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
The Two Popes 4 stars
The papacy has been around so long there's a precedent for almost anything, including an incumbent resigning. True, you have to go back to the thirteenth century ... The Two Popes Read More
Featured review
Stardog & Turbocat 3 stars
This movie certainly understands cats and dogs, made up as it is of frenetic activity interspersed with longer periods when not much happens. Then the last 25 ... Stardog & Turbocat Read More
Film Articles & News
“Promising Young Woman” trailer looks p… p… p… propitious
A trailer for Carey Mulligan-starrer Promising Young Woman has been released, and it looks like the kind of film that will have women cheering at the screen. A revenge comedy from writer-director Emerald Fennell, Mulligan stars as Cassie, who is regularly ... “Promising Young Woman” trailer looks p… p… p… propitious Read More
Misery loves company so come and join me in BAR HUMBUG
I actually LOVE Christmas, or I would if it ever lived up to expectations. Everyone else seems to be having such a great time, with their well-behaved children who simply want a hand-carved wooden toy and a five shilling book token in their stocking. Unlike ... Misery loves company so come and join me in BAR HUMBUG Read More
Phantastic or soul-destroying? That Ghostbusters Afterlife trailer
Directed by Jason Reitman, Ghostbusters Afterlife looks like an old fashioned adventure movie, filled with kids who get loads of free time without their parents and are also allowed to actually go outside on their own. It's set in the middle of nowhere, so ... Phantastic or soul-destroying? That Ghostbusters Afterlife trailer Read More
Wonder Woman 1984: the first trailer is here…
...and some character posters, which are stunning but together make them look like four members of a band put together to sing the English entry in a last ditch attempt to win Eurovision. Still, the trailer is terrific, not least because it's got New ... Wonder Woman 1984: the first trailer is here… Read More
The 225 Film Club – short film round-up Short Film
The 225 Film Club recently held its third programme of short films by women filmmakers. Curated again by director, writer and producer Rita Osei, the event, held at London venue The Wing, showcased some of the best in short filmmaking from women ... The 225 Film Club – short film round-up Read More
10 Reasons Why…The Ultimate Alt-Xmas Movie Is John Wick
Die Hard a Christmas movie? Maybe, but no one in a vest that grubby would be allowed into my sparkly, well-dressed festive celebrations. Even an A-lister needs to make an effort if they want to get anywhere near my Christmas stockings. But the only ... 10 Reasons Why…The Ultimate Alt-Xmas Movie Is John Wick Read More
I’m voting! (Not for you, Boris)
*** UPDATE: THE WFCC WINNERS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED - CHECK THEM OUT BELOW *** Is it better to give than to receive at this time of year? Well I'm certainly enjoying it. While awards season, like Christmas, seems to come round earlier every year and last ... I’m voting! (Not for you, Boris) 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
“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
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
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
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