Time travel has been a prominent theme within films and TV shows for decades, and why not? It allows us to explore the possibilities of things that could have drastically changed history and the course of the future. What if someone could travel back in time and give 17th century London the cure for the Black Plague? Will the world be under water in the … Continue reading I’ll Be Back- Time Travel in the Movies
Is there anything more tragic than a racing-movie that never gets up to speed? Well… yes. Obviously yes. There are many things more tragic than that. Testicular cancer is more tragic than that. Becoming so overwhelmed by one desire that you abandon long-held friendships and loyalties can be more tragic than that. Even the story of a talented athlete who feels compelled to cheat in … Continue reading Review: The Program
Climbing Mt. Everest is a challenge of two halves; getting to the summit is only half of the mission. Once there you have to get back home. Likewise, this is a film of two halves. The first part of Everest┬áis the ascent, or build up. And, as with the real-life mission this film is based on, it all goes largely how youÔÇÖd expect. We are … Continue reading Review: Everest
Rather than opening Macbeth with the classic battle featured in Act One of ShakespeareÔÇÖs tragedy, Australian director Justin Kurzel presents a motif that appears throughout the film: childhood, and the innocence (or lack of) that comes with it. The dead baby, or ÔÇÿbabeÔÇÖ, placed centre frame in the opening shot isnÔÇÖt so much a standalone metaphor within itself, but a reflection on what is to … Continue reading Review: Macbeth
I am a lone vessel in this vast void of nothingness. One man stranded on Mars with only his wits, spirit and science skills to accompany him. The Martian (directed by the one and only Ridley Scott) is a very unique film, and it delivers on so many levels. As a science-fiction action-adventure film there are plenty of jaw-dropping and intense moments in which the … Continue reading Review: The Martian
Billed as ‘a buddy comedy heist movie,┬áClerks meets Dog Day Afternoon,‘┬áConvenience┬áis one of the best British comedy films in recent years. Ray Panthaki, perhaps most known for co-producing instant cult hit┬áKidulthood, presents us with a film undoubtedly in the leagues of Shaun of the Dead and Four Lions. Convenience – of which director Keri Collins won the Bafta Cymru Breakthrough Award for┬á -┬árevolves around Ajay … Continue reading Review: Convenience
Solace? More like boring. I donÔÇÖt understand this film. ItÔÇÖs meant to be a mystery thriller but I didnÔÇÖt find any mystery and little to no thrills. Solace has an interesting concept: a series of murders take place that all share a similar method of killing, which leave no trace of the killerÔÇÖs presence, and FBI detectives named Joe (Jeffery Dean Morgan) and Katherine (Abbie … Continue reading Review: Solace
Welsh actor Craig Roberts (Submarine, Comes a Bright Day, Bad Neighbours) makes a very strong directorial debut in Just Jim, a film in which he also writes and stars in. The black comedy follows un-cool Welsh teenager Jim, played by Roberts, leading a seemingly boring teenage life who longs to catch his crushÔÇÖs attention and become popular in school. This is where Emile Hirsch (Lords … Continue reading Review: Just Jim
Never has a biographical film impressed me in the last decade than Straight Outta Compton. This film follows the start of ÔÇÿÔÇÿgangsta rapÔÇÖÔÇÖ and its popularisers: Dr Dre, Ice Cube, Eazy-E, MC Ren and DJ Yella, who in all formed the group N.W.A. (ÔÇÿÔÇÿno, it doesnÔÇÖt mean ÔÇÿNo Whites AllowedÔÇÖÔÇÖÔÇÖ). From their tough beginnings in Compton, California to performing ÔÇÿÔÇÿBoyz n the HoodÔÇÖÔÇÖ in sold-out … Continue reading Review: Straight Outta Compton
Irrational Man is the new film directed by Woody Allen, a light black comedy about Abe, a philosophy professor (Joaquin Phoenix), who is at a low point in his life. He is not fulfilled by teaching and he sees his actions as unimportant, having no effect on the world. He is having what might be defined as a philosopherÔÇÖs midlife crisis. Abe takes a teaching … Continue reading Review: Irrational Man
The plot of The Bad Education Movie follows incompetent teacher Alfie Wickers (Jack Whitehall) and his mischievous yet beloved History class as they embark on a school trip to Cornwall; a treat promised by Alfie as a celebration for finishing their GCSE exams (after the schoolÔÇÖs budget and the parentsÔÇÖ trust wonÔÇÖt stretch to a bender in Las Vegas). One mother isnÔÇÖt pleased with the … Continue reading Review: The Bad Education Movie
With Inside Out Pixar have staged a triumphant return to form. Directed by Pete Docter the film tells the story of Riley, a young girl, struggling to adjust with her familyÔÇÖs relocation from Minnesota to San Francisco. However, Riley is actually the filmÔÇÖs setting rather than its main protagonist with the majority of the action taking place inside her mind. This is where the film … Continue reading Review: Inside Out
Playing out as almost Lynchian in its twisted dream-like reality, Buttercup Bill is a unique film from directors Remy Bennett and ├ëmilie Richard-Froozan billed as a “Southern Gothic Romance.” The film is a psychosexual drama in which two childhood friends reconnect, prompted by the imaginary Buttercup Bill. It convinces Pernilla (Remy Bennett) to leave her reality and return to Patrick (Evan Louison) in a familiar … Continue reading Review: Buttercup Bill
Described by Richard Linklater as the ÔÇÿpatron saint of independent filmmakers,ÔÇÖ Orson Welles stands as a formidable figure in the pantheon of all-time greats. As a director he changed the rules of filmmaking in a time when cinema was still a fledgling art form. In the golden era of Hollywood he was funding his own films and passionately fighting for creative control. Tragically, for many … Continue reading Orson Welles at Chapter Arts Centre
I feel fairly safe in saying that Guy RitchieÔÇÖs latest offering provides the viewer with style over substance. Much like the directorÔÇÖs previous Sherlock Holmes installments, The Man from U.N.C.L.E (an abbreviation which isnÔÇÖt explained until the closing credits, and one I certainly canÔÇÖt remember) is an absolute treat to look at, and delivers a nicely palatable mixture of laughs and action, yet lacks the … Continue reading Review: The Man from U.N.C.L.E
I walked into the cinema room expecting the worst. Edgar Wright, who basically led all the pre-production of the film, had dropped out of the project as film director weeks before filming, making the press doom the whole film. Also, the thought of ÔÇÿAnt-ManÔÇÖ himself entering the vast Marvel movie universe (which includes big and robust built superheroes like Captain America and Thor) seemed bizarre … Continue reading Review: Ant-Man
Never has film meant more about escapism than it has to the wolfpack. Crystal Moselle’s documentary focuses on six of the coolest and most well-dressed boys you’ll ever know. Named after Hindu deities, Mukunda, Naraya, Govinda, Bhagavan, Krisna (Glenn) and Jagadesh (Eddie) are the sons of Peruvian and practiser of Krishna consciousness Oscar who have, along with sister Visnu and mother Susanne, been confined to … Continue reading Review: The Wolfpack
To be completely honest, before Trainwreck,┬áthe only other time I had heard of the name ÔÇÿAmy SchumerÔÇÖ was when I was reading an article ÔÇô in my vast procrastinating period of time ÔÇô on this rising comedienne who had purposely tripped over in front of the paparazzi-hunted couple Mr and Mrs Kanye West, a small thing that made me giggle a bit. I did not … Continue reading Review: Trainwreck
This week marks the 20th anniversary of Larry ClarkÔÇÖs film Kids. Filmed in a documentary-like manner, ClarkÔÇÖs bleak portrayal of 1990s youth follows a group of teens in New York City over a period of 24 hours as they drink, take drugs and have lots and lots of sex. Strikingly different from the 1990s New York City we saw in other media, such as Sex … Continue reading Are controversial films worth it? 20 years on from Kids
Mad MaxÔÇÖ world is fire and bloodÔǪ this is no understatement. After a hiatus which would seem an eternity, director George Miller finally returns to the post-apocalyptic Mad Max universe. A place in which resources such as fuel are viciously fought over and where water is ruthlessly rationed to the remaining survivors of this barren wasteland. Rust, desert and decay are in abundance and are … Continue reading Review: Mad Max: Fury Road
