Reviews 1173 results

The Choral Movie Review

Set in 1916 during World War 1, a local choral society is losing members to the war effort. When the choirmaster quits to joins the military, a replacement must be found. The man chosen is Dr Henry Guthrie (Ralph Fiennes), an unlikely choice. His homosexuality, Germanophilia and atheism divide the members of the small town. He is, however, excellent at his job and eventually whips the ragtag group into shape.   //   This lengthy transition forms the backbone of the film, ...

Anaconda Movie Review

The film plays on the original movie, released all the way back in 1997, to good effect. It even throws in a surprise or two for fans of that unintentional (or not) hilarious work. This reboot follows a very different path, one led by Hollywood funnyman Jack Black and one of the all-time straight sidekicks, Paul Rudd.   //   This reimagining has the two and their friends, played by Steve Zahn and Thandiwe Newton, travel down south to the jungle to engage in a bout of ...

The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants Movie Review

The underwater worry this time is Bob’s desire to become a big guy so he can ride a roller coaster at a local amusement park. When he grows to the required height and is admitted onto the ride, his bravery leaves him and sends him on a quest to become a swashbuckler. Even though these are well-trodden lanes, it’s still presented with such innocence that the appeal endures.   //   As the journey progresses, we meet a progression of weird and wonderful characters, even ...

The History of Sound Movie Review

He starts his musical journey by enrolling at The Boston Conservatory after being recommended by a local music teacher. Once there, he meets David (Josh O’Connor). They bond over a shared love of indigenous folk music and soon develop a physical relationship. It is one of discovery.   //   This is soon interrupted by David's enlistment in the army and then departing to fight in the trenches in World War I. When David returns, he and Lionel reconnect and end up travel...

Sisu: Road to Revenge Movie Review

At the same time, the Russian soldier who killed his entire family, Yeagor Dragunov (Stephen Lang), is tasked with finding Korpi and putting an end to both his legend and life. The Soviet troops soon catch up with the lumbering truck, and the skirmish begins. Showing the undiminished desire to start his post-war life, Aatami is not easily apprehended, and things soon spiral out of control in the most gratuitous manner.   //   The first film was a surprise success and ...

Now You See Me: Now You Don’t Movie Review

The opposition is led by Veronika Vanderberg, a South African who runs a diamond company started by her late Nazi father. Their profits now come from laundering money for the criminal elites. She is played with an evil glee by Rosamund Pike. When she gets ready to auction the world’s largest diamond, the group springs into action.   //   Having broken up over ten years ago after their last big caper, the Four Horsemen are spurred back into action by the individual ...

The Running Man Movie Review

First, it must be said that this take is crackling with the kind of irreverent energy that is director/writer Edgar Wright's stock in trade, and this is more a reimagining than a reboot. Lead actor Glen Powell is given the chance to outdo Arnie in almost every way. He delivers a physical performance that veers closely to complete anarchy, and he does so with a sly nod at its core.   //   The world that Wright and cinematographer Chung-hoon Chung have created, one ...

Predator: Badlands Movie Review

Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) is a young predator who leaves his planet, Yautja Prime, to travel to the planet Genna to hunt the Kalisk. His departure is emotionally charged after his brother Kwei is killed by his father Nihorr for disobeying his father’s orders. The Kalisk is supposed to be unkillable, so Dek has his work cut out for him.   //   During his travels, he comes in contact with Thia (Elle Fanning), a synthetic sent to the planet by the Weyland-Yu...

2025 Russell Hobbs British Film Festival – I Am Martin Parr Movie Review

That is a box that British photographer Martin Parr has stepped outside of all throughout his career. His early black & white work, finding the extraordinary in the ordinary in normal British life, is fantastic and more than a bit humorous. When he made the switch to colour photography in the early eighties, his work continued to show British life as even more colourful.   //   The story is told by the man himself, with fellow photographers and historians helping to ...

Bugonia Movie Review

Director Yorgos Lanthimos (Poor Things) and writers Will Tracy and Jang Joon-hwan have combined their skills in the creation of Bugonia, and the end result is the creation of an outlier work. Its ability to transform itself and the audience’s expectation time and time again is quite something to behold.   //   With a brilliantly deranged performance by Jesse Plemons and an equally assertive one by Emma Stone, this is indeed a rare work. Those three virtues mentioned ...