The second episode of HBO's new miniseries, "The Casual Vacancy," begins with a funeral. As the people of Pagford, a bucolic English village set amid burbling streams and emerald meadows, pour into the old stone chapel at the center of town, the set piece emerges as a microcosm of their fractured community. Conservative parish council chairman Howard Mollison (Michael Gambon) sports an ornate necklace; doctor Parminder Jawanda (Lolita Chakrabarti) wears a lavender sari; angry, abusive working man Simon Price (Richard Glover) hides behind dark Aviators; simpering school reformer Colin Wall (Simon McBurney) puffs on his inhaler. Though sketched in broad terms, the sequence is nevertheless a provocative clash of race and class as seen through the veneer of propriety, and no one is quite innocent except for the man in the coffin. A potent, tragicomic parable of austerity Britain, "The Casual Vacancy," adapted by Sarah Phelps from J.K. Rowling's novel and directed by.
- 4/28/2015
- by Matt Brennan
- Thompson on Hollywood
Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy is her first book for adults, and the first trailer for an upcoming HBO adaptation of it makes that abundantly clear. “Look at my tits,” one character crows as others drop F-bombs, drink, smoke, fight each other and generally get up to other Nsfw shenanigans. Whether that’s an accurate representation of the plot or a sneak peek meant to be exceptionally shocking remains to be seen.
The three-part miniseries has certainly assembled enough strong performers to put it on any self-respecting TV snob’s radar. With Michael Gambon, Keeley Hawes, Rory Kinnear, Monica Dolan and Julia McKenzie, not to mention unproven actress Abigail Lawrie, in the cast, and Jonny Campbell sitting behind the camera, it could stand a chance of awards attention in the coming Emmy season – provided that screenwriter Sarah Phelps has captured the jet-black humor of Rowling’s novel.
The three-part miniseries has certainly assembled enough strong performers to put it on any self-respecting TV snob’s radar. With Michael Gambon, Keeley Hawes, Rory Kinnear, Monica Dolan and Julia McKenzie, not to mention unproven actress Abigail Lawrie, in the cast, and Jonny Campbell sitting behind the camera, it could stand a chance of awards attention in the coming Emmy season – provided that screenwriter Sarah Phelps has captured the jet-black humor of Rowling’s novel.
- 3/27/2015
- by Isaac Feldberg
- We Got This Covered
Yesterday, the first trailer for the upcoming miniseries, The Casual Vacancy, arrived to deliver a brief glimpse into the seedy underbelly of a small English village. A dark, moody teaser that began with the faces of its cast dappled with glorious summertime sunshine, things soon soured in the final few seconds. For those expecting an adult retread of Harry Potter be warned; this looks set to stray far from creator J.K. Rowling’s magical roots.
Along with the delivery of the teaser came word of the show’s UK release, which is now extended to include details of its U.S. release. The three-part adaptation will be made available to American audiences via HBO in April. Parts one and two are scheduled to debut back-to-back on Wednesday April 29th, followed by part three the next night, Thursday April 30th.
Based on the 2012 novel by Rowling, the show stars Michael Gambon,...
Along with the delivery of the teaser came word of the show’s UK release, which is now extended to include details of its U.S. release. The three-part adaptation will be made available to American audiences via HBO in April. Parts one and two are scheduled to debut back-to-back on Wednesday April 29th, followed by part three the next night, Thursday April 30th.
Based on the 2012 novel by Rowling, the show stars Michael Gambon,...
- 2/4/2015
- by Gem Seddon
- We Got This Covered
Though J.K. Rowling hasn’t been stingy about giving Harry Potter fans ever more to whet their insatiable appetites, her post-Potter work has almost scoffed at the idea of witches and wizardry. Her first follow-up novel The Casual Vacancy was a profane satire of British class and politics in a story about a councilman who suddenly passes away and is in need of a replacement via an election.
BBC One has adapted the book into a three-part miniseries toplined by Dumbledore himself, Michael Gambon. Though the show does not yet have a confirmed air date, the first trailer for the series has arrived. Here’s the trailer, and read the full plot description of the show via BBC One below:
The Casual Vacancy centres on Pagford, a seemingly idyllic English village with a cobbled market square and ancient abbey. Behind the pretty façade however, is a town at war: rich at war with poor,...
BBC One has adapted the book into a three-part miniseries toplined by Dumbledore himself, Michael Gambon. Though the show does not yet have a confirmed air date, the first trailer for the series has arrived. Here’s the trailer, and read the full plot description of the show via BBC One below:
The Casual Vacancy centres on Pagford, a seemingly idyllic English village with a cobbled market square and ancient abbey. Behind the pretty façade however, is a town at war: rich at war with poor,...
- 2/3/2015
- by Brian Welk
- SoundOnSight
Since the last Harry Potter film landed in 2011, fans of franchise creator J.K. Rowling have clung to the possibility of further magical exploits for Harry and co. While Rowling is hard at work scripting Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them, which will centre on a young magician named Newt Scamander, it’s only set in the same world and won’t feature the original trio. So perhaps a more satisfying dose of Rowling’s creative output can be found in the next screen adaptation of her work, The Casual Vacancy.
A wholly different undertaking than the Hogwartsian adventures littering her most popular series of books, The Casual Vacancy stems from one novel. And it’s aimed at adults. Adopting a somewhat more mature style which caters to a different demographic, the BBC has now adapted the book into a three-part miniseries. `
Based on its story, it’s about as...
A wholly different undertaking than the Hogwartsian adventures littering her most popular series of books, The Casual Vacancy stems from one novel. And it’s aimed at adults. Adopting a somewhat more mature style which caters to a different demographic, the BBC has now adapted the book into a three-part miniseries. `
Based on its story, it’s about as...
- 2/2/2015
- by Gem Seddon
- We Got This Covered
Up to three low-budget features will be greenlit from the 12 selections.
La Biennale di Venezia has unveiled the 12 projects selected for the third round of the Biennale College - Cinema programme.
They attended the first workshop in Venice from Oct 4-13. Further workshops will be held in December and January, and up to three of the features will be greenlit to screen at the Venice International Film Festival in 2015.
The College has backed previous low-budget features including Memphis, Short Skin and Blood Cells.
The group of participants hail from Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, France,, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Sri Lanka, the Us and the UK.
The selections, with information provided by the Biennale, are:
Baby Bump – Kuba Czekaj (director, Poland), Madgadalena Kaminska (producer, Poland): a story centred on the fear of puberty and the sexual transformation of an eleven-year-old. As his body changes, a dark and fantastic world begins to take hold of his life...
La Biennale di Venezia has unveiled the 12 projects selected for the third round of the Biennale College - Cinema programme.
They attended the first workshop in Venice from Oct 4-13. Further workshops will be held in December and January, and up to three of the features will be greenlit to screen at the Venice International Film Festival in 2015.
The College has backed previous low-budget features including Memphis, Short Skin and Blood Cells.
The group of participants hail from Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, France,, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Sri Lanka, the Us and the UK.
The selections, with information provided by the Biennale, are:
Baby Bump – Kuba Czekaj (director, Poland), Madgadalena Kaminska (producer, Poland): a story centred on the fear of puberty and the sexual transformation of an eleven-year-old. As his body changes, a dark and fantastic world begins to take hold of his life...
- 10/14/2014
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
Harry Potter star Michael Gambon is reuniting with the author on whose books the movies were based, J.K. Rowling. Gambon will topline the HBO/BBC three-part miniseries The Casual Vacancy, the adaptation of Rowling’s follow-up book to the Harry Potter series. Also starring in the mini are Keeley Hawes (Line Of Duty), Rory Kinnear (Skyfall), Monica Dolan (Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa), Julia McKenzie (Notes On A Scandal), and Rufus Jones (Bil). Directed by Jonny Campbell from a script by Sarah Phelps, Casual Vacancy centers on Pagford, a seemingly idyllic English village with a cobbled market square and ancient abbey. Behind the pretty façade, however, is a town at war: rich vs. poor, teenagers vs. parents, wives vs. husbands, teachers vs. pupils. Gambon plays Howard Mollison, owner of the Pagford delicatessen; Dolan plays Tess Wall; McKenzie plays Howard’s wife, Shirley Mollison; Jones plays Howard’s son, Miles Mollison; Hawes plays Miles’ wife,...
- 6/6/2014
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
"This night is dedicated to everyone who believes in a future of peace and freedom."
Conchita Wurst's Eurovision victory was truly heartwarming television and one in the eye for more closed-minded sections of the European community.
Europe has fallen in love with the drag queen and her Shirley Bassey-esque 'Rise Like a Phoenix' stormed to victory, beating all the bookies favourites to take the Song Contest to Austria in 2015.
Here are some of the best reactions to the win on Twitter.
It's only a song contest but tonight it showed talent can overcome prejudice and ignorance. Well done Conchita - I am glad I saw that moment
— John Bishop (@JohnBishop100) May 10, 2014
Just a song contest, I know, but the world feels a little kinder & more civilised at the end of this one (+it was the best song) #eurovision
— Pete Paphides (@petepaphides) May 10, 2014
We're with @danisnotonfire - Conchita Wurst...
Conchita Wurst's Eurovision victory was truly heartwarming television and one in the eye for more closed-minded sections of the European community.
Europe has fallen in love with the drag queen and her Shirley Bassey-esque 'Rise Like a Phoenix' stormed to victory, beating all the bookies favourites to take the Song Contest to Austria in 2015.
Here are some of the best reactions to the win on Twitter.
It's only a song contest but tonight it showed talent can overcome prejudice and ignorance. Well done Conchita - I am glad I saw that moment
— John Bishop (@JohnBishop100) May 10, 2014
Just a song contest, I know, but the world feels a little kinder & more civilised at the end of this one (+it was the best song) #eurovision
— Pete Paphides (@petepaphides) May 10, 2014
We're with @danisnotonfire - Conchita Wurst...
- 5/10/2014
- Digital Spy
Revisiting 18 years of pop culture, from the Strokes to the early hipster, plus lots of Charlie Brooker
2000: Nasty Nick
Charlie Brooker's first Screen Burn "Hate your job? Weep yourself awake each Monday morning? Spend the working day toying with your desktop icons while nonchalantly contemplating suicide? Ever considered doing something – anything – else? Then whatever you do, don't look to the coming week's television for inspiration. Tucked away in the schedules are four glaring examples of the very worst careers imaginable this side of "oil-rig bitch". First up servile pandering, or "being a butler", as it's commonly known..."
Macy Mania Macy Gray has a (fleeting) moment. "The latest craze is precisely what Macy Gray has become. The first bona-fide pop phenomenon of the new millennium. Right now, the world and its uncle appear infatuated with her. She's bigger than big. And getting bigger all the time."
2020 vision Danny Leigh...
2000: Nasty Nick
Charlie Brooker's first Screen Burn "Hate your job? Weep yourself awake each Monday morning? Spend the working day toying with your desktop icons while nonchalantly contemplating suicide? Ever considered doing something – anything – else? Then whatever you do, don't look to the coming week's television for inspiration. Tucked away in the schedules are four glaring examples of the very worst careers imaginable this side of "oil-rig bitch". First up servile pandering, or "being a butler", as it's commonly known..."
Macy Mania Macy Gray has a (fleeting) moment. "The latest craze is precisely what Macy Gray has become. The first bona-fide pop phenomenon of the new millennium. Right now, the world and its uncle appear infatuated with her. She's bigger than big. And getting bigger all the time."
2020 vision Danny Leigh...
- 1/5/2013
- by The Guide
- The Guardian - Film News
Nicky Wire has criticised young bands for not saying anything with their music. The Manic Street Preachers bassist made the comments in conversation with journalist Simon Price and former MP and Stop The War Coalition president Tony Benn for music website The Quietus. Asked by Price if pop culture has the power to get messages across, Wire said: "I'm a true believer that it does and I spend my life dedicating myself to doing it, because a lot of the time it's really hard to do and you make a mess of it and they're awful songs. "I think when you get it right it's the (more)...
- 9/15/2010
- by By Mayer Nissim
- Digital Spy
Former Creation Records boss Alan McGee has had an online spat with Manic Street Preachers biographer and journalist Simon Price. After he recently Twittered McGee to insult Oasis, Price commented on his attendance at Tina Turner's comeback tour. McGee wrote: "F*** off Simon, was it a nostalgia tour from the '60s you went to see?" Price responded: "Yeah, sorry Alan, I can't compete with your rigorous futurism." McGee responded: "I know Simon I read your articles", to which Price replied: "Good one. Is this the same anti-nostalgia Alan who took out a full page ad about how important the Sex Pistols reunion tour was?" The feud continued with Price claiming that McGee had (more)...
- 3/6/2009
- by By Mayer Nissim
- Digital Spy
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