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THE MEGASTORE IS BACK… “MAYBE”…
SPOTTED OUT AND ABOUTPHYSICAL MEDIA TOUGHER FOR INDIES… PROHIBITIVE COSTS RULE OUT UK DISC RELEASES… …BOX SET DUE IN US, BUT NOT ON THESE SHORES BALLERINA DANCES INTO CINEMAS… …AND LAST SHOWGIRL TWIRLS INTO STORES… …ANDERSON REVEALS ALL IN DISC EXCLUSIVE… WIN! SPECIAL LAST SHOWGIRL TEE AND DISC SHAMELESS’ DOUBLE ITALIAN WHAMMY SECOND RUN HAS CHOSEN ONE THIRD WINDOW HEADS TO GARDEN EUREKA REVEALS AUGUST TITLES SUPPORT THE RAYGUN
TRAILERS OF THE WEEK 
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It was a good week for… Lilo & Stitch, returning to the big screen in Disney’s new “live action” remake, heading into the half-term week with a three day weekend box office of almost £8 million and almost £13 million since its May 21 opening. Monday’s bank holiday receipts of more than £ million made it the biggest Monday of the year and the biggest Monday ever for a U cert. Worldwide gross is at $341 million…
It’s been a bad week for… Indie labels coming clean on how prohibitive classification costs mean no physical releases on these shores…
We’ve been watching… The excellent Cliff Twemlow doc Mancunian Man, Radiance’s World Noir 3 set, Shameless’ new releases and, on big screen’s Lionsgate’s excellent Ballerina (see below) and Studiocanal’s excellent restoration of Darling (more on that next week`)…
It’s been more than 15 years since the Virgin name disappeared from the High Street as the once mighty Virgin Megastores brand was sold to former staffers as part of a management buyout which turned the 100-plus chain into Zavvi. (That chain eventually fell after the collapse of Woolworths and EUK.) Now, according to interviews with Virgin supremo Richard Branson as well as chief executive of the Virgin Group, Josh Bayliss, the mogul is eyeing a return for the Virgin name to entertainment retail. Speaking around the launch of a revamped arm of the empire, the Virgin Hotel in Shoreditch, east London, complete with a listening room for vinyl junkies and audiophiles branded Hidden Grooves, he said “maybe” it was time to bring back Virgin Megastores to the High Street. He told the Daily Mail: “We used to have a great Megastore in New York. And we may even go as far as reopening some Megastores in other places, because I think people are loving discovering vinyl again, and Virgin could also sell them some holidays, Virgin balloon trips, and a few other things in these Megastores. They're still going in the Middle East, so maybe we can get them going again in the UK. We’ll most likely give it a shot.” Over in the Times, Bayliss said the chain was already eyeing at least one London site for a revamped Megastore, while one source told The Raygun that there were rumours swirling around that it would occupy more than one floor, with one taken up by vinyl and music, including the potential for live events, with further space earmarked for physical media such as Blu-rays. Bayliss told The Times: ““There is something about the human connection rather than it just being an app. The Apple Store remains iconic for a reason.”
We’ve been talking both here on The Raygun an over in our physical media coverage in Film Stories for some time now about the excessive cost of classification for independent labels and how, in some instances, the per minute, flat fees charged by the BBFC are making it almost impossible for Indies to release physical copies of collections of more leftfield product. As one label told us last year, the longer the running time, the more difficult it becomes to release product simply because it is not financially viable. The BBFC has said it is open to discussion and ideas, but nothing has moved, yet It’s become more acute as the market has changed in recent years, but boutique label pioneers such as the late Ron Benson were sensitive to it some years ago – he discussed at length how the hefty running time of Holocaust documentary Shoah almost prohibited its release, as he was being charged the same per minute fee as a Hollywood blockbuster. The BBFC operates a sliding scale for theatrical classification dependent on the number of screens a film opens on, a system many Indies would prefer, even if, initially logistically, it might be difficult to set u benchmarks. Others have questioned the point of the 1984 Video recordings Act – the post-nasties furore legislation that regulates physical media – in a streaming era. A quick look at streaming sites show plenty of material that could potentially fall foul of the act and has been traditionally troublesome for the BBFC – Severin documentary Damaged, looking at video nasty distributor and filmmaker David Hamilton-Grant, is a good example – it’s rated as 16-plus by `Amazon Prime, where it is streaming, but appears to contain content that would have caused all kinds of problems for the BBFC after the act was brought in, and would similarly once have had the Daily Mail foaming at the mouth…
Now the problem for independents has been brought into the spotlight by Severin once more, as the label has laid bare the financial difficulties of releasing physical media in the current climate after announcing a release for a weighty box set looking at UK straight-to-video legend Cliff Twemlow. Tewemlow, the man behind a slew of low budget films shot in the north-west of England in the 1980s and recently the subject of a feature length documentary looking at his work, Mancunian Man – The Legendary Life Of Cliff Twemlow, directed by Nucleus Films’ Jake West. The set, Bloody Legend – The Complete Cliff Twemlow Collection, features the aforementioned doc and all of the films that sometime club bouncer turned filmmaker and artist Twemlow made with a cast of fellow doormen, assorted models, martial artists, variety performers and more, during the 80s, spread across nine discs, with an array of extras and an extra CD of Twemlow’s soundtracks, which he scored himself. The box set will be released in the US on July 29, but will not make it to these shores because of what Severin said were "extortionate costs”. The separate films will get a digital release here – on July 28 – but film collectors, horror and genre aficionados and VHS junkies will have to buy the box set from the US and have it sent to these shores (albeit with postage and import costs lumped on), which further highlights the iniquities of the system.
In a lengthy statement, David Gregory from Severin, who also produced Mancunian Man, outlined the difficulties. He said: “Although we at Severin are exceptionally proud to finally be able to release the full body of work from UK filmmaking legend Cliff Twemlow – all of which has been lovingly and painstakingly restored - we are extremely disappointed to have made the unfortunate decision to not release an official UK physical box set. This is due to extortionate costs involved in classifying the 11 feature films and supporting features, due to the BBFC’s statutory requirement to adhere to the draconian Video Recordings Act, made over 40 years ago in 1984. While we do understand the need to protect younger people from potentially inappropriate material, we feel it is a shame that old films such as these can’t be treated with the supportive guidance of self-regulation, as is this case for releasing media in digital form which does not fall under the Act’s provisions. As one of the UK’s true low-budget maverick filmmakers, we will ensure that every Cliff Twemlow film, will be made available across all relevant UK digital platforms at the same time as the US physical release. We apologise to our UK physical fanbase that this celebration of a true British independent will not be released in Cliff Twemlow’s home country, and physical media collectors can still order the box set from the Severin Films webstore, and other participating online retailers who ship overseas.” We’ll have more on this in the next issue of Film Stories, with more to come here, too…
To the Cineworld at Leicester Square, in the heart of London, for the world premiere of the latest tale from the world of John Wick, Ballerina, due out at cinemas on June 6. It was a proper premiere, all glitz and glamour (the dress code specified “continental chic”) with stars of the film (including John Wick himself, Keanu Reeves, alongside star Ana de Armas and series regular Ian McShane, all in attendance, alongside director Len Wiseman and others from the production team. The event paid off in terms of coverage, you can se some of it here and here, with the coverage further aided by Pedro Pascal turning up from Cannes to support his star pals. Of course, the franchise has been a big hit at the box office and home entreatment and this chapter, which features Keanu Reeves alongside star Armas, is just as commercial as its predecessors – and, is just as much fun and action-packed as the John Wick films, if not more so (some of the set-pieces and ever-inventive kills are ridiculously impressive and drew huge cheers and whoops from the audience… More on this in the weeks and months to come…
One of the big releases for Monday May 26 is from Picturehouse, as the Pamela Anderson-starring The Last Showgirl lands on DVD and Blu-ray on the back of a critically acclaimed theatrical release, Picturehouse’s widest ever, earning more than £700,000 along the way. The film comes complete with an exclusive interview with the former Baywatch star carried out in the UK, and she reveals some absolute gems, not least in that while director Gia Coppola desperately wanted her for the role, her agent (or, as she pointedly notes, her former agent) turned it down without even showing her the script. "It almost slipped through my fingers,” she says. “It did go to an agent of mine, an old agent, who's longer with me. He turned it down within an hour. Gia knew that I probably hadn't read the script if she got it turned down within the hour, and found my son Brandon… [He] brought it to me, and I fell in love with it instantly. I never read a script like this before, I never responded to a material like this, and I just felt it was life or death. I had to do it. It was fate.”
Comment on the release of The Last Showgirl came from Picturehouse's Alice Werdine who said: "We're incredibly excited to be releasing Gia Coppola's spectacular THE LAST SHOWGIRL on DVD and Blu-Ray this week. Following an amazing box office run and led by a dazzling, fearless and unforgettable performance from Pamela Anderson, the film is a beautiful tribute to the iconic Last Vegas showgirl. With a stunning ensemble cast that includes BAFTA-nominated Jamie Lee Curtis alongside Dave Bautista, Brenda Song and Kiernan Shipka, it's truly a must see.“
Lastly on The Last Showgirl, we don't often do competitions on The Raygun, but given that Picturehouse has made some rather stunning-shirts based on the film and offered us a couple to give away, complete with two copies of the film itself on Blu-ray, we couldn’t resist. The tees feature the logo of the club that dancer Shelly (Pamela Anderson) and her pals regularly strut their stuff at, Le Razzle Dazzle. It’s a lovely piece of kit, we’ve been sporting ours around the streets of north London recently (you can see them here). All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning a copy is email tim@theraygun.co.uk with win in the subject line, specifying what size you want. First two out of the hat will win a t-shirt and a Blu-ray. Good luck…
Shameless has a brace of titles due out, with one landing this week on May 26 and the second due next Monday, June 2. Both are classic slices of Italian filmmaking, the first is Contraband, the second Oasis Of Fear. Comment came from the company’s Spencer Garwin Davison, who said: "We thought we’d promote the two films as a pair of rediscoveries of two somewhat lesser-known outings from two of genre film’s finest and fiercest directors. First, on May 26, the Godfather of Gore himself Lucio Fulci with his ultra violent yet un-glamourising Contraband and then [a week later] from Umberto Lenzi - the director of Cannibal-Ferox and architect of shock and depravity cinema - we have his Oasis Of Fear, aka An Ideal Place To Die. Region Free uncut restored and regraded. Dive into the overlooked and rediscover the raw power of Fulci's unflinching violence in CONTRABAND, and Lenzi's signature shock cinema. Two genre titans, two distinct rediscoveries – offering devoted cinephiles rare glimpses into their most overlooked yet compelling visions.”
Other new releases this week include some strong indie fare, including the latest from Second Run, which is adding another Indian title to its catalogue. Running us through Ishanou is the company’s Chris Barwick, who said: “After releasing the beautifully restored The Circus Tent (Thamp) last year, we are happily continuing our association with India’s Film Heritage Foundation with Aribam Syam Sharma’s exquisite Ishanou (‘The Chosen One’). This delicate and poignant film is a window into the Manipuri culture of northeast India, and a favourite of the late, great Derek Malcolm who praised the film when he saw it in Cannes in 1991. Ishanou had vanished from circulation for many years, until becoming part of Film Heritage Foundation’s restoration programme a couple of years ago. Now looking glorious, the film can be seen anew on our world premiere Blu-ray release, and will hopefully find many new admirers. Our disc also has a newly filmed, rare interview with director Syam Sharma who gives insight into the film and its legacy.”
More independent fare, and Asian film experts at Third Window this week released Toshiaki Toyoda's Hanging Garden. Comment came from the label’s Adam Torel, who said: “Celebrating the 20th anniversary of its release, of a film which has remained quite underseen, especially compared to films like Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Tokyo Sonata and Kore’eda’s Still Walking, both of which it pre-dated and could easily said to have influenced. In any case, if you're a fan of either those films and want to see another masterpiece about a broken family in Japan, then Toyoda's Hanging Garden is really worth a watch!”
Forthcoming product news and Eureka has announced titles due on its assorted imprints such as Masters Of Cinema and Eureka Classics in August. As ever, national accounts manager Marcus Garwood talked us through the highlights. Introducing the August slate, he said: “A highly influential film from the silent era, a three-film Wuxia set and some big trouble are the three screen delights we are serving up this August. First up on our Eureka Classics imprint we present Martial Law: Lo Wei’s Wuxia World; a set which comprises of three films from prolific writer and director Lo Wei, namely The Black Butterfly, Death Valley, & Vengeance of a Snow Girl. All three films appear here Blu-ray for the first time in the UK. the set will feature a Limited edition O-card slipcase featuring new artwork by Grégory Sacré (Gokaiju) and a Limited edition collector’s booklet featuring new writing on all three films in this set by Hong Kong cinema expert Camille Zaurin. Disc extras include amongst others) new audio commentaries on all three features by action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema, plus Hong Kong Hustle – a new interview with Hong Kong cinema scholar Wayne Wong on the life and work of Lo Wei. Masters Of Cinema next and a 1929 silent era gem from one of the most important filmmakers France has ever produced, Jean Epstein. Known for directing the first adaptation of The Fall of the House of Usher, Epstein also produced several masterpieces during the silent period, including Faithful Heart (Coeur fidèle). Here we proudly present an astounding 4K restoration by Gaumont Film Company of Finis Terrae, a film which depicts the story of a group of fishermen stranded off the cost of Brittany whilst harvesting seaweed and the cabin fever and malicious intent which develops between them. If the plotline seems familiar you would be correct as this atmospheric maritime tale serves as a forerunner to such films as Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse and Mark Jenkin’s Bait. The release will feature a limited edition O-card slipcase with superbly atmospheric new artwork by John Dunn, a limited edition collector’s booklet featuring a new essay by Jean Epstein expert Christophe Wall-Romana and archival writing by the director will also be provided. Disc extras include Impressions on Jean Epstein – a new interview with film historian and critic Pamela Hutchinson on the life and work of the director, and Stranded – a new video essay on Finis Terrae.
Continuing with the August releases from Eureka and the company’s Marcus Garwood said: “For 4K fans, our third release for August brings the pristine resolution treatment to French auteur Claire Denis' 2001 erotic horror thriller Trouble Every Day. A dark and lyrical rumination on the pleasures of the flesh, Trouble Every Day is a remarkable work of extreme cinema that challenged critics and audiences upon its release before it came to be lauded as a modern classic. We are releasing via two separate & strictly limited edition's, one being a dual format containing both the 4K UHD and Blu-ray discs. Housed in a hardbound slipcase featuring new art by Ash Weaver-Williams and also including a 60-page collector’s book featuring new writing on Trouble Every Day by Anna Bogutskaya, Amy C. Chambers and Laura Mee with an introduction by Peter Sloane, editor of ReFocus: The Films of Claire Denis, plus a set of facsimile lobby cards. There will only be 3,000 copies available of this particular edition, so getting in early on that pre-order button is going to be vital on this one. The same urgency applies to the other Blu-ray only standard edition, which will be even more limited, with just 1,000 units being made available. Both editions will not be reissued once sold out.”
   Mission: Impossible The Final Reckoning, all over London landmarks…
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TRAILERS OF THE WEEK
One of the greatest documentaries about filmmaking due on 4k…
More Momoa
The franchise returns…
Here’s that Cliff Twemlow box set trailer…
Back to the Zoo…
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