The Suicide Squad review: DC antiheroes get film they deserve July 30, 2021 If there’s one group that deserves a second chance, it’s Suicide Squad. David Ayer’s 2016 original had a lot of promise but became a lesson in studio interference, held back by a nervous Warner Bros who made their own edit that was poorly received. This week’s The Suicide Squad also had a turbulent path to [...]
Sundance London review: The Sparks Brothers is Edgar Wright’s love letter to music July 29, 2021 In another universe, Edgar Wright should be working on his third Ant-Man movie. It’s seven years since his departure from the Marvel film due to ‘creative differences’, in which time he has made three movies – car chase hit Baby Driver, the upcoming Last Night In Soho, and this week’s critically adored music doc The [...]
Jungle Cruise is a silly but entertaining Disney adventure July 28, 2021 Musclebound A-lister Dwayne Johnson has made his name in the movie business by making hits from unlikely source material. Reviving the Fast and Furious, GI Joe, and Jumanji franchises, his face alone is enough to make hits out of dodgy propositions. Skyscraper, San Andreas, arcade game adaptation Rampage: the list goes on. Can he work [...]
The World To Come review – a passionate if familiar love story July 22, 2021 The early days of America provide the backdrop to this stripped-down drama, set in 19th century America. The daily routine of grieving mother Abigail (Katherine Waterston) is interrupted by the arrival of Tallie (Vanessa Kirby), a neighbour who comes for a visit. The pair strike up an instant friendship that turns to attraction, but their [...]
Night of The Kings is an inventive, hard-hitting prison drama July 22, 2021 The prison movie is an inexhaustible inspiration for filmmakers. Just when you think you’ve seen every permutation, a film comes along and shows you something different. Ivorian filmmaker Philippe Lacôte (2014’s Run) goes into the heart of an infamous location for his new story, Night of The Kings. We find ourselves The Ivory Coast’s notorious [...]
Riders of Justice review – Mads Mikkelsen is brilliant… again July 21, 2021 Tragedy, probability, and Mads Mikkelsen meet in comedy Riders of Justice. The Danish film beat Mikkelsen’s Oscar winner, Another Round, to claim the highest opening weekend for a homegrown film in 2020. As it turns out, the two films could not be more different. Anders Thomas Jensen directs this dark, humorous tale of the aftermath [...]
Space Jam: A New Legacy review – a messy Warner Bros advert July 19, 2021 You might think cinematic crossovers are a modern invention, but 25 years ago two icons of entertainment met on the big screen. At the peak of his popularity, Michael Jordan starred in Space Jam, his one and only film role, opposite Bugs Bunny and The Looney Tunes. The film was a box office hit, and [...]
The Croods: A New Age review – familiar animated fun July 15, 2021 Eight years is a long time to wait for a family film. Yes, genre icons such as Toy Story can endure generations, but it’s likely that most of the children who were taken along to The Croods in 2013 will now be in their teens and less inclined to follow the adventures of an animated [...]
Loki Episode 6 review – thrilling conclusion to Marvel series July 14, 2021 *** WARNING: this contains spoilers for all episodes of Loki on Disney+ *** It’s the finale of Loki, the most mysterious and captivating of Disney+’s MCU shows. Last week saw a lot of running around, meeting new characters, and revelations about the TVA. For the final episode there are fewer set pieces, but an awful [...]
Loki Episode 5 review: staring into The Void July 7, 2021 *** WARNING: this review contains spoilers for all current episodes of Loki on Disney+ *** Last week, everything changed in the TVA. The Time Keepers were fake, Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and Mobius (Owen Wilson) were pruned, while Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino) had Judge Renslayer (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) at knifepoint. In an extra scene, Loki wakes in [...]