“Dost thou know the difference, my boy, between a bitter fool and a sweet fool?”
One thing, one might contend, they have in common: they often speak more wisdom than they know. Simon Chambers’ Much Ado About Dying is one of those documentaries which communicates more through observation than through its narration, which might be considered unreliable at best, and bittersweet in flavour. It’s the story of a filmmaker who finds himself caring for his eccentric elderly uncle, his own life on hold, and although its central perspective is rather simplistic, there’s so much packed in around the edges that quite different narratives emerge there, making for a complex and satisfying whole.
Uncle David was an actor once; then, for a while, a teacher. Arguably he is still both. He has two nieces, Simon’s sisters, but doesn’t want them to care for him because, he says,...
One thing, one might contend, they have in common: they often speak more wisdom than they know. Simon Chambers’ Much Ado About Dying is one of those documentaries which communicates more through observation than through its narration, which might be considered unreliable at best, and bittersweet in flavour. It’s the story of a filmmaker who finds himself caring for his eccentric elderly uncle, his own life on hold, and although its central perspective is rather simplistic, there’s so much packed in around the edges that quite different narratives emerge there, making for a complex and satisfying whole.
Uncle David was an actor once; then, for a while, a teacher. Arguably he is still both. He has two nieces, Simon’s sisters, but doesn’t want them to care for him because, he says,...
- 5/10/2024
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Action comedy The Fall Guy starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt heads the new titles at this weekend’s UK-Ireland box office, opening in 702 cinemas through Universal.
Directed by David Leith, The Fall Guy is written by Drew Pearce and loosely based on a 1980s TV series of the same name about stunt performers.
Gosling plays a stuntman working on his ex-girlfriend’s directorial debut action film, where he becomes involved in a conspiracy surrounding the lead actor.
The Fall Guy debuted at SXSW on March 12; it is Gosling’s first credit as producer since his 2014 directorial debut Lost River.
Directed by David Leith, The Fall Guy is written by Drew Pearce and loosely based on a 1980s TV series of the same name about stunt performers.
Gosling plays a stuntman working on his ex-girlfriend’s directorial debut action film, where he becomes involved in a conspiracy surrounding the lead actor.
The Fall Guy debuted at SXSW on March 12; it is Gosling’s first credit as producer since his 2014 directorial debut Lost River.
- 5/3/2024
- ScreenDaily
Simon Chambers’ film about his late uncle David makes for candid and compelling viewing. Along with one of David’s former pupils, and a fan of his film, he talks care, contempt and infatuation
‘I’ve always liked the company of older people,” says Julian Clary, still smoothly beautiful at 64. “I like the fact they’ve lived a life they are often assumed not to have done.” He pauses. “What old people don’t know about recreational sex,” he continues, cadence familiar as a cuckoo, “you could write on the back of an incontinence pad.”
There are plenty of those knocking about in Much Ado About Dying, a documentary about Clary’s old drama teacher. But David Gale – 86 when we first have the pleasure – does not put them to their intended use. They plug holes in the wall, drafts in the window. One becomes a tea cosy.
‘I’ve always liked the company of older people,” says Julian Clary, still smoothly beautiful at 64. “I like the fact they’ve lived a life they are often assumed not to have done.” He pauses. “What old people don’t know about recreational sex,” he continues, cadence familiar as a cuckoo, “you could write on the back of an incontinence pad.”
There are plenty of those knocking about in Much Ado About Dying, a documentary about Clary’s old drama teacher. But David Gale – 86 when we first have the pleasure – does not put them to their intended use. They plug holes in the wall, drafts in the window. One becomes a tea cosy.
- 5/3/2024
- by Catherine Shoard
- The Guardian - Film News
Warner Bros.’ “Challengers,” led by Zendaya, debuted atop the U.K. and Ireland box office with £1.6 million ($2 million), according to numbers from Comscore.
In its third weekend, Studiocanal’s “Back to Black” dropped to second place with £1.4 million for a total of £8.9 million. In third position, in its fifth weekend, Universal’s “Kung Fu Panda 4” collected £948,033 for a total of £19.7 million.
Entertainment Film Distributors’ “Civil War” placed fourth with £755,426 for a total of £5.1 million. Rounding off the top five was Warner Bros.’ “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” with £597,587 in its fifth weekend for a total of £13.7 million.
The other debut in the top 10 was Anime Ltd’s “Spy x Family Code: White,” which debuted in eighth place with £280,729.
Coming up, there are two releases on May 2 ahead of the long bank holiday weekend in the territory. Universal is opening “The Fall Guy,” starring Emily Blunt, Ryan Gosling, Hannah Waddingham and Aaron Taylor-Johnson,...
In its third weekend, Studiocanal’s “Back to Black” dropped to second place with £1.4 million for a total of £8.9 million. In third position, in its fifth weekend, Universal’s “Kung Fu Panda 4” collected £948,033 for a total of £19.7 million.
Entertainment Film Distributors’ “Civil War” placed fourth with £755,426 for a total of £5.1 million. Rounding off the top five was Warner Bros.’ “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” with £597,587 in its fifth weekend for a total of £13.7 million.
The other debut in the top 10 was Anime Ltd’s “Spy x Family Code: White,” which debuted in eighth place with £280,729.
Coming up, there are two releases on May 2 ahead of the long bank holiday weekend in the territory. Universal is opening “The Fall Guy,” starring Emily Blunt, Ryan Gosling, Hannah Waddingham and Aaron Taylor-Johnson,...
- 4/30/2024
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
A UK print film magazine, and a big one too! Here’s Film Stories issue 49 – an issue going very much beyond the blockbusters.
Introducing issue 49 of Film Stories, where once again we’ve clearly gone mad and produced another 168 page bumper issue. And printed it on nice paper too!
We’re 100% independent, and this issue – as always – we’re celebrating fellow independents. But also: our front cover goes utterly beyond blockbuster film, and gives the whole cover over to indie movies.
We’re really proud of it. We hope you’re going to like it, and we hope you might consider supporting it. Sold primarily via mail order, and popping up in a few WHSmiths stores around the country too, here’s the cover of the new issue…
And inside?
If you’re looking to support films beyond the blockbusters, then amongst the treats in this huge 168-page issue:
* Swede...
Introducing issue 49 of Film Stories, where once again we’ve clearly gone mad and produced another 168 page bumper issue. And printed it on nice paper too!
We’re 100% independent, and this issue – as always – we’re celebrating fellow independents. But also: our front cover goes utterly beyond blockbuster film, and gives the whole cover over to indie movies.
We’re really proud of it. We hope you’re going to like it, and we hope you might consider supporting it. Sold primarily via mail order, and popping up in a few WHSmiths stores around the country too, here’s the cover of the new issue…
And inside?
If you’re looking to support films beyond the blockbusters, then amongst the treats in this huge 168-page issue:
* Swede...
- 4/8/2024
- by Simon Brew
- Film Stories
As David Newlyn Gale reached his mid-80s, he lived in his own home, but not in the most resplendent conditions. He cohabitated with an untold number of mice in a hoarder’s horror of detritus, a place chocked with tins of food that probably fell off store shelves around World War II.
Gale’s legs were swollen and reddened by eczema, and he could best be described as only semi-ambulatory. Despite the challenges of his circumstances, the former stage actor and teacher took tremendous joy in life, erupting into song or quoting Shakespeare continually. But he could also be a bit of a drama queen – frequently convinced he was nearing his last breath.
This unforgettable man stars in Much Ado About Dying, directed by Simon Chambers, David’s (one must say) longsuffering nephew. The director is our guest on the latest episode of Deadline’s Doc Talk podcast, discussing...
Gale’s legs were swollen and reddened by eczema, and he could best be described as only semi-ambulatory. Despite the challenges of his circumstances, the former stage actor and teacher took tremendous joy in life, erupting into song or quoting Shakespeare continually. But he could also be a bit of a drama queen – frequently convinced he was nearing his last breath.
This unforgettable man stars in Much Ado About Dying, directed by Simon Chambers, David’s (one must say) longsuffering nephew. The director is our guest on the latest episode of Deadline’s Doc Talk podcast, discussing...
- 3/19/2024
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Filmmaker Simon Chambers was living in New Delhi and planning to shoot a documentary about traffic congestion in India when his 85-year-old Uncle David called him to say that he thinks he may be dying. But when Simon returned to London, he found David not on the brink of death but rather starved for attention. A former thespian with the flair for the dramatic, David insisted Simon bring his camera with him whenever he visited his house to check up on him. The camera’s presence clearly boosts David’s spirits because it allows him to “perform” for someone once again, even if that mostly amounts to singing bits of old songs or quoting passages from “King Lear.”
“Much Ado About Dying” follows Simon as he struggles to care for his aging uncle in his final years, a difficult feat under any circumstances but made even more challenging by David Newlyn Gale’s cheeky stubbornness.
“Much Ado About Dying” follows Simon as he struggles to care for his aging uncle in his final years, a difficult feat under any circumstances but made even more challenging by David Newlyn Gale’s cheeky stubbornness.
- 3/14/2024
- by Vikram Murthi
- Indiewire
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