King Of Crime starts off pretty well. It’s got the British gangster flick trademarks we all recognise, from the big house to the London-accented ageing crime boss to the blonde wife and feuding kids. Plus violence – early on and shockingly abrupt, as if to warn us that this isn’t going to be a “salt… King Of Crime Read More
Mary Queen Of Scots 3.5 stars
To shore up their throne a monarch will lean heavily on symbolism, as does director Josie Rourke; so much so that the constant allusions to the symmetry and asymmetry in the two queens’ lives sometimes threaten to overwhelm the whole movie. My advice is simply to lie back and enjoy it, as otherwise your frustrations will… Mary Queen Of Scots Read More
Day Zero (Short Film) Short Film 3.5 stars
Stephen Nagel’s short film, Day Zero, was made with zero budget – achieved by shooting on mobile phones, pulling in actor friends to perform, and borrowing props wherever he could. That kind of filmmaking situation is something I bear in mind when reviewing a micro or zero budget film, though ultimately, whatever its cost, it… Day Zero (Short Film) Read More
Chuchotage (Short Film) Short Film 3.5 stars
*** Read my interview with Chuchotage director Barnabás Tóth *** I’m embarrassed to say that my foreign language skills aren’t very good. In fact despite my constant attempts at speaking the local language when I’m overseas, I’m one of those holidaymakers who make local people fervently wish we weren’t always being told to “have a… Chuchotage (Short Film) Read More
Lost & Found (Short Film) Short Film 5 stars
Of course I’m not crying, I’ve just stabbed myself in the eye with a crochet hook. But you may be more emotional than me, in which case I would recommend you find something to dab your eyes with (not wool, you know how that gets when it’s wet) before watching the gorgeous, witty and heartbreaking… Lost & Found (Short Film) Read More
Social Animals 4 stars
*** Check out my interview with Jonathan Ignatius Green, director of Social Animals *** There’s an arresting shot of 15 year old Kaylyn and her girlfriends on the beach, sitting in a row with their phones out. Someone has just noticed a whale in the surf, but it’s unclear whether they are all photographing the… Social Animals Read More
A Friend In Need (Short Film) Short Film 3.5 stars
A Friend In Need brought to mind that (probably apocryphal) Mark Twain quote: “I once sent a dozen of my friends a telegram saying ‘flee at once – all is discovered.’ They all left town immediately.” Here it’s affairs, drugs, crimes against fashion (I’m looking at you, Patrick), and being rude to a pole dancer… A Friend In Need (Short Film) Read More
Intensive Care 2 stars
Read my interviews with star of Intensive Care and top stuntwoman Tara Macken, and director Jared Bentley. Tara Macken, the star of indie action comedy Intensive Care, makes an effective and engaging heroine, as her character Alex takes on three would-be safe robbers in the home of the elderly woman she cares for. I say three…. Intensive Care Read More
Bumblebee (3D) 4 stars
He wasn’t always Bumblebee. (I’m assuming he’s a he.) Back on Cybertron he was known as B:127 (coincidentally also the name of my 127th and final child). There he fought alongside Optimus Prime and the Autobot Resistance in the civil war; but with that war about to be lost to the Decepticons, Optimus Prime sent… Bumblebee (3D) Read More
Free Solo 4 stars
*** Check out the Vanity Fair video about filming Free Solo at the bottom of the page (review not spoilery, video & trailer are) *** I wouldn’t call Free Solo a comedy but there are some very funny moments, and the comment “that’s the most magnificent crack on Planet Earth” certainly raised a titter from the… Free Solo Read More
Bros: After The Screaming Stops 3.5 stars
Is Matt shallow, or simply too scared to go deep into his psyche? Is he a bit of a joke, with his earnest, never-ending metaphors, or is the joke on us? Why doesn’t he look like his identical twin brother Luke any more? And where the hell is Ken? None of these questions are fully… Bros: After The Screaming Stops Read More
Dumplin’ 3 stars
Willowdean Dickson is a plus-size teenager coming of age in a world of vibrant retro colors and quietly crushing slim privilege. With a band of friends — of varying looks, politics, and life goals — she embarks on a small-town, life-size protest that will likely resonate with anyone who has been too plain for the… Dumplin’ Read More
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 30
- 31
- 32
- 33
- 34
- …
- 71
- Next Page »