Encanto review – magical Disney family fun for Christmas November 29, 2021 The landscape of family movies has shifted slightly during the pandemic, as studios found more success with at-home streaming rather than the cinematic experience. Still, some things never change – namely, a number of big screen family blockbusters heading our way in the run up to Christmas. Disney’s offering is Encanto, the 60th Walt Disney [...]
Ridley Scott’s House of Gucci is a stylish soap opera November 28, 2021 Out of all the modern pop divas, Lady Gaga has made the most seamless transition into acting. The artist formerly known as Stefani Germanotta boasts a Golden Globe for her performance in TV’s American Horror Story: Hotel; and an Oscar for A Star Is Born, albeit for Best Original Song. Three years on from that [...]
King Richard review: Will Smith swings for an Oscar in Williams sisters biopic November 19, 2021 Will Smith dominated the 90s box office, creating a public persona that still commands the loyalty of millions. Bad Boys For Life was the last pre-pandemic smash hit, coming 17 years after the last instalment. One thing he hasn’t been able to manifest, however, is an Oscar. Every few years, the one time nominee releases [...]
Ghostbusters: Afterlife is a hit of nostalgia with a modern twist November 19, 2021 Like so many things in 2016, Paul Feig’s Ghostbusters drew people into unedifying online wars. The all-female reboot was far from spectacular, but neither was it the childhood-ruining disaster others claimed. The debate became toxic, the film tanked, but that didn’t stop a franchise-hungry studio from forging ahead. This week sees the release of Ghostbusters: [...]
Arsene Wenger: Invincible review – a portrait of a thoughtful legend November 11, 2021 In October 1996, Arsene Wenger officially became the manager of Arsenal FC. What he would over the next two decades would redefine both the club and English football, introducing new methods and ideas that are now commonplace across the country. A quarter of a century on from that appointment, having stepped down from the role [...]
Becoming Cousteau review – a deep dive into the life of a pioneer November 11, 2021 To a generation, Jacques Cousteau was the man who first uncovered the world beneath the waves. An inspiration to anyone who has dreamed of exploring the depths, he has surprisingly few major films about him, although Wes Anderson’s The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou is a self-confessed homage. Liz Garbus, director of the excellent What [...]
Cry Macho film review: A passable Clint Eastwood cowboy yarn November 10, 2021 If you think Dune took a while to get a remake, spare a thought for Cry Macho. N. Richard Nash’s novel was published in the 1970s, having been rejected as a screenplay, only to be optioned again as a movie due to the book’s success. Multiple attempts have been made to make an adaptation over [...]
The Card Counter review: Oscar Isaac at his inscrutable best November 8, 2021 While he may not be as well known as his collaborators, the name Paul Schrader still commands respect among movie fans. He enjoyed his greatest success as a writer, working on four films with Martin Scorsese including Taxi Driver and Raging Bull, while also directing hits like 80s smash American Gigolo and Oscar winner Affliction. [...]
Finch movie: Tom Hanks pulls heartstrings in robo-buddy movie November 7, 2021 The timing of Tom Hanks’ new film Finch is either perfect or terrible depending on your outlook. The sci-fi drama with an environmental backdrop comes to Apple TV+ just as major leaders are deciding how to tackle the climate crisis at the COP26 conference in Glasgow. If anyone can inspire people to make a change, surely it’s [...]
A Cop Movie review: A captivating warning about a broken system November 7, 2021 With its flashy music and action cliches, A Cop Movie sets out to be stylistically reminiscent of 70s police dramas. However, for those who saw last year’s Midnight Family, a heart-breaking look at a private ambulance in Mexico City, a different resemblance will begin to emerge. The docu-drama is about two Mexican police officers, Teresa [...]
