Tag Archives: Film

Review: The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015)

2015 has been a busy year for the spy genre. Between the anarchic KINGSMAN, the thrilling MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, and the much-hyped SPECTRE lurking round the corner,  THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. had it all to prove. Guy Ritchie is in the … Continue reading

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“Enough about me, let’s talk about me…”: When Actors Play Themselves (Sort-of)

What’s an actor to do when your star persona becomes a joke? You embrace it of course, and let the audience know that you’re in on the gag. It can be incredibly self-indulgent if mishandled, but if pitched just right … Continue reading

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Review: Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015)

The latest outing for Ethan Hunt and the IMF is the most ambitious and technically accomplished to date. There really is very little to ruin your enjoyment of ROGUE NATION overall, and Christopher McQuarrie equips himself admirably as the latest … Continue reading

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Review: The Homesman (2014)

Tommy Lee Jones’ return to feature directing nine years after THE THREE BURIALS OF MELQUIADES ESTRADA doesn’t quite strike the same perfect balance of tone, characterisation and slow-burning story, but it does reaffirm Jones’ mercurial eye for detail and reemphasise  … Continue reading

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Review: Fantastic Four (2015)

“A year ago I had a fantastic version of this. And it would have received great reviews. You’ll probably never see it. That’s reality though.” – Josh Trank, 6 August 2015 The above was posted by FANTASTIC FOUR director Josh … Continue reading

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Review: Focus (2015)

FOCUS annoys me for the same reason that Steven Soderbergh’s OCEAN’S ELEVEN did. I can appreciate that they’re good-looking, reasonably well-acted movies, but they’re just so darn smug about it, think they’re far cleverer that they actually are, and for … Continue reading

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Review: Inside Out (2015)

INSIDE OUT could be Pixar’s most satisfying ever effort for parents to enjoy alongside their children. For all the vivid colours and goofy characters, we’re also presented with a mini psychoanalytic thesis and big real-world issues that have formidable dramatic … Continue reading

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Review: It Follows (2014/15)

After THE BABADOOK, IT FOLLOWS is the second critical darling horror movie in a year where the premise is far scarier than the final execution. This is pretty frustrating as it feels like another near-miss, but at the same time … Continue reading

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My First Comic Con: Manchester, July 2015

(Sadly I’m the slightly disappointing Star-Lord, not the awesome Ant-Man) This weekend I attended my first ever Comic Con. Thinking that the main event in San Diego might be a little much for a convention virgin, I and a group … Continue reading

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We Need to Talk About Disney

Indulge me if you will to have a bit of a rant. Walt Disney Studios is flying higher perhaps than ever before, owning as it does the box office bulkheads Marvel, Lucasfilm, and Pixar. Needless to say Disney’s acquisition of … Continue reading

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