The end of lockdown could spell a dinner party renaissance June 10, 2021 The end of lockdown should be close; we wait with bated breath for a final decision on whether 21 June will in fact see the sweeping away of most of the remaining restrictions. In the meantime, however, we are allowed to gather indoors according to the rule of six (or more, if they are drawn [...]
Loki Episode 1 review: A deep dive into a Marvel anti-hero June 9, 2021 *** WARNING: This review contains spoilers for the Loki TV series, and parts of the Marvel Cinematic Universe *** In eighteen months of Disney+’s existence, there hasn’t been a new show with as much potential as Loki. The Mandalorian had a lot of hype by virtue of being a Star Wars show, while both WandaVision [...]
LIFF 2021: British Asian talent celebrated at this year’s festival June 9, 2021 Cinemas may be open again, but 2021 remains a difficult time for the film industry as it reconnects with audiences. For many film festivals, this means taking a hybrid approach that welcomes back the magic of the big screen while still providing an online presence for those still out of reach. The 12th Bagri Foundation [...]
Indiana Jones boxset review – Indy celebrates 40 with a new look June 9, 2021 Next month will be the 40th anniversary of Indiana Jones and The Raiders of The Lost Ark. In that time, Harrison Ford’s gruff archaeologist has been the focus of a number of spin offs, tie-ins, and home video releases. It’s a testament to the enduring appeal of the character that there is still appetite for [...]
Nobody review – John Wick style comedy hits the target June 8, 2021 Movie fans love an unlikely action hero. It’s easy to forget that legends like Bruce Willis and Liam Neeson were better known for other genres before they started to take out bad guys, but even the most ardent Bob Odenkirk fan would admit seeing him in this type of movie is a surprise. In many [...]
The Father review: Anthony Hopkins’ disturbing Oscar moment June 8, 2021 After a year of being shuffled around the Covid-hit release schedule, The Father finally arrives on the big screen, hoping to show why it generated so much buzz on the awards circuit. Sir Anthony Hopkins won a second Oscar at 85 years old for playing Anthony, a retired man battling against advancing dementia. His memory [...]
The Death of a Black Man at Hampstead Theatre review June 4, 2021 It’s a sad indictment on society that a play called The Death of a Black Man could have been written in just about any era of modern history, about more black men than you could ever hope to name. Today it perhaps most strongly recalls the death of George Floyd, whose murder last year by [...]
After Love film review: A captivating story of grief June 3, 2021 Many independent dramas deal with the subject of grieving, a topic too sombre for commercial films but one that remains pertinent to everyone. However, Aleem Khan’s debut feature takes an unusual route to tell its story even for a film outside of the mainstream. Joanna Scanlan stars as Mary, a British woman converted to Islam [...]
Dream Horse review: A sentimental underdog story about a horse June 2, 2021 For nearly thirty years, British film has specialised in a certain type of underdog comedy. Stories about people from small, usually downtrodden towns reaching for their dreams and achieving the impossible (it also helps if it’s vaguely inspired by a true story). In the 90s films including The Full Monty and Brassed Off set a [...]
A Quiet Place Part II review: Horror sequel well worth the wait June 2, 2021 Along with Peter Rabbit 2 and No Time To Die, A Quiet Place II was one of the movies that signalled cinemas would be uniquely impacted by the events of the last year. We’re still waiting on Bond, but Peter Rabbit 2 arrived recently to a rapturous reception from audiences (slightly less so from critics). [...]