Tag: Review
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Versus: The Life and Films of Ken Loach.
When I was 17 I saw Ken Loach’s Sweet Sixteen. My introduction to cinematic realism, my mind was blown. In the months that followed I devoured Loach’s back catalogue and, for the first time, consciously sought out new and innovative films and genres that I’d never experienced. I was mesmerised by seeing a film where…
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Green Room.
A heavy-metal band wake up in a field of maize, having fallen asleep at the wheel and having run out of gas. The band prove to be somewhat drifters, close to calling it quits as they struggle to cover the cost of petrol. Desperate for cash, the group agree to perform at a dingy venue inhabited by…
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Mustang.
In modern day Turkey, five sisters walk out of school on the last day of term. Summer upon them, they play on the beach and fool around in the cool water. We are met with a joyous atmosphere, as the girls bask in the freedom that the school holiday promises. The opening scenes of Mustang…
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Demolition.
When a young woman dies, her father and husband sit in a hospital waiting room, trying to process the devastation. Now widowed, Davis approaches a vending machine with the aim of scoring some peanut M&Ms. When the machine jams and his money is wasted, he sets about writing a letter of complaint to the vending…
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Son of Saul.
In the hell of the Holocaust, Saul Ausländer is working as a member of the Sonderkommando. Forced to burn the bodies of other prisoners following their hideous murders in the gas chambers of Auschwitz, Saul sees a dead boy that he believes to be his son. He becomes instantly determined to save the boy’s body…
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Miles Ahead.
The title of Don Cheadle’s passion project refers to the innovation, revolution and originality found in the music and work of Miles Davis. You may have seen the main poster for the film which features Cheadle with his head down, sunglasses on, clasping his trumpet whilst a cigarette billows sexy smoke from his mouth. The…
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The Brand New Testament.
God exists and he resides in Belgium. That’s the briefest premise I can provide for The Brand New Testament, the latest from director Jaco Van Dormael. Despite what our cultures may have taught us, God is not the man behind miracles and the ten commandments. Instead, he dedicates himself to writing the rules of the universe.…
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Victoria.
It took director Sebastian Schipper two years to get his latest film Victoria accepted at any film festivals. Cast and director took to the streets of Berlin three times to film their electric vision in just one miraculous shot. Settling on the third version, Schipper brought his masterpiece to the world. A world who proved unprepared, with…
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Zootropolis.
Zootropolis is full of lovely ideas, satisfying wit and charismatic characters. In the progressive city of Zootropolis, predator and prey live in harmony without judgement or threat. New on the job, young and ambitious Judy Hopps, the first Rabbit Police Officer in the city’s history, is determined to make a difference. When a variety of…
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Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Despite both the commercial and fan-boy hype surrounding it, it’s hard to believe that anybody’s expectations were honestly higher than ‘low’ when walking into Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Following on from the desperately underwhelming Man of Steel, there was always initial concern that the second instalment from Zack Snyder would be as muddled,…
Hannah McHaffie 