Tag: John Madden

BETAMAX: THE MOVIE

HOLLYWOOD – From the makers of V/H/S, comes a film of unmentionable horror: Betamax.

Bloody Disgusting and Magnet Releases announced today that a follow-up to V/H/S: Viral is already in production. As with V/H/S and V/H/S 2 – Betamax will be an anthology film, featuring the work of seven different directors. However, in a departure from the previous films, the directors will all come from non-horror backgrounds.

Tom Hooper is noted for his prestigious productions of The King’s Speech and Les Miserables. But is now one of the biggest talents involved in the project.

He spoke exclusively with the Studio Exec this morning:

I have never been a particular fan of the horror genre – although some have told me that the idea of Russell Crowe singing still keeps them awake at night, ha ha! But no, I’m not a fan of horror, but I did like the idea that I should try my hand at something new. And there was money.

Joining Tom Hooper is joined by Shakespeare in Love director John Madden, as well as esteemed social realists Mike Leigh and Ken Loach.

Madden said:

Firstly, we should be the more refined and ultimately superior quality version of what the earlier films were doing in a more grungy way. Plus the chances are that just like the real Betamax, no one will actually see this film.

The Dardennes Brothers declined as they wish to go forward with a rival project: Laser Disc.

Betamax will be released in 2018, but only in Betamax format.

THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL UNRATED VERSION

LONDON – A new extended hardcore version of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is to be released on blu-ray and DVD later this week, which will include scenes of unsimulated sexual intercourse, S&M orgies and animal torture.

The Director’s Cut comes with a special warning that the contents are only suitable for an adult audience. The film’s director John Madden said it was an opportunity for him to go back to ‘the pure vision of sex and violence of the novel’ and which he claimed was massacred by the editing team for commercial motives. Madden said:

The marketing people got hold of our film and they saw Judi Dench and Maggie Smith and Bill Nighy and they decided to go after the grey dollar basically. Out went the orgies, out went the savage violence, the scenes of necrophilia and the amoral and extremely cynical view of racial relationships between the white English middle class and the Indians. What we were basically left with was something that was twee and utterly forgettable. They went from Pasolini to passe.

Judi Dench and Tom Wilkinson have both expressed their delight that the scene where they murder a monkey for fun has been restored. ‘It sums up the nihilism of our characters,’ said Dame Judi Dench. ‘I think it’s utterly delightful.’ 

The Best Exotic Marigold Hostel Unrated is available to buy on DVD and Bluray and Digital Download from iTunes.

ONLY GOD FORGIVES ‘BASICALLY A REMAKE OF BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL’
















COPENHAGEN – Nicholas Winding Refn has revealed that his Drive follow up and Cannes contender Only God Forgives has taken as its inspiration The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. The Pusher director commented:

I already had the script of Only God Forgive written when I saw The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and immediately I saw the thematic similarities of a violent clash between East and West, man and woman. I immediately rewrote the script to bring it more in line.


John Madden – director of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and other comfortably carpeted films such as Shakespeare In Love – said that he was flattered by the attention paid to his films:

I know Nicholas’ work very well and it is difficult for me to believe he could have found anything inspiring in my well worn but pleasant little film. And yet he is adamant that my film is the true inspiration for his so, with that in mind, I can only feel great pride. Mystification naturally, but also pride.  

The Great Dane (as Refn prefers to be known) said:

My film will obviously be a bit more violent, because basically I haven’t got the courage of John just to let the story tell itself and I need to drag the audience into my world via such flummeries. I tried to cast the same actors but Bill Nighy was doing every other film this year and had quite a full schedule and Judi Dench slapped my face, which I took as a personal honour.

Only God Forgives will première at the 66th Cannes Film Festival.