We live in challenging times, and nothing can be more challenging than trying to entertain your children during a social and school lockdown. However, it is at times like this that film can offer kids an escape from rolling news coverage and worries. While also allowing their imaginations to run riot in world of possibility. Enabling further play and activities …
‘Fin de siglo’ What if we had made different decisions as a result of the random meetings, and fleeting love affairs we have had? This is the question posed by writer-director Lucio Castro. His debut feature ‘End of the Century’ focusing on the power of chance encounters and the fear of commitment. The passion for personal freedom often wrapped in …
Knives Out is a pure joy to watch, as Director Rian Johnson breathes new life into the classic whodunit genre. While celebrating the genius of Agatha Christie in a film that plays homage to her writing. While also treading new ground, with a script that brings the whodunit up to date. In a large sprawling manor house outside Boston the …
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. …
The clouds roll in under the summit of a mountain somewhere in Latin America. The foreboding landscape home to a group of teenagers named Boom Boom, Rambo, Dog, Smurf, Lady, Swede, Bigfoot and Wolf. All of whom are being schooled in the art of combat by a short mysterious muscular man. After training has ceased the man introduces the teenagers …
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 …
The Goldfinch provides a classic example of the challenges present in condensing a large sprawling novel into a single two and a half hour film. The novels complexity ultimately failing in the translation to the screen. While in turn creating a frustrating and disappointing film. With the films solid performances and beautiful cinematography drowned out by a three act structure …
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 …
In 2003 James Frey published his memoir, “A Million Little Pieces”. A piece of work that initially received widespread acclaimed on release. However, went on to court controversy after the author admitted fictionalising some key aspects of his apparent life story. This controversy was only heightened by an interview on the Oprah Winfrey show. Where Oprah asked Frey to apologise to readers over a book she …
There was an inherent risk sitting at the heart of IT. One that splits a combined story interweaving adult and childhood experience, into two separate entities. Hence dividing the narrative of Stephen King’s source material. While also creating an expectation that the audience could combine both chapters into singular cinematic journey. This is a challenge that few films have managed …