Oscar buzz hits Calderdale

The excitement of the Oscars is drawing closer and the countdown to the announcement of the much-coveted awards is now well underway.
Undated Film Still Handout from The Theory Of Everything. Pictured: Eddie Redmayne. See PA Feature FILM Redmayne. Picture credit should read: PA Photo/Handout/Universal Pictures. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature FILM RedmayneUndated Film Still Handout from The Theory Of Everything. Pictured: Eddie Redmayne. See PA Feature FILM Redmayne. Picture credit should read: PA Photo/Handout/Universal Pictures. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature FILM Redmayne
Undated Film Still Handout from The Theory Of Everything. Pictured: Eddie Redmayne. See PA Feature FILM Redmayne. Picture credit should read: PA Photo/Handout/Universal Pictures. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature FILM Redmayne

And amid the buzz surrounding this year’s awards, Calderdale residents have flocked to cinemas across the borough to see the nominated films.

Flying the flag for British talent are ‘The Theory of Everything’ and ‘The Imitation Game’ - both nominated for best picture.

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Lisa Murdoch, marketing officer at Hebden Bridge Picture House, said: “‘The Theory of Everything’ did really well and when it opened we upped our staff as we knew it would be busy.

“We’ll be showing ‘The Imitation Game’ again - it’s a story that needs to be told and we’re really proud to be bringing it back.

“‘Whiplash’ is also going to be really, really good for us.

“The Oscars do have an impact. It’s a chance for great publicity and as there’s more exposure, it encourages people to see films again.”

To capitalise on the Oscars, the Vue cinema at Broad Street Plaza, Halifax, also showed some films again - including the critically-acclaimed ‘Boyhood’.

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Cinema manager Mark Thompson said that the awards season encourages an influx of people to see nominated films every year.

“‘The Theory of Everything’ is now in its third week and it’s still doing really well and ‘American Sniper’ is also really popular.”

He added that Oscar nominations help to keep films in the spotlight for longer than usual.

And to celebrate awards season, the Vue is offering 25 per cent off food and drink when customers buy tickets for ‘The Theory of Everything’, ‘Birdman’, ‘Foxcatcher’, ‘Wild’, ‘Testament of Youth’, ‘American Sniper’, ‘A Most Violent Year’ and ‘Ex Machina’.

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The Rex Cinema, Elland, has also been showing Oscar nominated films, but manager Alison Gledhill believes that an award nomination has no bearing on whether people choose to see a film or not.

“I don’t think there is any direct correlation,” she said.

“What people want to see, they will come and see.”