The Review - AT THE MOVIES with DAN CARRIER Published: 3 July 2008
Pick of the Indies
NEWS reaches POTI that Somers Town Labour councillor Roger Robinson has been doing some crime fighting – on celluloid! Roger is the star of Neon Killer, a new short film that is set to premiere at an international film festival at the Leicester Square Odeon in August. Shot by his film-maker son Ben in King’s Cross and Highgate, the veteran politician plays the role of a tough cop working on his final case. I hear Roger’s stellar performance persuaded the curators of the prestigious Film Four Fright Fest – the biggest horror movie festival in the world – that the show should be screened in London’s premier film venue.
Roger has form: Ben has used his father in a series of films throughout his career, and the movie beat off hundreds of other entries. From a sneak peek at one scene, I can say that Cllr Robinson reminded me of Gene Hackman’s tough cop Jimmy Doyle in The French Connection. Decked out in leather jacket and polo neck jumper, the Labour back-bencher looks the part. The festival starts on August 25. More information to come.
Meanwhile, if 1970s disco numbers are your thing, get yourself up to the Everyman cinema on Wednesday. The Hampstead theatre is screening a preview of Mamma Mia – the film version of the smash-hit musical featuring Meryl Streep and a bevy of cheesey Abba songs. All proceeds from the tickets go towards the Whittington Hospital’s Building For Babies campaign, which seeks to raise funds for the Highgate hospital’s charity push for a new specialist unit for babies. The show starts at 8.30pm and includes a champagne reception. Tickets and information on 020 7288 5641.