Tag: Review
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Wiener-Dog.
Todd Solondz did with his masterpiece Happiness what so few could do. Dealing with the subject of paedophilia – amongst an array of other uncomfortable topics – he brought us one of the most inspiring independent American movie of the 1990s. Almost twenty years on, his latest movie’s protagonist is a Dachshund. This ‘wiener-dog’ provides…
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David Brent: Life on the Road.
It’s been over twelve years since David Brent, regional manager at a Slough based paper merchants, was made redundant. It’s been over twelve years since Dawn walked back into the Christmas party and it’s been over twelve years since Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant brought our time spent watching the inner workings of the employees…
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Born to Be Blue.
By delicately and thoughtfully multi-layering fact over fiction, Robert Budreau’s Born to Be Blue is a beautifully textured, loose interpretation of jazz musician Chet Baker’s 1960s comeback. We first meet Baker on the floor of a damp Italian jail cell, withdrawing from heroine. Moments later, we’re in a world of fast pace black and white,…
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Finding Dory.
How do you follow up perfection? Many of us remember being enchanted by the staggering, animated ocean beds of Finding Nemo thirteen years ago – moved to tears by both the film’s wit and emotional story of an anxious clown fish on a journey to find his missing son. Although Monsters Inc. is undoubtedly my personal…
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The BFG.
To celebrate Roald Dahl’s 100th birthday, cinemas, organisations and arts venues up and down the country are celebrating with the Film Hub Wales initiative ‘Roald Dahl on Film’. Nostalgic screenings of childhood favourites such as Matilda, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach are just some of the movies being…
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Maggie’s Plan.
Written, directed and produced by Rebecca Miller, Maggie’s Plan is a spontaneous and whimsical piece of magic starring the impeccable Greta Gerwig. We meet Maggie on the cusp of a life altering decision. Making the choice to artificially inseminate herself with the produce of an aspiring pickle entrepreneur, Maggie is looking towards motherhood – content…
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The Neon Demon.
The latest from Nicolas Winding Refn, The Neon Demon is a twisted, nightmarish fairy tale. Sixteen year old Jesse is new to L.A – a lost babe in the wood. Behind every corner are wolves, ghosts and witches – although here the disguise comes in the form of bold lipstick and plastic surgery rather than Grandmother’s…
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Adult Life Skills.
Adult Life Skills was not the film I expected it to be. Approaching her 30th Birthday, Anna isn’t coping. She resides in her mother’s garden shed surrounded by the memories of her childhood and adolescence. She spends her time making videos starring her own thumbs, refusing to acknowledge that her life has come to a stand…
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Where to Invade Next.
In his latest documentary, Michael Moore crosses the pond with the intention of invading European countries to steal their good ideas. As always, he approaches the subject with his tongue in his cheek and with an aim to bring some humour to the injustice and misery he uncovers. This is a film entirely about America…
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My Scientology Movie.
The church of Scientology has remained a pop culture fascination for several decades, constantly prominent in our minds because of high profile followers such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta. Louis Theroux, familiar with documenting and deconstructing the bizarre and the delusional, approaches the subject at a very particular angle. When Theroux struggles to gain…
Hannah McHaffie 