Religious convert Maud starts work as a live-in nurse at the home of Amanda, a famous dancer now frail from illness and trapped in her grand, isolated house. We know exactly what the friendless, fervently religious Maud thinks, because she chats to God all the time to assuage her loneliness. Her (to us) one-sided discussions… Saint Maud Read More
Last Christmas 2.5 stars
Twenty-something me had quite a lot in common with Kate, the twenty-something heroine of Last Christmas: blonde bobs, a love of fake leopard print, and a job in a Christmas shop. As I’m now an ancient 48, you could say I’m her Ghost Of Christmas Future, and if that’s not a warning to her to… Last Christmas Read More
“I’m not a career elf!” – the Last Christmas international trailer is here
*** Read my review of Last Christmas *** And this one goes in much more heavily on the dark side of the festive season. In this case it’s the illness Kate (Emilia Clarke) suffered the previous Christmas, which left her near death. 12 months on, the experience still has her in its grip and she… “I’m not a career elf!” – the Last Christmas international trailer is here Read More
Cheesier than Waitrose’s festive deli counter, the “Last Christmas” trailer is here!
*** Read my review of Last Christmas *** “You have thrown away your life, working in some silly Christmas shop!” THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS A SILLY CHRISTMAS SHOP, MISTER! I should know, I managed a Christmas department for two years, wearing musical reindeer antlers which only played Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer on repeat… Cheesier than Waitrose’s festive deli counter, the “Last Christmas” trailer is here! Read More
Etruscan Smile (Boston Film Festival) 3.5 stars
Most of the characters in The Etruscan Smile are stuck in their ways, though Emily (Thora Birch) – who could easily be the most caricatured of all, with her diarised mothering, “autonomous baby”, and cry-it-out sleep training – is actually the one most prepared to accept she might have made a mistake. Her husband Ian (JJ… Etruscan Smile (Boston Film Festival) Read More
Racer And The Jailbird 2.5 stars
When a man tells you what he is, listen, especially if he’s admitting to serious crime. Gigi (Matthias Schoenaerts) tells new girlfriend Bibi (Adèle Exarchopoulos) he’s a bank robber, but she thinks he’s joking, and takes at face value his claims to travel for his car import / export business. Her wealthy father (Eric De… Racer And The Jailbird Read More
New Life 2 stars
New Life – the title has several meanings that become clear as the story unfolds – isn’t saying anything new. But it is lifted by a nicely-pitched central performance from an actress who just gets better as her character is tested to the max. As a young boy Ben (Jonathan Patrick Moore) moves to the… New Life Read More
Big Sick 4 stars
Kumail is an Uber driver moonlighting as a standup comedian, or maybe it’s the other way around. His flatmate is also a comedian but a really terrible one, which probably works well for Kumail, a bit like having a less attractive friend to make you look even prettier. Having grown up in Pakistan, Kumail (Kumail Nanjiani)… Big Sick Read More