John Wick plays the hits in this fourth instalment March 25, 2023 Nine years ago, John Wick went on a violent rampage of revenge over the death of his pet dog. The grimy, low budget 2014 action film bucked the trend. Using an old school formula just as the Marvel Universe was taking flight, the film was the start of an unlikely franchise, and cemented star Keanu [...]
80 For Brady is pure cinematic comfort food March 25, 2023 Four elder stateswomen of Hollywood team up for 80 For Brady, which follows a group of friends (Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Sally Field and Rita Moreno) who embark on one last girls’ trip to the Superbowl to see their hero, Tom Brady, play for the New England Patriots. However, a series of misadventures mean their [...]
Infinity Pool review: Brandon Cronenberg is no clone of his father March 24, 2023 In an industry currently debating its own nepotism, Brandon Cronenberg is setting himself apart from the crowd. The son of legendary director David, he shares his father’s interest in surreal imagery, but takes it in new and interesting directions. In his third film, Infinity Pool, Alexander Skarsgård stars as James, a writer who escapes to [...]
Allelujah has a vital message, but the film’s plot gets tangled March 19, 2023 New British comedy-drama Allelujah is based on the 2018 play by Alan Bennett. Its focus on health care is interesting, given the amount that has changed since it debuted on stage. However, the subject is still pertinent. The film centres around the geriatric unit of a Yorkshire hospital. Overseen by a caring doctor (Bally Gill) [...]
Winners is a charming celebration of childhood enthusiasm March 19, 2023 In a wonderful bit of programming, Iranian comedy-drama Winners comes out in the afterglow of the Oscars. While set many miles from Los Angeles, this charming independent movie captures the mystique and awe so many of us witness when looking up at the big screen. Winners is about the Oscars, or more specifically an Oscar. [...]
Shazam: Fury of the Gods is another DC superhero dud March 19, 2023 The long in-development Shazam sequel (four years is an age for superhero films) arrives at a strange time. Audiences seem to be burned out on Marvel and DC, with many recent releases either bombing or being the subject of fan ire. With a new strategy planned for the DC Universe, can Zachary Levi’s superkid convince [...]
Luther The Fallen Son, review: Idris Elba proves he doesn’t need James Bond March 12, 2023 TV Shows that get movie spin offs are often faced with a conundrum: how to make this new format offer more than a long televised episode? BBC detective show Luther always seemed to have cinematic aspirations, but after five seasons, can Idris Elba’s world-weary cop find anything new to say? Following the events of the [...]
Meet Me In The Bathroom review: Low on insight March 12, 2023 Spanning a ten-year period between the turn of the millennium and the early 2010s, Meet Me In The Bathroom looks at the rise of the New York indie rock scene. Charting the arrival of bands including The Strokes, Interpol, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, it also introduces the venues, fledgling companies, and fans that made [...]
The Oscars 2023: Who’s going to win? (And who should win?) March 10, 2023 A quick quiz for you: off the top of your head, how many winners from last year’s Oscars can you name? 2022’s ceremony will be remembered for Will Smith slapping host Chris Rock, an event that overshadowed the actual awards, not leat his crowning moment when he was awarded Best Actor later in the night. [...]
Why Michael B Jordan’s Creed is the coolest franchise in Hollywood March 2, 2023 The Creed movies are an outlier in modern Hollywood. Their modest success at the box office might undersell the fact that they’ve done what few franchises have achieved convincingly: passed the torch. Yes, they aren’t the cultural landmarks that the Rocky films were, but the character has established himself enough to make this third chapter [...]
