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
Cannes 2018: Lost In Film, Lost In France
I partied in a medieval turret over the bay. I was serenaded with a traditional song by an actor from Uzbekistan. I got an illegal red carpet selfie. I stood outside the Palais begging for a premiere ticket. I consumed more cheese than a ’70s gameshow addict. Oh and I saw some FILMS. This is… Cannes 2018: Lost In Film, Lost In France Read More
Cannes Film Festival: Quick Tips
Check out my long-read article on *my* 2018 Cannes Film Festival, or read my quick Top 15 Cannes Tips here: 1 Be nice to the festival security people, they’re trying to keep you safe (and are very helpful and friendly). 2 Check out the Journalists Terrace in the Palais Des Festivals for a chilled-out place to… Cannes Film Festival: Quick Tips Read More
2001: A Space Odyssey (Cannes 2018) 5 stars
I’m usually that person saying it’s okay to watch movies any way you can – Netflix, cinema, laptop, mobile phone. Hell, download it to your own eyeball then look for explanations in a recently-discovered ancient cave painting, if it works for you. But 2001: A Space Odyssey is one that, if you get the chance,… 2001: A Space Odyssey (Cannes 2018) Read More
BlacKkKlansman (Cannes 2018) 4 stars
There’s a big sign strung across the entrance to the Colorado Springs Police Department, encouraging new recruits from diverse backgrounds to apply. Ron Stallworth (John David Washington) is soon their first black police officer, fulfilling his lifelong dream. And once there, he also joins another outfit as their first black recruit; the local branch of… BlacKkKlansman (Cannes 2018) Read More
Girls Of The Sun (Cannes 2018) 3 stars
ISIS fighters believe that if a woman kills them they don’t make it to Paradise, which gives the female Kurdish fighters in Eva Husson’s film another layer of fuck-you on top of their extraordinary bravery, and skill. In fact leader Bahar (Golshifteh Farahani) even answers the iPhone of a man they have just killed and… Girls Of The Sun (Cannes 2018) Read More
Fahrenheit 451 (Cannes 2018) 2.5 stars
I love the initial minutes of dystopian storytelling; how a society got to this point, the new realities of everyday life, and the capacity of the human spirit to absorb horrific change without challenging it. How much do they agree? How much are they hoping someone else will save them? Or maybe they just don’t… Fahrenheit 451 (Cannes 2018) Read More
Solo: A Star Wars Story (Cannes 2018) 3.5 stars
Solo is terrific fun, a blast, a movie that never feels too long. But also doesn’t quite reach the heights it aspires to. WARNING – this is slightly spoilery, including Han and Chewy, so if you want to go into the cinema in blissful ignorance about this and some other plot points, leave now, with… Solo: A Star Wars Story (Cannes 2018) Read More
At War (Cannes 2018) 3 stars
I’ll admit that as someone who hails from the North East of England I was both surprised and delighted that Stephane Brize’s latest film, about industrial unrest in France, references Sunderland, the city just south of my birthplace. Though in some ways it’s not that unlikely, as it has long been an industrial area, despite… At War (Cannes 2018) Read More
Sink Or Swim (Cannes 2018) 3 stars
This comedy (its French title is Le Grand Bain) about a group of mostly middle-aged men joining a synchronised swimming team doesn’t dive that deep, and at times it’s as focussed as the random splashing when they first jump in the pool. But it’s funny, and the issues it highlights are real and devastating: unemployment,… Sink Or Swim (Cannes 2018) Read More
“3 Days In Cannes” Pass For Film Lovers Aged 18-28
THIS IS AN ARTICLE FROM 2018 AND HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED FOR 2019’S CANNES FILM FESTIVAL *** UPDATE 2018: If you have any concerns or need clarification about the 3-day pass, you can contact the Festival directly. There is a general contact form here: https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/contact and they have a practical guide here: https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/participer/guide. The festival website… “3 Days In Cannes” Pass For Film Lovers Aged 18-28 Read More
New York Film Festival Round-Up & Tips
I’m back from a week at NYFF. I hadn’t been to Manhattan since the mid-90s, when I lived in London and was used to people thinking I was going to murder them if I made eye contact. Now I live in a small town where even if not everybody knows my name (“that blonde one”… New York Film Festival Round-Up & Tips Read More