Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
An all-new adventure returning us to the wizarding world created by J.K. Rowling. The film marks the screenwriting debut of J.K. Rowling, whose script was inspired by the Hogwarts textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, written by her character Newt Scamander. Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne stars in the central role of wizarding world magizoologist Newt Scamander, under the direction of David Yates. The story opens in 1926 as Newt Scamander has just completed a global excursion to find and document an extraordinary array of magical creatures. Arriving in New York for a brief stopover, he might have come and gone without incident…were it not for a No-Maj (American for Muggle) named Jacob, a misplaced magical case, and the escape of some of Newt’s fantastic beasts, which could spell trouble for both the wizarding and No-Maj worlds.
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The true story of Irma Humpel, portrayed by Simoné Nortmann, a stubborn tomboy who ends up at the altar with the boy who relentlessly teased her when she was a young girl. She was convinced that independence was the only form of freedom, but all of a sudden Sampie de Klerk (Francois Jacobs) starts challenging her convictions on all levels. Quentin Krog, director of the film, says: “I’m excited about the audience who’s going to watch the film. I’m excited about the idea of transporting them to a different time and era. To make them laugh, cry and fall in love. To entertain them.”
The tale of The Snow Queen was based on the original classic fairy tale written by Hans Christian Andersen and first published in 1845. The story centres on the struggle between good and evil as taken on by a little boy and girl – Gerda and her brother Kai. The Snow Queen 2 picks up the tale. After their victory over the Snow Queen, the trolls have developed a taste for freedom. Having played a major role in the triumph, the troll Orm has become a hero to all. This is not enough for him, however. Comically exaggerating his exploits and achievements, he spins a web of lies, claiming that he personally defeated the Snow Queen, and that he is destined to marry the princess and inherit great power and riches. But where will Orm’s stories lead him? The English-language voice cast features Sharlto Copley as Orm, Bella Thorne as Gerda, Isabelle Fuhrman as Alfida and Sean Bean as General Arrog. Thorne also sings an original song for the film.
A woman (Greta Gerwig) falls in love with a married man (Ethan Hawke), then devises a strategy to reunite him with his former wife (Julianne Moore) three years later. It is terrifically funny and enjoyable – a metropolitan comedy in the former high style of Woody Allen, directed with elegance and dash by Miller and co-scripted by her with publisher-turned-screenwriter Karen Rinaldi
The final production of 2016 from Branagh Theatre Live is John Osborne’s powerful post-World War II play, The Entertainer. Staged at the famous Garrick Theatre in London’s West End, and featuring some of Britain’s renowned stage actors, this ‘cinema event’ is set against the backdrop of post-war Britain, John Osborneʼs modern classic conjures the seedy glamour of the old music halls for an explosive examination of public masks and private torment. Rob Ashford directs this production with Kenneth Branagh as the unforgettable Archie Rice. Also featuring in this production are Greta Scacchi as Archie’s cheated-on wife Phoebe, Gawn Grainger as his ex-showman father Billy, Jonah Hauer-King as Archie’s conscientious-objector son Frank, and Sophie McShera as his passionate and politicised daughter Jean
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