Businessman who turned to writing late in life and scored a huge international hit with his first novel, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
When Paul Torday, who has died aged 67, published his first novel, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, in 2007, its phenomenal success led to a remarkable new career for him, at an age when others might well have been contemplating retirement. Despite his newfound fame and the book's worldwide popularity, however, he continued to work in industry, although for the remaining years of his life he also published, generally to critical acclaim, a sparkling new novel every year.
What Paul never publicly disclosed was that this extraordinary output reflected a personal race against time. Having wanted to write all his life, he was faced with a cancer diagnosis shortly after his first book was swept away on the whirlwind of an international award-winning literary sensation and he recognised the...
When Paul Torday, who has died aged 67, published his first novel, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, in 2007, its phenomenal success led to a remarkable new career for him, at an age when others might well have been contemplating retirement. Despite his newfound fame and the book's worldwide popularity, however, he continued to work in industry, although for the remaining years of his life he also published, generally to critical acclaim, a sparkling new novel every year.
What Paul never publicly disclosed was that this extraordinary output reflected a personal race against time. Having wanted to write all his life, he was faced with a cancer diagnosis shortly after his first book was swept away on the whirlwind of an international award-winning literary sensation and he recognised the...
- 12/20/2013
- by Julia Langdon
- The Guardian - Film News
Author Paul Torday has died, aged 67.
The British businessman and writer was best known for his novel Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, which was later turned into a film.
His publisher Weidenfeld and Nicolson confirmed his passing on Wednesday (December 18) in Northumberland.
Salmon Fishing sold over 500,000 copies in the UK, winning the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize in 2007.
Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt starred in a hit 2011 movie of the same name.
Torday's last novel Light Shining in the Forest was published earlier in 2013.
Weidenfeld and Nicolson's Kirsty Dunseath said: "In many ways Paul Torday invented his own genre.
"His extraordinary fiction was filled with warmth and a wry, humane wit. He was a gentle observer of the foibles of human nature and our social behaviour."
Torday's agent Mark Stanton said: "He was a writer of rare talent, and a true gentleman. Paul, I raise a glass of the finest Bordeaux to you.
The British businessman and writer was best known for his novel Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, which was later turned into a film.
His publisher Weidenfeld and Nicolson confirmed his passing on Wednesday (December 18) in Northumberland.
Salmon Fishing sold over 500,000 copies in the UK, winning the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize in 2007.
Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt starred in a hit 2011 movie of the same name.
Torday's last novel Light Shining in the Forest was published earlier in 2013.
Weidenfeld and Nicolson's Kirsty Dunseath said: "In many ways Paul Torday invented his own genre.
"His extraordinary fiction was filled with warmth and a wry, humane wit. He was a gentle observer of the foibles of human nature and our social behaviour."
Torday's agent Mark Stanton said: "He was a writer of rare talent, and a true gentleman. Paul, I raise a glass of the finest Bordeaux to you.
- 12/20/2013
- Digital Spy
Every year, the Efa People’s Choice Award allows film fans across Europe to elect their favorite film. When the European Film Academy invites its members, Europe’s greatest film stars, directors, actors and actresses, to attend the European Film Awards, the People’s Choice Award sheds a spotlight on the people films are made for: the audience. This year’s vote has started – vote now and win the chance to join winners and nominees for the awards ceremony in Malta!
Winners in the past have included films like Pedro Almodóvar’s Volver, Roberto Benigni’s La Vita E Bella, Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s AmÉLie, Fatih Akin’s Head-on, and Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire.
From 1 September on, film fans can cast their vote on the official website: www.europeanfilmawards.euand win a trip to the 25th European Film Awards on Saturday, 1 December 2012, in Malta!
Nominated Are: The Artist directed by Michel Hazanavicius with Jean Dujardin,
Barbara directed by Christian Petzold with Nina Hoss, Ronald Zehrfeld, Rainer Bock, Jasna Fritzi Bauer, Christina Hecke
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel directed by John Madden, written by Ol Parker with Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Penelope Wilton, Dev Patel, Celia Imrie, Ronald Pickup, Tom Wilkinson, Maggie Smith
Caesar Must Die (Cesare deve morire) directed by Paolo & Vittorio Taviani, written by Paolo & Vittorio Taviani, in collaboration with Fabio Cavalli with Giovanni Arcuri, Salvatore Striano, Cosimo Rega, Antonio Frasca, Fabio Cavalli
Come As You Are (Hasta la Vista) directed by da Geoffrey Enthoven, written by Pierre de Clercq, with Robrecht van den Thoren, Gilles de Schryver, Tom Audenaert, Isabelle de Hertogh
Headhunters (Hodejegerne) directed by Morten Tyldum, written by Lars Gudmestad & Ulf Ryberg with Aksel Hennie, Nikolaj Coter-Waldau, Synnøve Macody Lund, Eivind Sander I
N Darkness directed by Agnieszka Holland, written by David F. Shamoon with Robert Więckiewicz, Benno Fürmann, Agnieszka Grochowska, Maria Schrader, Herbert Knaup
The Iron Lady directed by Phyllida Lloy, written by Abi Morgan with Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent, Olivia Colman
Salmon Fishing In The Yemen directed by Lasse Hallstrom, written by Simon Beaufoy, based on the novel by Paul Torday with Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt, Kristin Scott Thomas, Amr Waked
Shame directed by Steve McQueen, written by Steve McQueen and Abi Morgan with Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan, James Badge Dale, Nicole Beharie
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy directed by Thomas Alfredson, written by Bridget O'Connor and Peter Straughan with Gary Oldman, John Hurt, Mark Strong, Tom Hardy, Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch, Toby Jones, Stephen Graham, David Dencik, Ciaran Hinds, Simon McBurney, Kathy Burke, Svetlana Khodenchkova
Untouchable directed by Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano with François Cluzet, Omar Sy, Anne Le Ny, Audrey Fleurot, Clothilde Mollet
Our Media Partners: 7 meno dienos (Lithuania) * Arte * www.ciendecine.com (Spain) * www.cinemagia.ro (Romania) * Cinemania (Spain) * www.cineuropa.org * Diena (Latvia) * www.elokuvauutiset.fi (Finland) * www.film-demnaechst.ch (Switzerland) * De Filmkrant (the Netherlands) * www.filmski.net (Croatia) * www.filmski.rs (Serbia) * www.filmstarts.de (Germany) * Gragjanski (Fyr Macedonia) * Iftn (Ireland) * www.kinema.sk (Slovakia) * www.lovefilm.com * Nädal (Estonia) * La Rivista del Cinematografo (Italy) * www.stopklatka.pl (Poland) * Vikend (Slovenia) * Ernst & Young, one of the leading global professional services firms, continues to act as Official Tabulator, endorsing the voting procedures and confirming the winner. The 25th European Film Awards: Malta, 1 Dec 2012 Live on www.europeanfilmawards.eu
Patrons:centre Du Cinema Of The Federation Wallonia Brussels * Danish Film Institute * Eurimages * Film Fund Luxembourg * Flanders Audiovisual Fund (Vaf) * German Films * MacEdonian Film Fund * Mfg FilmfÖRderung Baden-wÜRttemberg * Ministry Of Education And Culture Of Cyprus (Cultural Services) * Netherlands Film Fund * Polish Film Institute * Ab Svensk Filmindustri * Swedish Film Institute * Swiss Films * Telewizja Polska S.A. (Tvp) *
The European Film Awards 2012 are presented by the European Film Academy e.V. and Efa Productions gGmbH with the support of the Maltese Ministry of Finance, Economy and Investment, the Malta Film Commission, Ffa German Federal Film Board, the German State Lottery Berlin, the German State Minister for Culture and the Media, the Media Programme of the EU, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg and Gls. Pascal Edelmann European Film Academy e.V. Head of Press & PR Kurfürstendamm 225 10719 Berlin Germany Tel. +49 30 887 16 70 Fax +49 30 887 16 777 visit us at www.europeanfilmawards.eu European Film Academy e.V. / Director: Marion Döring / registered at Amtsgericht Charlottenburg 14236 Nz...
Winners in the past have included films like Pedro Almodóvar’s Volver, Roberto Benigni’s La Vita E Bella, Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s AmÉLie, Fatih Akin’s Head-on, and Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire.
From 1 September on, film fans can cast their vote on the official website: www.europeanfilmawards.euand win a trip to the 25th European Film Awards on Saturday, 1 December 2012, in Malta!
Nominated Are: The Artist directed by Michel Hazanavicius with Jean Dujardin,
Barbara directed by Christian Petzold with Nina Hoss, Ronald Zehrfeld, Rainer Bock, Jasna Fritzi Bauer, Christina Hecke
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel directed by John Madden, written by Ol Parker with Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Penelope Wilton, Dev Patel, Celia Imrie, Ronald Pickup, Tom Wilkinson, Maggie Smith
Caesar Must Die (Cesare deve morire) directed by Paolo & Vittorio Taviani, written by Paolo & Vittorio Taviani, in collaboration with Fabio Cavalli with Giovanni Arcuri, Salvatore Striano, Cosimo Rega, Antonio Frasca, Fabio Cavalli
Come As You Are (Hasta la Vista) directed by da Geoffrey Enthoven, written by Pierre de Clercq, with Robrecht van den Thoren, Gilles de Schryver, Tom Audenaert, Isabelle de Hertogh
Headhunters (Hodejegerne) directed by Morten Tyldum, written by Lars Gudmestad & Ulf Ryberg with Aksel Hennie, Nikolaj Coter-Waldau, Synnøve Macody Lund, Eivind Sander I
N Darkness directed by Agnieszka Holland, written by David F. Shamoon with Robert Więckiewicz, Benno Fürmann, Agnieszka Grochowska, Maria Schrader, Herbert Knaup
The Iron Lady directed by Phyllida Lloy, written by Abi Morgan with Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent, Olivia Colman
Salmon Fishing In The Yemen directed by Lasse Hallstrom, written by Simon Beaufoy, based on the novel by Paul Torday with Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt, Kristin Scott Thomas, Amr Waked
Shame directed by Steve McQueen, written by Steve McQueen and Abi Morgan with Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan, James Badge Dale, Nicole Beharie
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy directed by Thomas Alfredson, written by Bridget O'Connor and Peter Straughan with Gary Oldman, John Hurt, Mark Strong, Tom Hardy, Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch, Toby Jones, Stephen Graham, David Dencik, Ciaran Hinds, Simon McBurney, Kathy Burke, Svetlana Khodenchkova
Untouchable directed by Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano with François Cluzet, Omar Sy, Anne Le Ny, Audrey Fleurot, Clothilde Mollet
Our Media Partners: 7 meno dienos (Lithuania) * Arte * www.ciendecine.com (Spain) * www.cinemagia.ro (Romania) * Cinemania (Spain) * www.cineuropa.org * Diena (Latvia) * www.elokuvauutiset.fi (Finland) * www.film-demnaechst.ch (Switzerland) * De Filmkrant (the Netherlands) * www.filmski.net (Croatia) * www.filmski.rs (Serbia) * www.filmstarts.de (Germany) * Gragjanski (Fyr Macedonia) * Iftn (Ireland) * www.kinema.sk (Slovakia) * www.lovefilm.com * Nädal (Estonia) * La Rivista del Cinematografo (Italy) * www.stopklatka.pl (Poland) * Vikend (Slovenia) * Ernst & Young, one of the leading global professional services firms, continues to act as Official Tabulator, endorsing the voting procedures and confirming the winner. The 25th European Film Awards: Malta, 1 Dec 2012 Live on www.europeanfilmawards.eu
Patrons:centre Du Cinema Of The Federation Wallonia Brussels * Danish Film Institute * Eurimages * Film Fund Luxembourg * Flanders Audiovisual Fund (Vaf) * German Films * MacEdonian Film Fund * Mfg FilmfÖRderung Baden-wÜRttemberg * Ministry Of Education And Culture Of Cyprus (Cultural Services) * Netherlands Film Fund * Polish Film Institute * Ab Svensk Filmindustri * Swedish Film Institute * Swiss Films * Telewizja Polska S.A. (Tvp) *
The European Film Awards 2012 are presented by the European Film Academy e.V. and Efa Productions gGmbH with the support of the Maltese Ministry of Finance, Economy and Investment, the Malta Film Commission, Ffa German Federal Film Board, the German State Lottery Berlin, the German State Minister for Culture and the Media, the Media Programme of the EU, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg and Gls. Pascal Edelmann European Film Academy e.V. Head of Press & PR Kurfürstendamm 225 10719 Berlin Germany Tel. +49 30 887 16 70 Fax +49 30 887 16 777 visit us at www.europeanfilmawards.eu European Film Academy e.V. / Director: Marion Döring / registered at Amtsgericht Charlottenburg 14236 Nz...
- 10/12/2012
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Last week saw the release of the second season of the brilliant The Walking Dead, one of the best and most talked-about television programmes currently on the air – and about to kick off with its anticipated third season.
And this week brings with it the release of one of the year’s most successful films in the form of The Hunger Games, very much one of the biggest blockbusters of 2012, beginning what is set to become an immense franchise in the years to come.
There are a lot of films coming to the shelves this week, so I shall press on.
My picks of the week:
Gary Ross’ The Hunger Games & Lasse Hallström’s Salmon Fishing in the Yemen.
The Office: An American Workplace – Season 7 & Boardwalk Empire – Season 2.
And, of course, the Blu-ray release of Steven Spielberg’s Jaws.
The Hunger Games Iframe Embed for Youtube
DVD and Blu-ray...
And this week brings with it the release of one of the year’s most successful films in the form of The Hunger Games, very much one of the biggest blockbusters of 2012, beginning what is set to become an immense franchise in the years to come.
There are a lot of films coming to the shelves this week, so I shall press on.
My picks of the week:
Gary Ross’ The Hunger Games & Lasse Hallström’s Salmon Fishing in the Yemen.
The Office: An American Workplace – Season 7 & Boardwalk Empire – Season 2.
And, of course, the Blu-ray release of Steven Spielberg’s Jaws.
The Hunger Games Iframe Embed for Youtube
DVD and Blu-ray...
- 9/3/2012
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
★★☆☆☆ Not averse to strapping syrupy bows around tales of incidental contrivance, director Lasse Hallström turns his sunny disposition to yet another literary adaptation in Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2011), extracting the political satire and blackly comic weight from Paul Torday's novel. Pairing Emily Blunt with a sober Ewan McGregor may be the sole diamond in this structurally scatter-shot film, but at least Hallström can continue his role as the leading exponent of gregarious, shallow and openly vacuous romantic comedy cinema.
Read more »...
Read more »...
- 9/3/2012
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
Salmon Fishing In The Yemen
Stars: Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt, Kristin Scott Thomas, Amr Waked, Tom Mison, Conleth Hill | Written by Simon Beaufoy, Paul Torday | Directed by Lasse Hallström
The thing about Emily Blunt is that I can never really gauge the potential quality of her movies accurately. I was looking forward to The Wolf Man being an enjoyable piece of schlock and was horribly mistaken. Similarly with The Adjustment Bureau, which somehow achieved the impossible and made a Phillip K. Dick concept seem dull and pedestrian. I’m quite certain she’s a fine actress, but I can’t actually recall a film I’ve seen her in that was actually any good, so you’ll forgive me for presuming that Salmon Fishing In The Yemen was going to be a similar level of fluffy tosh as the latter film mentioned above.
And the result goes to prove my...
Stars: Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt, Kristin Scott Thomas, Amr Waked, Tom Mison, Conleth Hill | Written by Simon Beaufoy, Paul Torday | Directed by Lasse Hallström
The thing about Emily Blunt is that I can never really gauge the potential quality of her movies accurately. I was looking forward to The Wolf Man being an enjoyable piece of schlock and was horribly mistaken. Similarly with The Adjustment Bureau, which somehow achieved the impossible and made a Phillip K. Dick concept seem dull and pedestrian. I’m quite certain she’s a fine actress, but I can’t actually recall a film I’ve seen her in that was actually any good, so you’ll forgive me for presuming that Salmon Fishing In The Yemen was going to be a similar level of fluffy tosh as the latter film mentioned above.
And the result goes to prove my...
- 9/2/2012
- by Mark Allen
- Nerdly
Cloclo; Salmon Fishing in the Yemen; Albert Nobbs; Piranha Dd
The mark of a decent pop biopic is that it should make its subject intriguing even if the viewer has little or no knowledge of (or, indeed, interest in) the music. Something of an icon in France, cheesy, smooth chanteur Claude François is viewed as little more than a pop footnote in the UK, the answer to that always taxing pub quiz question: "Who had a European hit with the French-language song that later formed the basis of the English-language standard My Way?" His death at the age of 39 in a Spinal Tap-style freak bathroom accident in 1978 provoked outpourings of public grief and adulation in François's home country reminiscent of those that attended Elvis's premature death in America the previous year.
Now, with the brashly colourful Cloclo (2012, StudioCanal, 12), director Florent-Emilio Siri attempts to portray the man behind the mask,...
The mark of a decent pop biopic is that it should make its subject intriguing even if the viewer has little or no knowledge of (or, indeed, interest in) the music. Something of an icon in France, cheesy, smooth chanteur Claude François is viewed as little more than a pop footnote in the UK, the answer to that always taxing pub quiz question: "Who had a European hit with the French-language song that later formed the basis of the English-language standard My Way?" His death at the age of 39 in a Spinal Tap-style freak bathroom accident in 1978 provoked outpourings of public grief and adulation in François's home country reminiscent of those that attended Elvis's premature death in America the previous year.
Now, with the brashly colourful Cloclo (2012, StudioCanal, 12), director Florent-Emilio Siri attempts to portray the man behind the mask,...
- 9/1/2012
- by Mark Kermode
- The Guardian - Film News
Chicago – “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen” is a romantic comedy so lightweight that it threatens to float off into the ether. It has perhaps the least gripping title since Ingmar Bergman’s “Sawdust and Tinsel,” which is strange since the rest of the production reeks of commercial calculation. Yet the film is based on Paul Torday’s book of the same name, so the studio must have considered the title marketable.
There’s perhaps no film more difficult to make than a good crowd-pleaser. It’s easy to manufacture phony uplift. The trick is for the director to guide an audience’s emotions in a way where they don’t feel manipulated. That’s where the element of surprise comes into play. If the audience is perched on the edge of their seats, while delighting in the character’s increasingly loony plight, they will likely embrace whatever the script has in store for them.
There’s perhaps no film more difficult to make than a good crowd-pleaser. It’s easy to manufacture phony uplift. The trick is for the director to guide an audience’s emotions in a way where they don’t feel manipulated. That’s where the element of surprise comes into play. If the audience is perched on the edge of their seats, while delighting in the character’s increasingly loony plight, they will likely embrace whatever the script has in store for them.
- 7/27/2012
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
This week: Moe, Larry and Curly get reinvented for the 21st century in "The Three Stooges," an old-school slapstick comedy directed by the Farrelly brothers.
Also new this week is the sci-fi action thriller "Lockout" starring Guy Pearce and Maggie Grace, Mel Gibson in "Get the Gringo," Will Ferrell's Spanish-language comedy "Casa de mi Padre," the ensemble comedy "Friends with Kids," the quirky romantic dramedy "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" starring Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt, and the Blu-ray debut of Gene Kelly in "Singin' in the Rain" in celebration of the film's 60th anniversary.
'The Three Stooges'
Box Office: $44 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 50% Rotten
Storyline: Moe (Chris Diamantopoulos), Larry (Sean Hayes) and Curly (Will Sasso) attempt to save their childhood orphanage and bumble their way into a murder plot as well as star on a reality TV show along the way. Jane Lynch, Sofia Vergara, Jennifer Hudson,...
Also new this week is the sci-fi action thriller "Lockout" starring Guy Pearce and Maggie Grace, Mel Gibson in "Get the Gringo," Will Ferrell's Spanish-language comedy "Casa de mi Padre," the ensemble comedy "Friends with Kids," the quirky romantic dramedy "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" starring Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt, and the Blu-ray debut of Gene Kelly in "Singin' in the Rain" in celebration of the film's 60th anniversary.
'The Three Stooges'
Box Office: $44 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 50% Rotten
Storyline: Moe (Chris Diamantopoulos), Larry (Sean Hayes) and Curly (Will Sasso) attempt to save their childhood orphanage and bumble their way into a murder plot as well as star on a reality TV show along the way. Jane Lynch, Sofia Vergara, Jennifer Hudson,...
- 7/16/2012
- by Robert DeSalvo
- NextMovie
Blu-ray & DVD Release Date: July 17, 2012
Price: DVD $30.99, Blu-ray $35.99
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is one of those quiet films with heaps of charm, and with Ewan McGregor (The Ghost Writer) and Emily Blunt (The Adjustment Bureau) heading up the cast, what’s not to like?
Based on the novel by Paul Torday, the movie tells the story of a scientist (McGregor) who’s asked to fulfill a sheikh’s (Amr Waked, Syriana) dream of bringing fly-flishing to his homeland in Yemen. It starts out as a political opportunity for Kristin Scott Thomas (Sarah’s Key), but turns into a love story for Blunt and McGregor.
Lasse Halstrom, director of other quiet, charismatic movies including Chocolat, helmed Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, which was written by Oscar-winner Simon Beaufoy of the awesome Slumdog Millionaire.
Rated PG-13, the comedy romance film was only released in limited theaters,...
Price: DVD $30.99, Blu-ray $35.99
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is one of those quiet films with heaps of charm, and with Ewan McGregor (The Ghost Writer) and Emily Blunt (The Adjustment Bureau) heading up the cast, what’s not to like?
Based on the novel by Paul Torday, the movie tells the story of a scientist (McGregor) who’s asked to fulfill a sheikh’s (Amr Waked, Syriana) dream of bringing fly-flishing to his homeland in Yemen. It starts out as a political opportunity for Kristin Scott Thomas (Sarah’s Key), but turns into a love story for Blunt and McGregor.
Lasse Halstrom, director of other quiet, charismatic movies including Chocolat, helmed Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, which was written by Oscar-winner Simon Beaufoy of the awesome Slumdog Millionaire.
Rated PG-13, the comedy romance film was only released in limited theaters,...
- 5/21/2012
- by Sam
- Disc Dish
It would be fair to say that the British impression of the Middle East is far from favourable at present. Continual problems in Libya, embassy attacks in Afghanistan and a tentative relationship with Iran - each of which is highlighted on a daily basis courtesy of round-the-clock media - has left the average man and woman with a somewhat abhorrent outlook on our Eastern brethren. Furthermore, this historically strained relationship has seemingly reached breaking point on a number of occasions, many of which were spurred on by the horrific attacks on New York in 9/11; London in 7/7 and Madrid in 11-m.
As such, the making of such a culturally diverse film - based on the politically satirical novel of the same name by Paul Torday - is both a brave and timely addition to British and contemporary cinema.
It's also one of the best films 2012 has to offer thus far...
Avoiding spoilers,...
As such, the making of such a culturally diverse film - based on the politically satirical novel of the same name by Paul Torday - is both a brave and timely addition to British and contemporary cinema.
It's also one of the best films 2012 has to offer thus far...
Avoiding spoilers,...
- 4/26/2012
- Shadowlocked
The Paul Torday adaptation wins over Middle England audiences, while Kevin Macdonald's Marley proves a documentary hit
The winner
It was hardly a hit with the upscale critics and is saddled with a title that's not exactly multiplex-friendly, but Salmon Fishing in the Yemen nevertheless is the top new release at the UK box-office, opening with a highly creditable £1.17m. In a week where a record 17 new releases competed for the attention of cinemagoers, this adaptation of the Paul Torday novel proves once again the power of the older, middle-class, Middle England audience that has already proved so potent this year with the success of The Iron Lady and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. While Salmon Fishing lacks older cast members equivalent to Meryl Streep and Jim Broadbent, or Judi Dench and Maggie Smith, it was clearly pitched at this market, with newspaper ads including endorsements from Woman & Home,...
The winner
It was hardly a hit with the upscale critics and is saddled with a title that's not exactly multiplex-friendly, but Salmon Fishing in the Yemen nevertheless is the top new release at the UK box-office, opening with a highly creditable £1.17m. In a week where a record 17 new releases competed for the attention of cinemagoers, this adaptation of the Paul Torday novel proves once again the power of the older, middle-class, Middle England audience that has already proved so potent this year with the success of The Iron Lady and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. While Salmon Fishing lacks older cast members equivalent to Meryl Streep and Jim Broadbent, or Judi Dench and Maggie Smith, it was clearly pitched at this market, with newspaper ads including endorsements from Woman & Home,...
- 4/24/2012
- by Charles Gant
- The Guardian - Film News
There’s a lot of new releases hitting cinemas this week with the major ones being kidnap-thriller Gone, Sci-Fi Actioner Lockout and comedy drama Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. The trailer for Gone has been on in cinemas for what seems like months now, and the more I see it, the less interesting it becomes. Lockout looks suitably bonkers and could well prove to be a real guilty pleasure from the sound of reviews I’ve been getting. Meanwhile Salmon Fishing in the Yemen looks like it may be a little too saccharine and mumsy for some tastes, but who knows, the trailer may be slightly misleading.
Of last week’s offerings, it’s Cabin in the Woods which has been receiving all the plaudits with everyone I know who has seen it telling me “don’t let anyone spoil it for you” and “watch it without knowing what happens...
Of last week’s offerings, it’s Cabin in the Woods which has been receiving all the plaudits with everyone I know who has seen it telling me “don’t let anyone spoil it for you” and “watch it without knowing what happens...
- 4/20/2012
- by Rob Keeling
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
This quirk-loaded British comedy feels like it features Bill Nighy, even though it doesn't
There's a high level of machine-tooled quirkiness in this quirky-feelgood British comedy, written by Simon Beaufoy, directed by Lasse Hallström and based on the 2006 bestseller by Paul Torday. And yet it feels as if you've seen it many times before. Bill Nighy isn't in it, for example, and yet afterwards I had an intense memory of Bill Nighy being in it, the way amputees can feel their toes itching. Ewan McGregor is Dr Fred Jones, the uptight fisheries scientist who finds himself dragged into a wild scheme to introduce salmon fishing to the Yemen, dreamed up by a fishing-crazed sheikh (Amr Waked). Grumpy Dr Jones is pretty testy at first with the sheikh's beautiful English aide, Harriet (Emily Blunt). But as the desert is irrigated, so romance blooms, and the salmon of love leaps in the river of emotion.
There's a high level of machine-tooled quirkiness in this quirky-feelgood British comedy, written by Simon Beaufoy, directed by Lasse Hallström and based on the 2006 bestseller by Paul Torday. And yet it feels as if you've seen it many times before. Bill Nighy isn't in it, for example, and yet afterwards I had an intense memory of Bill Nighy being in it, the way amputees can feel their toes itching. Ewan McGregor is Dr Fred Jones, the uptight fisheries scientist who finds himself dragged into a wild scheme to introduce salmon fishing to the Yemen, dreamed up by a fishing-crazed sheikh (Amr Waked). Grumpy Dr Jones is pretty testy at first with the sheikh's beautiful English aide, Harriet (Emily Blunt). But as the desert is irrigated, so romance blooms, and the salmon of love leaps in the river of emotion.
- 4/19/2012
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
When an idealistic sheikh persuades a fisheries expert to try and introduce salmon to the Yemen, the expert soon finds himself himself out of his depth, but love blossoms along the way.
It's hard to see the fish for the froth in Lasse Hallstrom's twee adaptation of Paul Torday's novel. Ewan McGregor attempts - and fails - to disappear into the character of the perma-cardiganed Dr Fred Jones, a career civil servant and long-time fish fan, whose hobby is making intricate fishing flies.
He's a character just made for a Fifties Ealing comedy about British eccentricity but he feels...
It's hard to see the fish for the froth in Lasse Hallstrom's twee adaptation of Paul Torday's novel. Ewan McGregor attempts - and fails - to disappear into the character of the perma-cardiganed Dr Fred Jones, a career civil servant and long-time fish fan, whose hobby is making intricate fishing flies.
He's a character just made for a Fifties Ealing comedy about British eccentricity but he feels...
- 4/19/2012
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
When conservative fisheries expert Dr. Fred Jones (Ewan McGregor) receives an unexpected request from legal representative Harriet Chetwode-Talbot (Emily Blunt), he finds himself embroiled in a wealthy sheikh’s ludicrous dream of introducing salmon fishing into the Yemen. After the project receives backing from the British government as a way of diverting attention away from their latest blunder in the Middle-East, Fred slowly finds the faith needed to turn a dream into a reality.
Adapted from Paul Torday’s acclaimed novel, screenwriter Simon Beaufoy employs neat tactics to ensure the narrative plays out at a believable, tempered pace, cleverly playing on the social satire to ensure the parable-like tone is established from the offset. Where the first half revels in the silliness of the sheikh’s dream, brilliantly captured in the way Fred tries every method possible to bypass the mammoth task put in his command, the second tapers off somewhat,...
Adapted from Paul Torday’s acclaimed novel, screenwriter Simon Beaufoy employs neat tactics to ensure the narrative plays out at a believable, tempered pace, cleverly playing on the social satire to ensure the parable-like tone is established from the offset. Where the first half revels in the silliness of the sheikh’s dream, brilliantly captured in the way Fred tries every method possible to bypass the mammoth task put in his command, the second tapers off somewhat,...
- 4/19/2012
- by Jamie Neish
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Lasse Hallström could have made a satirical, Ealing-style comedy, but instead his new film is simply corny froth
More Field Of Dreams than Field And Stream, Salmon Fishing In The Yemen urges us to dream big, no matter how silly or ridiculous the dream in question may be, and to swim against the current in the fearless and indomitable manner of its titular pink delicacy. In other words, it's just another damn Lasse Hallström movie, with much of the satiric energy of Paul Torday's much wiser and sharper novel drained off and replaced by the kind of corn that you expect from a surging-strings sentimentalist like Hallström.
Not that the elements for success don't abound: there are strong performances from well-cast and likable players such as Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt, and Kristin Scott Thomas giving it the Mach 4, sit-up-straight aristocratic routine. Not only that, the source novel definitely...
More Field Of Dreams than Field And Stream, Salmon Fishing In The Yemen urges us to dream big, no matter how silly or ridiculous the dream in question may be, and to swim against the current in the fearless and indomitable manner of its titular pink delicacy. In other words, it's just another damn Lasse Hallström movie, with much of the satiric energy of Paul Torday's much wiser and sharper novel drained off and replaced by the kind of corn that you expect from a surging-strings sentimentalist like Hallström.
Not that the elements for success don't abound: there are strong performances from well-cast and likable players such as Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt, and Kristin Scott Thomas giving it the Mach 4, sit-up-straight aristocratic routine. Not only that, the source novel definitely...
- 4/13/2012
- by John Patterson
- The Guardian - Film News
Lasse Hallström's latest endeavour Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2011), an adaptation of the Paul Torday novel, charts the waters of bonnie Scotland, the Thames and, bizarrely, the rivers of Yemen. To find out more about the film and its flowing journey into production, CineVue was in attendance at the recent London press conference for the film. On hand to answer the press gang's questions was the ever-charming Ewan McGregor, the lovely Emily Blunt, rising star Amr Waked and the film's producer Paul Webster, whose credit list could go toe-to-toe with some of the best in the game. The first question went to Webster himself:
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- 4/12/2012
- by CineVue
- CineVue
Ewan McGregor has admitted that he is "no fisherman" as he attended the premiere of his latest film Salmon Fishing In The Yemen.
The actor, who plays fisheries expert Alfred Jones in the romantic comedy, said fishing was not one of his favourite hobbies.
The film, which has been adapted from Paul Torday's novel, sees McGregor tasked with the seemingly impossible mission of introducing salmon into the Yemen wadis by a sheikh.
"I'm not really a fisherman," he said.
"I must have done some fishing when I was a kid here and there but it is not really a passion of mine."
McGregor and co-star Emily Blunt walked the sodden red carpet at the UK premiere of the film in Kensington, London.
Dozens of fans braved rain and sleet to get a glimpse of the stars.
McGregor said that working alongside Blunt was "fantastic".
He said: "She is a...
The actor, who plays fisheries expert Alfred Jones in the romantic comedy, said fishing was not one of his favourite hobbies.
The film, which has been adapted from Paul Torday's novel, sees McGregor tasked with the seemingly impossible mission of introducing salmon into the Yemen wadis by a sheikh.
"I'm not really a fisherman," he said.
"I must have done some fishing when I was a kid here and there but it is not really a passion of mine."
McGregor and co-star Emily Blunt walked the sodden red carpet at the UK premiere of the film in Kensington, London.
Dozens of fans braved rain and sleet to get a glimpse of the stars.
McGregor said that working alongside Blunt was "fantastic".
He said: "She is a...
- 4/10/2012
- by PA
- Huffington Post
Expanding ito more theatres this weekend, CBS Films' Salmon Fishing in the Yemen gets a new clip. The Emily Blunt, Ewan McGregor, Kristin Scott Thomas and Amr Waked starrer scripted by Slumdog Millionaire's Simon Beaufoy from the novel by Paul Torday, is helmed by Chocolat's Lasse Hallstrom. The story tells of Britain's leading fisheries expert (Ewan McGregor) who is approached by a consultant (Emily Blunt) to help realize a sheikh's (Amr Waked) vision of bringing the sport of fly-fishing to the desert, and he immediately thinks the project is both absurd and unachievable. However, when the Prime Minister's overzealous press secretary (Kristin Scott Thomas) latches on to it as a "good will" story, this unlikely team will put it all on the line and embark on an upstream journey of faith and fish to prove the impossible, possible...
- 4/6/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Expanding ito more theatres this weekend, CBS Films' Salmon Fishing in the Yemen gets a new clip. The Emily Blunt, Ewan McGregor, Kristin Scott Thomas and Amr Waked starrer scripted by Slumdog Millionaire's Simon Beaufoy from the novel by Paul Torday, is helmed by Chocolat's Lasse Hallstrom. The story tells of Britain's leading fisheries expert (Ewan McGregor) who is approached by a consultant (Emily Blunt) to help realize a sheikh's (Amr Waked) vision of bringing the sport of fly-fishing to the desert, and he immediately thinks the project is both absurd and unachievable. However, when the Prime Minister's overzealous press secretary (Kristin Scott Thomas) latches on to it as a "good will" story, this unlikely team will put it all on the line and embark on an upstream journey of faith and fish to prove the impossible, possible...
- 4/6/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Expanding ito more theatres this weekend, CBS Films' Salmon Fishing in the Yemen gets a new clip. The Emily Blunt, Ewan McGregor, Kristin Scott Thomas and Amr Waked starrer scripted by Slumdog Millionaire's Simon Beaufoy from the novel by Paul Torday, is helmed by Chocolat's Lasse Hallstrom. The story tells of Britain's leading fisheries expert (Ewan McGregor) who is approached by a consultant (Emily Blunt) to help realize a sheikh's (Amr Waked) vision of bringing the sport of fly-fishing to the desert, and he immediately thinks the project is both absurd and unachievable. However, when the Prime Minister's overzealous press secretary (Kristin Scott Thomas) latches on to it as a "good will" story, this unlikely team will put it all on the line and embark on an upstream journey of faith and fish to prove the impossible, possible...
- 4/6/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Sometimes a romantic story can come from a strange place. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen proves that if your character exhibit a mutual passion towards a specific goal, a blossoming romantic relationship is an easy sell at the movies. Adapted by Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours) from Paul Torday's novel, the film is obviously comfortable with its dramatic bits, but it's the characters involved that were carved out incredibly. They were written well, but also directed well. Lasse Hallström did a wonderful job crafting the chemistry shared onscreen with leads Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt. Given the filmmaker's history, though (Dear John, Chocolat), directing romance isn't a stretch for him.
British Government fishing expert Dr. Alfred Jones (McGregor) leads a very mild-mannered life. One day he gets a very polite letter from a Ms. Harriet Chetwode-Talbot (Blunt) describing a project conjured up by her client, a rich sheikh from the Republic of Yemen.
British Government fishing expert Dr. Alfred Jones (McGregor) leads a very mild-mannered life. One day he gets a very polite letter from a Ms. Harriet Chetwode-Talbot (Blunt) describing a project conjured up by her client, a rich sheikh from the Republic of Yemen.
- 3/29/2012
- by J.C. De Leon
- Slackerwood
To celebrate the release of Lasse Hallström’s upcoming romantic-comedy Salmon Fishing In The Yemen in cinemas April 20. Hey U Guys are giving you and your friends the chance to see the film first and for free!
To see the film before it hits cinemas on April 20 just go to www.showfilmfirst.com and enter the code 257322. Remember it’s first come first served so be quick to avoid missing out.
Lasse Hallström’s charming and witty adaptation of Paul Torday’s bestselling novel, Salmon Fishing In The Yemen, will release in cinemas on 20th April 2012 in the UK and Ireland. The film stars Ewan McGregor as Fred Jones, a fisheries expert and academic who works for the British government. When he’s approached by Harriet Chetwode-Talbot (Emily Blunt) with a plan to introduce salmon into the waterways of Yemen for the purpose of sport fishing, he laughs off the scheme,...
To see the film before it hits cinemas on April 20 just go to www.showfilmfirst.com and enter the code 257322. Remember it’s first come first served so be quick to avoid missing out.
Lasse Hallström’s charming and witty adaptation of Paul Torday’s bestselling novel, Salmon Fishing In The Yemen, will release in cinemas on 20th April 2012 in the UK and Ireland. The film stars Ewan McGregor as Fred Jones, a fisheries expert and academic who works for the British government. When he’s approached by Harriet Chetwode-Talbot (Emily Blunt) with a plan to introduce salmon into the waterways of Yemen for the purpose of sport fishing, he laughs off the scheme,...
- 3/28/2012
- by Competitons
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The country of Yemen is a world-class producer of sand, desert heat, and political violence. Salmon are, of course, cold-water fish that are challenging to hook with a rod and reel but taste yummy once they’re caught. Based on a novel by Paul Torday, Salmon Fishing In The Yemen tells of an eccentric billionaire Yemen Sheik (Amir Waked) determined to bring the sport of salmon fishing to his desert nation. Britain’s leading fisheries scientist Dr. Alfred Jones (Ewan McGregor) is hired by the Sheik’s consultant Harriett (Emily Blunt) to help realize the Sheik’s dream and export the salmon from the U.K. Jones thinks the project unrealistic but the Prime Minister’s overzealous press secretary Patricia Maxwell (Kristin Scott Thomas) latches on to it as a positive assignment that will help Anglo-Yemeni relations. The unhappily-married Jones is skeptical but enters knee-deep into the venture with the...
- 3/23/2012
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Adaptation’s are often cursed films. They attract a huge audience automatically, by virtue of that audience having read the book, but at the same time have the added pressure of having to create a filmic experience that rivals the original. Often there will be drastic changes to the story, often the lead character will be woefully miscast, often the film will race through a plot that in a novel had time to develop at its own pace.
It was with trepidation then that I sat down to watch Salmon Fishing In The Yemen, based on Paul Torday’s 2006 novel of the same name. However, the film stands on its own merits and does enough justice to the source material to appease those who loved the novel so much.
Dr. Alfred Jones (Ewan McGregor) is a civil servant and fishing expert. His wife Mary (Rachael Stirling...
Adaptation’s are often cursed films. They attract a huge audience automatically, by virtue of that audience having read the book, but at the same time have the added pressure of having to create a filmic experience that rivals the original. Often there will be drastic changes to the story, often the lead character will be woefully miscast, often the film will race through a plot that in a novel had time to develop at its own pace.
It was with trepidation then that I sat down to watch Salmon Fishing In The Yemen, based on Paul Torday’s 2006 novel of the same name. However, the film stands on its own merits and does enough justice to the source material to appease those who loved the novel so much.
Dr. Alfred Jones (Ewan McGregor) is a civil servant and fishing expert. His wife Mary (Rachael Stirling...
- 3/17/2012
- by Harry Harris
- Obsessed with Film
Is “Salmon Fishing In The Yemen” a love story, or a tale of political impossibilities? Based on Paul Torday’s nonfiction novel, the new Lasse Hallstrom film pivots on the relationship between uptight fisheries expert Fred and plucky consultant Harriet, as they find themselves straying from their partners while visiting the Middle East, in an attempt to manufacture a salmon habitat in the heart of the Yemen.
“It’s an unusual story,” Ewan McGregor told press earlier this week. Though McGregor noted the rom-com conventions, he suggested it was the story’s unconventional attributes that excited him most. “They become friends before they fall in love with each other,” he says of Fred and Harriet. “And it made me feel that it was quite grown-up, not your usual ‘rom-com’ situation.” And while Fred initially scoffs at the idea of bringing salmon to the Yemen, he had no such reservations about the role.
“It’s an unusual story,” Ewan McGregor told press earlier this week. Though McGregor noted the rom-com conventions, he suggested it was the story’s unconventional attributes that excited him most. “They become friends before they fall in love with each other,” he says of Fred and Harriet. “And it made me feel that it was quite grown-up, not your usual ‘rom-com’ situation.” And while Fred initially scoffs at the idea of bringing salmon to the Yemen, he had no such reservations about the role.
- 3/9/2012
- by Gabe Toro
- The Playlist
Chicago – Often when novels with quirky titles get made into films, all that is left of the quirk is the name on the cover. That is exactly what has happened to “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen,” a tome authored by Paul Torday, and reduced to torpid blandness by director Lasse Hallstrøm.
Rating: 2.5/5.0
Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt, competent or funny in other films, are barely awake in this one, and they are supposed to be the romantic spark. There are such odd motivations for all the characters, but instead of seeming offbeat or like satire, they merely add to the confusion of what exactly the film is supposed to be representing. There are some humorous parts, there are some political maneuverings and there is a romance, but each seem separate from the other, and that certainly don’t add up to a cohesive whole.
Ewan McGregor is Dr. Alfred Jones,...
Rating: 2.5/5.0
Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt, competent or funny in other films, are barely awake in this one, and they are supposed to be the romantic spark. There are such odd motivations for all the characters, but instead of seeming offbeat or like satire, they merely add to the confusion of what exactly the film is supposed to be representing. There are some humorous parts, there are some political maneuverings and there is a romance, but each seem separate from the other, and that certainly don’t add up to a cohesive whole.
Ewan McGregor is Dr. Alfred Jones,...
- 3/9/2012
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
I’d be remiss if I didn’t explain the two most pressing points about Salmon Fishing in the Yemen right up front. Yes, they do get salmon in the Yemen, and of course our charming leads Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt get together. I don’t think that’s a spoiler as much as a romantic comedy stable. Romcoms are always about the journey, not the destination and this is one journey that is absolutely worth taking.
The foundation of the plot comes at the whims of two very important and extremely powerful people. One is a rich Yemeni Sheikh (Amr Waked) who wants to bring his favorite Scottish past time, salmon fishing, to his homeland in order to foster good will and cooperation amongst its fractured populace. Never mind the fact that his homeland is relatively baron of all things that scream out “this is a good place to fish.
The foundation of the plot comes at the whims of two very important and extremely powerful people. One is a rich Yemeni Sheikh (Amr Waked) who wants to bring his favorite Scottish past time, salmon fishing, to his homeland in order to foster good will and cooperation amongst its fractured populace. Never mind the fact that his homeland is relatively baron of all things that scream out “this is a good place to fish.
- 3/9/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
The first two-thirds of Salmon Fishing in the Yemen are quite good, but around that 70-minute mark it's as if screenwriter Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire) handed off script duties to someone that has only watched horrible romantic comedies their entire life. I'm not sure I've ever been this high on a movie to come crashing down to such lows so quickly. I would easily rate the first half of this film somewhere in the "B+" range, but the final third is an unequivocal "F".
Loaded with metaphors from the dialogue to the imagery, Lasse Halstrom (Chocolat) is certainly having fun directing this adaptation of Paul Torday's book, and it is a film to have fun with, which makes my disdain for the ending even more anguishing. At the center of the story is Alfred (Ewan McGregor) and Harriet (Emily Blunt). Alfred is a fisheries expert in a dead end...
Loaded with metaphors from the dialogue to the imagery, Lasse Halstrom (Chocolat) is certainly having fun directing this adaptation of Paul Torday's book, and it is a film to have fun with, which makes my disdain for the ending even more anguishing. At the center of the story is Alfred (Ewan McGregor) and Harriet (Emily Blunt). Alfred is a fisheries expert in a dead end...
- 3/9/2012
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Director: Lasse Hallström Writers: Simon Beaufoy(screenplay), Paul Torday (novel) Starring: Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt, Amr Waked, Kristin Scott Thomas, Tom Mison, Rachael Stirling I’m a big fan of Ewan McGregor, and for that reason alone I was curious about Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. Actually, that’s not entirely true. I was curious about it because of director Lasse Hallström as well. But first, back to McGregor. Hearing him deliver dialogue with his natural accent was a pleasant surprise, as McGregor seems to have been cast using an American accent for quite some time. He’s charmingly proper as Dr. Alfred Jones, an expert on all things fish. A married man who rarely deviates from his routines, Dr. Jones is called into a meeting with Ms. Harriet Chetwode-Talbot (Emily Blunt), a high-powered consultant to a Yemeni sheikh (Amr Waked). The sheikh is an avid fisherman, proven by the...
- 3/9/2012
- by Caitlyn Collins
- SmellsLikeScreenSpirit
Picking on "Salmon Fishing In The Yemen" makes us feel like a bit of a bully, as though we're mercilessly teasing that super nice but incredibly dumb girl in class. It's an affable, inoffensive British comedy that just wants you to like it so much that you can't help but snicker behind its back. Or are we the only ones who are that cruel?
Based on Paul Torday's novel, "Salmon Fishing In The Yemen" follows the efforts of a team to bring a salmon run to the Middle Eastern country at the request of an ambitious sheikh/amateur fisherman (Amr Waked, "Syriana"). The sheikh's representative Harriet (Emily Blunt) approaches fisheries expert Dr. Fred Jones (Ewan McGregor), who initially scoffs at the idea, then is reluctantly tasked with the enormous, multi-million dollar project. Meanwhile, the British prime minister is tired of all the bad press coming out of the area,...
Based on Paul Torday's novel, "Salmon Fishing In The Yemen" follows the efforts of a team to bring a salmon run to the Middle Eastern country at the request of an ambitious sheikh/amateur fisherman (Amr Waked, "Syriana"). The sheikh's representative Harriet (Emily Blunt) approaches fisheries expert Dr. Fred Jones (Ewan McGregor), who initially scoffs at the idea, then is reluctantly tasked with the enormous, multi-million dollar project. Meanwhile, the British prime minister is tired of all the bad press coming out of the area,...
- 3/8/2012
- by Kimber Myers
- The Playlist
It's possible you may not have noticed it, but three-time Academy Award nominee Lasse Hallstrom has become an immensely prolific director. During the '90s he scored some of the biggest hits of his career including "Chocolat," "The Cider House Rules" and "The Shipping News," and though things quieted down in the new millenium, he rebounded with a flourish, scoring his second biggest hit with the Nicolas Sparks' adaptation "Dear John." And now he's back with the romantic comedy "Salmon Fishing In The Yemen."
The film, based on a true story, concerns the budding romance between a fussy fisheries professor (Ewan McGregor) and a freewheeling British consultant (Emily Blunt) as they embark on a somewhat unlikely plan to bring salmon to the hot sands of the Yemen. The picture, penned by Oscar-winner Simon Beaufoy ("Slumdog Millionaire") is based on a book by Paul Torday, who recounts the correspondence between involved parties with text messages,...
The film, based on a true story, concerns the budding romance between a fussy fisheries professor (Ewan McGregor) and a freewheeling British consultant (Emily Blunt) as they embark on a somewhat unlikely plan to bring salmon to the hot sands of the Yemen. The picture, penned by Oscar-winner Simon Beaufoy ("Slumdog Millionaire") is based on a book by Paul Torday, who recounts the correspondence between involved parties with text messages,...
- 3/8/2012
- by Gabe Toro
- The Playlist
Title: Salmon Fishing in the Yemen Reviewed for Shockya by Harvey Karten Director: Lasse Hallström Screenwriter: Simon Beaufoy from Paul Torday’s novel Cast: Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt, Amr Waked, Kristin Scott Thomas, Tom Mison Screened at: Park Avenue, NYC, 3/7/12 Opens: March 9, 2012 Writing political satire in America today must be an almost effortless job: the Republican candidates are making it easy. “My wife drives a couple of Cadillacs,” or “I’m not concerned about the poor,” or “Contraception isn’t what’s supposed to be.” The British may have the same situation, one not as recognizable to us on the other side of the Atlantic. Paul Torday in his satirical novel [ Read More ]...
- 3/8/2012
- by Brian Corder
- ShockYa
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
Directed by Lasse Hallström
2011, UK, 112 minutes
If you aren’t familiar with the book by Paul Torday, a title like Salmon Fishing in the Yemen sounds a bit odd. What is it? Nihilistic art film? Maladapted play? The world’s most confused documentary? None of the above, thankfully. As it turns out, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is a crowd-pleaser; a comedy with enough drama to be grounded and enough romance to be charming. It is clever, engaging, and above all, hopeful.
Essentially, Lasse Hallström has adapted Paul Torday’s book into an underdog film, the underdog being an idea: a wealthy Yemeni sheik (more inspired by Dubai’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid than any Yemeni in the news) wants to introduce salmon to the recently dammed waterways of his country for the purpose of sport fishing. It’s a ridiculous proposal and an impossible dream,...
Directed by Lasse Hallström
2011, UK, 112 minutes
If you aren’t familiar with the book by Paul Torday, a title like Salmon Fishing in the Yemen sounds a bit odd. What is it? Nihilistic art film? Maladapted play? The world’s most confused documentary? None of the above, thankfully. As it turns out, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is a crowd-pleaser; a comedy with enough drama to be grounded and enough romance to be charming. It is clever, engaging, and above all, hopeful.
Essentially, Lasse Hallström has adapted Paul Torday’s book into an underdog film, the underdog being an idea: a wealthy Yemeni sheik (more inspired by Dubai’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid than any Yemeni in the news) wants to introduce salmon to the recently dammed waterways of his country for the purpose of sport fishing. It’s a ridiculous proposal and an impossible dream,...
- 3/7/2012
- by Dave Robson
- SoundOnSight
Mike Mills's indie darling "Beginners" has earned the simple short hand as the film that finally won Christopher Plummer his Oscar. While it was a story of underdog triumph for the 82-year-old actor, it has left its star, Ewan McGregor in a familiar spot: completely overlooked. McGregor -- who shot to fame with "Trainspotting" in 1997 and has appeared in some of your favorite movies since then -- often gets the cold shoulder when people discuss the best actors of this generation. Fortunately, McGregor will have no problem standing out in "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen," his latest film which finds him wooing Emily Blunt, dealing with political bureaucracy, and -- duh -- salmon fishing in the yemen.
Based on the novel by Paul Torday, "Salmon Fishing" imagines McGregor as Dr. Fred Jones, a fisheries expert who's enlisted by a sheik to bring Salmon fishing to the Arabic nation. In the Quixote-like quest,...
Based on the novel by Paul Torday, "Salmon Fishing" imagines McGregor as Dr. Fred Jones, a fisheries expert who's enlisted by a sheik to bring Salmon fishing to the Arabic nation. In the Quixote-like quest,...
- 3/5/2012
- by The Huffington Post
- Huffington Post
Mike Mills's indie darling "Beginners" has earned the simple short hand as the film that finally won Christopher Plummer his Oscar. While it was a story of underdog triumph for the 82-year-old actor, it has left its star, Ewan McGregor in a familiar spot: completely overlooked. McGregor -- who shot to fame with "Trainspotting" in 1997 and has appeared in some of your favorite movies since then -- often gets the cold shoulder when people discuss the best actors of this generation. Fortunately, McGregor will have no problem standing out in "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen," his latest film which finds him wooing Emily Blunt, dealing with political bureaucracy, and -- duh -- salmon fishing in the yemen. Based on the novel by Paul Torday, "Salmon Fishing" imagines McGregor as Dr. Fred Jones, a fisheries expert who's enlisted by a sheik to bring Salmon fishing to the Arabic nation. In the Quixote-like quest,...
- 3/5/2012
- by Christopher Rosen
- Moviefone
Chicago – In the second HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film with our new social giveaway technology, we have 40 admit-two movie passes up for grabs to the advance screening of the highly anticipated new comedy/romance film “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen”! The new film, which opens on March 9, 2012, stars Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt.
“Salmon Fishing in the Yemen” also stars Kristin Scott Thomas, Amr Waked, Catherine Steadman, Tom Mison, Rachael Stirling, Tom Beard, Jill Baker, Conleth Hill, Alex Taylor-McDowall, Matilda White, Otto Farrant, Hamish Gray and Clive Wood. The film is from the director of “Chocolat” and “The Cider House Rules” (Lasse Hallström) and the Oscar-winning screenwriter of “Slumdog Millionaire” (Simon Beaufoy) based on the novel by Paul Torday.
To win your free passes to the advance Chicago screening of “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen” courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, get interactive with our new Hookup technology directly below. That’s it!
“Salmon Fishing in the Yemen” also stars Kristin Scott Thomas, Amr Waked, Catherine Steadman, Tom Mison, Rachael Stirling, Tom Beard, Jill Baker, Conleth Hill, Alex Taylor-McDowall, Matilda White, Otto Farrant, Hamish Gray and Clive Wood. The film is from the director of “Chocolat” and “The Cider House Rules” (Lasse Hallström) and the Oscar-winning screenwriter of “Slumdog Millionaire” (Simon Beaufoy) based on the novel by Paul Torday.
To win your free passes to the advance Chicago screening of “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen” courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, get interactive with our new Hookup technology directly below. That’s it!
- 3/5/2012
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Director Lasse Hallström (My Life as a Dog, Chocolat) and writer Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire) have teamed up to adapt Paul Torday’s Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, buoyed by stars Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt, and for the poor average folk, the film goes out wide on March 9th. But thanks to Alliance Films, we have 10 double passes each to give out for the Toronto and Ottawa advance screenings of the movie. For a chance to win, send an email to admin@soundonsight.org with “Salmon Fishing” in the headline, along with the city you’re entering for.
The Toronto screening will take place on Thursday, March 1st at 7pm, at the Tiff Lightbox. The Ottawa screening will be held Wednesday, March 7th at 7pm, at Empire 7.
The Toronto screening will take place on Thursday, March 1st at 7pm, at the Tiff Lightbox. The Ottawa screening will be held Wednesday, March 7th at 7pm, at Empire 7.
- 2/28/2012
- by Simon Howell
- SoundOnSight
New clips from Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, starring Emily Blunt, Ewan McGregor, Amr Waked and Kristin Scott Thomas. The CBS Films eagerly anticipated dramedy directed by Lasse Hallström (Chocolat, The Hoax, Dear John) and scripted by Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire) opens on March 9th. We have interviews with the cast and filmmakers as well as a featurette and new clips up for your viewing pleasure. The story based on the novel by Paul Torday, tells of a visionary sheik (Amr Waked) who has a big dream – to bring salmon fishing to the desert. Willing to spare no expense. he instructs his representative (Emily Blunt) to turn his dream into reality, an extraordinary feat that will require the involvement of Britain’s leading fisheries expert (Ewan McGregor) who happens to think the project both absurd and unachievable. That is, until the Prime Minister’s overzealous press secretary (Kristin Scott Thomas...
- 2/27/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
New clips from Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, starring Emily Blunt, Ewan McGregor, Amr Waked and Kristin Scott Thomas. The CBS Films eagerly anticipated dramedy directed by Lasse Hallström (Chocolat, The Hoax, Dear John) and scripted by Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire) opens on March 9th. We have interviews with the cast and filmmakers as well as a featurette and new clips up for your viewing pleasure. The story based on the novel by Paul Torday, tells of a visionary sheik (Amr Waked) who has a big dream – to bring salmon fishing to the desert. Willing to spare no expense. he instructs his representative (Emily Blunt) to turn his dream into reality, an extraordinary feat that will require the involvement of Britain’s leading fisheries expert (Ewan McGregor) who happens to think the project both absurd and unachievable. That is, until the Prime Minister’s overzealous press secretary (Kristin Scott Thomas...
- 2/27/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
New clips from Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, starring Emily Blunt, Ewan McGregor, Amr Waked and Kristin Scott Thomas. The CBS Films eagerly anticipated dramedy directed by Lasse Hallström (Chocolat, The Hoax, Dear John) and scripted by Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire) opens on March 9th. We have interviews with the cast and filmmakers as well as a featurette and new clips up for your viewing pleasure. The story based on the novel by Paul Torday, tells of a visionary sheik (Amr Waked) who has a big dream – to bring salmon fishing to the desert. Willing to spare no expense. he instructs his representative (Emily Blunt) to turn his dream into reality, an extraordinary feat that will require the involvement of Britain’s leading fisheries expert (Ewan McGregor) who happens to think the project both absurd and unachievable. That is, until the Prime Minister’s overzealous press secretary (Kristin Scott Thomas...
- 2/27/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
If salmon fishing doesn't sound like your idea of a good time, then clearly you've never tried it with Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt in tow. The two actors star in "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen," the upcoming CBS Films drama based on the novel written by Paul Torday. "Salmon Fishing" centers on Dr. Fred Jones (McGregor), a scientist hired to introduce salmon fishing to the highlands of Yemen. In the following clip, Jones tells the alluring Harriet Chetwode-Talbot (Blunt) all about a new form of bait that takes its name from a beautiful source. Watch the clip below for more.
"Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" arrives in theaters on March 9, 2012.
"Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" arrives in theaters on March 9, 2012.
- 2/23/2012
- by Josh Wigler
- MTV Movies Blog
We've already seen a U.S. theatrical trailer and another one from across the pond for Lasse Halstrom's adaptation of Salmon Fishing in the Yemen from Slumdog Millionaire writer Simon Beaufoy, but now we have another full length trailer. However, this one mixes some new footage with a few quick talking heads featuring stars Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt and Kristin Scott Thomas talking about the true story. Honestly it's more like a first look featurette you'd see playing before the trailers even start at the movie theaters, but for those anticipating the adaptation, it should get you pretty excited. Watch it below! Here's the new trailer for Lasse Halstrom's Salmon Fishing in the Yemen via Yahoo! Movies: Lasse Halstrom (What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Dear John) is directing the adaptation of Paul Torday's novel Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, written for the screen by Academy Award winning writer Simon Beaufoy...
- 2/14/2012
- by Ethan Anderton
- firstshowing.net
Second trailer for Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, starring Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt. The exquisite-looking movie from CBS Films has a great new trailer, with feedback from the stars included. Most of the time, this is a featurette, but oddly called a second theatrical trailer this time around. Lasse Hallström, helmer of Chocolat and Simon Beaufoy, the Oscar-winning scribe of Slumdog Millionaire, join forces to bring the Paul Torday novel to life. Cast also includes Kristin Scott Thomas, Amr Waked, Rachael Stirling, Tom Mison and Catherine Steadman. In the inspirational comedy, a visionary sheik (Amr Waked) has a big dream – to bring salmon fishing to the desert. Willing to spare no expense, he instructs his representative (Emily Blunt) to turn his dream into reality, an extraordinary feat that will require the involvement of Britain’s leading fisheries expert (Ewan McGregor) who happens to think the project both absurd and unachievable.
- 2/14/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Second trailer for Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, starring Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt. The exquisite-looking movie from CBS Films has a great new trailer, with feedback from the stars included. Most of the time, this is a featurette, but oddly called a second theatrical trailer this time around. Lasse Hallström, helmer of Chocolat and Simon Beaufoy, the Oscar-winning scribe of Slumdog Millionaire, join forces to bring the Paul Torday novel to life. Cast also includes Kristin Scott Thomas, Amr Waked, Rachael Stirling, Tom Mison and Catherine Steadman. In the inspirational comedy, a visionary sheik (Amr Waked) has a big dream – to bring salmon fishing to the desert. Willing to spare no expense, he instructs his representative (Emily Blunt) to turn his dream into reality, an extraordinary feat that will require the involvement of Britain’s leading fisheries expert (Ewan McGregor) who happens to think the project both absurd and unachievable.
- 2/14/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Second trailer for Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, starring Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt. The exquisite-looking movie from CBS Films has a great new trailer, with feedback from the stars included. Most of the time, this is a featurette, but oddly called a second theatrical trailer this time around. Lasse Hallström, helmer of Chocolat and Simon Beaufoy, the Oscar-winning scribe of Slumdog Millionaire, join forces to bring the Paul Torday novel to life. Cast also includes Kristin Scott Thomas, Amr Waked, Rachael Stirling, Tom Mison and Catherine Steadman. In the inspirational comedy, a visionary sheik (Amr Waked) has a big dream – to bring salmon fishing to the desert. Willing to spare no expense, he instructs his representative (Emily Blunt) to turn his dream into reality, an extraordinary feat that will require the involvement of Britain’s leading fisheries expert (Ewan McGregor) who happens to think the project both absurd and unachievable.
- 2/14/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
CBS Films has debuted the new trailer for Lasse Hallstrom's Salmon Fishing in the Yemen , starring Emily Blunt, Ewan McGregor, Kristin Scott Thomas and Amr Waked. In the adaptation of the Paul Torday book, opening in theaters on March 9, Britain's leading fisheries expert (McGregor) is approached by a consultant (Blunt) to help realize a sheikh's (Waked) vision of bringing the sport of fly-fishing to the desert. He immediately thinks the project is both absurd and unachievable, but when the Prime Minister's overzealous press secretary (Thomas) latches on to it as a "good will" story, this unlikely team will put it all on the line and embark on an upstream journey of faith and fish to prove the impossible, possible.
- 2/14/2012
- Comingsoon.net
CBS Films has debuted a new UK quad poster for Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt and Kristin Scott Thomas star in the film directed by Lasse Hallstrom and written by Oscar winner Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire). The film, based on Paul Torday’s acclaimed novel, is an uplifting tale about a fisheries expert [...]
Continue reading International Salmon Fishing In The Yemen Quad Poster on FilmoFilia.
Related posts: Salmon Fishing In The Yemen Clips Starring Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt Salmon Fishing In The Yemen Trailer Starring Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt New Salmon Fishing In The Yemen Photo...
Continue reading International Salmon Fishing In The Yemen Quad Poster on FilmoFilia.
Related posts: Salmon Fishing In The Yemen Clips Starring Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt Salmon Fishing In The Yemen Trailer Starring Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt New Salmon Fishing In The Yemen Photo...
- 2/14/2012
- by Allan Ford
- Filmofilia
The new poster for Ewan McGregor's Salmon Fishing in the Yemen has been unveiled exclusively through Digital Spy. Based on Paul Torday's best-selling novel, the film follows government fisheries expert Fred Jones (McGregor) as he introduces salmon into the waterways of Yemen for the purposes of sport fishing. View the world exclusive poster for Salmon Fishing in the Yemen below: Emily Blunt co-stars as Harriet Chetwode-Talbot, a consultant who approaches Fred about the job. (more)...
- 2/10/2012
- by By Simon Reynolds
- Digital Spy
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