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Deep Cover is a British action comedy film directed by Tom Kingsley from a screenplay co-written by Colin Trevorrow, Derek Connolly, Ben Ashenden, and Alexander Owen. The Prime Video film is set in London, and it follows three improv actors who are recruited by the police to infiltrate the criminal underworld of London. Deep Cover stars Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom, Nick Mohammed, Paddy Considine, Ian McShane, and Sean Bean. So, if you loved the hilarious comedy, entertaining characters, and compelling story in Deep Cover, here are some similar movies you should check out next.

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Lionsgate

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is an action comedy film directed by Tom Gormican, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Kevin Etten. The 2022 film follows a fictionalized Nicolas Cage who...

Only a few British comedy movies manage to make an impact on the international stage, so there are plenty of hidden gems for fans of British humor to uncover. Although some British comedy movies are famous all over the world, like the Monty Python movies, Richard Curtis' romcoms or Edgar Wright's Cornetto trilogy, the vast majority aren't seen by many people in other countries.

British humor tends to be quite dry and relatively dark, and this means that it doesn't necessarily appeal to everyone. However, those who do enjoy British comedies can often find themselves starved for good options if they live in a different country. The last decade has produced just as many hilarious British comedies as ever, but not many of them have broken through and become globally famous.

Related 10 Underrated British Sitcoms You Need To See

British sitcoms dont always get the global audiences they deserve,...

The live-action “Knuckles” series starring Idris Elba at Paramount+ has assembled its cast.

The show was first announced in February 2022. In addition to Elba reprising the role of Knuckles from “Sonic the Hedgehog 2,” Variety has learned that Adam Pally is set to star in the series, once again playing the role of Wade Whipple from the film franchise.

The film takes place between the events of “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” and “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” which is slated to hit theaters Dec. 20, 2024. In the series, Knuckles “agrees to train Wade as his protégé and teach him the ways of the Echidna warrior,” per the official logline.

Edi Patterson (“The Righteous Gemstones”), Julian Barratt (“Mindhorn”), Scott Mescudi (“Don’t Look Up”), and Ellie Taylor (“Ted Lasso”) will recur in the series. Rory McCann (“Game of Thrones”) will guest star, as will Tika Sumpter, reprising the role of Maddie from the films.

Contains spoilers for Pieces of Her episodes one to four

Netflix’s thriller Pieces of Her is based on a novel by the aptly named best selling author Karin Slaughter. Though it’s set in America, the whole of the series was shot in Australia with the majority of filming taking place in 2021, and many of the cast are Antipodeans and Brits as well as Americans.

It’s a twisty tale of a mother who carries out an act of bravery which suddenly exposes her to a world she had long since left behind, and a daughter who discovers she really doesn’t know her mum at all. Pay attention! But in case you’re distracted by the niggling sense of ‘where do a recognise them from?’ we’re here to remind you.

Pieces of Her. Toni Collette as Laura Oliver in episode 105 of Pieces of Her. Cr. Mark Rogers...

Cult British comedy The Mighty Boosh could be coming back after co-creator Noel Fielding teased a return.

The show, which starred The Great British Bake Off host Fielding and Julian Barratt, who also starred in Mindhorn and Flowers, originally aired on the BBC between 2004 and 2007. The eccentric comedy aired in the U.S. on BBC America and Adult Swim.

Fielding wrote on Instagram (see below), “There really wasn’t enough Boosh this decade! Let’s try and rectify that in the next one.”

The series, which began as a stage show and radio show, was produced by Steve Coogan’s Baby Cow Productions and ran for three seasons with 20 episodes. Set in a surreal fantasy universe, it follows two eccentric musicians Howard Moon, played by Barratt, and Vince Noir, played by Fielding, mystic alien shaman Naboo and Bollo the gorilla. The first season is largely set in a run-down, dilapidated zoo,...

The first look image of Claire Foy and Benedict Cumberbatch from the feature ‘Louis Wain’ has been released by Studiocanal alongside further cast announcement.

Joining the previously announced cast of Cumberbatch, Foy, Toby Jones and Andrea Riseborough are Stacy Martin, Sharon Rooney, Hayley Squires and Aimee Lou Wood (‘Sex Education’) as Louis Wain’s endearingly eccentric sisters.

Adeel Akhtar, Julian Barratt and Asim Chaudhry further round out the impressive cast.

Also in news – Netflix announce ‘El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie for October release

Directed by BAFTA-nominated Will Sharpe (Channel 4’s critically acclaimed Flowers) and written by Sharpe & Simon Stephenson, the cast will also include Andrea Riseborough (Birdman) and Toby Jones (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy).

Benedict Cumberbatch will play the role of British artist Louis Wain an artist inspired by both his love of the world and the love of his life Emily played by Claire Foy. Famous for...

Upcoming biopic Louis Wain, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy, has added a bumper crop of names to its cast. 

Stacy Martin (Nymphomaniac, Vox Lux), Sharon Rooney (Dumbo), Hayley Squires (I, Daniel Blake) and Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education) have joined the feature, which Amazon is releasing in the U.S. Adeel Akhtar (The Big Sick, Pan, Four Lions), Julian Barratt (Mindhorn, The Mighty Boosh) and Asim Chaudhry (People Just Do Nothing, Black Mirror: Bandersnatch) further round out the cast. Andrea Riseborough and Toby Jones had already been announced.

The film stars Cumberbatch (seen above in a first-look still) as British artist Louis Wain, famous ...

Upcoming biopic Louis Wain, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy, has added a bumper crop of names to its cast. 

Stacy Martin (Nymphomaniac, Vox Lux), Sharon Rooney (Dumbo), Hayley Squires (I, Daniel Blake) and Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education) have joined the feature, which Amazon is releasing in the U.S. Adeel Akhtar (The Big Sick, Pan, Four Lions), Julian Barratt (Mindhorn, The Mighty Boosh) and Asim Chaudhry (People Just Do Nothing, Black Mirror: Bandersnatch) further round out the cast. Andrea Riseborough and Toby Jones had already been announced.

The film stars Cumberbatch (seen above in a first-look still) as British artist Louis Wain, famous ...

To mark the release of Nancy on 5th November, we’ve been given 1 copy to give away on DVD.

Nancy traces the way truth and fantasy bleed into one other in the mind of a woman on the fringes of society, who is increasingly convinced she was kidnapped as a child.

Craving connection with others, Nancy (Andrea Riseborough, The Death of Stalin, Mindhorn) creates elaborate pseudonyms on the internet. When she meets couple Leo and Ellen whose daughter went missing thirty years ago, fact and fiction begin to blur in Nancy’s mind.

As their bond deepens she becomes increasingly convinced these strangers are her real parents and reasonable doubts give way to wilful belief until the power of emotion threatens to overcome all rationality.

Please note: This competition is open to UK residents only

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See-Saw Films has hired veteran executive Nicky Earnshaw as head of production for its U.K. film and television divisions, effective July 9.

Earnshaw will be responsible for the production and day-to-day operations of See-Saw’s film and TV slate developed and produced out of the U.K. office. In addition, she will oversee productions greenlit through the recently announced first-look deal with New Regency, as part of See-Saw’s increasing presence in the U.S.

Managing directors Iain Canning and Emile Sherman said: “Nicky is undeniably one of the most experienced and respected production executives in the business, with extensive industry knowledge particularly in the U.K. and excellent relationships with globally renowned filmmakers and talent. We are excited to have her join our team and have no doubt she will be an extraordinary asset to our growing film and television business.”

Earnshaw takes over the role from Amy Jackson,...

Harvey Weinstein is heading to Cannes, in a way. Lightbox’s feature documentary about the disgraced movie mogul, which is now known as Citizen Harvey (w/t), will be launched on the Croisette by Embankment. The sales company hopes to close deals with international distributors for the project, which is now in production. The film, which is a deep-dive into the Weinstein scandal that has fueled the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements and its far-reaching global impact, is a co-production with the BBC. Produced by Lightbox founders Simon Chinn and Jonathan Chinn and The Imposter’s Poppy Dixon, it is directed by Captive director Ursula Macfarlane. David Gilbery (McQueen) and Charles Dorfman (Shame) are executive producing on behalf of Media Finance Capital, who are financing alongside the BBC. Simon Young will executive produce for the BBC. It will air in the UK on BBC Two following its theatrical release.

Joseph Baxter Mar 27, 2019

Killing Eve Season 2 is set for more audacious bloodshed on BBC America.

Killing Eve impressed audiences with its stylistically subversive, thrilling, hilarious and terrifying spy story that also happens to be from a female perspective. BBC America obviously knew it had something special on its hands from the get-go, renewing Killing Eve for a second season before the first season even began airing!

Killing Eve showcases the dark, yet irreverent, rivalry between Sandra Oh’s unassuming MI5 pencil-pusher, Eve Polastri, and Jodie Comer’s psychopathic assassin, Villanelle — and it's been groundbreaking.

Indeed, the inagural season of the series reaped awards season accolades, nabbing a 2019 Golden Globes “Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama” win for Sandra Oh, as well as a “Best Television Series – Drama” nomination. Plus, it earned 2018 Primetime Emmy nominations for “Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series” for Oh, and “Outstanding...

Author: Jon Lyus

This evening we were on the red carpet of The 2018 Critics Circle Awards held at the MayFair Hotel in London to speak to the great and good of modern cinema society. The 38th annual awards were hosted once again by Alice Lowe and Steve Oram at which Kate Winslet received the critics’ highest honour, The Dilys Powell Award for Excellence in Film.

Attending the awards ceremony were Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Hugh Grant, Armie Hammer, Timothee Chalamet, Lesley Manville, Josh O’Connor, Alec Secareanu and Jessica Barden, Florence Pugh, Emily Beecham, Paul King, Fionn Whitehead, Harris Dickinson, and Noah Jupe.

A full list of nominations and winners are below.

Our crack team of Colin Hart and Scott Davis were on the carpet to chat with the assembled luminaries of the big screen. Here’s how they got on…

Full List of Nominations – Winners in Bold.

Film Of...

“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” won three of its leading seven bids at the London Critics’ Circle Film Awards on Sunday (Jan. 28), including Best Picture. While Martin McDonagh lost the Best Director race to Sean Baker (“The Florida Project”) he did win for his script. And his leading lady, Frances McDormand, picked up another prize on her seemingly inevitable march to the Oscars. (See the full list of winners below).

However, Gary Oldman (“Darkest Hour”) hit a bump in the road as he lost Best Actor to one of his Oscar rivals — Timothee Chalamet (“Call Me By Your Name”) — and the award for British or Irish actor of the year to another, Daniel Kaluuya (“Get Out”). Oscar hopeful Sally Hawkins (“The Shape of Water”) won that homegrown award on the distaff side. And “Dunkirk” claimed Best British/Irish Film over, among others, “Three Billboards.”

See 2018 Oscar nominations: Full list of...

Following the worldwide hit “Paddington,” one of the most successful family films of all time, this much-anticipated sequel finds Paddington (Ben Whishaw) happily settled with the Brown family in London, where he has become a popular member of the local community, spreading joy and marmalade wherever he goes.

While searching for the perfect present for his beloved Aunt Lucy’s hundredth birthday, Paddington sees a unique pop-up book in Mr. Gruber’s antique shop, and embarks upon a series of odd jobs to buy it. But when the book is stolen, it’s up to Paddington and the Browns to unmask the thief.

Reuniting many of the original film’s cast while welcoming those in new roles, Paddington 2 stars Golden Globe nominee Hugh Bonneville (“Downton Abbey”), Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins (“Blue Jasmine”), three-time Golden Globe nominee Brendan Gleeson (“The Guard,” “Into the Storm,” “In Bruges”), Oscar nominee Julie Walters (“Billy Elliot,...

Martin McDonagh drama earns seven nominations.

Source: Fox Searchlight

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Martin McDonagh’s drama Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri leads the way with seven nominations for the 38th London Critics’ Circle Film Awards.

Following close behind with six nominations each are William Oldroyd’s Lady Macbeth and Paul Thomas Anderson’s Phantom Thread. Four films earned five nominations each: Luca Guagadino’s Call Me By Your Name, Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk, Paul King’s Paddington 2, and Francis Lee’s God’s Own Country.

The ten films contending for film of the year are Call Me By Your Name, Dunkirk, The Florida Project, Get Out, God’s Own Country, Lady Bird, Loveless, Phantom Thread, The Shape of Water, and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

Multiple nominees today include Sally Hawkins, Daniel Day-Lewis, Gary Oldman, Florence Pugh and Daniel Kaluuya, nominated as actresses and actors for specific...

Martin McDonagh drama earns seven nominations.

Source: Fox Searchlight

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Martin McDonagh’s drama Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri leads the way with seven nominations for the 38th London Critics’ Circle Film Awards.

Following close behind with six nominations each are William Oldroyd’s Lady Macbeth and Paul Thomas Anderson’s Phantom Thread. Four films earned five nominations each: Luca Guagadino’s Call Me By Your Name, Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk, Paul King’s Paddington 2, and Francis Lee’s God’s Own Country.

The ten films contending for film of the year are Call Me By Your Name, Dunkirk, The Florida Project, Get Out, God’s Own Country, Lady Bird, Loveless, Phantom Thread, The Shape of Water, and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

Multiple nominees today include Sally Hawkins, Daniel Day-Lewis, Gary Oldman, Florence Pugh and Daniel Kaluuya, nominated as actresses and actors for specific performances as well as for their body of work...

Warner Bros. has released the first full U.S. trailer for Paddington 2, which is slated for release on January 12, 2018, following a successful U.K. release. This trailer comes less than two weeks after Warner Bros. acquired Paddington 2 from The Weinstein Company, after the producers wanted to remove all association with Harvey Weinstein following his sexual assault scandal. Now that this delightful family film has found a new home, this trailer offers some more never before seen footage featuring the title bear (Ben Whishaw) being locked up in jail.

The previous trailers, which had been released by the international distributor StudioCanal, hinted that Paddington Bear would ultimately get in some trouble with the law, but this new trailer reveals that he was framed for stealing a rare and valuable book, which leads to Paddington being locked up in prison. He doesn't get off to a good start with his fellow inmates either,...

Simon Brew Nov 21, 2017

Mindhorn earned good reviews, but struggled at the box office. Simon Farnaby reflects on the comedy...

A comedy treat that flew under many people’s radars earlier this year was Mindhorn, that starred Julian Barratt as a seemingly washed-up actor coasting off his old role as a TV detective, who gets dragged into a serial killer case.

See related Peaky Blinders series 4 episode 1 review Peaky Blinders series 4: Tommy has “atrophied emotionally” Peaky Blinders series 4: "there's no stopping" Aunt Polly Peaky Blinders series 4: who is Jessie Eden?

Barratt penned the screenplay with Simon Farnaby, the latter of whom co-wrote Paddington 2 and is now working on the upcoming adaptation of The Magic Faraway Tree. And chatting to this very organ, Farnaby admitted that the commercial struggle of Mindhorn came as a blow.

“We were pretty disappointed with Mindhorn, because people didn’t actually go and see it”, he said,...

Ben Mortimer Nov 8, 2017

Simon Farnaby chats to us about writing Paddington 2, appearing in Rogue One, and making Yonderland...

Simon Farnaby is a man already keenly admired around these parts for being part of the Horrible Histories, Yonderland and Bill ensemble. But he's also the man who co-penned the script to the incoming Paddington 2, which seemed like a good enough excuse for a chat to us. Here's how it went...

See related Deadpool: Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick interview Deadpool: Ryan Reynolds on channeling the character

How did you end up joining Paul King [director/co-writer] on writing duties this time round?

Paul and I are friends, and we met many, many years ago in the comedy fringes, shall we say. We met and got on, and we did a one man show; we co-wrote a show, which I was acting in, and Paul directed for Battersea arts centre, this was 2004, or something.

MaryAnn’s quick take… An essential history lesson with a smart smack of relevance for today (because feminism always has to be relitigated). It’s also warm, funny, and hugely entertaining. I’m “biast” (pro): I’m desperate for movies about women

I’m “biast” (con): not a sports fan at all

(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)

That saying about those not remembering the past being condemned to repeat it? Of course it’s true… but sometimes it’s not an accident that the past gets forgotten. Sometimes the squashing of history — and the continuation of history into the present — is deliberate. Feminists know this: Women are constantly having to reinvent feminism, refight the same battles, because they don’t stay won. A brief moment of small triumph very quickly gets drowned out by major cultural pushback; women may savor victory only long enough...

Stars: Julian Barratt, Simon Farnaby, Essie Davis, Russell Tovey, Andrea Riseborough, Jessica Barden, Harriet Walter, Steve Coogan | Written by Julian Barratt, Simon Farnaby | Directed by Sean Foley

Washed-up Richard Thorncroft (Julian Barratt) peaked with hit 1980s detective show ‘Mindhorn’, playing the titular Isle of Man sleuth with a robotic eye that allowed him to literally “see the truth”. Decades later, when a deranged Manx criminal demands Mindhorn as his nemesis, Thorncroft returns to the scene of his greatest triumphs for one last chance to reignite his glory days, professional credibility and even romance with former co-star/paramour Patricia Deville (Essie Davis).

The idea of fans blurring the line between fiction and reality has been used numerous times in cinema, the latest example of which – Mindhorn – is a very British take on the idea: at once both spoofing and homaging the likes of 70s and 80s TV shows such as Bergerac,...

The Isle of Man is famous for a few things – cats and the Tt Races among them – now it’s the setting for this independent comedy starring The Mighty Boosh‘s Julian Barratt. Unfortunately for Mindhorn/fortunately for the island, it will probably become a distant memory.

Hit shows and sitcoms are notoriously unsuccessful when transferred to the big screen, but sometimes they are just trying to give the fans what they want. Mindhorn cannot even lay claim to this as an excuse for its shortcomings. It bears many of the hallmarks many of the big comedies of the 2000s, but is not a spin off of any of them, making this a rather pointless exercise.

The premise is promising enough, even if it does sound reminiscent of some pictures that have come before it. A washed-up actor, by the name of Richard Thorncroft (Barratt) is assigned by his agency...

Thomas Hetherington Aug 9, 2017

How Kevin Smith challenged the distribution model for cinema, and what happened next...

Kevin Smith’s career has taken some interesting turns over its three decades and counting. He’s criticised Bruce Willis, parted ways with the Weinsteins, sewn Justin Long into a Walrus suit, given us the spectacle of Johnny Depp with a penis shaped nose, and even picketed his own releases. And he did those last two things twice over. He’s one of the most unpredictable filmmakers working today, he’s made podcasting a filthily brilliant art form and his projects frequently reach fever dream levels of brilliance and bizarre. But possibly the most interesting occurrence in Smith’s career was the furore and fallout, or lack thereof, surrounding his 2011 release Red State.

After the critical mauling Smith received for his studio project Cop Out in 2010, he returned to his indie roots with the...

MaryAnn’s quick take… Primal and exhilarating, full of dread and tension. Drops us right into the chaos of war to tell an intimate story about fear and intensity of purpose. I’m “biast” (pro): love Christopher Nolan’s films

I’m “biast” (con): nothing

(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)

What are movies? They are not just mere stories, not simply dismissable entertainments, not even the lowest, basest ones. They are our mutual dreams… and nightmares. They howl with our rage and scream with our pain and ache with our hopes. The best of them touch us in ways we sometimes cannot even pinpoint, probably because what has percolated up from the filmmaker’s heart and soul and mind is an expression of that same collective unconscious that is waiting in us to be spoken to. We don’t always know why these films resonate,...

Mindhorn is one of those movies that only works for viewers who are open to it. As a person who is very open to the sense of humor on display here, I found Mindhorn to be one of the most boldly original movies to grace screens thus far in 2017. And it doesn't hurt that the movie comes from one half of the mastermind team behind The Mighty Boosh.

The premise of this film is very much of its time. First off, you must know that Mindhorn is a comedy. However, the comedy isn't as overt as you might expect or hope. As a result, there are going to be people that simply will not get this film. I liken it to the people that love Seinfeld but just don't get Curb Your Enthusiasm. It is essentially the same with Mindhorn. If you love Seinfeld, this film may not be for you.

Get your marmalade sandwiches at the ready as Studiocanal and The Weinstein Company have dropped the first teaser trailer for Paddington 2, which sees the return of Peru's most loveable bear on another set of adventures with the Brown family in London. Paul King, who directed the first big-screen version of the bear in 2014, returns to direct from a script he co-wrote with Mindhorn star and writer Simon Farnaby. Ben Whishaw continues to voice Paddington while other…...

"Surely things aren't that bad?" Netflix has debuted an official Us trailer for their upcoming release of the British cop spoof movie titled Mindhorn. This already opened in UK cinemas earlier this month, and first premiered at the London Film Festival last year, which must mean it's actually way better than expected. Mindhorn is about a washed-up actor named Richard Thorncroft, played by comedian Julian Barratt, who played "Mindhorn" on a 1980s detective show. He has a bionic eye that allows him to literally "see the truth", which is why he has the eye patch. Set in the current day, the film is about Mindhorn returning to the Isle of Man to take on the job of working as a real private detective. This also stars Andrea Riseborough, Essie Davis, Russell Tovey, Simon Farnaby, David Schofield, Nicholas Farrell, Simon Callow, and Steve Coogan. It looks quite entertaining, hopefully the entire...

The Mighty Boosh’s co-creator brings us an idiotic 80s-style detective, a host of supporting talent – and the Isle of Man

The spectres of Bergerac, Steve Austin and Alan Partridge converge in this pathos-tinged comedy from the alumni of The Mighty Boosh that could well be subtitled “Alpha Papa Goes to the Isle of Man”. When a washed-up actor, once famous for playing “the best TV detective ever”, is called back to his old island stamping ground to assist the police in a murder inquiry, he spies a headline-grabbing opportunity: “TV cop helps real cops solve crime!” Lively if somewhat familiar riffs about fading British celebrities with delusions of grandeur ensue, with co-writers/stars Julian Barratt and Simon Farnaby producing just enough dramatic steam to keep this televisual locomotive rolling through a landscape that is alternately madcap, messy and melancholy. The results may be as uneven as the famously changeable Manx weather,...

MaryAnn’s quick take… A wonderfully silly sendup of fandom and nostalgia… and an absolutely hilarious smackdown of actorly pomposity and delusions of celebrity grandeur. I’m “biast” (pro): nothing

I’m “biast” (con): nothing

(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)

You remember Mindhorn, don’t you? The hit 80s British detective show about the detective with the bionic eye that could “see truth”? And his catchphrase was a low rumble of “It’s truth time”? C’mon! It was like The Six Million Dollar Man meets Magnum Pi… except, of course, it was set on the Isle of Man instead of Hawaii, but they’re almost the same place, right? (Spoiler for my American readers: The Isle of Man is a small rugged place in the middle of the Irish Sea. It’s about as far from a tropical paradise as an island can...

Rob Leane May 4, 2017

The Mighty Boosh’s Julian Barratt and Yonderland’s Simon Farnaby talk to us about their Isle of Man action comedy, Mindhorn...

When you get to chat to two comedy geniuses at once, it doesn’t feel much like an interview. It’s more like sitting in on some well-honed hilarity, and trying not to make a tit of yourself when you try and interject with a question. This is what it felt like when I sat down with Julian Barratt and Simon Farnaby for twenty minutes, in a snazzy central London meeting room, to talk about Mindhorn.

See related Denis Villeneuve interview: Sicario, Kurosawa, sci-fi, ugly poetry Dune reboot: Denis Villeneuve confirmed to direct

The film, if you’re unfamiliar, casts The Mighty Boosh alum Barratt as a washed up actor by the name of Richard Thorncroft. His heyday was way back in the 1980s, when...

Starring Julian Barratt (The Mighty Boosh, Nathan Barley), and featuring a host of British comedy favourites, including the film's co-writer Simon Farnaby (Horrible Histories, Yonderland) and Steve Coogan (Alan Partridge), anarchic comedy Mindhorn follows a broken down former TV detective as he's drawn into a real-life murder case. With its uniquely British style and play on the dated quirks of vintage television, the film is reminiscent of cult favorites like Garth Merenghi's Darkplace. Washed-up Richard Thorncroft (Julian Barratt) peaked with hit 1980s detective show Mindhorn, playing the titular Isle of Man sleuth with a robotic eye that allowed him to literally “see the truth”. Decades later, when a deranged Manx criminal demands Mindhorn as his nemesis, Thorncroft returns to the scene of his greatest triumphs...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Julian Barratt and Simon Farnaby re-team for a crime comedy on The Isle Of Man. But is Mindhorn any good?

It’s not very often that a company logo at the start of a film gets a laugh. But the Isle of Man Films one, at the beginning of Mindhorn, really made me chuckle.

Not only was it so pixelated that it made me wonder if anyone at Isle of Man Films had actually seen their logo on a big screen before, but to make things even more surreal, it was followed by the glossy sheen of the Scott Free emblem, pertaining to the production company of four-time Oscar nominee Ridley Scott. What even is this film?

Well, I’m glad you asked, because the 89 minutes that followed me Lol-ing at some logos were a genuine treat to behold. With all its joyous 80s-aping cheese, Mindhorn is a prime example...

The Mighty Boosh man is a crime-fighting ham actor in his and Simon Farnaby’s new comedy. Ridiculous, but that’s nothing compared with his acid jazz years

Julian Barratt, star of Nathan Barley and one half of the Mighty Boosh, is known for playing mopey misanthropes with raging pretentious streaks. These days, though, he is an action hero. He is in an extremely posh hotel in central London to promote his new movie Mindhorn, where, propped up on an easel, there is a large poster of his character doing a high kick against a fiery explosion. But look a little closer, and you can see a pot belly sticking out of Barratt’s camel polo neck, hanging slightly over his grey polyester slacks. This is not your regular action movie. This is Mindhorn: the story of a past-it actor who may just hold the key to a murder.

Author: Guest

The 2017 Loco Film Festival begins in London on the 4th of May at the BFI Southbank. In its 6th iteration the founders of the festival are using their spotlight to focus on the theme of hope.

In this exclusive piece co-founder Jonathan Wakeham talks us through his highlights of the festival, and why we need comedy films now more than ever.

Programming a film festival is like having children: you shouldn’t really have a favourite. But at our sixth Loco London Film Festival it’s hard not to highlight Aki Kaurismäki’s Berlin Best Director winner The Other Side of Hope.

That’s partly because, like all of Kaurismäki’s films, it’s beautifully written, acted and filmed, every frame a perfect composition glowing with his signature rich 1950s colour palette. It’s deeply touching too, spiked with deadpan humour and features many of his regular players...

Author: David Sztypuljak

Mindhorn is set to his UK cinema screens May 6th and to celebrate, we’ve been given the honour of debuting three new stills from the movie. The movie comes from the creator of The Mighty Boosh (Julian Barratt & Simon Farnaby) and among others has Ridley Scott & Steve Coogan with an Executive Producer credit.

Related: Watch the Trailer here

Mindhorn is set to take you right back to the 80s – although set in present day when former TV star Richard Thorncroft (Julian Barratt) and his ‘robotic eye’ are brought out of retirement nearly four decades after his hit TV show aired when a criminal declares Mindhorn his nemesis.

Joining Barratt are Essie Davis, Andrea Riseborough, Harriet Walter, Simon Farnaby and Steve Coogan with Sean Foley in the directors chair.

Check out the brand new images in our gallery below which you can click to enlarge along with...

Exclusive: Netflix has acquired rights outside the UK to British comedy feature Mindhorn. Written by Julian Barratt and Simon Farnaby of cult favorite The Mighty Boosh, the film marks the feature helming debut of award-winning theater director Sean Foley (The Play What I Wrote). Mindhorn will launch in all Netflix territories on May 12, following the May 5 UK theatrical release by Studiocanal. Protagonist Pictures handles sales on the film whose trailer you can check out…...

"You can't hide the truth from Mindhorn." Get ready for this. An official trailer has debuted for a British cop spoof movie titled Mindhorn, which actually premiered at the London Film Festival last year. Surprising for a spoof comedy, but that must mean this is way better than expected. Mindhorn is about a washed-up actor named Richard Thorncroft, played by comedian Julian Barratt, who played "Mindhorn" on a 1980s detective show. He has a bionic eye that allows him to literally "see the truth", which is why he has the eye patch. Set in the current day, the film is about Mindhorn returning to the Isle of Man to take on the job of working as a real private detective. This also stars Andrea Riseborough, Essie Davis, Russell Tovey, Simon Farnaby, David Schofield, Nicholas Farrell, Simon Callow, and Steve Coogan. Have fun. Here's the first official trailer (+ poster) for Sean Foley's Mindhorn movie,...

The Mighty Boosh and Nathan Barley star Julian Barratt stars as the greatest detective who has never actually existed in upcoming UK comedy Mindhorn. Barratt and his former Boosh cohort Simon Farnaby wrote the screenplay for this one and their very odd stamp is evident throughout the tale of a washed up actor called in by police to take on his most famous role - a television detective with a bionic eye that enables him to see the truth - when a serial killer preying on the Isle Of Man insists on speaking only to the fictional character. Washed-up Richard Thorncroft (Julian Barratt) peaked with hit 1980s detective show Mindhorn, playing the titular Isle of Man sleuth with a robotic eye that allowed him to...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Author: Zehra Phelan

There is something quite special about the 80’s when it comes to detective shows, bad hair, bad fashion sense and the icing on the doughnut the hilarious cringe-worthy exaggerated acting that made these shows car crash TV. From the new trailer for Mindhorn, anyone old enough to remember these will be flooded with a whole host of nostalgia.

The trailer show’s a washed-up has-been actor, Richard Thorncroft (played by Julian Barratt) 25 years after he become a household name in the hit TV show, Mindhorn. Grey and balding and belly for of the high-life – time has not been kind. Thorncroft unexpectedly gets a return call to act out his detective-like skills but this time not for any show but to help catch an escaped real life criminal who will only deal with Mindhorn in his negotiations. Packed full of hilarious, yet eye-rolling gags and antics, Mindhorn looks...

The first trailer for new action comedy 'Mind Horn' directed by Sean Foley it stars Julian Barratt, Simon Farnaby, Russell Tovey, Andrea Riseborough, Essie Davis and Simon Callow.

Washed-up Richard Thorncroft (Julian Barratt) peaked with hit 1980s detective show Mindhorn, playing the titular Isle of Man sleuth with a robotic eye that allowed him to literally “see the truth”. Decades later, when a deranged Manx criminal demands Mindhorn as his nemesis, Thorncroft returns to the scene of his greatest triumphs for one last chance to reignite his glory days, professional credibility and even romance with former co-star/paramour Patricia Deville (Essie Davis).

It opens May 5th for Ireland and the UK.

Festival to host 65 UK Premieres, including Terrence Malick’s Voyage Of Time and Raoul Peck’s I Am Not Your Negro.

The full programme for the 2017 Glasgow Film Festival (Feb 15-26) has been revealed.

The festival will host 65 UK premieres, 67 Scottish premieres and nine world and international premieres.

As previously reported, Glasgow will kick off with the European premiere of Handsome Devil, a coming-of-age drama starring Andrew Scott and directed by John Butler (The Stag).

The world premiere of Mad To Be Normal, starring David Tennant as renowned Scottish psychiatrist R.D. Laing, closes the festival. Tennant is expected to attend.

Premieres

Other highlights include UK Premieres of Raoul Peck’s I Am Not Your Negro, Terrence Malick’s Voyage of Time: Life’s Journey [pictured], Cate Shortland’s Berlin Syndrome and Aki Kaurismäki’s The Other Side of Hope.

There will also be first Scottish screenings of Paul Verhoeven’s Golden Globe-winning Elle, Ben Wheatley’s [link...

“American Honey” took the top prize at the 2016 British Independent Film Awards, which was held on Sunday at London’s Old Billingsgate.

“American Honey” was named Best British Independent Film, and also scored three additional awards (including Best Director for Andrea Arnold). Barry Jenkins’ “Moonlight” was the night’s only non-uk winner, picking up honors for Best International Independent Film.

The 19th annual Bifa ceremony, hosted by Jennifer Saunders, also presented Clare Binns with the Special Jury Prize for her “unstinting efforts in bringing independent film to new audiences.”

Naomie Harris was also presented the Variety Award by Danny Boyle, in recognition of the global impact she made this year in helping to focus the international film spotlight on the UK.

Read More: La Film Critics Association Name the Best Films and Performances of 2016

The Richard Harris Award was given to Alison Steadman by Richard Harris’ granddaughter Ella Harris and...

The 2016 British Independent Film Award nominations have been announced, with Ken Loach’s Palme d’Or–winning “I, Daniel Blake” leading the pack with seven nominations. Andrea Arnold’s “American Honey,” Babak Anvari’s “Under the Shadow” and Rachel Tunnard’s “Adult Life Skills” all landed six nods apiece. More than 130 British films were submitted for consideration, and 32 British features have been nominated. Full list:

Best British Independent Film

“American Honey”

“Couple in a Hole”

“I, Daniel Blake”

“Notes on Blindness”

“Under the Shadow”

Best International Independent Film

“Hunt for the Wilderpeople”

“Manchester by the Sea”

“Moonlight”

“Mustang”

“Toni Erdmann”

Best Director

Andrea Arnold, “American Honey”

Babak Anvari, “Under the Shadow”

Ben Wheatley, “Free Fire”

Ken Loach, “I, Daniel Blake”

Peter Middleton and James Spinney, “Notes on Blindness”

Best Screenplay

Andrea Arnold, “American Honey”

Babak Anvari, “Under the Shadow”

Billy O’Brien and Christopher Hyde, “I Am Not a Serial Killer”

Paul Laverty,...

The former Origin Pictures head of film and television will serve as managing director at Ridley Scott’s production company.

Rubin will commence work in January and will expand the company’s activities across film and TV and oversee the strategic and creative direction.

He will work closely with head of film Jack Arbuthnott, head of TV Kate Crowe and head of business and commercial affairs Carlo Dusi.

Rubin departs Origin Pictures after eight years and is being replaced as head of film and television by Hannah Farrell.

“Scott Free London has come of age and continues to grow,” said Scott on Monday. “Ed has a fantastic track record and exactly the right credentials to push this expansion. He joins a formidable team in Kate, Carlo and Jack at a pivotal time in the company’s growth.

“The global landscape for film and TV drama is evolving rapidly and I want Scott Free London to play a...

On the whole, the British comedy movie hasn’t been in the best state lately. The nation that produced Ealing films, Monty Python and “Withnail & I” is mostly down to putting out various ropey TV spin-offs (“The Inbetweeners,” “David Brent: Life On The Road,” “Absolutely Fabulous” et al), and seemingly endless number of films where Maggie Smith or a similar national treasure is withering to somebody.

Continue reading ‘Mindhorn’ Starring Julian Barratt, Essie Davis & Steve Coogan Is A Cult Comedy In The Making [BFI London Film Fest Review] at The Playlist.

From the creator of The Mighty Boosh, comes an unsurprisingly original, outlandish comedy creation, Mindhorn. Julian Barratt stars as the titular TV detective and down-on-his-luck actor Richard Thorncroft, as well as co-writing with previous collaborator Simon Farnaby. Theatre director Sean Foley is behind the camera for the first time in this sporadically funny, flawed romp. […]

The post Lff 2016: Mindhorn Review appeared first on HeyUGuys.

Julian Barratt plays with fanatical gusto a deluded, failed actor given an unlikely chance to redeem his career in this familiarly Partridgean comedy

The comedy of tragic naffness and minor-celeb purgatory takes a horrible new turn in Mindhorn, a farcical nightmare starring Mighty Boosh veteran Julian Barratt and co-written by him and Simon Farnaby. It is directed with a light and playful touch by Sean Foley, making his cinema debut after much admired comic theatre work alongside Hamish McColl in The Right Size stage company.

Related: Julian Barratt: 'I have trouble keeping a lid on the self-hatred'

Continue reading...

Former Rocket Pictures exec joins as studio also promotes commercial director.

Yu-Fai Suen has been appointed managing director of Pinewood Studio’s production arm Pinewood Pictures.

Yu-Fai, who held senior roles at Aramid Capital Partners, Momentum Pictures and most recently Rocket Pictures where he was chief operating officer, takes up the Pinewood post on March 7.

Pinewood Pictures has also promoted Robert Norris from commercial director to senior vice president, a new position to help the company broaden its content offering. Norris joined Pinewood in 2012 from CinemaNX.

Ivan Dunleavy, chief executive of Pinewood Group plc, said: “Pinewood Pictures has benefitted in the last year from growing interest in our offer to independent film and television producers and our ability to introduce funding from our relationship with the Welsh Government and Isle of Man Government. Yu-Fai will be working with the existing Pinewood Pictures team to extend our offer to the wider production community.”

Pinewood Pictures...

Acquisitions exec joins from Goldcrest.

Courtney Noble has joined Pinewood Pictures as its new head of acquisition and development, ahead of the American Film Market (Afm) (Nov 4-11).

Noble joins from Goldcrest Films International, which she joined in January 2013 as head of acquisition and development.

She was previously VP of acquisitions at Fortissimo Films, where she secured Terence Davies’ Sunset Song and oversaw international and world premieres for titles including Winter’s Bone and Martin Scorsese’s Shine A Light.

Robert Norris, commercial director at Pinewood Pictures said: “We are delighted to have Courtney joining the team to help us both develop and acquire great film and television projects, for the Isle of Man, Wales and Pinewood.”

Pinewood Pictures is part of the Pinewood Group, funding TV and film productions, as well as games, on behalf of the Isle of Man Media Fund and The Welsh Government’s Media Investment Budget. It also invests...