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Behind the Hatred There Lies a Murderous Desire for Love

By Cindy Davis | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (10)

samriley.jpg

Graham Greene’s Brighton Rock is a well-reviewed (going on my list) crime thriller about a young, handsome and charismatic lad who recklessly and ruthlessly attempts to climb quickly to the top of an organized crime group. IFC just picked up the U.S. distribution rights for the film, Rowan Joffe’s (he wrote the screenplay for 28 Weeks Later) feature debut. Brighton Rock boasts a spectacular cast headed by scary/pretty boy Sam Riley (Control):

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Riley strikes just the right note as would-be gangster Pinkie, who aims to seduce and marry young Rose (Andrea Riseborough Never Let Me Go), who found key evidence linking him to a murder. A stunningly gorgeous, ginger Helen Mirren stars as Ida, friend of the deceased and Rose’s employer; Ida is onto Pinkie and determined to see him taken down. Rounding out the cast are John Hurt, Andy Serkis, Sean Harris and Steven Robertson.

Here’s the moody trailer:

Joffe reset the story to the 1960s (the novel was set in the 1930s) to modernize it and put it against the backdrop of the clashing Mods and Rockers. The film almost went under when Carey Mulligan, originally cast as Rose, dropped out to film Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps. Without Mulligan’s box office draw, investors got antsy but Joffe adapted his budget and snagged Helen Mirren whose presence, according to Joffe, likely got the film greenlighted. Brighton Rock hits theaters Summer, 2011.

(Source: Indiewire)









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Comments

OHHHHHHHHHHH I cant wait to see this. I love dangerous love stories!!!!!!!

Posted by: donna at January 18, 2011 5:19 PM

Yeah, I've been meaning to read it for sixteen years. I'm slow about these things. I tried again, I was tired again...you might say.

Posted by: Jay at January 18, 2011 5:22 PM

Looks like a great movie...where I won't be able to understand a word anyone is saying...

Posted by: Sara Tonin at January 18, 2011 5:54 PM

Nothing relevant to add here, just wanted to praise the awesome and somewhat obscure Smiths reference in the title.

Well done.

Posted by: toddler dad at January 18, 2011 6:16 PM

Geez...does Helen Mirren own a time machine? How does she do that?
On the downside, Sam Riley seems nowhere near as scary and as callous as Richard Attenborough in the first adaptation of Brighton Rock.

One for the Pajiba trivia section: Andrea Riseborough played Annie the ghost in the pilot of Being Human.

Posted by: Simon at January 18, 2011 6:24 PM

I 2nd the Smiths lyrics reference :)

Posted by: Love'in It at January 18, 2011 8:57 PM

I took a seminar in Graham Greene last semester, and this was one of my favorite novels. The original film had its weak spots, but Richard Attenborough was quite good as Pinkie. I'll be interested to see Sam Riley's approach.

And of course, a little Helen Mirren never hurts.

Posted by: bonnie at January 18, 2011 10:01 PM

I watched the original as part of my Film Noir class in college--really, really good. Richard Attenborough was fantastic, but Sam Riley seems like he'll be able to step up to the role.

Posted by: Girlnone at January 18, 2011 10:02 PM

Loved the book, liked the first film version and will now definitely see this adaptation - thanks once again, Pajiba!

Posted by: cinekat at January 19, 2011 8:51 AM

More trivia - it stars two people who've played Ian Curtis.

Posted by: Paul at January 19, 2011 4:09 PM