Sing 2 reivew: Illumination animation has no problem playing the hits February 7, 2022 It’s a tough time for animated movies, as families have tended to stay away from the cinema. This has resulted in the last three Pixar movies going straight to streaming, much to the chagrin of the animators if reports are to be believed. Rivals Illumination don’t seem to have had as much trouble. The wildly [...]
Belfast is Kenneth Branagh at his sentimental best January 21, 2022 While many might associate him with his acting roles, Sir Kenneth Branagh has been prolific behind the camera, too. Belfast is his nineteenth film as a director, with a CV that has included everything from his epic 90s adaptation of Hamlet to the first Thor movie. This new film, however, comes from a personal place. [...]
Nightmare Alley is another sumptuously dark tale from Guillermo Del Toro January 21, 2022 The 2010s were an interesting time for Guillermo Del Toro. The first half of the decade was spent in blockbuster land, exiting The Hobbit before making divisive sci-fi blockbuster Pacific Rim. The second half was devoted to two eerie period fables in Crimson Peak and The Shape of Water. The latter was a surprise hit, [...]
Hotel Transylvania 4: Let this tired franchise finally rest in peace. January 15, 2022 Sony Animation’s Hotel Transylvania franchise comes to a conclusion after 10 years, three films, and just under $1.4billion in box office. That last number is unlikely to change, given the film will roll out on Amazon Prime Video following a $100million purchase by the streamer. It’s a curious move for the franchise, but these are [...]
Memoria – Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s weird and wonderful journey January 15, 2022 It’s always exciting when a celebrated director tries something new. Apichatpong Weerasethakul is the director of Palm d’Or winner Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, as well as the adored drama Cemetery of Splendour. Memoria marks his first foray outside of his native country, but his filmmaking language appears intact. Tilda Swinton stars [...]
Munich: The Edge of War is a stylish but predictable wartime pot-boiler January 7, 2022 Like superhero movies, the war drama is a genre that never seems to tire. Just when you think every aspect of a conflict has been covered, a new story is found, or in this case created. Based on the novel by Robert Harris, Munich: The Edge of War stars George Mackay as Hugh, an assistant [...]
Best of 2021: Nomadland was the Best Picture winner for a reason January 1, 2022 Sometimes, being an Oscar favourite can be a set back for a movie. The branding of best picture implies that it must be all things to all people, leaving an inevitable disappointment in some when they find a movie that isn’t to their taste. This year is a bit different, with the nominees generally being [...]
Best of 2021: CODA is a moving coming-of-age drama January 1, 2022 Festival hype can be a double-edge sword, particularly at the Sundance Film Festival where success doesn’t always translate to box office. For every Napoleon Dynamite or Get Out, there are films that are bought for big money that flop spectacularly (see Steve Coogan comedy Hamlet 2, or teen weepie Me, Earl, and The Dying Girl). [...]
Best of 2021: Dune has masterful visuals and spellbinding performances December 31, 2021 It was never going to be easy for Denis Villeneuve’s Dune. The director of Arrival and Sicario took on his dream project knowing full well that previous versions of Frank Herbert’s novel had infamously arduous journeys to the screen. Then came a pandemic, and Warner Bros’ decision to include this film as part of the [...]
The Best Movies of 2021: 10 films that blew us away this year December 30, 2021 It’s been another brutal year for the movies, but one in which the big screen has shown to be fighting back. As you read this, Spider-man is thwipping his way to a record box office run, while Bond, Ghostbusters, The Fast Saga, and Venom were all pleasing crowds after long delays. After our list of [...]
