SPECIAL GUEST INTERVIEW - MARK NELSON

WHAT IS IT YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT THE MOVIES? 

I love the fact that I can various memories in my life and particularly my childhood to films I saw at the time. When I was growing up both my Papa's were huge fans of films, one comedies and one more war films. Staying with them for weeks during summer holidays allowed me to immerse myself in films. Even now, like songs, watching a film can immediately evoke the feelings I had at that time in my life. 

DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE FILM? 

Jaws. In my opinion the finest film ever made. For me it is the perfect film. There is not one second of it I would change. 

WHAT'S THE LAST FILM YOU WATCHED AND WOULD YOU RECOMMEND IT? 

At the weekend I watched The Wolf of Wall Street. Superb film. A lot funnier than I expected and very stylish. Di Caprio is just phenomenal in it. Another great Scorsese film in which he manages to make you root for morally reprehensible characters. And once again the music in it is awesome. 

HAVE YOU EVER WALKED OUT OF A FILM? IF SO, WHAT WAS IT AND WHY? 

I don't think I ever have if I'm honest. Although I didn't see The Happening at the cinema. I'm pretty sure if I'd paid for that I'd have burned the place to the ground. 

IF YOU COULD BE ANY CHARACTER FROM ANY FILM, WHO WOULD YOU BE? 

James Bond. I have been a massive, borderline obsessive Bond fan since I was about 5 years old. I love the character and would probably saw off both my testicles to be him. Which I imagine would drastically change the character's success with women.   

IF YOU COULD RECOMMEND ONE ‘HIDDEN GEM’ FILM THAT PEOPLE PROBABLY OVERLOOKED, WHAT WOULD IT BE? 

Swingers which was directed by Doug Liman and stars Vince Vaughan and Jon Favreau. Really cool, funny film and I can still watch it time and time again. Also check out one of Liman's later films, Go.  

MANY PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THEIR FAVOURITE ACTORS AND ACTRESSES OF ALL TIME BUT WHO DO YOU CURRENTLY GET EXCITED ABOUT SEEING WHEN THEY HAVE A NEW FILM OUT? 

At the moment probably Michael Fassbender. Great actor and a handsome big bastard. Responsible for probably my favourite scene in a film in the past decade which is the bar scene in Inglorious Basterds. 

SOME PEOPLE SAY, “THEY DONT MAKE THEM LIKE THEY USE TO?” – DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS SENTIMENT AND IS IT NECESSARILY A BAD THING? 

I certainly agree with it but I don't think it is a bad thing. For me the period of the late 70's is when the film's were truly great. Largely due to the power directors had rather than studios. You had these guy's like Spielberg, Scrosese, Coppolla who were mavericks. With the money involved in Hollywood now you would never get an Apocalypse Now and all the shit that went into making it.  

MOST PEOPLE HAVE A GUILTY PLASURE. A FILM YOU SHOULD PROBABLY HATE BUT YOU CANT HELP BUT ENJOY IT. WHATS YOURS? 

Cocktail starring Tom Cruise. Love it. 

PITCH A FILM IDEA IN 10 WORDS! 

Stand up comedian answers film questionnaire, gets part as Bond.

SPECIAL GUEST INTERVIEW - KEVIN GUTHRIE

Each week I will be interviewing a special guest to talk about all things film. This week, I spoke to the awesomely talented, Kevin Guthrie - Star of hit film, 'Sunshine on Leith' and smash Hogmanay comedy, 'Two Doors Down. Enjoy!

YOU RECENTLY STARRED IN SUNSHINE ON LEITH, HOW MUCH FUN WAS THAT TO WORK ON?

Really amazing job! The best yet I reckon, so much fun. Great cast, great people, all working towards the same thing which is why the film works so well, no ego’s no nonsense, team effort. Thoroughly enjoyable. Also, as a life long Proclaimer’s fan it was quite unique for me and very exciting! It’s something I’m immensely proud of and delighted to be a part of something that was such a huge deal! Hopefully that is enough superlatives!!

DOES A FILM SET HAVE A DIFFERENT FEEL WHEN YOU’RE WORKING ON A MUSICAL?

I guess it does and it doesn’t. We were in new territory in that SoL is a Scottish Musical which didn’t really exist in cinematic genre (until now!). We were keen to keep the people and the world as real and true as possible (as much as you can before bursting into song!) I think the feel on set very much reflected what we were all about as Actor’s...so much of the energy and buzz on set came for Dexter – an incredible facilitator on a set and that is why he will become one of the greats in my opinion. He had us all in the palm of his hand, cast and crew alike. He knew everyone’s name and made everybody feel just as important as the rest.

WERE YOU NERVOUS AT ALL ABOUT THE SINGING AND DANCING ROUTINES?

Nervous? Aye! S**t scared? Completely! We were given 4 weeks rehearsal time before shooting so that broke the back of it. Myself and George had each other’s back on the Singing and Dancing front so we never felt completely naked doing it...which was good. Also, Freya and Antonia have such different and beautiful voices that there is a real distinct sound to each and every track. Paul Englishby and Chris Traves (The Music Men!) made such a bloody good job of the music. We had every support going and everyone’s backing so had the confident to just go for it! Dexter’s first thing in the audition room was...let’s get actors that can sing as opposed to Singers that can act.

YOU’VE MANAGED TO HAVE A VERY VARIED TV AND FILM CAREER, DO YOU PREFER ONE FORMAT OVER THE OTHER?

Thanks man. I’ve been very lucky to get certain breaks at certain times that have allowed for a variety in the roles that I’ve gone on to do. It’s a mental thing, you don’t really plan it job by job by meeting by meeting and audition by audition, after that its outwith your control. I love the difference between all the formats. If  I’m on a film set I look forward to the stage, when I’m on stage I want to be a film-star. Grass is always greener I think.

TWO DOORS DOWN WAS A MASSIVE HIT AT HOGMANAY. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE LIKELY HOOD OF SEEING THE FAMILY RETURN IN A SERIES?

Good question! Yeah, it went down really well and is something I’m really proud of. I had a great time doing it and with such a great cast! I really hope we get to see the Baird’s again! Maybe a summer bbq? Eric’s 50^th (or 60^th?!) I’m sure there is scope somewhere.

WHAT HAVE YOU GOT COMING UP NEXT?

I’m working on a short film at the moment, The Trench, we’re shooting in Surrey and Ipswich (I think). A short about the Trenches in WW1. Really beautiful script and something I really wanted to do. Then I’m going onto another comedy/sitcom but at this stage can’t say much more than that I’m afraid. I’m signed on to do Sunset Song with Terence Davies at the helm, later in the Spring.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE FILM?

Aww nightmare. Erm. The Last King of Scotland? I probably couldn’t live without The Departed. Huge Aladdin fan also.

WHATS THE LAST FLIM YOU WATCHED AND WOULD YOU RECOMMEND IT?

In the Name of the Father was on last night. Daniel Day-Lewis & John Byrne. Immense. Watch it!

HAVE YOU EVER WALKED OUT OF A FILM? IF SO, WHAT WAS IT AND WHY?

Yeah. I think so. It was so bad I can’t even remember the name. Something to do with robots ...

IF YOU COULD BE ANY CHARACTER FROM ANY FILM, WHO WOULD YOU BE?

Ewan Tavendale. Then Peter Pan.

IF YOU COULD RECOMMEND ONE ‘HIDDEN GEM’ FILM THAT PEOPLE PROBABLY OVERLOOKED, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

The Illusionist (French Animated film about a wee lassie fae Edinburgh and a French Illusionist.)

My Brother is an Only Child, Italian film about Fascism versus Catholicism. Incredible performances.

MANY PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THEIR FAVOURITE ACTORS AND ACTRESSES OF ALL TIME BUT WHO DO YOU CURRENTLY GET EXCITED ABOUT SEEING WHEN THEY HAVE A NEW FILM OUT?

George MacKay is going to be huge I reckon. I always look to what Peter (Mullan) is doing and I’m a huge Emma Thompson fan.

SOME PEOPLE SAY, “THEY DONT MAKE THEM LIKE THEY USE TO?” – DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS SENTIMENT AND IS IT NECESSARILY A BAD THING?

I don’t think they do. Not in the main frame of Hollywood, but then film making is fashion really isn’t it, it’s about what’s in and current and (bla bla bla)...but I reckon at the heart of a good film is a really brilliant story. I think as long as there are good stories to be told then there will be good films to come out of that.

MOST PEOPLE HAVE A GUILTY PLASURE. A FILM YOU SHOULD PROBABLY HATE BUT YOU CANT HELP BUT ENJOY IT. WHATS YOURS?

Aladdin. Or any Disney classic for that matter. Beauty and the Beast and Little Mermaid are up there.

PITCH A FILM IDEA IN 10 WORDS!

I have one but it aint finished so I cant.

10 words. boom.

NEW RELEASE - WOLF OF WALL STREET

After my first attempt at watching this film was thwarted due to a failing projector at cineworld in Glasgow (oh, the drama), I finally got to see this much acclaimed film based on the, quite spectacular life of Jordan Belfort.

The film is a roller coaster ride from start to finish and without doubt the most enjoyable cinematic experience I've had this year (granted, thats not very long). This lavish, ridiculous and drug fuelled ride should probably last about 30 minutes less but so likeable are the characters and so entertaining are the extreme scenarios depicted in the film that you're never bored or checking your watch.

Dicaprio is outstanding and he gets to have a lot more fun playing this millionaire than he did the last one. It kind of looks like he is portraying what Jay Gatsby would have been like if he had enjoyed a good booze up and taking every kind of illegal substance know to man every half an hour. Indeed, most of the funniest moments of the film come whenever we see Jordan his good pal Donnie Azoff (played superbly but the hilarious Jonah Hill) getting completely off their tits - which is, thankfully for us the viewers, most of the time.

8/10

Weekly Round-Up - Last Vegas/American Hustle/Railway Man

Last Vegas: I felt like I had already seen all the funniest bits in the trailer but it is still a nice, easy, undemanding watch. Kevin Kline gets all the best lines and Mary Steenburgen is still a hottie!

6/10

American Hustle: Not very exciting but incredibly stylish, slick and classy. The top notch cast give an absolute masterclass in acting. Also, Jennifer Lawrence is, once again, amazing. Steals every scene she is in, especially the science oven one!

8/10

The Railway Man: The film has a slightly uneven feel to it as it jumps back and forth from Colin Firth and Jeremy Irvine who play the older and younger Eric lomax respectfully. Irvine is very believable as a younger colin firth and both actors do a decent job. However, perhaps the worst part of this film is the casting of Stellan skarsgard who plays Lomax's old ENGLISH pal, Finley, but the swede makes no attempt at an English accent whatsoever. Overall though, the true story at the heart of this film is incredibly moving and so its impossible not to like.

7/10

Films you may have overlooked - Arlington Road

Each week I'll recommend one film that I think the majority of people overlooked when it was first released.

When people ask me to recommend "A good film" I nearly always answer by saying, Arlington Road. There's always a good chance they haven't seen it and there's an even better chance that, if they haven't, they will really enjoy it!

It was first realised in 1999 and features a top quality cast which includes Tim Robbins, Jeff Bridges and Joan cusack. It tells the story of a widowed University professor who suspects his new neighbours are involved in terrorism and becomes obsessed with foiling their terrorist plot.

A good old fashioned thriller/drama that will have you on the edge of your seat.

Arlington Road is the perfect definition of, "A good film".

FEATURED REVIEW: 12 YEARS A SLAVE

Having not enjoyed 'Hunger' or 'Shame', I was worried I wasn't going to enjoy this much hyped film with director Steve McQueen at the helm. However, I needn't have worried as, although he still puts his trademark art house stamp on this film with some long laborious shots, the overall result is powerful, heartbreaking and fairly brutal. 

Its a brave film too as it resists from including any schmaltzy moments of light hearted camaraderie or any forced melodramatic set pieces to pull at the audiences heart strings. Instead, it just focuses on the honest brutality of the whole situation and that alone has the desired effect. This is not a highly entertaining movie in terms of a cinematic experience but you cant take your eyes of it. Its not one for fans of pop corn films waiting on a shawshank redemption-esque ending. Its gruelling and difficult to watch at times but always captivating. The fact the it is very slow in places only emphasizes the long torturous years that people had to endure.

I'm not a fan of people predicting who will win oscars before they have seen all the nominated films but I'd be surprised if this doesn't win best film. Chiwetel Ejiofor will also be in the running for best actor but for me, Michael Fassbender is the real stand out.

8/10