Category: Film Reviews
Film reviews ranging from the latest blockbusters, to the smallest Indies, to the all the late in the year Oscar bait.
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Fly Review (IMAX Documentary)- New wing suiting documentary never manages to take flight.
Fly marks another documentary from National Geographic in what can best be described as the maniacs performing death-defying stunts in globetrotting locations genre. The documentary follows base-jumpers and wing-suiters who travel the world leaping off buildings, bridges, and mountains to soar through the air on their way to Earth. Of course, to paraphrase Toy Story,… Read more
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Sing Sing Review- Prison Drama is a Triumphant Celebration of the Power of Art and Community.
Colman Domingo is drawing much-deserved acclaim for his subtle yet powerful performance in Greg Kwedar’s new prison-based drama Sing Sing, but the film itself is a triumph whose brilliance transcends any single element. The film is set within the real-life Sing Sing correctional facility in New York State and follows its groundbreaking rehabilitation theatre programme… Read more
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Thelma Review- June Squibb is wonderful in this action film, donning a snug-knitted cardigan.
Thelma is a film which wears its cinematic influences on its sleeve, as early on we see our protagonist Thelma (June Squibb) watching Mission Impossible: Fallout with her grandson Daniel (Fred Hechinger) on an old fat backed television. Much like Cruise’s alter-ego Ethan hunt, Thelma is about to be faced with her own impossible mission… Read more
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The Substance Review- Let the ‘Demissance’ in a bonkers new body horror which ironically lacks substance.
Let the ‘Demissance’ begin! In Coralie Fargeat’s bonkers new body horror which, ironically, lacks substance. Producing a great satire is a true highwire act. It needs to be somehow both bold, direct, and meaningful but without feeling obvious, smug, or preachy. At the same time, it still needs to be enjoyable on its own terms and… Read more
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Unicorns Review
Unicorns feels like the perfect title for the new film from James Floyd and Sally El Hossaini (this is the former’s directorial debut and the latter’s follow up to the Bafta winning The Swimmers ) as they have reared a rare mythical beast of a film. They have created a love story which feels truly unweighted by prejudice,… Read more
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The Apprentice Review
Sebastian Stan plants his flag in the race for the Oscar in an audaciously understated film about how one of the world’s most powerful men crafted his image. There is no doubt that The Apprentice will prove a divisive film, and I’m sure prompt a whirlwind of headlines and thought pieces upon its release. The… Read more
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Anora Review
I’m beginning my Cannes reviews with my favourite film from the festival, and the Palme D’or winner, Sean Baker’s wonderfully raucous and fantastically sweary Anora. The film marks another arrow in Baker’s mission to destigmatize sex work, and it continues his trend of breathing vibrancy and colour into subject matter so often treated as seedy,… Read more
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Furiosa Review
A Turbocharged Odyssey which doesn’t quite live up to its predecessor. Mad Max: Fury Road, which hit screens nearly a decade ago, remains a film quite unlike any other. It is a frenetic, captivating, visually astounding, non-stop, two-hour car chase whose relentlessness and vigour would be almost impossible to top. So, with the film’s new… Read more
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Riley Review
Riley marks the directorial debut of Benjamin Howard who delivers an oftentimes conventional film which is elevated in parts by his personal investment in its subject matter and a strong acting debut from lead Jake Holley. The film follows a closeted high-school football star Dakota Riley (Jake Holley) as he struggles with his own sexuality while… Read more
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Close to You Review
Close to You marks Elliot Page’s first cinematic role since transitioning, and the film tells a clearly personal story for the actor. However, it is in its more universal themes surrounding the trying and uplifting nature of family where the film really finds its stride. The story, which Page worked closely on, follows Sam a recently… Read more