There are few films in modern cinema that exude their brilliance within the first 10 minutes. But in a similar vein to Barry Jenkins ‘If Beale Street Could Talk‘. The Last Black Man in San Francisco grabs your heart and soul from the start. The vibrant cinematography dovetailing with a sublime score, its characters rich in belonging, emotion and depth. …
Few films in the past five years have divided critical and audience opinion to the extent of ‘Joker’. Comments on the film have ranged from “It laughs at disability” through to “It is a dangerous exploration of mental health”. However, the truth is ‘Joker’ opens an uncomfortable door into societies views on criminality, isolation and mental health. A door that …
In 2016 James Grey brought us the underrated ‘The Lost City of Z‘. A film that focused on the human need for exploration and understanding. Exploring the desire of humans to risk everything in answering the questions inherent in the unknown and unexplored. Ad Astra continues the themes of Grey’s earlier film. Mixing stunning cinematography with the human desire to answer the …
Mark Jenkin’s Cornish fishing tale ‘Bait’ is a masterclass in cinematic art and social commentary. Providing us with an hypnotic and salty soap opera. While mixing this with a unique, captivating and utterly beautiful piece of cinema. The grain of its 16mm black and white footage interfacing with modern Cornwall. As tradition and change combine with explosive results. Martin Ward …
This is the sixth on screen adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel. The most recent having been the 1994 academy award nominated film starring Winona Ryder. However, unlike previous adaptations Greta Gerwig’s Little Women sings with a vibrant air of modernism. Taking the roots of the classic novel while dovetailing them with a beautiful coming of age journey. With …
‘기생충’ Spoiler Free Winner of the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival this year. Korean director Bong Joon-Ho‘s new movie, Parasite is as close to cinematic perfection as I have seen during 2019. Creating a film that ebbs and flows with deliciously dark humour, shocks and drama in equal measure. While taking the audience on a rollercoaster ride of …
Arriving 40 years after Robert Benton’s Oscar winning Kramer vs Kramer. Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story may just follow in the award winning footsteps of its predecessor in 2020. By creating a film that not only echoes the character driven drama of Robert Benton’s movie. But also offers both a personal and assured reflection of the complexities of marriage and divorce …
Following on from her 2014 masterpiece of suspense The Babadook. Jennifer Kent’s second feature ‘The Nightingale’ provides a gut wrenching journey into the horrors of oppression and colonialism. While searing itself into the memory of the viewer, with a vice like grip. On paper providing a thriller that plays to rape-revenge genre, while embedding the plot with a far more …
It is hard to believe that is was almost 25 years ago that Martin Scorsese brought us Casino, starring Joe Pesci and Robert De Niro. A film that many thought would mark the end of the Pesci – DeNiro partnership born in the 1980 film Raging Bull. While Al Pacino although having worked De Niro on The Godfather, never crossed …
“Un amour impossible’ Acclaimed director Catherine Corsini has shown herself to be a masterful storyteller over the past 30 years. With ‘An Impossible Love’ continuing her flare for bring stories of intense power and nuance to the screen. Released in January 2019, An Impossible Love is a shining example of family drama that may have slipped you by. And if …