A musical set in a stranded New York subway car? Where three women and three men, from very different backgrounds, finally start talking? It’s not the breaking into song which seems unbelievable – I’ve seen that several times on the Tube in London (when I say seen, it’s been through half-closed eyelids, pretending to be… Stuck Read More
Isn’t It Romantic – 1 Minute Video Review Includes Video 4 stars
Read the full Isn’t It Romantic review and watch the trailer
Isn’t It Romantic 4 stars
I’m delighted to say that Isn’t It Romantic doesn’t have one original idea in it. You’ll have seen them all before, in a thousand romcoms – but director Todd Strauss-Schulson has taken those ideas, chucked them into the air then watched them fall to the ground in perfect order, a bit like if Rebel Wilson did… Isn’t It Romantic Read More
Three Identical Strangers 4 stars
Warning: spoilers, though the story will be well known to many people. One of the downsides of growing older is realising that there are few real miracles; and those fairy stories that used to appear weekly in the press and now appear hourly on social media, are usually just that. Three Identical Strangers – about triplets adopted… Three Identical Strangers Read More
Puzzle 3.5 stars
It turns out there’s more than one way to complete a jigsaw, and my own tried and tested technique – corners then edges then screaming in frustration – won’t win you a Best Puzzler cup. Initially Agnes (Kelly Macdonald) just turns over the pieces and dives in. Her new and experienced champion puzzler partner Robert… Puzzle Read More
Ekaj 3.5 stars
The relationship between the young Ekaj (Jake Mestre) and the older Mecca (Badd Idea) is central to writer-director Cati Gonzalez’s movie. It gives warmth and structure to this story about two young gay Puerto Rican men, struggling to survive in that harshest of environments, New York City. But it’s also one that threatens to become… Ekaj 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
Meyerowitz Stories (New & Selected) 4.5 stars
“Maybe he’s undiscovered for a reason,” says Matt (Ben Stiller) about his sculptor father Harold. But for his half-brother Danny taking away the myth of their dad’s undiscovered greatness will destroy their excuses for Harold’s terrible parenting and four marriages: “if he isn’t a great artist that means he was just a prick.” This is a… Meyerowitz Stories (New & Selected) Read More
Fate Of The Furious (Fast 8) 4 stars
The Fast And The Furious franchise started way back in 2001 and Fate Of The Furious is the first of the series that I’ve seen. Mainly as I rarely drive so it takes me about 16 years to get anywhere. Still, I saw this today, and really, really enjoyed it. It’s so cheesy they should sell the DVD… Fate Of The Furious (Fast 8) Read More
Fire, Fear, & Favourite Stunts – Interview With Stuntwoman Jo Lamstein
“There’s a strange bond when you’ve done some crazy stuff together that ordinarily might get another maimed, and you’ve gotten each other out of it unscathed… you sort of just ‘get each other’. That is everywhere.” As a stunt performer for film and TV, Joanne Lamstein has been set on fire, fallen backwards through windows, been attacked by guard dogs,… Fire, Fear, & Favourite Stunts – Interview With Stuntwoman Jo Lamstein Read More
Coming Out Of The Shadows – interview with director & rookie stuntman Steve Koepfer
“A film set is a living organism. Something as simple as slowly driving a car 20 feet as part of this constellation of activity can be very intimidating if you have never functioned in that space before.” Steve Koepfer Stunt men and women are the “shadow warriors”, in the background but pivotal to the scene. I… Coming Out Of The Shadows – interview with director & rookie stuntman Steve Koepfer Read More
Concrete And Crashpads – Stunts in New York (Short Film) Short Film 4 stars
“We are the shadow warriors”, says stuntman Mack Kuhr in this fascinating documentary short from directors Stephen Koepfer and Matthew Kaplowitz. A comment which pithily demonstrates how vital they are to a film while staying in the background, not only allowing the star to shine, but giving them that added sparkle. I’m not one for deliberately causing myself pain, though I… Concrete And Crashpads – Stunts in New York (Short Film) Read More