Based on a Neil Gaiman story it is a classic fantasy tale in the vein of Princess Bride. I did go into this screening with a slight prejudice because I find Gaiman’s reputation is a bit overrated. His stories are imaginative but lack any real punch. Mirrormask worked more because of Dave McKean’s imagery and direction and the performances than the story itself, and this seems to be the case again with this new film.
The story involves a hapless youth who happens to be the prince of a magical kingdom, although he doesn’t know it and works in a shop in a small English village, where he has fallen in love with the most beautiful girl in the village. In order to win her hand he promises to retrieve a fallen star, which turns out to be yet another beautiful girl. But there are also a trio of witches who want to capture the girl because eating her heart will give them eternal life. As the youth enters on his quest he also has to combat against the sons of the dead king who want to retrieve a necklace that hangs around the neck of the fallen star so they can claim their right to the vacant throne.
The screenplay is co-written by Jane Goldman (Mrs Jonathan Ross) and director Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake), which is certainly a departure from his previous London gangster films. It really does look lavish and the production details make it all quite believable. The CGI, in particular, is seamless most of the way through. Vaughn has gathered a suitably star-studded cast with Clare Danes as the fallen star, Michelle Pfieffer as the wicked witch, Robert De Niro as a camp pirate with image issues, Ricky Gervais as a fence (not the wooden sort – but he is basically playing it as any of his other characters). Other cameos include Peter O’Toole, Rupert Everett and Sienna Miller.
As far as fantasy films go it is entertaining enough, especially for younger audiences, but it certainly doesn’t break new ground and is quite predictable, apart from a dragged-up De Niro.
Stardust is showing at Cineworld Fountain Park on Tuesday 21 and Thursday 23 ahead of a general release in October.
In the afternoon I went to the Samantha Morton talk. It was a bit of a strange affair. Apart from a problem with the mics reverbing so everything was being heard twice, it was a conversation between two rather reticent women. Hannah McGill certainly does not have the presence of her predecessor and Samantha isn’t always forthcoming with her answers, although once she does get talking she is both interesting and funny.
Tonight was also the UK premiere of Knocked Up with writer/director Judd Apatow and actors Seth Rogen and Leslie Mann in attendance.
In the evening I finally caught the movie everyone is raving about, Control. This is the story of Ian Curtis and Joy Division. Shot in black and white by photographer Anton Corbijn, who shot many of the photos of Joy Division during their brief existence. When they say “it’s grim up north” this film certainly shows that Manchester in the seventies was not a happy place. The attention to detail in recreating the era is great and you can almost smell the damp flats filled the odours of fried food and stale cigarette smoke. The screenplay, based on Deborah Curtis’s book, really captures the forthright humour of the Mancunians, especially the band’s manager, Sam Riley is mesmerising as Curtis and certainly captures the empathy of the audience. Morton, as Debbie, his wife, is her usual intense self. Although it will be of more interest to fans of Joy Division it should be seen by anyone who grew up in that era and also for anyone interested in rock music of any era. The film’s impact on the audience was apparent as everyone sat quietly motionless as the credits rolled, instead of the usual scramble for the exit.
