Paul Giamatti

News, Reviews & Features

Love & Mercy

Movie Review | Matt Looker | 26th June 2015

The Beach Boys: squeaky-clean surfers, or the subjects of sordid sex scandals, substance abuse and psychotic breakdowns? Whatever your level of familiarity with these endless harmonisers and their incredible off-stage history – fatherly abuse, drugs, rivalry, death, links to Charles Manson, drummer Dennis Wilson falling out with lead singer (and cousin) Mike Love and then marrying his daughter – the chances are that you don’t know the whole history…. because, frankly, there’s just so much to tell. Any Beach Boys biopic just couldn’t possibly do justice to their entire 53-years-and-counting career. Thankfully, this new film focuses on band figurehead and recognised musical genius, Brian Wilson. And even then, it still feels like just a drop in the ocean.

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The Congress

Movie Review | Becky Suter | 12th August 2014

Talk about kicking a girl whilst she's down. Just moments after staring longingly at a younger version herself on the poster for The Princess Bride in the opening minutes of The Congress, Robin Wright is scolded by her agent (Harvey Keitel) for continually making lousy choices in her career as well as life, then by a studio head for having the audacity to get old. Clearly The Congress isn't afraid to make a difficult point, but its problem is that it wants to make so many of them.

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Giamatti Downton role to comprise one photobomb

TV News | Ed Williamson | 5th December 2013

"His schedule was a bit tight, so we just got him to photobomb Shirley MacLaine and the guy who was a paedo headmaster in that episode of Cracker," confirmed Julian Fellowes, through mouthfuls of roast swan. "His hat is from my own collection. It is fashioned from pure gold."

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Saving Mr Banks

Movie Review | Ed Williamson | 26th November 2013

As obvious an awards tilt as Disney knows Saving Mr Banks to be, it seems more of a mid-budget passion project. How better to venerate its beloved founder than have cuddly ol' Tom Hanks play him? But transparent self-promotion aside - this is Disney, after all - what's really interesting is how it plays out as white-washing advocacy for the process of Hollywoodizing a popular product, using emotion rather than reason to sweep you along and make you root for the studio. And the fact that the film is itself a Hollywoodization of true events.

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Parkland

Movie Review | Rob Young | 18th November 2013

The assassination of John F. Kennedy on November 22nd 1963 is still a source of huge debate. As the 50th anniversary approaches, investigative journalist-turned director Peter Landesman cares not for conspiracy theories, second gunmen, magic bullets, grassy knolls or book depositories. Instead, he's just happy to brag about how much more he knows about JFK than we do.

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Merry fucking Christmas!

Movie News | Luke | 7th September 2013

1) Why have they crossed out the word 'bright' and replaced it with the word 'bright'? 2) Why is a Christmas film coming out in September? 3) Why am I questioning a buddy comedy where Paul Giamatti and Paul Rudd channel the Wet Bandits? All Is Bright looks great. (poster via IMP Awards)

UPDATE: Ali has pointed out the scribbled out text says 'bullshit'. Therefore ignore me, I am an idi-oh you already have.

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Giamatti to turn Downton into quirky indie flick

TV News | Ed Williamson | 24th June 2013

Following its casting of Paul Giamatti, Downton Abbey is to become one of those endearingly quirky indie comedy-dramas he's always bloody in, it has emerged.

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Win Win

Movie Review | Anna | 22nd May 2011

Paul Giamatti is the perfect put upon everyman with his hangdog face, protruding beer gut and sleep deprived eyes. There's nothing remotely glamorous about Giamatti, and yet he’s one of the most watchable actors there is. Win Win is a great vehicle for Giamatti's weary average guy routine; his character Mike Flaherty is like Sideways' Miles in an alternate universe in which he ends up happily married with a family.

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Barney's Version

Movie Review | Rob | 29th January 2011

"The kind of typically Jewish story that I wouldn't bother reading," said one critic when leaving the screening. I happen to disagree. Yes, Barney's Version is pretty heavy on the Jew thing - there are plenty of mazel tovs, kippahs and Jewfros - and yes, it is based on a book probably few of us knew existed. But don't let one critic's comment put you off, listen to mine instead. This is a clever, sharply-written, well-acted comedy drama with Paul Giamatti at his absolute career best. Pfft, what do critics know anyway?

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Things I have learned about Barney's Version from its poster

Movie Feature | Ali | 13th January 2011

Oh, the fun you can have by deconstructing movie posters. Almost none. Still, this week we look at the quad for Barney's Version, starring Paul Giamatti. Sorry, that's Academy Award-nominee Paul Giamatti.

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