This documentary about a man (the father of the filmmaker, Kirsten Johson) during the onset of dementia - and beyond - is a powerful, and wonderfully eclectic, work that showcases cinema's ability to both reveal and heal. Despite its heavy subject matter - it is literally a daughter chronicling her dying father - Dick Johnson … Continue reading Dick Johnson is Dead (Review)
Divisive British filmmaker, Ben Wheatley (Kill List, High-Rise, A Field in England) is certainly not the most obvious choice to re-adapt Daphne Du Maurier's hugely popular novel, Rebecca. The book having already been immortalised into film, famously, by Hitchcock (director) and Selznick (producer) in 1940 - and often regarded as one of the greatest films … Continue reading Rebecca (2020) (Review)
There will be a very specific audience that Enola Holmes will work for: it provides a base level of empowerment, has an accessible hook and includes popular actors. However, though the film will work for a target audience of (primarily) young girls, that doesn't mean that it does enough for them. It ticks off all … Continue reading Enola Holmes (Review)
Unfortunately, Cuties will be forever overshadowed by the extreme negative reaction to its marketing and perceived premise. A loud proportion of the internet has threatened to boycott Netflix - or just this film - despite having never seen it, purely based on what they think it is. The complaints are bizarre, and fundamentally don't match … Continue reading Cuties (Review)
There are films that defy description, and then there are Charlie Kaufman films. In the wake of the release of Tenet, a film positioned as the saviour of cinema, it is this Netflix produced feature that really illustrates the power of the medium - fundamentally, I'm Thinking of Ending Things is a true illustration of … Continue reading I’m Thinking of Ending Things (Review)
An inspiring and informative Netflix produced documentary focusing on Paralympic athletes and the history of the Games. This wide subject matter does lead to some imbalance - and certain stories feeling unfinished or underexplored - but the film definitely serves as a fantastic introduction to the subject: a great incentive to learn more for yourself. … Continue reading Rising Phoenix (Review)
There are things to like in The Old Guard. First of all, it is a pleasingly diverse film in a very natural feeling way: we have two female leads; the film's major romance plot is between two men (and is achingly romantic in the way that we, sadly, too frequently see reserved for heterosexual relationships). … Continue reading The Old Guard (Review)
As a love letter to Eurovision in a Eurovisionless year, Fire Saga is a success. As a film, or as anything else - bar a vehicle for Dan Stevens to be mesmerising, it is a resounding failure. This overlong and deeply unfunny film has a number of fake Eurovision sequences that feel like real Eurovision … Continue reading Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (Review)
When Da 5 Bloods is at its best, it is something rather incredible. Here, like in many of the best Spike Lee movies, we see the director's ability to entertain and inform whilst pushing meaningful ideas and clear political messages. Though the tonal consistency isn't as strong here as in some of his finer pictures … Continue reading Da 5 Bloods (Review)
Dee Rees is an exceptional filmmaker. Pariah and Mudbound are two incredibly important, and relatively under seen, films which establish this. With these two films we see a mastery of character over plot and an ability to tackle difficult, though vital, subject matter in an arresting way. Sadly, The Last Thing He Wanted is a … Continue reading The Last Thing He Wanted (Review)
Assorted Opinions 