by Brooke Varney
Although this year’s London BFI Film Festival has just started, festivities are already in full swing, with star power in full force. With premieres scattered throughout the eleven days, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
The premiere for The Imitation Game was held on Wednesday night, with stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Kiera Knightly walking the red carpet at Leicester Square. The two looked absolutely dashing despite having to battle the elements, which attempted to mess up Miss Knightly’s perfectly done hair. It obviously takes much more than a little wind and rain to make Keira look anything less than gorgeous, as she looked positively dreamy in a gold lace Valentino Fall 2014 Couture gown, complete with diamond chandelier earrings and pink suede pumps. The film, a biopic of mathematician and genius Alan Turing ended up being just as good as its stars looked, already being considered a possible Oscar candidate. It’s an incredible true story of how one man managed to decipher the Nazi code of Enigma to eventually win WW2 for Britain, but there is the sad reality of a homophobic England which is the tragic part of the story. Brilliant cast of British actors, including Mark Strong and Charles Dance, this is one to watch; Click here to watch the trailer!
Benedict Cumberbatch is quite the gentlemen as he shields both him and Keira Knightley from the rain.
Don’t fret if you missed last night’s premiere, as there are lots more to come over the festival’s remaining days. On Thursday, October 9 the premiere for Jason Reitman’s Men, Women & Children will also be held at the Odeon in Leicester Square for the Virgin Atlantic Gala. The film, which stars Adam Sandler, Ansel Elgort, Rosemarie DeWitt, Jennifer Garner, and Judy Greer examines the impact that social media, online games, and elicit sites have on the lives of both teenagers and adults as they inspire dark impulses within them. The audience sees the story lines and characters of the film interconnect, as overlapping dialogue with emails, instant messages, tweets and Facebook posts flash onto the screen. Click here for tickets!
Based off of Cheryl Strayed’s bestselling 2012 memoir, Wild is set to premiere at the May Fair Hotel Gala on October 13 in Leicester Square. Reese Witherspoon stars in the film as Cheryl, as she attempts to make the grueling 1,100-mile hike across the Pacific Crest Trail. Recovering from a difficult breakup, she takes on the hike for which she is ill-prepared physically and emotionally. Throughout the journey, she reflects on her past through flashbacks of her drug addiction, and the grief she still experiences while trying to come to terms with the death of her mother. Gutsy and vulnerable, Reese shines in this starring role. Click here for tickets!
Premiering on October 14 at the Centerpiece Gala at Odeon Leicester Square, Testament of Youth is based on Vera Brittain’s beloved World War I memoir. The highly intelligent and free-spirited Vera goes against the narrow-minded expectations of her parents, receiving a scholarship to Oxford. After meeting Roland, a friend of her brother’s who shares Vera’s literary aspirations, she falls head over heels in love with him. However, as World War I begins, Roland and Vera’s brother are shipped off to war, causing Vera to delay her Oxford dreams and become a nurse. She works tirelessly, experiencing every aspect of grief the war has to offer, and eventually returns to Oxford a changed woman. Click here for tickets!
The American Express Gala will be held on October 16 at Leicester Square, where Bennett Miller’s riveting drama Foxcatcher is set to premiere. Along with Miller, expect many stars to attend, including Steve Carrell, Channing Tatum, Sienna Miller, and Mark Ruffalo. The film is based on the story of the tumultuous relationship between wrestling world champions Dave (Mark Ruffalo) and Mark Shultz (Channing Tatum). As Mark finds difficulty with gaining independence form his brother, mysterious multi-millionaire benefactor John E. duPont (an unrecognizable Steve Carrell) impulsively invites him to stay and train at his sprawling property. The events that ensue cause the situation to rapidly deteriorate, as the film parallels the action in the ring with the menacing, inexorable thrust of this profoundly haunting story. Click here to buy tickets!
Closing the festival on October 19 in Leicester Square, David Ayer’s Fury is equipped with an all-star cast, including Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, and Logan Lerman. Set during the last months of World War II when Allies were making their final push into Germany, a battle-hardened army sergeant named Wardaddy (Brad Pitt) commands a Sherman tank and her five-man crew on an extremely dangerous mission behind enemy lines. As an untrained rookie named Norman (Logan Lerman) is thrown into the crew, pushed beyond his limits and forced to confront the reality of combat. Although Wardaddy has a tough exterior, he identifies with Norman’s struggles and works to deal with his own inner demons. Click here to check for available tickets!
Click here to check out all of the films premiering at the BFI London Film Festival!