The Black Phone is a creepy reunion for Derrickson and Hawke July 4, 2022 Having acrimoniously parted ways with the Doctor Strange franchise, director Scott Derrickson goes back to his horror roots with The Black Phone, a cleverly pitched movie based on a short story by Joe Hill (the pen name of Stephen King’s son). Set in the late 70s, Mason Thames plays Finney, a young man who becomes [...]
Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis is a joyous celebration of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll June 24, 2022 The life and times of Elvis Presley have been dramatised often over the years, from TV biopics to surreal fictional accounts such as 2002’s Bubba Ho-Tep. But a big budget biopic of one of the 20th century’s most famous figures has never been attempted until now. Directed by Baz Luhrmann with an eye-catching cast, Elvis [...]
George Michael: Freedom Uncut review: Singer personally sets record straight June 17, 2022 It’s clear that the real George Michael is quite different from the caricature created by the tabloids during his life. Just over five years on from his death, Freedom Uncut, the late singer’s final work, offers a personal perspective on his legacy. Featuring heavy involvement from Michael himself (who is credited as a director), George [...]
Good Luck to you, Leo Grande review: Suave and sexy June 17, 2022 Sex and cinema haven’t historically been good bedfellows. The sight of two people getting it on often has censors clutching for their pearls, but thankfully, this new comedy-drama gets permission to be a bit more grown up. Emma Thompson plays Nancy, a retired RE teacher who hires handsome young escort Leo Grande (Daryl McCormack) for [...]
Lightyear review: Enjoyably nostalgic flight from the past June 17, 2022 Just when you thought Hollywood couldn’t find a new way to rehash old material, here comes a new category of film entirely. Lightyear is a spin-off of Toy Story, but one that imagines Buzz Lightyear as a real person. As the film explains in its opening moments, this is the movie that the toy was [...]
Leave No Traces review: A laboured Polish language Oscar hopeful June 11, 2022 True crime has enjoyed a wave of popularity in the streaming age, inviting viewers to piece together what happened as the clues come in. While Leave No Traces doesn’t have quite the same mystery, it does show how impactful cinema can be derived from real events. Set in 1983, Poland’s submission for this year’s Best [...]
Swan Song review: A finely coiffed LGBTQ+ comedy June 11, 2022 There has been a rise in the number of LGBTQ+ stories being told in movies and TV, but generally they have been about younger characters coming of age in the modern world. New comedy-drama Swan Song puts the spotlight on a different age bracket, crafting a small tale with a lot of heart. Udo Kier [...]
Hustle review: Adam Sandler finds his acting hat again in sports drama June 11, 2022 Every now and again, Adam Sandler remembers he can act. Before it became a social media punchline, 2019’s Uncut Gems contained the best performance of the comedy giant’s career, almost making you forget all about the hideous Netflix comedies that have made him millions. Happily, this week sees the arrival of more serious Sandler in [...]
Jurassic World: Dominion ends franchise that’s ready for a meteor strike June 10, 2022 The Jurassic World trilogy ends not with a roar but with a squeak. Dominion calls upon the stars of Steven Spielberg’s original Jurassic Park to capitalise on the current trend for legacy sequels (it’s arguable that 2015’s Jurassic World, a movie that was both a remake and reboot, started the fad). But the wholesale shake-up [...]
The Bob’s Burgers Movie review: A fine dish that’ll deliver for fans May 27, 2022 The Bob’s Burgers Movie has overcome many hurdles to get to our screens. The quirky animated sitcom has survived the Disney takeover of 20th Century Fox and a global pandemic to be released in cinemas, at a time when most animated movies have gone to streaming. Like The Simpsons Movie 15 years ago, it plays [...]