Posts by: Simon Brew

Podcast | There Will Be Blood (2007), plus Mike Leigh

by Simon Brew | Jan 27, 2025 | Podcasts

Paul Thomas Anderson and the not-always-easy shoot of There Will Be Blood. Plus, a long chat with Mike Leigh as Hard Truths lands…...

Sony to stop making Blu-ray discs for good

by Simon Brew | Jan 24, 2025 | News

Sony confirms it is ceasing production of Blu-ray discs, MiniDV cassettes, and MiniDiscs for recording. More on the story here....

Podcast | In conversation with Barry Sonnenfeld: Coen Brothers, The Addams Family, Get Shorty, books, wearing two watches, a whole lot more

by Simon Brew | Jan 24, 2025 | News, Podcasts

Barry Sonnenfeld joins Film Stories with a clickbait-free, longform podcast special - from the Coen Brothers to Get Shorty, and beyond....

Kazoo Films | New UK company set to distribute family animated films in cinemas

by Simon Brew | Jan 23, 2025 | News

The company behind The Amazing Maurice is launching a new UK firm - Kazoo Films - to bring more family animated films to cinemas....

Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2 | American premiere finally confirmed

by Simon Brew | Jan 23, 2025 | News

Kevin Costner's Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2 is to get its American premiere at last, nearly six months after its planned release....

139 movie sequels currently on the way

by Simon Brew | Jan 22, 2025 | Feature

Hollywood still loves its follow-ups - here's our round-up of 139 (and counting) sequels currently on the way....

Wife & Dog | Guy Ritchie’s new film adds a starry cast

by Simon Brew | Jan 22, 2025 | News

Guy Ritchie now has three films on the go, as he adds Cosmo Jarvis to a cast already boasting Rosamund Pike and Benedict Cumberbatch to Wife &...

Netflix | Prices set to increase again in the US, UK next?

by Simon Brew | Jan 22, 2025 | News

Good news! Netflix wants more money for its films and TV shows, as subscription prices take a notable hike in the US....

Wicked | Universal reportedly sent a note with a minimum volume request for cinemas

by Simon Brew | Jan 21, 2025 | News

Wondered why Wicked might be on the loud side at your local cinema? Turns out there's been a 'minimum volume' request....

Gerry Anderson’s Space Precinct getting 30th anniversary Blu-ray release

by Simon Brew | Jan 21, 2025 | News

Gerry Anderson's Space Precinct is coming to Blu-ray for the first time, thanks to a brand new box set. More here....

Podcast | The Producers (1967) and Fierce Creatures (1997)

by Simon Brew | Jan 20, 2025 | News, Podcasts

Two comedies. Two difficult productions. One flat-out classic. The stories of The Producers and Fierce Creatures are explored in this episode....

Santa Claus: The Movie and Jaws 2 director Jeannot Szwarc dies, aged 85

by Simon Brew | Jan 17, 2025 | News

French director Jeannot Szwarc has died, it’s been announced. He was 85 years old....

Mel Gibson, Sylvester Stallone, Jon Voight to be Donald Trump’s ambassadors in Hollywood

by Simon Brew | Jan 17, 2025 | News

Donald Trump appoints Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson and Jon Voight as his Hollywood ambassadors. Nothing could go wrong....

Josh Gad | Sort-of-memoir, In Gad We Trust, is now on sale

by Simon Brew | Jan 16, 2025 | News

Actor Josh Gad's book, In Gad We Trust, has now gone on sale, and includes some of his own film stories. More here....

A history of annoying ways cinemas make you pre-book tickets

by Simon Brew | Jan 16, 2025 | Feature, News

Cinemas want you to pre-book your tickets. Historically, cinemas have also not made this job particularly easy....

Six | Hit musical heading to UK cinemas this Easter

by Simon Brew | Jan 15, 2025 | News

A filmed version of hit musical Six is heading to UK cinemas in April, with the original West End cast of the show involved....

Heretic | UK 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release, arriving next month

by Simon Brew | Jan 14, 2025 | News

Hugh Grant headlines Heretic, which is coming to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray in the UK in February. More details here......

Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion 2 | Fresh update on sequel

by Simon Brew | Jan 14, 2025 | News

Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino are set to return for Romy & Michele's High School Reunion 2 - and there's been script progress....

Dirty Harry, Pale Rider, The Outlaw Josey Wales coming to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

by Simon Brew | Jan 13, 2025 | News

Three Clint Eastwood favourites - led by Dirty Harry - are coming to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray in the UK, and are up for order....

Podcast | Black Adam (2022) and Draft Day (2014)

by Simon Brew | Jan 13, 2025 | Podcasts

In the new Film Stories Podcast: the sun sets on a run of DC superhero movies with Black Adam. And could the 2014 American football film Draft Day...

Dead Man’s Shoes | Plans for 4K release scuppered, Blu-ray still coming

by Simon Brew | Jan 10, 2025 | News

Shane Meadows' stunning Dead Man's Shoes isn't getting a 4K remaster, but plans remain afoot for a new Blu-ray. More here....

Podcast | In conversation with Steven Knight: Maria, Birmingham, boiled eggs, Google searches

by Simon Brew | Jan 10, 2025 | News, Podcasts

Steven Knight joins us for a podcast special, as Maria - which he wrote - hits cinemas. And there's a whole lot of conversation to be had....

Warner Bros | Big shake-up underway behind the scenes

by Simon Brew | Jan 09, 2025 | News

Changes at senior levels within Warner Bros are announced, following a disappointing year at the global box office....

Scream 7 | Either hell froze over, or the sequel finally started shooting

by Simon Brew | Jan 08, 2025 | News

Kevin Williamson confirms that filming has finally begun on Scream 7, after a development process full of self-inflicted wounds....

UK box office 2024 round-up: sequels, British successes, a lot of Wicked

by Simon Brew | Jan 07, 2025 | News

UK and Ireland box office takings in 2024 hold steady, but sequels dominate the top ten chart for the year. More here....

Kill Bill Vol 1 and 2, Jackie Brown heading to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

by Simon Brew | Jan 07, 2025 | News

Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown, and his Kill Bill films, are coming to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray in the UK this March. More here....

Brett Ratner | Set for first film since sexual misconduct allegations

by Simon Brew | Jan 06, 2025 | News

Brett Ratner, accused of sexual misconduct, is directing a film about Melania Trump, married to a man accused of sexual misconduct....

Amadeus | 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release confirmed for February

by Simon Brew | Jan 06, 2025 | News

Milos Forman's Amadeus is arriving on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray next month for the first time, and more details are here....

Podcast | Scarface (1983), plus Robert Eggers

by Simon Brew | Jan 06, 2025 | News, Podcasts

The 1983 remake of Scarface, starring Al Pacino, is revered now, but it had a difficult journey to the screen. Plus: a long chat with Robert Eggers....

The Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl joke that got Alan Titchmarsh’s permission

by Simon Brew | Jan 03, 2025 | News

Aardman got permission from Alan Titchmarsh for a tiny joke in Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. More here....