Rupert Graves

The White Queen Trailer

The 'sword and shield' television hype continues to grow as The White Queen celebrates its release on DVD and Blu-Ray on the 19th August 2013.

The melodramatic television Drama based on the compelling, brutal and turbulent best-selling history novel The Cousins' War by Philippa Gregory portrays the perceptions of three passionate and equally ruthless women: Elizabeth Woodville, Margaret Beaufort and Anne Neville in their quest for power.

Set in the middle of the 15th Century, England is divided by war as The House of York and the House of Lancaster fiercely fight it out their dispute to who is the rightful king. After much dispute The House of York's young and handsome Edward is mischievously made King by Lord Warwick. All is well until Edward falls in love with Lancastrian Commoner Elizabeth Woodville, ruining Warwick's plan to control the throne. From here on it Elizabeth is put in a violent struggle where she must fight for her life and the crown to the throne. The story unravels and exposes a possible view one of the most interesting stories in British History.

Blood, Sex And Violence: The White Queen

By Elinor Cosgrave in Movies / TV / Theatre on 17 June 2013

Max Irons James Frain Rupert Graves Rebecca Ferguson Caroline Goodall

The White Queen's first episode aired on the BBC yesterday evening (16th June). The series is the BBC's summer latest offering to drama fans and follows the stories of the powerful women involved in the War of the Roses.

The White Queen stars two relatively unknown actors, Rachel Ferguson and Max Irons, as Elizabeth Woodville and King Edward IV. They are supported by James Frain, Caroline Goodall, David Oakes, Rupert Graves, Amanda Hale and many, many, many more.

A decent historical drama is signposted by the presence of The Tudors' Frain, The Borgias' Oakes and Graves, who donned a wig in order to play George Villiers in a BBC adaptation of the life and loves of Charles II. It does take a certain type of actor to pull off the floppy haired-tights-codpiece- thigh high boots look. Fortunately this trio do. Max Irons does quite well too.

The programme is a dramatization of the life and times of Elizabeth Woodville, wife of Edward IV. From relatively humble beginnings we see the Lancastrian lass rise to the highest position a woman in medieval society could reach: Queen. Elizabeth was grandmother of Henry VIII, a monarch whose offspring has overshadowed historical drama. The series is based on Philippa Gregory's best-selling book of the same name.

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Fast Girls Review

By Rich Cline

Good

Lively dialog and realistically played characters help make this sporting drama engaging despite a formulaic screenplay. And even if it's rather corny, the film could be genuinely inspiring to young athletes in an Olympic year.

Gifted runner Shania (Crichlow) lives in a rough London estate, where she trains with a local shopkeeper (Davis). Despite her lack of support, she's one of the fastest athletes in Britain, and qualifies for the team in the run up to the World Championships. She's facing competition from her privileged rival Lisa (Lily James), whose father (Graves) heads up Team GB. Shania is happy running solo and, despite encouragement from coach (Clarke), isn't sure about becoming a team player and joining Lisa, Trix and Belle (Burroughs and Lynch) for the relay event.

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Fast Girls Trailer

Tough and streetwise Shania Andrews clashes with popular and wealthy Lisa Temple as they both endeavour to qualify for a word athletics championship. They must work together in order to succeed but it is clear that their rivalry and jealousy of each other starts to seriously affect their team's chances of victory. Will Shania and Lisa be able to set aside their differences and beat the US girls running team? Or will their conflict jeopardise both their dreams?

Continue: Fast Girls Trailer

Made In Dagenham Trailer

In 1960's England, there wasn't such a thing as womens rights in the workplace, for the most part they were treated as an underclass. Working for less pay was just one of the pitfalls of working as a woman.

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Sweet Revenge Review

By Christopher Null

Weak

Supposedly a black comedy, Sweet Revenge gives us Helena Bonham Carter, Sam Niell, and Kristin Scott Thomas in an asinine homage to Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train, with Carter and Neill playing a "game" to drive a nuisance in each other's life over the edge. The comedy is certainly lost with rare exception here, with much of the film playing out while you sit back in your chair, just waiting for some inevitable spin to make it worthwhile in the end. Too bad, there isn't one.

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Dreaming Of Joseph Lees Review

By Christopher Null

Bad

So why is Samantha Morton (Sweet and Lowdown) Dreaming of Joseph Lees? Well, because this movie probably put her to sleep, for starters. While Fox's promotional material touts Lees as "sensual," "feverish," and "macabre," the reality is the movie is "boring," "sedate," and "limp." In 1950s England, Morton's Eva finds herself lusting after childhood buddy Lees (Rupert Graves), the devilishly handsome geologist (woo hoo!) with tales of adventure. Too bad she's also got farmer Harry (Lee Ross) trying to win her affections by getting pummeled in the boxing ring. And he's her cousin (okay, that's macabre). How the movie ends is neither surprising nor particularly interesting... nor is how it gets to that point. Fans of overwrought period pieces will likely be taken by the moody wandering of this picture. Saner viewers will not be.