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
Gore, heavy metal, guns and more gore! That pretty much sums up Killing Floor 2; the highly anticipated sequel to the original gore-fest. The game is currently in ÔÇÿEarly AccessÔÇÖ on Steam, with the full release coming later in the year for Windows, Linux and PlayStation 4. Consequently not all features are showcased in its current form, not that it makes playing it now any … Continue reading Review: Killing Floor 2
To say that Kevin Bridges is anything less than a comical genius would be an understatement. His┬álatest tour titled A Whole Different Story, reveals the Scottish comedianÔÇÖs feelings towards life twelve years into his career. His material had a hilariously nostalgic tone to the childhood days of sleepovers, old gaming devices and internet connection. He brought to attention that the days of PlayStation 1 and … Continue reading Review: Kevin Bridges- A Whole Different Story, St David’s Hall
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
The Norman constructors of the historic Chepstow Castle probably didnÔÇÖt have Newport slice of life, comedy rap ensemble ÔÇÿGoldie Lookin ChainÔÇÖ in mind as future guests when they laid its first stones in 1067, but they didnÔÇÖt seem out of place in front of a busy, if not packed, crowd on August 26th. Performing as part of the Castell Roc Music Festival that evolved out … Continue reading Live: Goldie Lookin Chain – Castel Roch – 26/08/15
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
ItÔÇÖs the 1st of September, AKA first day of school at Hogwarts, so obviously weÔÇÖre bringing you exciting news on the Harry Potter front and no, itÔÇÖs not memorabilia but a product of actual use!┬áDrum roll┬áplease – enter LA SplashÔÇÖs new┬áHP inspired liquid lip stains that have taken the fandom with storm. Interested on how to turn your muggle life around and feel a little … Continue reading LA Splash x Harry Potter
Toronto Mens Fashion Week, which ran from August 19th to the 25th, was the first of many fashion weeks that are upcoming next month. In its 3rd edition, the menswear collections for Spring/Summer 2016 made our hearts flutter and wish for spring to hurry up already to see┬áthe trends in action, even though we are just starting fall! Editor Jamila Gandhi brings you an overview … Continue reading TOM*FW: A Review
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
Spector first appeared on our radars in 2011, at a time when all of the guitar bands that could afford a synth machine were the soundtrack to an awkward silence on Made in Chelsea. Since their hyped up beginnings, they have been delivering some brilliant anthemic indie-pop hits to a fairly small corner of the internet (see Chevy Thunder┬áfrom their debut,┬áfor example). TheyÔÇÖve recently been … Continue reading Album : Spector – Moth Boys
Talking of their formative years as a band, with members separated by the best part of a three hour drive between Nottingham and Norwich Universities, vocalist of Don Broco, Rob Damiani, maintains that this academic period was when ÔÇ£things really clicked inÔÇØ for the boys from Bedford. Rob appears to recall these years spent moulding their personalities fondly ÔÇô ÔÇ£I remember we got to play … Continue reading Don Broco Go Automatic
Beauty writer┬áEm Gates joined in with Superdrug’s Beauty Studio’s first┬ábirthday celebrations. Here is┬áwhat she got up to…┬á If the allure of a free goody bag for being one of the first 50 people into the store doesnÔÇÖt bother most people, that was probably the reason I was first in the queue for the Superdrug Beauty Studio 1st Birthday Party. Not feeling guilty at all for … Continue reading Superdrug Beauty Studio’s 1st Birthday
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
Back with her belated second album, follow-up to 2012ÔÇÖs folksy ÔÇÿLike I Used ToÔÇÖ, Lucy Rose returns with a record shaped by countless shows with her four-piece live band that showcases a new emphasis on electric instruments and collaborative arrangements. Lyrically the material follows RoseÔÇÖs previous first person narratives, with the liner notes detailing ÔÇ£the loss of a great love and gain of a newÔÇØ, … Continue reading Album: Lucy Rose – Work It Out
