Lots of movie awards around recently with the Academy Awards on Monday 5 March. Some good films, not all suitable for school of course! http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-24/2018-oscar-nominee-list/9355532
The shape of water (MA15+) has had great reviews. Directed by Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s labyrinth) and nominated Best Director. This fantasy film, a ‘fairy tale for grown-ups’, tells the story of the love between a woman who cannot speak and a creature imprisoned in a water tank at a government laboratory.
Three billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri (MA15+) is very powerful with strong themes and great performances, especially by Frances McDormand (nominated Best Actress). A lot of swearing though.
I, Tonya is an innovative and intriguing film and Margot Robbie is fabulous in it (nominated Best Actress). Allison Janney, playing her mother, is superb and will most likely win Best Supporting Actress. MA15+ with lots of swearing so not really suitable for schools.
Lady bird, directed by Greta Gerwig (nominated Best Director), stars Saoirse Ronin (nominated Best Actress), depicts the turbulent bond between a mother and her teenage daughter. Rated M so should be ok for senior high school.
Get out (MA15+) was certainly entertaining and original with an excellent twist, but may be considered too violent for school.
Dunkirk was an excellent war film and kids love Coco the animated Pixar film, where a young boy is accidentally transported to the land of the dead and his musical ancestor helps him return home. Ferdinand (based on the book) is also nominated – a gentle bull refuses to participate in bullfighting but is forced back into the arena.
http://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-43133872
2018 films based on Young Adult books
http://www.betterreading.com.au/book_list/ya-film-adaptations/
An interesting list. Includes:
Ready player one
Based on the sci fi novel by Ernest Cline. Directed by Steven Spielberg. Stars Ben Mendelsohn and Simon Pegg. In a dystopian future, a young man and his friends must solve a series of deadly puzzles to beat an evil corporation that wants to take control of the popular virtual world known as Oasis. Opens March.
https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Ready-Player-One-Movie-What-We-Know-So-Far-120497.html
Every Day
Based on the groundbreaking book by David Levithan. Stars Angourie Rice. A shy teenage girl falls in love with a mysterious spirit who wakes each morning in a different body, living a different life each day. Fifteen actors, male, female and transgender, portray the spirit. Opens April.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/david-levithan-every-day_us_5a84bf94e4b0774f31d1cef8
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt7026672/
Love, Simon
Based on the novel Simon vs the homo sapiens agenda by Becky Albertalli. Stars Nick Robinson and Josh Duhamel. A not-so-openly gay teenager tries to balance friends, family, an anonymous email penpal and a blackmailer who threatens to out him to the entire school. Opens March.
The bright future of queer literature is the young adult novel: https://www.gq.com/story/the-bright-future-of-queer-literature-is-the-young-adult-novel
Mortal engines
Based on the fantasy book by Philip Reeves; screenplay by Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh. Stars Robert Sheehan and Hugo Weaving. In a post-apocalyptic steampunk world , entire cities have been mounted on wheels and motorised, preying on each other for resources. Opens Dec.
http://www.philip-reeve.com/mortal-engines/
The darkest minds
Based on the series by Alexandra Bracken. In a dystopian future, children who survive a deadly disease develop strange abilities and are locked away in camps. Opens August.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Darkest_Minds_(film)
Queen of shadows
TV series based on the best-selling Throne of glass books by Sarah J. Maas. A female teenage assassin journeys through a corrupted kingdom with a tyrannical ruler. To be released early 2019.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Throne_of_Glass
http://sarahjmaas.com/throneofglass/
Chaos walking
Based on the first book in the series by Patrick Ness. Stars Daisy Ridley and Tom Holland. Set in a dystopian world where all living creatures can hear each other’s thoughts, in a stream of images and sounds known as Noise. To be released early 2019.
Good shows on TV in 2018
Free-to-air, Foxtel and streaming. The handmaid’s tale season 2 (SBS April); Genius (Antonio Banderas as Pablo Picasso; Nat. Geographic); Hard sun (end-of-the-world, Ch.7); Runaways (based on the graphic novels; Fox); Troy: fall of a city (Netflix).
Australian productions: Picnic at Hanging Rock (Showcase in May); Interview with Andrew Denton (series; Ch.7); Olivia Newton-John: hopelessly devoted to you (Stars Delta Goodrem; Ch.7); Mystery Road (based on the film; ABC); Jimmy Barnes: working class boy (doco; Ch.7).
https://thewest.com.au/entertainment/tv/what-to-watch-in-2018-ng-b88731469z
New TV series sci fi & fantasy
Altered carbon
Based on the novel by Richard Morgan. Future humans do not die – their consciousness is transferred to a new synthetic body. Now on Netflix.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altered_Carbon_(TV_series)
The first
Stars Sean Penn. A team of astronauts colonises Mars.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/sean-penn-star-hulus-beau-willimon-space-drama-1041275
Philip K. Dick’s electric dreams
10 stories based on the works of Philip K. Dick. On Stan now.
https://www.stan.com.au/watch/electric-dreams
The umbrella academy
Based on the graphic novel by Gerard Way. Stars Ellen Page as the only member of a dysfunctional family who doesn’t have some kind of supernatural ability. Netflix 2018.
https://www.altpress.com/news/entry/gerard_way_netflix_umbrella_academy_day_one_first_look
Maniac
Stars Emma Stone and Jonah Hill. Two patients at a psychiatric hospital escape into a fantasy world. Netflix 2018.
More sci fi and fantasy TV: http://www.syfy.com/syfywire/18-new-tv-shows-we-cant-wait-to-watch-in-2018-superman-space-and-sandals