Comment On Nora Ephron Passes Away At Age 71

This animated Japanese masterpiece is a war story as wrenching as any live-action movieIf you thought Bambi or Up were as emotional as animation gets, you need to see this Japanese masterpiece. It's a war story as wrenching as any live-action movie, and it has reduced many a viewer to tears – this one included. Based on Akiyuki Nosaka's semi-autobiographical novel, it is focused on a teenager and his sister struggling to survive at the tail end of the second world war, and it records their plight with unsentimental intimacy. Not many cartoons would depict a boy seeing his mother's burnt, maggot-infested corpse being stretchered away, for example, but that's just the start of their traumas. Parentless and homeless, they are forced to wander the countryside, beset by hunger, American bombings and the self-serving indifference of adults. It's not all suffering and desperation, though. There are magical moments of natural beauty and childish delight, too – which only make the tragedy even more harrowing.Rating: 5/5AnimationFilm adaptationsChildren and teenagersSecond world warSteve Roseguardian.co.uk © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Treat yourself to a re-released gem of the American new wave with an astonishing performance from a young Jack NicholsonAmerican film-maker Bob Rafelson has just celebrated his 80th birthday, and you couldn't give him or yourself a nicer present than to see this marvellous film, now restored and re-released: The King of Marvin Gardens (1972). Like his Five Easy Pieces (1970), it stars Jack Nicholson giving a performance of melancholy, introspective subtlety that will astonish those who only know about the grinning "old devil" Nicholson, recently to be seen on TV flirting with Jennifer Lawrence. The other glory of this movie is that it shows us what a great actor Bruce Dern is, matching Nicholson in charisma and presence. Nicholson is David, a gloomy talk-show host in Philadelphia, regaling his listeners with long, literary monologues about his life. Jason (Dern) is David's estranged brother, a hustler and shady wheeler-dealer who needs David to come to Atlantic City to bail him out of prison. He then tries to interest him in a mob-related real-estate scam and even involve him in his romantic situation. Jason is dating former beauty queen Sally, played by the excellent Ellen Burstyn – but perhaps David would be interested in Sally's beautiful daughter Jessica, played by Julia Anne Robinson. The wintry Atlantic City is brilliantly evoked; the firecracker dialogue is a joy, and the final, chaotic denouement is genuinely unexpected. This is another neglected gem from the American new wave that has to be cherished.Rating: 5/5Jack NicholsonDramaPeter Bradshawguardian.co.uk © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Talking to SFX recently, Man of Steel star Henry Cavill told the website that he would be game for a Batman/Superman onscreen tandem. Cavill said: “I think it would be really interesting with the age-old Batman/Superman conflict because they are two different sides of the same coin and their methods are entirely different. And I think it would actually make for an interesting story as to why, first of all, they were going head to head and how. I think that would make a great story.” Cavill didn’t acknowledge directly whether the idea was already being developed but added that there are likely all kinds of ideas being thrown around at WB. SOURCE: SFX

X-Men Days of Future Past director Bryan Singer has just revealed that the character Quicksilver will appear in Fox’s X-Men film, a week after Joss Whedon confirmed Quicksilver for Marvel’s Avengers 2. Here’s the Tweet: Before he was an #Avenger, he was just a REALLY fast kid. Thrilled to say #EvanPeters is joining #XMen #DaysOfFuturePast as #Quicksilver. — Bryan Singer (@BryanSinger) May 23, 2013   Marvel has yet to announce casting for their Quicksilver, leaving many to wonder whether Fox and Marvel will “share” the casting of Peters (American Horror Story) or whether we will see two separate versions of the character. On a separate note, this cast is reaching maximum capacity. Cast: Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Peter Dinklage, Ellen Page, James McAvoy, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Omar Sy, Halle Berry, Patrick Stewart, Fan Bingbing and others… I feel like Fox is trying to top Avengers by adding as many mutants as possible. Will Singer and the writing team be able to manage all of these stars? Not likely. Joss Whedon is the rare director that can spread the camera and distribute the dialogue amongst an all-star cast. Here’s to hoping that the latest X-Men film doesn’t suffocate under the weight of its superstar cast. X-Men: Days of Future Past hits theaters July 18th, 2014. SOURCE: Bryan Singer Twitter

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