A funeral industry expert in the US predicts significant numbers of closures of traditional funeral homes over the next few years – in the death business, it’s adapt or die. Funerals, like weddings, sure aren’t like they used to be. From tubs of Irish earth so expats can be buried in a part of their… Alternate Endings: Six New Ways to Die in America Read More
Destination: Dewsbury 2 stars
It’s a huge shock when the first one of your generation dies, as delusions of immortality crumble and the reality of middle age looms. New indie British comedy Destination: Dewsbury tackles this from the viewpoints of four men, mates since school, their lives starting to disintegrate just as the fifth member of their schoolboy gang turns out… Destination: Dewsbury Read More
Beast Of Burden 2 stars
A beast of burden is usually a mule, and that’s actually what pilot Sean Haggerty (Daniel Radcliffe) is; a mule for a violent cartel, running drugs over the Mexican border. He’s also burdened with much more though, and has got himself caught in a mesh of interlocking dangers that are gradually crushing him. Sean is… Beast Of Burden Read More
Life And The Art Of Lying (Short Film) Short Film 3 stars
“Fuck you Charlie, fuck you!” screams Mara, a young woman finally able to admit her feelings for Charlie, but who has just been blindsided by a huge secret Charlie has been keeping from her. Our first sympathies are always with Charlie of course, who has found out her cancer has turned, an illness she has… Life And The Art Of Lying (Short Film) 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
Film Stars Don’t Die In Liverpool 4 stars
In any 1970s-set movie, it’s easy to rely on the obvious props (though actually wallpaper was hideous, kitchens were green Formica and TVs were fat boxes that you had to walk over to if you wanted to watch another of the three available channels). But often it’s tiny background details that most sum up a… Film Stars Don’t Die In Liverpool Read More
A Family Man 3 stars
“You made me a mother” says Elise (Gretchen Mol) to her eldest child Ryan, who is being treated for leukaemia, and I know just what she means, but he’s also her husband Dane’s firstborn and becoming a parent doesn’t seem to have made him much of a father. A Family Man was originally called The Headhunter’s… A Family Man Read More
“A Family Man” Trailer Has Everything! (Including Most Of The Plot)
Yes, almost the whole story – including the hero’s life lesson at the end – is in the trailer. Or maybe it’s a short film, not a trailer at all. Still at least it means it’ll be impossible for me to accidentally spoiler as THEY’VE ALREADY DONE IT. Click here for A Family Man full review… “A Family Man” Trailer Has Everything! (Including Most Of The Plot) Read More