#eiff 2016

[stephengrahamappreciation]

Screenkicker Meets… Actor Stephen Graham and Director Michael Lennox

One of the pleasing surprises of the 2016 Edinburgh Film Festival for me was the Belfast set black comedy drama A Patch of Fog from first time feature director and fellow Northern Irishman Michael Lennox.

I went to meet Lennox and Graham for an interview about the movie. What followed was horror stories about snake fights, tales of shooting in Belfast, and the constant presence of Stephen’s hulking, skin-headed, friend who he cryptically only ever referred to as “our kid”. We all sat down for a fascinating chat about this excellent gem.

[stephengrahamappreciation]

Whether it be his roles in British fare like Snatch, The Damned United and This Is England, or prestigious American epics like Gangs of New York, Publ...

Whether it be his roles in British fare like Snatch, The Damned United and This Is England, or prestigious American epics like Gangs of New York, Public Enemies and HBO's Boardwalk Empire, Stephen Graham has become one of the country's best actors. His latest film, Belfast-set thriller A Patch of Fog, sees Graham play a lonely security guard who becomes obsessed with Conleth Hill's shoplifting author. It's another great performance from Graham and I caught up with him at this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival to talk about his new film, weird fan experiences, working with Scorsese and more.

[stephengrahamappreciation]

A Patch of Fog (2016) – EIFF 2016 Review

OK, here’s a little game for you all to quickly play. Name one film, that stars a regular Game of Thrones cast member, and isn’t shit. Not easy is it. We had Emilia Clarke in the…

A Patch of Fog is an original, dark, funny film that is carried by the chemistry and performances of its two leads Hill and Graham. It’s also a great showcase for Hill, as he’s brilliant throughout with great comic timing and great line delivery. As a pitch-black comedy with a killer twist the movie works brilliantly as the tension and therefore absurdity are ratcheted up right until a very fitting finale. A Patch of Fog is very much recommended by Screenkicker.

[stephengrahamappreciation]

Irish director Michael Lennox – Oscar nominated in 2015 for his short film Boogaloo and Graham – makes his feature debut with A Patch of Fog, a suitably murky Belfast-set thriller.

Graham’s performance smartly teeters on the brink of creepy and there’s always the sense that his sad, lonely Robert could turn to violence. It’s another excellent performance from Graham as he manages to find pathos while blackmailing someone into being his friend. He’s fully believable as an isolated, socially awkward man whose perception of what is acceptable has become skewed. He seizes his chance to ensnare Sandy and not only make a friend but also get a taste of a life he’ll never lead. ...

Nonetheless, the performances from Hill and Graham, as well as Lennox’s ability to sustain tension and a foreboding tone carry the shakier parts of the script, ultimately making A Patch of Fog a gripping thriller that remains compelling throughout. 

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EIFF 2016: Away Review

EIFF 2016: Away Film Review

  Movie Review: Away (2016) UK Release Date: 7 October 2016 Running Time: 110 minutes Rating: TBC Director: David Blair Writers: Roger Hadfield Cast: Juno Temple, Matt Ryan, Timothy Spall   David Blair (The Messenger) directs British acting giant Timothy Spall (Mr Turner) along with the impressively versatile; Juno Temple (Len and Company), in a crime thriller that delicately weaves the themes of…

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EIFF 2016: Ithaca Review

  Movie Review: Ithaca (2016) Running Time: 96 minutes Rating: TBC Director: Meg Ryan Writers: Erik Jendresen, William Saroyan (Novel) Cast: Alex Neustaedter, Jack Quaid, Sam, Shepard, Meg Ryan, Tom Hanks, Molly Gordon, Hamish Linklater   Based on William Soroyan’s novel ‘The Human Comedy’ (which is a thematic retelling of Homers 8th century epic Greek poem ‘The Odyssey’), Ithaca centres on a…

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EIFF 2016: My Feral Heart

  Movie Review: My Feral Heart (2016) Running Time: 83 minutes Rating: TBC Director: Jane Gull Writers: Pamela Marin, Kevin Cook Cast: Will Rastall, Shana Swash, Steven Brandon, Pixie Le Knot, Eileen Pollock, Suzanna Hamilton,Will Rastall   Luke is a happy-go-lucky, fully independent young man living with Down’s syndrome. Despite being the soul carer for his elderly and infirm mother, Luke lives…

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EIFF 2016: The Fundamentals Of Caring (2016)

EIFF 2016: The Fundamentals Of Caring (2016)

Paul Rudd is Ben, a carer. He’s just passed the course, he’s still working out some personal issues, and his first job puts him in charge of Trevor, a young man with a seriously debilitating muscular disease. Trevor likes to pretend to be choking on food, he likes to make things difficult when Ben is trying to help him on to the toilet, and he likes to generally make fun of people who…

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