hannon and Murdoch himself made memorable appearances on a few tracks. Additionally, while Belle and Sebastian’s most beloved songs can often be taken as their own singular, compelling tales, the God Help the Girl album was a larger narrative project, with the songs tracking protagonist Eve through various woes and successes. Five years later, a long-gestating film adaptation of the album has arrived, courtesy of producer Barry Mendel (Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums) and some support through Kickstarter,...
- 9/5/2014
- by Josh Slater-Williams
- SoundOnSight
God Help the Girl is a sweet indie pop musical about a girl in recovery from a severe eating disorder. The girl in question, Eve, is played by Emily Browning, a lovely young actress who has been in some really crap movies (as well as the great A Series of Unfortunate Events). When we first meet Browning she is sneaking out to go to a rock show in Glasgow, singing the first of the movie’s songs, “Act of the Apostle,” about her trip. After the concert she meets James (Olly Alexander), whose disastrous set ended in a fight with his own drummer. Alexander realizes that she is too weak to get home on her own steam and helps her back to the clinic where she is being treated for anorexia. When she leaves, she seeks him out, and they become the best of friends.
The musical was written and...
The musical was written and...
- 9/4/2014
- by Mily Dunbar
- GeekTyrant
There’s a certain rhetoric about the “perfect pop song” that feels like it peaked 25ish years ago somewhere on a bus in the UK, where earnest young people bonded over shared cultdom to pass the time, the guiding sensibility that (random example) led Orange Juice frontman Edwyn Collins to approach future bandmate Steve Daly because of a Buddy Holly button he was wearing — a sign they had more to talk about than initially evident. This kind of living through music is the force powering Belle and Sebastian leader Stuart Murdoch’s directorial debut God Help The Girl, an indie pop […]...
- 9/4/2014
- by Vadim Rizov
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
There’s a certain rhetoric about the “perfect pop song” that feels like it peaked 25ish years ago somewhere on a bus in the UK, where earnest young people bonded over shared cultdom to pass the time, the guiding sensibility that (random example) led Orange Juice frontman Edwyn Collins to approach future bandmate Steve Daly because of a Buddy Holly button he was wearing — a sign they had more to talk about than initially evident. This kind of living through music is the force powering Belle and Sebastian leader Stuart Murdoch’s directorial debut God Help The Girl, an indie pop […]...
- 9/4/2014
- by Vadim Rizov
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
Who could possibly say "no" to those beguiling faces, three lovely and charming people who want you to see their new movie God Help the Girl when it opens in limited release on Friday, September 5? Stuart Murdoch, better known as the front-man for Belle & Sebastian -- I own multiple albums! I like them! -- makes his directorial debut; the movie stars Emily Browning, Olly Alexander, and Hannah Murray. How did things turn out? Our own Kwenton Bellette saw the film at the Melbourne International Film Festival last month and filed his review: The film is stung by lashes of awkward editing, a sloppy screenplay, and a cloying suffocation of artificial, twee characters. Our 'girl' in this modern day tale is Eve (Emily Browning),...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 9/4/2014
- Screen Anarchy
Not as many people are familiar with Scottish band Belle and Sebastian as they should be. Led by Stuart Murdoch, Belle and Sebastian have been releasing their distinct brand of indie pop for almost twenty years. In 2009, Murdoch released an album called God Help The Girl which he envisioned as the soundtrack for a film he wanted to make. Now, five years and one crowdfunding campaign later, the movie is a reality. Starring Suckerpunch's Emily Browning and Game Of Thrones' Hannah Murray,...
- 9/4/2014
- by Alex Maidy
- JoBlo.com
Girl From Ipecac: Murdoch’s Musical a Flimsy Masquerade
The directorial debut of Scottish musician Stuart Murdoch, the lead singer and songwriter of famed indie pop band Belle & Sebastian, makes a highly anticipated directorial debut with God Help the Girl. Murdoch, unfortunately, overreaches himself considerably in this dull exercise of endless emotional exposition which desperately wants to infuse the musical sensibilities of Jacques Demy into the drab kitchen sink melodrama of teen angst in Glasgow.
Harpooning the lead female protagonist with a serious eating disorder that it never manages to treat seriously enough, Murdoch attempts to tell a story through continuous tracks that represent her journey to a healthy mind frame as a woman and an artist, but fails miserably by giving us what feels like one incredibly long music video about an endlessly recycled angst of struggling to follow one’s dreams.
An Australian songwriter far from home, Eve...
The directorial debut of Scottish musician Stuart Murdoch, the lead singer and songwriter of famed indie pop band Belle & Sebastian, makes a highly anticipated directorial debut with God Help the Girl. Murdoch, unfortunately, overreaches himself considerably in this dull exercise of endless emotional exposition which desperately wants to infuse the musical sensibilities of Jacques Demy into the drab kitchen sink melodrama of teen angst in Glasgow.
Harpooning the lead female protagonist with a serious eating disorder that it never manages to treat seriously enough, Murdoch attempts to tell a story through continuous tracks that represent her journey to a healthy mind frame as a woman and an artist, but fails miserably by giving us what feels like one incredibly long music video about an endlessly recycled angst of struggling to follow one’s dreams.
An Australian songwriter far from home, Eve...
- 9/3/2014
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
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