Bespoke service offers guests a unique library of movies curated by four renowned film industry insiders
W London – Leicester Square has teamed up with four leading film industry experts to create W Film Files – a curated library of films available in the hotel’s luxurious suites, giving guests a glimpse inside the minds of some of cinema’s most revered insiders.
W Film Files comprises a selection of movies handpicked by four of the most prominent names in the world of cinema; Mike Newell, Director of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and iconic romantic comedy Four Weddings and a Funeral; Abi Morgan, award-winning Screenplay Writer behind The Iron Lady and gripping drama Shame; Producer Gareth Unwin known for his work on The Kings Speech and the gritty 2014 war film Kajaki; and renowned Costume Designer Jany Temime, whose designs take centre stage in Oscar winning Gravity, Harry Potter and the hotly anticipated James Bond: Spectre.
Guests can browse the W Film Files library, with each section featuring seven favourite films, handpicked by the industry insiders, with a short background on the reason for the selection. The service will be available for guests staying at W London to browse at the touch of a button, via the TVs in the suites. Guests are invited to take a visual trip to Rome with Jany Temime’s La Dolce Vita, laugh out loud at The Apartment chosen by Abi Morgan for having the best closing line of any romantic comedy, or sit back and enjoy Gareth Unwin’s ‘guilty pleasure’, the 1975 hit Jaws.
The on-demand W Film Files library allows guests to enjoy a fantastic cinema experience in the comfort of their room. Available in W London’s suites, including the Extreme WOW Suite and three start of the art Screening Suites, W Film Files opens up a host of exciting cinema gems to guests.
Coen Van Niersen, General Manager of W London – Leicester Square said of the new service, “With our prime location in the heart London’s ‘Filmland’, W London has always been passionate about celebrating film. We are constantly looking for new ways to provide guests with insider access to the movie world, so are delighted to be collaborating with four influential names in cinema. Having published a luxury coffee table book last year celebrating the rich film heritage of the Leicester Square area, the W Film Files service is the next step in our commitment to bringing unique film experiences to our guests”.
The W Film Files service will launch to coincide with The Oscars – 87th Academy Awards on February 22nd, 2015 and will be available to guests staying in a suite at W London – Leicester Square. For more information on the service or to book a suite, call 020 7758 1000 or visit www.wlondon.co.uk
Films available on the service include:
Abi Morgan
Tootsie – “This is my go to film. I am a huge Dustin Hoffman fan and this is the perfect antidote to any heartbreak or hangover. A film with deception at its heart, a man dresses as a woman and learns to be a better man – the real slight of hand is this is a film about feminism disguised as romantic comedy.”
Monsters Inc – “Pixar changed the face of animation and this is a perfect marriage with Disney. With John Goodman and Billy Crystal at the helm and top scarers at Monsters Inc, this is a buddy movie for child and adult alike. Born over lunch, post Toy Story’s success, if toys can come alive so can the monsters under our bed. Screenwriter Dan Gerson also provided material for Curious George and Meet The Robinsons.”
Gypsy – “Loosely based on the 1957 memoir of Gypsy Rose Lee, this dynamic musical follows the trials of Rose, the ultimate show business mother trying to raise two daughters for stardom. Rosalind Russell won a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Rose and with lyrics by the brilliant Stephen Sondheim and a memorable performance as Rose’s daughter, Louise played by Natalie Wood the film ends with a heartbreaking version of Let Me Entertain You that will leave you weeping into your pop corn.”
A Prophet – “It was a struggle to pick only one of brilliant director Jacques Audiard’s movies. The Beat My Heart Skipped and Rust and Bone are both beautiful and masterful. In the end the story of a petty Algerian criminal surviving a brutal prison regime and working his way into a Corsican criminal fraternity is brutal, compelling and poetic. Tahar Rahim is mesmerizing as Malik, illiterate and alone yet taken into the protection of the Corsican mafia on the inside in return for murdering a Muslim witness. A brilliant genre busting slice of social realism.”
The Apartment – “Nominated for ten Academy awards and winning five, including Best Picture, this is Billy Wilder’s brilliant follow up to Some Like It Hot. Jack Lemmon plays Bud Baxter a much maligned insurance drudge who is persuaded by his boss to lend him his apartment so he can conduct his extra marital liaisons in return for promotion. Shirley Mclaine in brilliant and heartbreaking form as the young elevator girl who has caught both men’s eye. It has the best closing line of any romantic comedy. Funny and redemptive it had to be in my top ten films. Dialogue that sings…”
The Social Network – “Aaron Sorkin is a God. Blisteringly sharp, witty and true, Jessie Eisenberg is oddly heartbreaking as the founder of Facebook whose conscience is slowly grazed with a glimpse of a world beyond his own success and ambition. David Fincher maintains a tight grip throughout steering an audience through the complex and closed world of a dot com generation who had it all.”
Jany Temime
La dolce vita – “The 60’s in Roma, with Anita Ekberg splashing in the Trevi fountain and Marcello Mastroanni watching her. The scriptwriter was Pasolini, another great Italian director.”
Rosemary’s Baby – “The innocence of Mia Farrow, shorthaired gamine, with all the fears of a first time mother, facing the Devil. A superb thriller, and until the end we have our doubts about the Dad!”
One Flew Over The Cuckoo Nest – “Jack Nicholson is so brilliant and Louise Fletcher perfect in her mean psychiatric nurse role. The battle between Jack and Louise creates an intriguing tension and the film retains its power almost half a century later.”
Godfather Part II – “Everything is perfect, cast, direction, script, and music. THE GODFATHER is an inspiration for all filmmakers. Watching it teaches me something every time. It is the best part of Al Pacino, and with De Niro a double pleasure.”
Children Of Men – “Never before a film about the future has been as humanistic as Children of Men. The camera work is amazing, very long breathtaking shots. It is so beautiful in its ugliness and absurdity. A long poem about Mankind.”
Pulp Fiction – “After it, we all wanted to eat ‘mayonnaise with our chips’! A black comedy, a little camp, but significant of a new aesthetic in film. I love the pastiche of “Film Noir”, and the “over staged” scenes. Passion and blood a go-go, great fun!
Skyfall – “The best Bond. Daniel Craig is a great 007, sexy, charismatic, and dangerous. The film has spectacular action scenes, an amazing villain, Javier Bardem, and the loveliest Bond girl ever, Judi Dench.”
Gareth Unwin
E.T. – “It was the first film that showed me the true power of cinema and the how important the shared experience of watching a film with an audience is. It was also not lost on me that this film managed to bring my father, a big roughty tufty rugby player, to a weeping mass. Film is powerful, and best served watching it in a cinema surrounded by others.”
Jean de Florette – “To this day I think one of the most beautiful films ever made. It inspired me to make films about the human condition and the lengths we are prepared to go to for love and ambition. This film is enforced viewing for anyone joining the Bedlam team.”
Jaws – “My guilty pleasure, if I want to escape and submerge myself in a story this wins out time and time again. It is the perfectly crafted thriller. My wife knows that if she hears the opening bars of John Williams soundtrack she has lost me for the next few hours.”
The Kings Speech – “Well, it had to be in there somewhere ! The film that elevated my Producing career to where it is now. I had the pleasure of screening the film at The Regal Theatre in Bathgate to a local film society , and even after 100’s of viewings I can still sit back and watch it like a member of the public. An amazing film, with such wonderful direction and acting.”
Casino Royale – “To date I think the best of the “modern” Bonds. I am a massive fan of Bond over the entire life of the franchise, but this was the shot in the arm it needed. Daniel Craig is sublime as the archetypal action hero. The charm, the swagger, the cars, the equipment. Bond was back with this movie.”
Rust & Bone – “A touching film that has stayed with me since I watched it early last year. With an outstanding performance by Marion Cotillard as a whale trainer who lost both legs in a tragic accident, it’s an unconventional and surprising love story. Audiards direction is an excercise in restraint, Desplats haunting score effortless.”
Exam – “I’m still incredibly proud of “Exam” , my debut feature as a Producer. This taut, savvy thriller is tightly scripted by my friend , and long-time professional collaborator, Stuart Hazeldine. He received a Best Debut Nomination from BAFTA for this his first film as both Writer and Director, a feat we’ve just matched with Andrew and Paul on “Kajaki. The True Story”.
Mike Newell
Barry Lyndon – “Made by Stanley Kubrick, it’s adapted from a Nineteenth century novel and when it was made in the 1970’s was a parable of the dangers of ambition in a wicked world.The leading character played by Ryan O’Neill is a simple but ambitious country boy who is led by his innocence into worlds evermore corrupting. It’s one of the most beautiful-looking films ever made.”
Taxi Driver – “Made by Martin Scorsese in 1976. It became maybe the most important film in the new Americain cinema that developed from the French “New Wave”. It’s famous as a portrait of sleazy New York and the effect the city has on a desperate young taxi driver whose emotional and psychological instability is tipping him towards violence and madness. Great performance by an as yet relatively unknown Robert de Niro.”
Sideways – “A story made by Alexander Payne about a trip to the California wine-country by two boozy middle-class layabouts on a last fling before the marriage of one of them. They are in search of great vintages and a last bit of fun. It’s a comedy that defies analysis with wonderful performances especially from Paul Giamatti who is not a “Film Star” but who raises the subtleties of great acting beyond description.”
Wall E – “I don’t know anything about how a film like this is made. It’s a modern digital animation which is an extraordinarily complicated thing and way beyond me. But it has all the things you want in a first-rate movie of whatever technique- an original idea, great surprising characters, a story that sucks you in and won’t let go and strong persuasive emotions. All in all it’s a delight and completely unexpected. And it demonstrates one of the great truths of film making- that every member of the group that creates it is a necessary creative brick in the edifice.”
The Spy Who Came In from the Cold – “Made from the book that first made John leCarre a household name. It’s brilliantly directed by Martin Ritt and stars Richard Burton and Claire Bloom. I think it’s the only story about the Cold War (maybe The Manchurian Candidate-original version too) that portrays accurately the cruelty and ruthless cynicism of that War. You just know it’s all true. The story is about brutal betrayals within brutal betrayals and keeps you guessing to the very end.”
The Man who Shot Liberty Valence – “My generation can’t have a list of great movies without a grade-A Western, of which there are lots. But this is my favourite out of what’s on offer here. John Ford made it. And James Stuart and John Wayne star. The story has the clout of a myth mixed with all the drive of a story of savage human destiny.”
Strangers On a Train – “Alfred Hitchcock. “Mostly I make Comedy Thrillers” he is supposed to have said of himself. This is my favourite. The story has a brilliant set up; two excellent leading players; the best shot in all movies of a man crawling under an out-of-control fairground Carousel; a shot that you’ll never forget of people’s heads turning as they watch a tennis rally. And proof positive that some bad girls look really sexy in specs. And as always, it has the Hitchcock splinter of moral ice in its heart.”