It was October 2015 when Ben Wheatley brought JG Ballard‘s unsettling Dystopian class war High-Rise to London Film Festival. This coming October he will be back again when his 1970’s based Free Fire and today BFI have announced it will be this year’s closing Gala.
The 60th BFI London Film Festival will close on 16th October with Ben Wheatley’s high-octane action thriller many are calling the director’s love letter to Martin Scorsese‘s 1970s films. That good Scorsese is actually onboard as an executive producer! The film is also inspired by his love for other great classics as French Connection, The Driver, Le Samourai ,The Asphalt Jungle, The Big Sleep, The Killing. As well as the more recent classic like GoodFellas, Casino, Hard Boiled and Reservoir Dogs.
The film is been hotly tipped by some critics as one of the must see films for late 2016/2017, a film starring the future Captain Marvel herself Brie Larson.
Free Fire is set in 1978 Boston and centre’s around Justine (Brie Larson) who has brokered a meeting in a deserted warehouse between two Irishmen (Cillian Murphy, Michael Smiley) and a gang led by Vernon (Sharlto Copley) and Ord (Armie Hammer) who are selling them a stash of guns. But when shots are fired in the handover, a heart stopping game of survival ensues.
BFI London Film Festival Director, Clare Stewart says: “Ben Wheatley’s ascent as one of the UK’s most dazzling cinematic talents continues with this ballsy actioner. Dripping with blood, sweat and irony, FREE FIRE’s bravura filmmaking pays knowing tribute to the films of Sam Peckinpah and features a terrific cast who clearly relish bringing Wheatley and co-writer Amy Jump’s vivid characters to the screen. We are thrilled to be presenting the European Premiere as our Closing Night gala, ensuring that the 60th edition of the BFI London Film Festival goes out with a bang!”
Free Fire doesn’t have an confirmed release date however we’re looking late 2016/early 2017. Film Starring . Also starring Jack Reynor,Babou Ceesay, Enzo Cilenti, Sam Riley, Noah Taylor with Patrick Bergin, Tom Davis and Mark Monero.
The full Festival programme will be announced on Thursday 1 September 2016.
