Martin Freeman News

[Carol the Dabbler]

Here's a list of Mr. Freeman's upcoming productions, including a couple of feature films that are set to open in just a few weeks or months (depending on where you live):

 

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (formerly known as Fun House or Taliban Shuffle, a US feature film) -- March-June 2016 (4 March in US, 22 April in UK)

 

Captain America: Civil War (a US feature film) -- late April / early May 2016 (29 April in UK, 6 May in US)

 

Official Secrets (a US feature film) -- in pre-production, so no release dates yet

 

Start Up (a ten-part drama series) -- this doesn't even appear to be on IMDb yet, but here's the preliminary news from Variety

 

Ghost Stories (apparently a UK feature film) -- according to Empire, won't even start filming till September

 

Funny Cow (a UK feature film) -- as of January, still in pre-production limbo

 

[Arcadia]

I was flipping channels earlier and had a moment of surreality: there was "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!" "But it hasn't even been in theaters yet!" thought I. Turned out to be the title of an episode of NCIS. And it was at that point I finally realized what the title means...

 

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

I was flipping channels earlier and had a moment of surreality: there was "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!" "But it hasn't even been in theaters yet!" thought I. Turned out to be the title of an episode of NCIS. And it was at that point I finally realized what the title means...

 

You should re-read your old posts now and then.   :D 

 

... I just "got" the movie's title.

 

Hint:

 

It's based on the military alphabet code -- Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, etc.

 

?? I like Taliban Shuffle better. ;)

 

... or am I missing some deeper meaning? 

[Arcadia]

And it was at that point I remembered what the title means.... :d

[Carol the Dabbler]

Arrrgh!  I just noticed that Whiskey Tango Foxtrot opened (here in the US) yesterday.  So here I go, avoiding reviews till I get a chance to see it -- heaven knows when....

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

Alex and I just got back from seeing Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, and we both liked it a lot.  I'm not going to review it, but here are some random comments:
 
I've put the DVD (currently available for pre-order) on our wish list.  I've always had trouble understanding speech when there's a lot of background noise, and this movie is full of that -- so I'm particularly looking forward to the (presumed) subtitles.
 
Martin Freeman has more screen time than I had anticipated, and makes very good use of it.  I love his character (even though it turns out he's more or less fictitious).  Despite Freeman's misgivings, I thought his karaoke scene was good (but it's basically used as background).
 

According to IMDb, [this movie is] "Rated R for pervasive language, some sexual content, drug use and violent war images," and in the UK it's a 15.

 
Language -- check, but no more than one might expect from people in such situations.
Some sexual content -- check, but no more than you could easily find on broadcast television.
Drug use -- well, I suppose that wasn't tobacco in the hookah, so check, but it's not emphasized.
Violent war images -- check, and I suspect that is what actually got the R rating.  This is a war movie, so the violence is definitely there, but it's not "in your face" like the scenes I object to in Elementary.

[Arcadia]

Was it funny?

[Carol the Dabbler]

Oh, sorry, yes it is.  Laugh-out-loud funny in spots, sweetly humorous in others -- though not all the time, of course.

 

Martin Freeman said in a video interview that it's not a comedy as such, it's more of a serious movie where funny things happen.  I might actually call it a comedy myself, but it's certainly not a farce.  It's the sort of thing I like best, drama with levity and/or comedy with its feet on the ground.

 

[Arcadia]

K, thanks. And yay! That's the kind I like too. Now to see if anyone in my tiny circle of friends wants to see it ... although this might be one I don't mind going by myself.

[Carol the Dabbler]

There was one scene where I was glad to have Alex in the next seat -- but it was very short.  Yeah, I'd say it's a perfectly good go-by-yourself movie.  And if it's either that or miss it, then by all means see it solo.

 

Also, I forgot to say that while it's clearly not a feel-good movie, it's not a nihilistic downer either (as some war films are).  There's a feeling throughout that hope is reasonable, and the ending is upbeat -- not pollyanna-ish, but realistically upbeat.

 

[Arcadia]

Yes, that's important to me too ... there's too much real world sadness, don't want it in my entertainment too.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Oh, and this is the first movie I've seen Billy Bob Thornton in where he didn't give me the creeps.  (Apparently the creepiness was mostly acting -- I wasn't sure till now!)

 

[Arcadia]

:d I'm laughing because I know exactly what you mean....

[Carol the Dabbler]

"Stick Man," the animated special aired in the UK last holiday season, has won two awards, including one for the actor who voiced Stick Man himself, namely Martin Freeman.  The show is currently available for streaming and/or download from Amazon.

[Arcadia]

Hmmm, I may have finally found something to use those Google Play gift cards for.....

[Carol the Dabbler]

And if anybody's got Amazon Prime, it's free. 

[Carol the Dabbler]

As Alex and I have just discovered, Amazon's new definition of "download" is virtually indistinguishable from their definition of "streaming" -- you don't end up with a video file, you merely get to watch.  But fortunately, A] we're currently doing a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime, so it didn't cost us anything, and B] Amazon UK offers a DVD (hooray!).

 

[Arcadia]

When the heck did this happen? Martin's in a new series called up "Start up", on a channel I've never heard of called "Crackle." Complete with a very believable American accent. Here's the trailer.....

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_XSewKQQa0

[Carol the Dabbler]

Well, we did know about it in January.  But that's been a while.

 

Variety reports that Martin Freeman will star in a new ten-part drama series, Start Up, for Sony's internet streaming service Crackle.  He plays Phil Rask, an FBI agent specializing in financial crimes.  Filming starts this week in San Juan, Puerto Rice (which doubles for Miami, where the show is set).

 

And wow -- that's a whole 'nother kind of American accent for him!  Before, his characters have been from the northern tier of states (northern Illinois, Minnesota, New York).  This guy's from somewhat further south.  I'm gonna enjoy listening to him -- assuming that I can find a way to see the show.

 

[Arcadia]

Does Miami have a specific accent?

 

Looks like a great role. But I'm already ticked off at the number of gratuitous shots of the barely clad female body.... (two, I think, but it only takes one to tick me off... :p )

[Carol the Dabbler]

Does Miami have a specific accent?

Presumably, but I doubt that's it. Sounds to me more like Freeman's character is from somewhere -- urban, not rural -- in the middle of the country.

 

Looks like a great role. But I'm already ticked off at the number of gratuitous shots of the barely clad female body.... (two, I think, but it only takes one to tick me off... :P )

You're waiting for a gratuitous shot of a barely clad male body?  ;)

 

[Arcadia]

It's only fair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Van Buren Supernova]

I agree.

[Arcadia]

Found this: some of Martin's upcoming projects. Alas I have zero interest in zombie or horror movies, but I really like the sound of the Harrison Ford one.

 

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cannes-martin-freeman-boards-zombie-890741

[Carol the Dabbler]

Also, as I accidentally posted on the Captain America thread last night, Funny Cow is now a go, and will start production this October.