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 sort herself out and slow down on the shagging, drinking and burger-eating, I ... Last Christmas Read More
Featured review
Judy & Punch 4 stars
Brazen, bouncy and hugely entertaining, this is part fairytale and part Punch and Judy origins story – and like many fairytales it has become sanitised in its ... Judy & Punch Read More
Featured review
The Knight Before Christmas 3 stars
14th century English knight Sir Cole Lyons can chop a Christmas tree down in one axe stroke, which rather concerned me when I started considering what his job might ... The Knight Before Christmas Read More
Film Articles & News
First trailer for “The Invisible Man” is here! (I think)
All those invisible women over 40 in Hollywood and they make the movie about a man. Tsk. I'll still watch it though, in fact I'll probably be able to walk in unnoticed for free. Written and directed by Leigh Whannell, and produced by Jason Blum for ... First trailer for “The Invisible Man” is here! (I think) Read More
INTERVIEW: “Harpoon” director Rob Grant on his bloody brilliant lost-at-sea horror comedy
Writer-director Rob Grant's viciously funny horror comedy Harpoon, about three "friends" marooned on a drifting yacht with no food or water, explores the toxic relationships between the wealthy Richie, his girlfriend Sasha, and their friend Jonah. With a ... INTERVIEW: “Harpoon” director Rob Grant on his bloody brilliant lost-at-sea horror comedy Read More
INTERVIEW: “Peanut Butter Falcon” writer-directors Tyler Nilson & Michael Schwartz
Peanut Butter Falcon, the hit indie comedy about Zak, a young man with Down syndrome who breaks out of his restrictive care home for adventures on the road (and rivers) of the American South, has been winning over audiences and earning plaudits since its world ... INTERVIEW: “Peanut Butter Falcon” writer-directors Tyler Nilson & Michael Schwartz Read More
“All this, because of a puppy?” Me to me, after writing 4,000 words on the John Wick trilogy…
"You dip so much as a pinky back into this pond, you may well find something reaches out and drags you back into its depths", says Winston to John in the first John Wick film, but he ignored the warning and so will we. It's going to be a bumpy, rain-soaked ... “All this, because of a puppy?” Me to me, after writing 4,000 words on the John Wick trilogy… Read More
Podcast: me and my favourite movie
The man, the myth, the legend... Yes I'm talking about Tom Beasley: super-knowledgable film journalist and host of Flickering Myth's weekly podcast Pick of the Flicks, where critics and movie industry people discuss their favourite film. It was my first ... Podcast: me and my favourite movie Read More
Director Mark Jenkin on “Bait”, his black and white Cornish classic-in-the-making
"There are shots in the film that I know were taken from rolls of film that I must have been processing when I was wearing a woolly jumper, because I can see the little bits of fibres." Mark Jenkin on his film-making process. Bait, Jenkin’s beautiful and ... Director Mark Jenkin on “Bait”, his black and white Cornish classic-in-the-making Read More
Gerard Butler’s ‘Fallen’ Oeuvre
Less a deep dive, and more – considering the less than philosophical subtexts to the three Has Fallen movies – a shallow bellyflop, it's time to look back at Butler's battles as Mike Banning. You can see on this site I refer to myself as a Gerard Butler ... Gerard Butler’s ‘Fallen’ Oeuvre Read More
Hal yeah! “The King” offers a new Henry V
*** Read my 3-star review of The King *** The King, a Netflix Original Film starring Timothée Chalamet, will have its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival 2019. It's a new-look Henry V, his new look being Season 1 of The Black Adder, and so far ... Hal yeah! “The King” offers a new Henry V Read More
INTERVIEW: Stephen Koepfer, Sambo expert on John Wick: Parabellum
"The notion that Wick is a Sambo guy is super cool. Sambo players around the globe should be jazzed about that!" Stephen Koepfer The John Wick franchise is known for its creation of an underground world of assassins and fighters, an off-kilter parallel ... INTERVIEW: Stephen Koepfer, Sambo expert on John Wick: Parabellum Read More
Director Matt Wells on Kubrick, comedy in catastrophe and bringing Dr Strangelove’s chilling absurdities to a new audience
"Kubrick says it in the film, it's an abstraction and people don't process it. How do you deal with the idea that the world could end?" Matt Wells has just made his second short film about Stanley Kubrick: Stanley Kubrick Considers The Bomb. You can see ... Director Matt Wells on Kubrick, comedy in catastrophe and bringing Dr Strangelove’s chilling absurdities to a new audience Read More
INTERVIEW: Oscar-winning costume director Michael O’Connor
"During the preparation of it I thought I'll never work again. This is never ever going to happen, this is never going to be ready..." Costume director Michael O'Connor on his Oscar-winning work for The Duchess. Hearing first-hand from award-winning costume ... INTERVIEW: Oscar-winning costume director Michael O’Connor Read More
Surfacing Now – Seven Submarine Movies To Dive Into
The red posters. The blue boilersuits. A tagline with a water-related pun. The phrase "cat and mouse". The seawater squirting into the missile room when the boat suffers a mild tap. You can't beat a good submarine movie. I'll admit I'm conflicted now. On ... Surfacing Now – Seven Submarine Movies To Dive Into Read More