2005 London Film Festival preview

The 49th London Film Festival is shaping up to be the best yet

Oct 14 2005

With so much to look forward to at the now imminent 49th London Film Festival it is hard to know where to begin, so where better than the Opening Night Gala screening of Fernando Meirelles' brilliant 'The Constant Gardener' on Wednesday October 19?

The Brazilian director of 'City of God' will be on hand to introduce his new film alongside lead actors Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz, setting the ball rolling on a cinematic celebration lasting 16 days and nights.

Over the course of that fortnight more than 180 feature films and 130 shorts will show in 13 venues right across this fair city, closing November 3 with the equally superb political/press intrigue-thriller 'Good Night, and Good Luck' from George Clooney.

Taste buds tickled yet? Well, there’s plenty more where those came from and more that will leave you positively bouncing off walls like a child fuelled up on E numbers.

But first let's pull out another big gun in the form of The Times Gala screening of the eagerly anticipated Johnny Cash biopic 'Walk the Line' starring Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon.

Whatever your poison there is something for everyone to dip a toe into and bask in the liquid-warm choice of quality movies.

If some crazed Hollywood noir/buddy/dark comedy is your bag then look no further than Shane Black's 'Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang' starring Val Kilmer as a gay private detective and Robert Downey Jr as a hapless actor/thief.

Black himself will be on hand for one of The Times Screen Talks for public cross-examination, as will Terry Gilliam who has his new film 'The Brothers Grimm' showing, Pierce Brosnan (no doubt fielding more than a few Bond questions) and the wonderful Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal.

Should you prefer your films blissfully sugar-coated then perhaps Cameron Crowe's 'Elizabethtown' will fit the bill, or how about Steve Buscemi's 'Lonesome Jim'?

Kirsten Dunst and Susan Sarandon will be in town to help Crowe introduce his new film, but the big names bringing prestige to the big smoke does not stop there with the likes of director John Madden and Gwyneth Paltrow ('Proof'), Claire Danes ('Shopgirl'), John Hurt ('Shooting Dogs') all due to turn out.

And how about those Brit flicks? Well look no further than Michael Winterbottom's 'A Cock and Bull Story' and Julian Fellowes' 'Separate Lies' for starters.

Then there is the international contingent (read: non-Brit/US) and if this is more your flavour then fear not because as expected the LFF has brought together a truly world-class selection of pictures in every sense.

The Palme d'Or winning 'L'Enfant' will be showing, as is the final instalment of Park ('Old Boy') Chan-Wook's revenge trilogy 'Sympathy for Lady Vengeance'.

We could go on and on and on but that would just take all the fun out of discovering some of the hidden gems for yourself.

So consider this an introduction, or a beginners guide to some of the filmic joy to be had at this year's London Film Festival.

For information on screening times, venues and booking click here.

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