Coming 2 America: Eddie Murphy sequel is past its best March 4, 2021 COVID may have scuppered many studios’ plans, but Paramount Pictures made the best of unforeseen circumstances, selling many titles to streaming services including comedy sequel Coming 2 America. The follow up to the 1988 Eddie Murphy hit was purchased by Amazon for a reported $125m, believed to be a record for streaming rights. A sequel [...]
The Dissident examines Saudi murder of Jamal Khashoggi March 4, 2021 On 2 October 2018, Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered by agents of the Saudi Arabian government at their consulate in Istanbul. The assassination sent shockwaves around the world, as it came to discover the unthinkable act of a government brazenly killing a writer known for his criticisms of them. What this meant for [...]
Should you pay-per-view £20 for Raya and The Last Dragon? March 4, 2021 The pandemic has forced movie studios to think differently. Paramount sold many films in its 2020 slate to streaming services, while Warner Bros threw everything on to HBO Max. Disney has been more cautious, preserving its mega blockbusters for the big screen while also testing the waters with a pay per view offering of Mulan, [...]
WandaVision Episode 8 review: S1E8 revels in last week’s reveal February 26, 2021 If you’ve been watching WandaVision every week (and if you haven’t, why are you reading this?), you’ll have been humming a certain theme tune for the past week. Yep, it was Agatha All Along! Or was it? Following the jaw-dropping twist last week that kindly neighbour Agnes (Kathryn Hahn) was in fact a powerful witch [...]
The United States Vs Billie Holiday biopic film review February 25, 2021 ‘Based On A True Story’ is a common phrase that pop ups around Oscar season, with several of this year’s contenders being adaptations of real life events. Lee Daniels, who shot to fame with 2009’s indie hit Precious, hopes to repeat that success with a biopic of the one and only Billie Holiday. The United [...]
Judas and The Black Messiah: Kaluuya a shoo in for awards February 25, 2021 Two of the most exciting actors of their generation reunite to share the screen in Judas and The Black Messiah, a drama that is hoping to be among the winners come awards season. This true story stars Lakieth Stanfield (Sorry To Bother You, Uncut Gems) as Bill O’Neal, a petty car thief caught by the FBI [...]
WandaVision episode 7 review – huge twist revealed! February 19, 2021 *** WARNING: This review contains spoilers for all current episodes of Disney+’s WandaVision. *** Welcome back to WandaVision, or this week, just Wanda. The episode takes the form of the 2010s sitcom Modern Family, with Wanda delivering monologues to camera in the confessional style of the hit show. The plot of the episode follows three [...]
I Care A Lot review – Rosamund Pike’s cold-blooded masterclass February 19, 2021 In these tough times, many of us have turned to movies that lift us up, and remind us that there is some good in the world. Despite its title, I Care A Lot is not one of those films. Rosamund Pike plays Marla Grayson, who makes a living from becoming the legal guardian of elderly [...]
Pelé review – the football legend tells his own story February 18, 2021 With Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo all releasing official life stories in recent years, it seems fitting that Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé, should get in on the action. The three-time world cup winner is no stranger to self-promotion, having put his name to everything from computer games to Viagra, [...]
To Olivia review – Roald Dahl biopic is a little bit too cosy February 18, 2021 Despite the number of adaptations of his work, To Olivia is the first major portrayal of author Roald Dahl on screen. Hugh Bonneville plays Dahl in the period after the death of his daughter Olivia, and the growing divide between he and his wife, American movie star Patricia Neal (Keeley Hawes). Battling through mental health [...]