TV Times

TV Times

‘Johnny English’ in Colombo
By Sanath Weerasuriya
‘Johnny English’ the British secret agent popularly known as Mr. Bean in Sri Lanka, has come to Colombo looking for Queen’s crown, lost in London .
‘Johnny English’ now comes alive at the Liberty Cinema.

Rowan Atkinson, the brilliant physical comedian whose outrageous pitfalls and subversively innocent humor have made him a star in hilarious classics ranging from the cult U.K. series Black Adder to the worldwide hit Bean, is back on the big screen in the family comedy Johnny English.

When her majesty’s crown jewels are stolen by a conniving Frenchman (John Malkovich), who also plans to steal the queen’s throne, Johnny English (Atkinson), a bit unseasoned but intensely enthusiastic, is thrown onto the case.

Fast cars, high tech gadgets, top secret info-Johnny can hardly believe it. He may be in over his head, but his courage and dedication are unmatched – especially after he meets double agent Lorna Campbell (Natalie Imbruglia) and discovers that falling in love makes saving the nation even more exciting.

From Working Title Films, Johnny English is a spy comedy with thrills, chills and surprises for the whole family. Directed by Peter Howitt (Sliding Doors) from an original screenplay by Neal Purvis and Robert Wade and William Davies, Johnny English was produced by Tim Bevan.

Rowan Aitkinson along with popular singer Natalie Imbruglia, Ben Miller and John Malkovich star in this movie. Double platinum recording star Natalie makes her film debut as a special agent helps Johnny to uncover the French plot to throw Queen out of Britain.

In an uncertain world, few things are as dependable as the British Secret Service. World-renowned for the calibre of its agents, the cutting-edge technology last bastions of honour manned with committed defenders of the “the truth”.

The film portraits how Johnny trying hard to keep his status as the Agent One in the MI 7 Secret Service.

NFC vs GFU
National Film Corporation (NFC) Chairman Jayantha Dharmadasa said though the President had given approval to acquire Movie Colour Laboratory, which is at present under the Government Film Unit, it was held up because of the influence of a certain high official in G.F.U.

Mr. Dharmadasa revealed this at a press conference held recently at N.F.C Auditorium. He further said the colour lab, the recording studio and the film archives are abandoned as Government Film Unit is almost defunct.
“What is the earthly use of these assets worth nearly 120 Million, if they do not utilize these assets for any purpose.

These items are corroding,” he said. Chairman Dharmadasa pointed out that because of this situation local film producers are compelled to go to India to get their films processed and printed, paying millions and millions to foreign labs.

Mr. Jayantha Dharmadasa said that he is happy as government has given an assurance that National Film Corporation will not be privatized. Film Director, parliamentarian Ravindra Randeniya questioned the N.F.C. Chairman as to why the Corporation has suspended the loan scheme to produce new films under National Film Development Fund.

Dharmadasa said the Corporation had to suspend it since most of the Film Directors and Producers had defaulted. Ravindra Randeniya, Malini Fonseka, Tony Ranasingha, Stanley Perera and some of the other actors and actress also spoke.

Sriyani Amarasena, Robin Fernando, Sureni Senerath, Nadeeka Gunasekera, Geetha Kumarasinghe were too present on the occasion. - Ranjith Bandara Attanayake

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