Oasis Knebworth 96 review: recapturing music history September 22, 2021 There was a time when the band Oasis and nostalgia seemed like a contradiction. While certainly inspired by the past, their meteoric 1990s rise was fuelled by songs about feeling young and invincible, with nothing mattering beyond this moment. It captured the spirit of a country propelled by a rare case of self-confidence that peaked [...]
The Green Knight review – a stunning medieval fantasy September 22, 2021 Director David Lowery may not be as familiar a name as The Russo Brothers or Christopher Nolan, but in less than a decade he has already put together a string of quietly successful productions, including the critically acclaimed Aint These Bodies Saints. Working with Red Redford on Disney’s remake of Pete’s Dragon convinced the screen [...]
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie review – fuzzy but heartfelt September 21, 2021 Everybody may be talking about Jamie, but it’s unlikely to be in a cinema foyer. Original studio Disney were intending a theatrical release until as late as May, when the film was sold to Amazon for its streaming service and a limited cinema run in the UK. The adaptation of the West End hit was [...]
Gunpowder Milkshake – Karen Gillan’s action comedy is great fun September 20, 2021 While she may be better known as a supporting player in the Jumanji and Marvel franchises, Karen Gillan has offered some impressive lead performances on the big screen. She impressed as the director and star of 2018’s overlooked drama The Party’s Just Beginning, and in the David Dastmalchian-written All Creatures Here Below. This week, she [...]
Prisoners of The Ghostland – more Nicolas Cage madness September 15, 2021 The poster for Prisoners of The Ghostland features a surprising quote – not from a critic or an enthusiastic viewer, but from the star Nicolas Cage himself, who calls it “The Wildest Movie I’ve Ever Made”. When you consider some of the offbeat choices the Oscar winner has made, that’s a powerful claim. He plays [...]
Rose Plays Julie review: A tense exploration of trauma September 14, 2021 Many films are about delving into the deep, murky lake of a character’s past, but few do it as intensely, or as uniquely, as this week’s Rose Plays Julie. Directed Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor, collectively known as the creative partnership Desperate Optimists, Anne Skelly plays Rose, a young Irish woman training to be a [...]
Copshop movie review – a below par Dad Thriller September 10, 2021 It’s been a while since a Joe Carnahan movie has graced the big screen. The filmmaker brought who brough us Smokin’ Aces, The A-Team, and The Grey has been missing from the director’s chair for seven years following issues surrounding the release of 2014’s Stretch. After making March’s Boss Level for streaming service Hulu, he’s [...]
Marvel What If…? episode 5 review – an undead adventure September 9, 2021 There have been some interestingly complex questions in the first half of What If…?, Marvel’s cavalcade of hypotheticals. What would happen if Peggy Carter became the hero Steve was meant to be, or if the original Avengers were killed before they started? This week, things are a bit simpler, and this is reflected in episode [...]
Respect, the explosive biopic of Aretha Franklin, has it all September 9, 2021 The music biopic is a subgenre fraught with obstacles. First, you have to find the right lead – a Janis Joplin film has been in development for years with everyone from Amy Adams to Pink attached. Secondly, you have to secure the back catalogue – last year’s Stardust failed to capture the spirit of David [...]
From The Vine star Joe Pantoliano on lockdown, mental health and filming in Italy September 8, 2021 The name Joe Pantoliano will be familiar to many movie fans, but if it isn’t, his performances certainly will be. He had memorable roles in The Goonies, Midnight Run, Bad Boys, and The Fugitive; as well as being a part of the breakthroughs of The Wachowski Sisters and Christopher Nolan. That’s before you get on [...]