Review: Halfway to Heaven

Director
James Sharpe

Cast
James Lacey
Mark Killeen
Andrew Lindfield
Catherine Locardi
Lisa Armytage
Ciara Dooley
Peter Easter
Peter Barfield
James Fisher

Halfway to Heaven is a fantasy romance set in and around the everyday world, recalling films such as Wings of Desire, and the works of Neil Gaiman.

Peter Barfield plays Paul, an average guy living in a dead end town. After a series of events orchestrated by God (Locardi) he finds himself in a form of purgatory. Existing as a ghost in another town, and living in a house with a living resident, Paul learns a little about himself, life, love and all that good stuff.

The film is well directed, and the actors give it their all.  Some, such as the Devil, played by Killeen, looked like they were having a lot of fun in their brief scenes.

The script has some good ideas, although it can at times become far too exposition heavy. Writer/Director James Sharpe feels like he is not yet confident enough to express ideas with light touches, and perhaps does not have faith that his audience would understand the story. For his next feature I hope that he takes the jump and allows more of the story to be expressed visually.

If there was a fundamental issue with the film it would be the pacing. The film feels like it has been padded out to reach feature length. What could have been a fun, and charming, 30 minute short film, feels spread out too thinly. The final 10 minutes are almost tacked on and frankly the emotional journey of our hero ends well before the film does. There is a natural conclusion and it would be interesting to see if the piece could be re-edited into a shorter, sharper form.

Halfway to Heaven is an interesting, and ambitious film. It is flawed, but that should not be seen as a criticism of anyone who worked on the piece. As a stepping stone onto bigger and better things, director Sharpe has moulded something from which I am certain he has gained a lot of experience. I look forward to his next picture.

Rob Girvan

For more information on Halfway to Heaven please visit the official website - click

BIFA Awards Announced

Moon, the debut feature from Duncan Jones, has been named the best British indie film at this years British Independent Film Awards in London, with Duncan Jones also taking home the best debut director award. Other winners included Carey Mulligan (Best Actress) in An Education, Tom Hary (Best Actor) in Bronson and Best Director for Andrea Arnold for her film Fish Tank.

The full list of winners can be found at the official website - click

Exhibit A released

Dom Rotheroe’s latest feature, Exhibit A, will be available this week on multiple platforms. The film can be streamed for free on indiemoviesonline.com now and will also be available on DVD from Amazon from December 4.

IndieFlicks have already had the pleasure of reviewing this film and would heartily recommend that you guys check it out too!

You can visit the official website here

Dead Cert

Dead Cert, the latest film from Black and Blue Films, has just completed principal photography. Directed by Steve Lawson, the gangsters vs vampire flick stars Craig Fairbrass, Dexter Fletcher and Billy Murray and will be released in 2010.

The trailer for the film is already up and can be seen at the official website - click

IndieFlicks: Interview

Tristan Versluis is the feature director of the up and coming horror, Not Alone. Known for his special effects work he has now made the jump to taking the hot seat. IndieFlicks caught up with Tristan in September as he was halfway through shooting.

IndieFlicks: You’re currently in the middle of shooting your first feature film. How are you enjoying the experience so far?

Tristan: It’s been an amazing experience, working with a passionate cast and crew is inspiring and adding towards a great film.

IndieFlicks: Where did the idea for Not Alone come from?

Tristan: It came off the back of writing another feature which was much more commercial, full of blood and gore along with loads of pretty twisted ideas. So I set out on writing ‘Not Alone’ because I wanted something with deeper characters and a plot to deal with. I think I also used it as a way of dealing with issues in my own head with my life at the time. The film is full of questions and possible ideas of what really happened, but neither really matters, it’s really about what tips people over the edge and how they deal with it.

IndieFlicks: You come from a special effects make up background. What was special about Not Alone that made you want to make this your first feature film?

Tristan: It’s hopefully a film that will show my progression into directing and that I am not only an Fx artist.

IndieFlicks: What’s been the most difficult aspect of making your first feature so far?

Tristan: Time, budget and the usual constraints that they bring. Being at the helm is frustrating when you want to make the shoot/scene perfect but you get told you have to move on! But I have had great people around me that have helped achieve the maximum we could.

IndieFlicks: Did you have specific actors in mind when casting?

Tristan: No not really, but during casting names fell in place and it was looking so good, the line up for the film turned out to be great, they all worked so well together.

IndieFlicks: What are you shooting the film with?

Tristan: We are shooting on the RED camera at 4K. It looks so nice!

IndieFlicks: When do you hope to get the film released by?

Tristan: Next year hopefully, all being well.

IndieFlicks: Do you have any other projects in the pipeline?

Tristan: I have another script called ‘Club Skin’ in development stage which I hope will be next.

IndieFlicks: What advice would you give to any aspiring filmmakers out there?

Tristan: Be pro-active and keep busy. Keep making films and showing as many people as possible, and listen to their advice and comments whether they are good or bad.

For more information please visit the official website - click

Watch The Devil’s Music for free!

The Devil’s Music, director Pat Higgins‘ latest film is currently available to watch online, for free. The horror documentary won best independent film at the 2008 Festival of Fantastic Films and for a limited time only can be streamed from indiemoviesonline.com. Online distribution is an up and coming market and it will be interesting to see whether it can take off and rival DVD rentals.

To watch the film click here

BIFA Nominations Announced

The nominations for the 2009 British Independent Film Awards were announced this afternoon with Fish Tank, directed by Andrea Arnold, picking up the most nominations. Other films, including Moon and In the Loop, have also done well and once again proof the quality of independent films being made in this country. The full list is below and the winners will be announced on December 6. We wish all films the best of luck!

Best Film
An Education
Fish Tank
In the Loop
Moon
Nowhere Boy

Best Director
Lone Scherfig (An Education)
Jane Campion (Bright Star)
Andrea Arnold (Fish Tank)
Armando Iannucci(In The Loop)
Duncan Jones (Moon)

The Douglas Hickox Award For Debut Director
Armando Iannucci (In The Loop)
Peter Strickland (Katalin Varga)
Duncan Jones (Moon)
Sam Taylor Wood (Nowhere Boy)
Samantha Morton (The Unloved)

Best Screenplay
Nick Hornby (An Education)
Andrea Arnold (Fish Tank)
Armando Iannucci, Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell and Tony Roche (In The Loop)
Nathan Parker (Moon)
Matt Greenhalgh (Nowhere Boy)

Best Actress
Carey Mulligan (An Education)
Abbie Cornish (Bright Star)
Katie Jarvis (Fish Tank)
Sophie Okonedo (Skin)
Emily Blunt (The Young Victoria)

Best Actor
Tom Hardy (Bronson)
Peter Capaldi (In The Loop)
Sam Rockwell (Moon)
Aaron Johnson (Nowhere Boy)
Andy Serkis (Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll)

Best Supporting Actress
Rosamund Pike (An Education)
Kerry Fox (Bright Star)
Kierston Wareing (Fish Tank)
Anna Marie Duff (Nowhere Boy)
Kristen Scott Thomas (Nowhere Boy)

Best Supporting Actor
Alfred Molina (An Education)
Michael Fassbender (Fish Tank)
Tom Hollander (In The Loop)
John Henshaw (Looking For Eric)
Jim Broadbent (The Damned United)

Most Promising Newcomer
Katie Jarvis (Fish Tank)
Hilda Peter (Katalin Varga)
Christian McKay (Me And Orson Welles)
George McKay (The Boys Are Back)
Edward Hogg (White Lightnin’)

For more information on the event please visit the official website - click