Film lovers in London have been treated to a vintage year of new movies at the 55th annual British Film Institute (BFI) Film Festival. The festival is drawing to a close and a star-studded awards ceremony will take place at the world famous Leicester Square cinemas to cap off a brilliant event. Premieres of some of the hottest new titles in cinema have been screened around London as part of the festival, and global superstars like Ralph Fiennes, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen & Jude Law have been out and about in the capital to see their latest pieces of work hit the big screen. Films that have got the critics and fans talking in London include poignant comedy 50/50, political drama The Ides of March, and the hard-hitting We Need to Talk About Kevin. All three films are sweeping the globe as they hit general release this season and box office takings for all three are expected to soar in the wake of some excellent reviews.We Need to Talk about Kevin tells the story of the mother of a teenage boy who went on a high-school killing spree. Her grief and feelings of responsibility for her child’s actions are documented in letters to her estranged husband. This British-American drama thriller is adapted from the 2003 novel of the same name by American author Lionel Shriver. Starring Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly & Ezra Miller, the film had its premiere at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival and has caused quite a stir at the BFI festival. In contrast, 50/50 offers up a comedy that centres around a man’s batter with a rare type of cancer. Director Jonathan Levine handles this sensitive territory with the sensitivity of a master filmmaker, striking up a remarkable balance between comic material and poignant reflection. The film has already been tipped for success at the Golden Globes and even the Oscars. Perhaps the most talked about movie of the lot is The Ides of March, which stars George Clooney & Ryan Gosling in an adaptation of Willimon’s 2008 play Farragut North. Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamati & Marisa Tomei also feature in what is a staggering cast, and the film itself does not disappoint, delivering an ultra-realistic account of life inside the whirlwind of an American presidential election campaign. The BFI festival is usually a good barometer for the coming months of movie-going, and if this year’s event is anything to go by, good times lie in wait for film buffs.
