Feb 19 2025 46 mins 1
This week on Primal Screen, guest host Will Cox is joined by Alex McShane to review Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy and Grand Tour.
Our favourite frazzled English woman is back for this Valentine’s Day-released rom-com. Renee Zellweger returns to the role of Bridget Jones, this time as a single mother of two facing the prospect of re-starting her love life. New love interests are played by Leo Woodall and Chiwetel Ejiofor, as well as old flame Daniel Cleaver played by Hugh Grant. This is the fourth instalment of the series, and is based off Helen Fielder’s novels.
In contrast, Grand Tour is set in colonial-era South East Asia during the First World War. Stationed in Rangoon, British civil servant Edward miserably awaits the arrival of his fiancé Molly, until he decides to flee to Singapore. The resulting lover’s chase across the continent is a dreamy adventure, across jungles, over rivers, and through teeming cities. The film also incorporates hybrid-documentary elements and experimental tableaux, for which Miguel Gomes was awarded Best Director at Cannes last year.
Will also speaks with Associate Professor Stephen Gaunson from RMIT about Akira Kurosawa’s masterpiece Seven Samurai, screening in stunning 4K at the Capitol Theatre on Tuesday, February 25.
Plus, Spiro Economopoulos, Creative Director of the Europa! Europa Film Festival, joins the show to discuss this year’s program of arthouse European cinema, running from February 12 to March 12.
Tune in Primal Screen on Triple R, Monday nights from 7pm on 102.7
