Category Archives: Review in Brief

Review in Brief: Transformers One (2024)

Now that’s a Transformers movie. This is so much better than you’d expect it to be, a real treat for fans of the franchise and a pleasant surprise for many who are not. In an admittedly overused prequel conceit, mortal … Continue reading

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Review in Brief: Conclave (2024)

A load of old men locked in a room together to decide which one of them will get to be the boss, it’s the stuff thrillers are made of right? Based on the Robert Harris bestseller, the sudden death of the … Continue reading

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Review in Brief: Wolf Man (2025)

While not as effective as his modern take on THE INVISIBLE MAN, Leigh Whannell’s WOLF MAN still works as a no-nonsense representation of a painful and tragic transformation. In a slightly laboured setup, Christopher Abbott’s Blake must return to his … Continue reading

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Review in Brief: Rebel Ridge (2024)

It’s depressingly rare today to come upon a suspense film that genuinely keeps you guessing the direction it is heading in. Jeremy Saulnier’s REBEL RIDGE, a politically pointed, punchy modern Western certainly does that. Terry (Aaron Pierre) rides into a … Continue reading

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Review in Brief: Anora (2024)

Sean Baker, champion if those whose professions have made them persona non grata in American society has made his most crowd-pleasing film to date, winning him the Palme d’Or at Cannes for his troubles. Stripper Ani (Mikey Madison) falls for Ivan … Continue reading

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Review in Brief: Inside Out 2 (2024)

The first INSIDE OUT, out of all of Pixar’s output, is probably the film that connects with adults far more than children. It was profound, clever and moving and seemed almost impossible to meaningfully follow up. INSIDE OUT 2, while … Continue reading

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Review in Brief: The Substance (2024)

How do you honestly react to THE SUBSTANCE without using expletives? The commentary on sexualised imagery and aging isn’t subtle, but Coralie Fargeat’s body horror is powerful, cinematic and by turns nauseating and uncomfortably hilarious. Movie star-turned-TV fitness guru Elisabeth … Continue reading

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The Three Musketeers: Parts I & II (2023)

In over a century of cinema it’s strange to realise just how few French adaptations of Alexandre Dumas’ THE THREE MUSKETEERS there have been. This version from director Martin Bourboulon is probably the best of any version since the silent … Continue reading

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Review in Brief: Abigail (2024)

Radio Silence do like their showers of viscera to liven up a film’s third act. Following on from READY OR NOT and 2 instalments in the SCREAM franchise, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett stay in the horror genre with their … Continue reading

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Review in Brief: Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)

The main problem with FURIOSA is that it’s not FURY ROAD. It’s not intending to be but it’ll leave a lot of fans expecting a none-stop thrill-ride disappointed. George Miller’s latest visit to the Australian post-apocalyptic wasteland first seen in … Continue reading

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