The protagonists of Deniz Gamze Ergüven’s excellent Mustang are making the transition from childhood through adolescence, towards adulthood. It is one that turns each of us into individuals, with our own experiences bringing out a personality unique to us. And yet it is one we all make, and as such we can recognise parts of the…
Category: Reviews
Anomalisa Review
It’s a Charlie Kaufman film, so it should be no surprise that Anomalisa playfully considers our beliefs and expectations. And yet it manages to offer up an experience even hardened cinema-goers will not expect. Given the endless possibilities afforded in a CGI age, it is a shame that animation is so frequently used in the service of robots hitting each…
Get Your NetFix: Mommy
A new feature on the blog. This is for the many people who turn on Netflix/Amazon Instant Video/your Video On Demand service of choice all psyched to get some super film action, only to find themselves half an hour later, thumbing through titles that have become so meaningless you start to wonder if you’ve made…
Star Wars: The Force Awakens Review
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, a Californian filmmaker named George Lucas created the most successful and enduring film franchise of all time. Star Wars changed the movie landscape like nothing before or since. Over 38 years since the first instalment it is back with the most highly-anticipated release in cinema…
The Lobster Review
If you had to die and become an animal, what animal would you be? It sounds like the discussion topic that comes with the joke in a Christmas cracker. For Yorgos Lanthimos it is the idea from which he explores love, emotions and the pressures of conformity in his dark, dry fifth feature The Lobster. David…
Carol Review
The glorious first shot of Todd Haynes’ Carol sets the tone for the majesty of what is to come. Opening on intricate lines that we cannot quite identify, the camera pans back to show them to be a street drain. It rises further, swooping over the bustle of New Yorkers fighting the winter chill, before coming to rest…
Brooklyn Review
Next time you hear ‘they don’t make them like they used to’, point the proclaimer to Brooklyn, the film of Colm Tóibín’s novel. It is a wholly satisfying slice of 1950s goodness, evoking with fondness and authenticity a period few of us actually remember. It also features one of the great screen performances of recent years…
Steve Jobs Review
Enough has been written, said and filmed about Steve Jobs since his death to fill several iPhones (even the 128gb ones). Trust Aaron Sorkin and Danny Boyle, then, to find a new approach to the enigma of the Apple empresario, this time portrayed by the ample talents of Michael Fassbender. Using a tripartite structure, we…
Tangerine Review
Think you know Christmas films? Think again. Tangerine, the fifth feature from Sean Baker, is a seasonal flick like no other. It’s also a buddy comedy like no other, an exercise in guerilla filmmaking like no other – it is quite simply unlike anything you have seen before. It is essential viewing. We meet sex workers…
LFF 2015: Suffragette Review
Today’s films retell history with a startling immediacy. Major world events have barely begun when screen rights are being negotiated. In this context, the freshness and invigorating pace of Sarah Gavron’s Suffragette is all the more remarkable given the century that has passed since its stories took place. The film is centred around Maud Watts (Carey Mulligan), a…
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief Review
What is Scientology? Many of us know of the super-rich, American-based religion through the association of mega-celebs such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta, but what would it mean to be a regular follower? Alex Gibney has a look, and finds a world of intimidation, fear and psychological warfare in Going Clear: Scientology and the…
Slow West Review
The images of Slow West, the first film from former Beta Band member John Maclean, are so beautiful and arresting that they seem hand-painted. Every aspect of the film has the mark of artistry about it, from the stunning landscapes to authentic costumes and believable, honest performances. Whether you are a committed cinephile or casual viewer, it…
Depends On The Dream 