You’d be forgiven for feeling slightly bemused as the opening of Barbie unfurls. Commanding as Helen Mirron’s satirical narration is, it explains little. The scene is abstract, comical and epic in equal measure. Gretta Gerwig promises much within the first minute and it’s safe to say the confidence and competence with which Barbie begins, sustains … Read more
So let’s recap. Back in 1996 Brian De Palma teamed up with the then 34 year-old Tom Cruise to bring us Mission: Impossible. Thought to be a one-off, stand-alone spy thriller, receiving deserved critical and commercial acclaim. 4 Years later the less beloved M:I 2 came along, courtesy of John Woo, and though it had … Read more
It arrived with little-to-no fanfare. Marketing, at least in the UK, was minimal and my screening was as close to empty as I’ve seen in a while. Somehow though, none of that seemed to matter. In an age where bums on seats and box office numbers are seen by studios as the be-all-and-end-all of the … Read more
As the DCEU draws to a close, having never truly lived up to its source material potential or matched Marvel’s hit-rate, the penultimate film in its 10-year run serves as somewhat of a Justice League Light. Featuring relative newcomer Sasha Calle as Supergirl and Michael Keaton donning the iconic cowl 34 years later, it’s this … Read more
It wouldn’t be hyperbolic to say that 2018’s Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse redefined the meaning of animation forever. Five years ago Columbias Pictures teamed up with Sony Animation to bring us a fresh take on the Superhero formula through the lens of a comic-book-brought-to-life style, woven together by stellar writing and a pitch-perfect voice cast. … Read more
Who can deny that James Cameron knows his way around a blockbuster? In fact, ‘knows his way around’ is an unforgivable understatement. His track record is unlike anyone’s when it comes to sheer scale and spectacle (and that’s before we even talk box office figures). You could say the likes of Villenauve’s Dune or The … Read more
2021 brought us one of the whackiest, knowing and, at times, downright hilarious horrors of the last few years in the form of James Wan’s Malignant. The writer/director playfully utilised long-tired tropes in a subversive and self-aware way that made Malignant feel fresh, different and fun. This year, from the same writing team, produced by … Read more
With credits like Game of Thrones, Succession and The Affair under his belt, TV Director Mark Mylod turns to feature film-making in the form of genre-defying hit, The Menu. Led by a career-best Ralph Fienes, the cast is stacked. Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult bear the brunt of the dramatic weight but do so with … Read more
Rian Johnson knows how to thread together a who-dunnit with a stack of A-Listers at his disposal, as proven by 2019’s Knives Out. But does the Daniel Craig-led murder-mystery premise have the legs for a follow-up? The opening sequence is arguably the highlight of the film. Kathryn Hahn’s Claire, Leslie Odom Jr. ‘s Lionel, Kate … Read more
In 2018 A Quiet Place crept into our cinemas with little more than a wisper. The modestly budgeted project from writer/director/actor John Krasinski had limited marketing flexibility so it really was a sleeper hit. And a hit it was. A masterful and creative take on the popular post-apocalyptic, near-future genre. Using audio and visuals in … Read more