Wikipedia

Happy New Year, Colin Burstead

Happy New Year, Colin Burstead is a 2018 British comedy-drama film written and directed by Ben Wheatley and featuring Neil Maskell as the title character, with Hayley Squires, Sam Riley, Doon Mackichan, Joe Cole, and Charles Dance also starring.[2] It tells the story of a man who rents a country house for his extended family to celebrate the New Year.[3] The film premiered at the 62nd BFI London Film Festival on 11 October 2018,[4][5] and was distributed by BBC Films, airing on BBC Two on 30 December 2018.[6]

Happy New Year, Colin Burstead
Promotional release poster
Directed byBen Wheatley
Written byBen Wheatley
Produced byAndy Starke
Starring
CinematographyLaurie Rose
Edited byBen Wheatley
Music byClint Mansell
Production
companies
Rook Films
British Film Institute
Goal Post Film
Distributed byBBC Films[1]
Goldcrest Films
Release dates
  • 11 October 2018 (2018-10-11) (LFF)
  • 30 December 2018 (2018-12-30) (United Kingdom)
Running time
95 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Premise

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Colin (Neil Maskell) rents a country house in Dorset for his extended family to celebrate the New Year. Unbeknownst to other members of the family, his sister Gini (Hayley Squires) has invited their estranged brother David (Sam Riley).

Cast

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Production

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The film is loosely based on Shakespeare's Coriolanus.[7] After seeing Tom Hiddleston playing Coriolanus while casting High-Rise (2015), Ben Wheatley wrote the script.[8] He reduced the plot to its bare bones and rebuilt it in a modern context.[8] The film's working title was Colin You Anus.[9] The film was shot in two weeks at the beginning of 2018.[10] The filming took place at Pennsylvania Castle in Dorset.[11] Clint Mansell wrote the score for the film.[12]

Release

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On 11 October 2018, the film was screened at the 62nd BFI London Film Festival in competition.[4][5] It aired on BBC2 on 30 December 2018.[13] The film was also screened at the 2019 Palm Springs International Film Festival.[14]

Reception

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On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 86% based on 28 reviews, and an average rating of 7.1/10.[15]

Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian gave the film 3 stars out of 5, saying, "the performances are all great; they collectively create a directionless storm-cloud of disquiet."[16] Stephen Dalton of The Hollywood Reporter wrote: "Featuring a large ensemble cast of mostly British faces, this dysfunctional family drama is a departure in tone but not in style, returning Wheatley to his lo-fi social-realist roots."[17] Guy Lodge of Variety called it "one of his best, most fluid films."[5] Ella Kemp of Sight & Sound wrote: "The film takes a while to warm up, but unforgiving writing gives it a deadpan backbone of brilliance."[18]

Ben Wheatley was nominated for the Best Editing award at the British Independent Film Awards 2018.[19]

References

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  1. ^ Ritman, Alex (8 September 2018). "Toronto: BBC Films to Release Ben Wheatley's 'Happy New Year, Colin Burstead'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  2. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (8 September 2018). "Ben Wheatley's 'Happy New Year, Colin Burstead' Set For BBC Two Christmas Slot In UK After London Film Fest Debut". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  3. ^ Travis, Ben (29 August 2018). "Ben Wheatley's New Film Revealed As Happy New Year, Colin Burstead". Empire. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  4. ^ a b "2018 Official Competition selection announced at 62nd BFI London Film Festival". British Film Institute. 29 August 2018. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  5. ^ a b c Lodge, Guy (14 October 2018). "Film Review: 'Happy New Year, Colin Burstead'". Variety. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  6. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (8 September 2018). "Ben Wheatley's 'Happy New Year, Colin Burstead' Set For BBC Two Christmas Slot In UK After London Film Fest Debut". Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  7. ^ Godfrey, Alex (21 December 2018). "Happy New Year, Colin Burstead Review". Empire. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  8. ^ a b Thomas, Lou (30 December 2018). "Ben Wheatley interview: Happy New Year, Colin Burstead". Den of Geek. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  9. ^ Travis, Ben (18 January 2018). "Ben Wheatley Is Already Shooting a Mysterious New Film". Empire. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  10. ^ D., A. (18 December 2018). "Has Ben Wheatley made the first great Brexit film?". The Economist. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  11. ^ Beamish, Sam (30 December 2018). "TV film shot on Portland to air on BBC 2 tonight". Dorset Echo. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  12. ^ Brigden, Charlie (6 October 2018). "LISTEN: Clint Mansell Scores 'Happy New Year, Colin Burstead'". The Quietus. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  13. ^ Roy, David (30 November 2018). "Ben Wheatley on Happy New Year, Colin Burstead and Q&A at QFT Belfast". The Irish News. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  14. ^ Kilday, Gregg (14 December 2018). "Kenneth Branagh's 'All Is True' to Open Palm Springs International Film Festival". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  15. ^ "Happy New Year, Colin Burstead". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  16. ^ Bradshaw, Peter (13 October 2018). "Happy New Year, Colin Burstead review – Ben Wheatley contrives a simmering hothouse of misery". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  17. ^ Dalton, Stephen (11 October 2018). "'Happy New Year, Colin Burstead': Film Review | London 2018". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  18. ^ Kemp, Ella (15 October 2018). "Happy New Year, Colin Burstead. first look: Ben Wheatley convenes that sinking family feeling". Sight & Sound. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  19. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (2 December 2018). "British Independent Film Awards: 'The Favourite' Wins A Record Ten Awards". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
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