The Riot Club
| The Riot Club | |
|---|---|
 UK theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Lone Scherfig |
| Produced by |
Graham Broadbent Peter Czernin |
| Written by | Laura Wade |
| Based on |
Posh by Laura Wade |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Sebastian Blenkov |
| Edited by | Jake Roberts |
Production company |
Blueprint Pictures |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures International |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 107 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $3.5 million [1] |
The Riot Club is a 2014 British drama film directed by Lone Scherfig and written by Laura Wade, based on Wade's 2010 play Posh.[2] The film stars Max Irons, Sam Claflin and Douglas Booth.[3] It is set among the Riot Club, a fictional all-male, exclusive dining club at Oxford University. When the play Posh premiered, the Riot Club was often described as a thinly veiled version of the real-life Bullingdon Club, or High Trees Society, although according to Wade it is entirely fictitious.[4]
Synopsis
Alistair and Miles, both with aristocratic connections, start their first year at Oxford University. Though they are very different — Miles is down to earth and happy to have a girlfriend from a lower background, Lauren, whilst Alistair is a snob with aspirations to follow his friend's uncle, a Tory MP — the common bond is that they both become members of the Riot Club, a long established elite drinking club priding itself on hedonism and the belief that money can buy anything.
Alistair takes the club in more of a competitive way and ends up loathing Miles. Having been barred from most establishments in Oxford, they have their annual dinner at the function room in a country pub, where their rowdy behaviour angers other patrons though they reimburse Chris, the landlord. After hiring a prostitute who refuses to perform group oral sex, Alistair takes Miles' phone and texts Lauren without Miles knowing, whom they importune to Miles' horror. Getting progressively more drunk and ingesting drugs, they start to trash the room, and when Chris comes to complain, Alistair and the others savagely assault him, landing him in hospital. None of the others do anything to stop him except Miles, who rings for an ambulance.
The boys are all arrested but believing that the club is more important than the individual, they agree not to give statements and go on to suggest that Miles, as the newest club member, should take the blame for the attack on Chris. Alistair's skin is then found underneath Chris' fingernails, meaning they can arrest and charge him. Miles' now-ex girlfriend refuses to talk to him, and Miles is approached by the new president of the Riot Club (Guy Bellingfield) to re-join next year, but after nearly having to leave university because of all this scandal, he decides to leave the club.
Cast
- Max Irons as Miles 'Milo' Richards - A first-year history student who joins the Riot Club. Miles possesses the 'honourable' title which implies that his father is either an Earl, Baron or Viscount. Miles is politically left and becomes uncomfortable and disillusioned with the actions of his club mates. He attended Westminster School.[5]
- Sam Claflin as Alistair Ryle - A first-year history student whose brother, Sebastian, was considered a 'legendary' member of the Riot Club. Alistair is politically right, leading to intense conflict and rivalry with Miles. Alistair attended Harrow School, unlike his brother, who attended Eton.[6]
- Douglas Booth as Harry Villiers - An older, charismatic student whose family is quite wealthy, though they partially maintain this by allowing tourists to view their home, something which deeply rankles Harry. His uncle, Jeremy, was previously a member of the Riot Club. Educated at Eton.[6]
- Holliday Grainger as Lauren - A Northern first-year student from a middle-class/working-class family who enters into a relationship with Miles at the start of the film.
- Freddie Fox as James Leighton-Masters - The outgoing president of the club; he is criticized by the other members of the club for scaling back the club's activities in an effort to not jeopardize his future.
- Natalie Dormer as Charlie - An escort hired by Harry.[7]
- Gordon Brown as Chris - Owner of the pub where the club has their dinner.
- Jessica Brown Findlay as Rachel - Daughter of Chris and a waitress at his pub.
- Sam Reid as Hugo Fraser-Tyrwhitt - An older student whose family, though aristocratic, is not financially well-off. He attended Westminster with Miles and although they didn't socialize, Miles remembers Hugo composing limericks in Latin, something which is implied got him bullied. Hugo is homosexual, and has a romantic interest in Miles.
- Ben Schnetzer as Dimitri Mitropoulos - An older student of Greek heritage who seems to act as the club's primary bankroll. It is also suggested that Dimitri is nouveau riche. He appears to have a close friendship with Guy Bellingfield, though it is the very same member who constantly mocks Dimitri and his heritage.
- Matthew Beard as Guy Bellingfield - An older student who makes no secret of his desire to succeed James as president of the club. He is close friends with Dimitri, though he often makes jokes about his Greek heritage. He presents himself as very enthusiastic with little to no regard for any serious matters.
- Tom Hollander as Jeremy Villiers MP - Harry's uncle and a successful Conservative MP. In the play, he is Guy's godfather.
- Jack Farthing as George Balfour - A 'country gentleman' who displays enthusiastic interest and knowledge in farming, farming equipment, pheasants and llamas. Balfour seems more egalitarian than some of his fellow club mates, and spends time with his family's tenant farmers, though Alistair manipulates Balfour's insecurity about his position with the farmers to convince him to take part.
- Olly Alexander as Toby Maitland - An older student who appears to have a very close friendship with Ed. Attended Eton.
- Josh O'Connor as Ed Montgomery - An older student who appears to have a very close friendship with Toby. Attended Eton.
- Andrew Woodall as Alistair's father.
- Anastasia Hille as Alistair's mother.
- Julian Wadham as Miles' father.
- Geraldine Somerville as Miles' mother.
- Harry Lloyd as Lord Ryot.
Production
On 5 February 2013 news reported that HanWay has boarded Blueprint Pictures to produce the adaptation of play Posh written by Laura Wade, producer Graham Broadbent and Pete Czernin set to produce with BFI Film Fund and Film4 Productions.[2] On 15 March 2013 four actors Robert Pattinson, Sam Claflin, Max Irons and Douglas Booth were in circling around the cast to join as lead.[8] Which later on 18 March Max Irons confirmed his role to lead the film.[5] On 19 May 2013 Sam Claflin also joined the cast of the film, Douglas Booth is also in the cast.[6] On 20 May 2013 Universal Pictures International has acquired the film for UK and Irish rights.[9] On 11 July 2013 Natalie Dormer also joined the film cast.[7]
Filming
The shooting of the film began on 30 June 2013 in Oxford, England.[10] The crews were spotted during the filming of some scenes at Magpie Lane.[3] Filming also took place at Pinewood studios and Winchester College.
Marketing
The first trailer for the film was released on 16 May 2014.[11]
References
- ↑ http://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Riot-Club-The#tab=summary. Missing or empty
|title=(help) - 1 2 Wiseman, Andreas (5 February 2013). "HanWay gets Posh for Blueprint and Lone Scherfig". screendaily.com. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
- 1 2 "Max Irons shooting new film Posh in Oxford". radiotimes.com. 1 July 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
- ↑ "The Riot Club: 'It's hard to believe these people actually exist'", BBC News, 19 September 2014
- 1 2 Schillaci, Sophie (17 March 2013). "'The Host's' Max Irons Headed to 'Posh'". hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
- 1 2 3 "'Catching Fire' Star Sam Claflin Joins Lone Sherfig's 'Posh'". hollywoodreporter.com. 19 May 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
- 1 2 "Natalie Dormer Cast In ‘Posh’". deadline.com. 11 July 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
- ↑ Lyttelton, Oliver (15 March 2013). "Robert Pattinson, Sam Claflin, Max Irons & Douglas Booth Circling Lone Scherfig's Adaptation Of Stage Hit 'Posh'". indiewire.com. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
- ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (20 May 2013). "Universal takes UK, Irish rights to Lone Scherfig's Posh". screendaily.com. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
- ↑ Krol, Charlotte (1 July 2013). "Max comes home to shoot new movie". oxfordmail.co.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
- ↑ KANG, INKOO (May 13, 2014). "Trailer Watch: Peek Inside the Hallowed Halls of Lone Scherfig's The Riot Club". indiewire.com. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
External links
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