Interview with Inbetweeners 2 stars, Simon Bird and Joe Thomas

Interview with Inbetweeners 2 stars, Simon Bird and Joe Thomas

The lads were in New Zealand for the premiere of their Australia set movie and took some time to chat about the end of it all, what's next for them both and to share some of their stories about how they treated director Iain Morris...

You've been in the roles now of Will and Simon since 2008, has it been fun - and is it still fun after nearly 7 years? 
Simon Bird - Well, yeah, but it's coming to an end, is the sad thing. Yeah, we did say it last time, but every time we've said we meant it, it wasn't like a line. We genuinely didn't realise the first film would be such a massive hit and we thought that fans of the show would see it, but not that it would be this kind of monster blockbuster success.

Joe Thomas -Even after that we were a bit reluctant to follow it up.

SB - We didn't want to ruin the first film's legacy, we only wanted to do it if we thought we could top it. We did this second one as a bonus, a thank you to the fans but we knew going into this it would be the end, because it's about characters who are at a certain age, and we can only do that for so long - I think it's come to its natural conclusion

Are you worried about being stereotyped in those kinds of roles?
JT - The answer is yes, but the typecasting thing, what I think about it is is that it's about actors not wanting to be typecast. I don't have a problem playing to my strengths and I'd rather do something that audiences like and I'd rather be in things that are successful and I wouldn't take a role that was different just to prove a point. I like comedy and funny stuff. Sometimes, you're funny in a different way and it's hard to do that but I do hope I get some work...

You're being modest, as you've both had TV shows like Fresh Meat and Chickens as well...
JT - Yeah, true. Fresh Meat was lovely to work on, it's about going where the good writing is. And Sam (Bain) and Jesse (Armstrong) are amazing. They had an incredible track record with Peep Show and I thought this can't be bad, that was brilliant. Chickens was an immensely pleasurable thing to make - it was a privilege to work with Simon and we had just great people. We had Ben Palmer from the Inbetweeners to work on that and that was great fun.

What did you enjoy most about the shoot - I've heard you mercilessly teased director Iain Morris?
SB - Those were the best moments for us; the worst moments for him were the best moments for us. Definitely.

JT - We were incapable of taking the idea of them being directors seriously. Which is pathetic but they were basically like our playmates for the three series and the first film. They were on set constantly and they were there to make sure it was funny. I knew that I shouldn't have been finding it so funny that they were in charge, but I just couldn't help myself. We did used to take the mickey out of them a lot....

SB - It's important work and somebody had to do it.

JT - There was one day when Iain was really up against it to get a shot and we were doing a bit about trying to find a director who could get us out of this mess, asking the crew if anyone had got any mates in the industry. It ended up with us saying we were going to dig up a body from the graveyard and that could be the director... What was bad about that was that we were 2 feet away from Iain and he could hear this conversation, which must have been unbelievably aggravating as he was trying to have this serious discussion with the DoP. You are right - I am ashamed.

Did you always envisage the show would be this popular - three series and 2 movies..
SB - No, we didn't think it would get recommissioned. When we were making the first series, for a new channel in Britain, with writers who'd never written before and we'd never done any acting before so it was an experiment, but we thought that would be it. I had no concept of the show being as popular as it was and it's sort of grown at every stage. For us to be in New Zealand promoting the sequel to our number one movie is, erm, flabberghasting.

JT - When we did the first series, I thought my fellow actors were very funny but I thought there must be more to it than that and obviously, weirdly that seemed like reasons we may fail - we're not a professional outfit, we're just some people. We are friends, we do have a rapport that is similar to the characters. It's about how basically groups of lads are trying to get laughs off each other; there's something incredibly sweet about that but they need that recognition from the others that they are funny and it's also sweet they're constantly having the piss taken out by each other that they just accept it if it's funny. That's the nice element of male friendship, that's funny and people get over things. There's emotion there underneath but it's never acknowledged or brought out into the light.

There's a high level of humiliation and gross out this time around - particularly for your two characters - did you push for more or less during it?
SB - The moments that are most embarrassing for a character are not necessarily that embarrassing for us to do; I think quite the opposite as we're always excited to read the scripts and see those moments because they're the ones that are memorable and people will find the most funny. It's better that we push for them, not just so we want gross out moments for gross out sake but because it's also a strength of Iain and Damon's. Only they could have pulled off having a poo going down the water slide moment in quite the way they did.

JT - My favourite bit of the film is where the poo flies in his face. There's a sort of Jaws moment; it's almost like a kind of drawing on a King Kong style moment where Will is like "I'm a human but you're running from me". The OST there I really like and I can see a poo going in your face in lots of films but it's the aftermath of Will being "Please" and seeing this lonely beast with a glint of humanity in his eyes - I can only see them doing that. That's a testament to them having an acute sense of what's funny.
SB - There's a certain warmth and sweetness for the characters and a bleakness that's definitely there.

What's next professionally for you both?

JT - Don't know to be honest, I'm writing a couple of things and they're both at the fairly early stage but I'm hoping that they'll go somewhere. I'm not in a mad rush. I feel that this has been a really lucky thing to have been involved in and it's put me in a really good position but I want to keep working with good talented people and like Fresh Meat and follow really good writing and just try and surround myself with talent so I've got a chance of being in something good, but there's nothing yet - my next major project, I don't know is the truth.

SB - Ditto. None of us have got anything lined up but that's what's great about the Inbetweeners - this gives us a year to sit back and re-calibrate.

The Inbetweeners 2 hits New Zealand cinemas on August 28th.

2000th post - Take a look at Doctor Who: Deep Breath

2000th post - Take a look at Doctor Who: Deep Breath

For my 2000th post on this blog, I thought I'd give you an exclusive look at Doctor Who: Deep Breath the first episode of the TV series, bowing in the UK this weekend.

Starring Peter Capaldi as the Doctor and Jenna Coleman as Clara, there's plenty of expectation on this latest series, what with the introduction of a new Doctor.

So, here's a preview of Doctor Who: Deep Breath coming soon...

Tracks: DVD Review

Tracks: DVD Review

Rating: M
Released by Universal Home Ent

Based on the memoir by Robyn Davidson, this is the sixth attempt to make a film of her 1,700 mile trek across the deserts of Western Australia, with nothing more than a few camels and a faithful dog ( as well as some demons from her past)

Wasikowska stars as Davidson, a woman whose dogged determination to get what she wants is clear from the start; she detests the company of other humans, preferring to connect with just her lab Diggity and the camels she's so desperate to claim as her own.
But when Davidson pitches her idea of the trek to National Geographic to get some money, she ends up being saddled for parts of the journey with a photographer called Rick Smolan (Girls' Adam Driver, all big hair, big glasses and goofy one liners), which proves to be an unwanted thorn in her side.

However, she sets off on the trek, with animals in tow - but also, a heap of personal demons to deal with among the crushing distance and weight of personal expectation.

Tracks is a terrifically shot travelogue, a piece which reminds us sometimes the journey is about the journey, rather than just the destination.

Wasikowska's cold Robyn takes a while to warm to (sample line - "Nice people confound me" - she's selfish, yet wildly self-sufficient and reliant only on what's around her in the Aussie outback and her own inner strength to try and complete the journey. She takes on an arc as you'd expect on a journey like this - and Wasikowska is totally spellbinding as she negotiates the highs and lows of the trek, making the exploits of an ordinary person seem nothing short of exceptional and inspirational.

The rapport with Adam Driver's Rick Smolan isn't an easy one and you really end up feeling for the guy as he tries to break down her barriers and destroy her reticence to other human beings. Inter-spliced with flashbacks to Robyn's childhood, Curran effectively dripfeeds the reasons why she's such a cold fish and grounds her in a level of understanding that's relatable.

Sure, there are a few oddballs among the way - but a friendship struck with an Aborigine who speaks only 3 words of English adds an odd level of kinship that's sorely needed as the film progresses on its relatively solo journey.

As you'd expect from this, the cinematography is the star with Curran catching the danger and the beauty of the outback with stunning ease; throw in a couple of cranky camels as well for good measure, a comradeship with a trusty old pooch and you've really got something a little bit special with Tracks.

Rating:

Doctor Who New Zealand airdate revealed

Doctor Who New Zealand airdate revealed

Fans of Doctor Who need hold their (Deep) breath no longer.

Prime TV has revealed this afternoon when the first episode of the new Peter Capaldi series will air.

Sunday August 31st at 7.30pm on PRIME is when you can expect to see the brand new series, starring Peter Capaldi making his debut as the Doctor and Jenna Coleman as Clara.

Five new Doctor Who images featuring Peter Capaldi as the 12th Doctor and Jenna Coleman as Clara have shown up in a new issue of Entertainment Weekly.

The shots are below for you to enjoy:

Here's your first look at the Doctor Who Series 8 Full length trailer



With the brand new series of Doctor Who, starring Peter Capaldi and Jenna-Louise Coleman about to materialise on our screens, EW.com has the first look at the 12th Doctor in the opening episode Deep Breath.

Deep Breath also stars the Paternoster Gang and as you can see from the image, appears to be set in Victorian Times.

Doctor Who hits the UK on August 23rd at a rumoured time of 8pm for the feature length episode Deep Breath, directed by Ben Wheatley.

Take a first look at Peter Capaldi as the Doctor and Jenna Louise-Coleman as Clara.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – 35min Gameplay Demo

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – 35min Gameplay Demo

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – 35min Gameplay Demo

Sit back, relax, and enjoy this 35 minute gameplay footage from The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt!

You can view the 35minute gameplay demo below:

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is scheduled to launch across Australia & New Zealand on February 24^th, 2015 and will be available on PC, PlayStation®4 and Xbox One.

The GTA Online San Andreas Flight School Update Now Available

The GTA Online San Andreas Flight School Update Now Available

You think you've got what it takes to be awesome? Want to take yourself to the absolute limit – hell, past the limit – and live to high-five on the other side? Get yourself down to The San Andreas Flight School. Grab the stick of the fast and nimble Western Besra training jet and push it to the edge of the envelope. Master absolute air superiority in 10 new solo missions that will make you comfortable in any pilot’s danger zone, including combat manoeuvring, low-flying challenges, formation flying and more.

Once it’s ‘mission accomplished’ and you’re out of your heroic new Flight Suit, spend your shore leave buzzing the skies in the luxury Swift helo, or cram your entire squad into the new 16-seater Buckingham Mil-Jet for team transport in style. Hit the silk with a collection of new Chutes and Parachute Bags, and if things get a little out of control, rely on the Reserve Parachute to give you a second chance at that soft landing – or use it to get creative with your precision dives. Later, hit the streets in the shapely Invetero Coquette Classic, available in either hard-top or topless roadster variants for whatever your sea-level speed fix.

And round up your wingmen for new Races, Captures, Parachute Jumps and more, including the three all-new VS Mission modes. Acquire Targets is a kill-the-carrier style mode where opponents fight in P996 Lazers to control one flag; maintain control for as long as you can to rack up points. In G-Rating, compete against other cadets as you fly to pick up 15 flags in both weapons hot and cold environments. Or try out Air Force Zero, where the defending team must protect an aircraft against an attacking team as it flies to the safe LZ.

​

The San Andreas Flight School Update for GTA Online is now available via automatic update 1.16 for both PS3 and Xbox 360. In addition to everything listed above, today's update also includes a number of other adjustments and fixes for GTA Online. Most notably, all Contact Mission GTA$ and RP awards have been rebalanced so that more difficult missions will earn you greater rewards, GTA$ payouts on replays are no longer reduced and all rewards are now time scaled. For a look at all the changes in this update, please check out the full dossier at Rockstar Support.

Stay tuned for more details on continuing updates to GTA Online, and look out for specifics later this week on the upcoming Event Weekend to commemorate the launch of the San Andreas Flight School Update.

Non-Stop: Blu Ray Review

Non-Stop: Blu Ray Review

Rating: M
Released by Sony Home Ent

It's to the skies that Liam Neeson takes in this thriller, which promises twists and turns and suspense aplenty amid the Seatbelts sign being switched on.

A grizzly and wearied looking Neeson plays Bill Marks, a burned out veteran of the Air Marshals service, who's assigned to a flight but would rather be in his car, drinking. Troubled and definitely not a people person, Marks views his time in the air as a necessity and a distraction rather than a chance to save the passengers within from any incoming threats.

Though, his day takes a turn away from the routine when he receives a page on his secured network pager, telling him that unless he pays $150 million, someone on the plane will die. And he has just minutes to sort this - now, the clock is ticking and everyone on a crowded transatlantic flight is a suspect....

Non-Stop is a thrill ride that gets some parts right, and other aspects wildly wrong.

With shades of Passenger 57 in terms of idea, there's plenty of meat on this premise to be explored - and Neeson does a great job of selling it, committing wholeheartedly to the at times, creaking story. Along with Downton Abbey's Lady Mary (aka Michelle Dockery) as an airline stewardess and Julianne Moore as a mysterious woman sat next to Marks on the flight, the cast is incredibly solid and convincing as the story takes a turn for the absurd when the motivation for the hijacking is revealed.

Occasionally the sense of paranoia is ramped up with shades of Flight 93's passenger heroics thrown in for good measure as those seated in economy rise up and revolt against Marks' apparent paranoid delusions; and Neeson plays those scenes well. The tension's quite well held together initially as you try and work out who is responsible for what's going on - and to be frank, every possible twist is exploited and turned about as far as it can go for the benefit of the film. There also moments when Neeson exploits those particular action acting skills that he so honed on the Taken films to ensure there's an ass-kicking ahead when it's needed in among the ludicrous dialogue and growing absurdity of the situation.

Eventually though, there's an unbeatable element of silliness which creeps in - Marks makes a ludicrous offer of international travel for all for a year and a couple of other things happen which will make you guffaw, but all in all, the high flying Non-Stop just about holds it together with its 80s action thriller vibe, complete with stereotyped characters. (Just you wait until the scene where American news media gets hold of the story that an Irishman has apparently hijacked a flight...)

It just about - but barely - works due to Neeson's committed performance and playing it diabolically straight, leaving you questioning whether he's telling the truth as the layers of the puzzle are revealed; he makes the irrational seem totally irrational as the exposition comes flying thick and fast. Granted, the final reveal is a bit of a contrived out of left-field let down.

Non-Stop is very much like a plane journey - it's a claustrophobic thrill ride if you're prepared to check your brain at the departure gate; strap yourself in for the long haul and expect a lot of turbulence on the way. It's highly implausible and utterly ludicrous in parts - and the ending makes you feel a little like you were put in economy after being treated like business class for parts of the ride.

Rating: