Retro Movie Review – The Revenant
The film directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu (Birdman and Babel) tells a story based on a book by Michael Punke called The Revenant: A Novel of Revenge. The book was inspired by the life of a 19th century fur trapper named Hugh Glass. The trapper profession during Glass’ lifetime was highlighted by an existence of extreme hardship from both the harshness of the land and the extremes of the weather.
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During an excursion collecting fur pelts in the unsettled ...
Retro Movie Review – The Danish Girl
The cast of The Danish Girl also features the outstanding talent of Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.) as Gerda Wegener. Gerda is Elbe’s wife, fellow painter and long suffering supporter. Her level of support, selflessness and compassion for her husband is at the heart of the film.
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With all of the pieces in place for an emotional cinema going experience, why then does the film leave the viewer feeling so detached? It’s shot beautifully, ...
Watch the trailer for Misbehaviour – starring Keira Knightley!
At the time, Miss World was the most-watched TV show on the planet with over 100 million viewers. Claiming that beauty competitions demeaned women, the newly formed Women’s Liberation Movement achieved overnight fame by invading the stage and disrupting the live broadcast of the competition.
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Not only that, when the show resumed, the result caused uproar: the winner was not the Swedish favourite but Miss Grenada, the first black woman to be crowned Miss World.
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Retro Movie Review – Creed
It first must be said that the film features some extremely graphic faux boxing footage and is not for the weak of stomach. Secondly it dips quite often into populist sentimentality. Within those constraints however, it is a very enjoyable film and mumble as he might, Stallone holds his end up quite admirably.
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Michael B. Jordan (Fruitvale Station) as Adonis Johnson is Balboa’s protégé and he really sells the role with his gym sculptured bod and obvious ring ...
Retro Movie Review – Legend
No twin brothers could be more different than Reggie and Ronald Kray and Hardy plays them both so effectively with only small make up tricks and big acting chops. Browning plays Frances Shea a girl from around the neighbourhood who falls in love with and eventually marries brother Reggie.
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The story told through her eyes gives the proceedings a more human tone and gives the tale a feel of authenticity that is tinged with great sadness. This approach helps raise the ...
Watch the trailer for Radioactive starring Rosamund Pike!
After meeting fellow scientist Pierre Curie (Sam Riley), the pair go on to marry and change the face of science forever by their discovery of radioactivity. The genius of the Curies’ world-changing discoveries and the ensuing Nobel Prize propels the devoted couple into the international limelight.
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From renowned producers, WORKING TITLE (DARKEST HOUR) and Shoebox Films (ATONEMENT), and Academy Award® nominated director, Marjane Satrapi, comes a bold, visionary ...
Retro Movie Review – The Dressmaker
The story revolves around country life in a very small town and the often times negative effects of power and privilege filtered through gossip and innuendo. Kate Winslet is fantastic as Myrtle ‘Tilly’ Dunnage who returns to the town to address some long held secrets. Liam Hemsworth (brother of Thor) is also very effective as the love interest.
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The film is unafraid to throw the audience and the characters themselves under the bus and as such there are some ...
Retro Movie Review – Hotel Mumbai
The main trust of the film is the attack on the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. This site was chosen for its opulence and the large numbers of Westerners that stayed there. We follow the plight of the humble hotel staff, most notably Anupam Kher as head chef Hemant Oberoi and Dev Patel as Arjun, one of his waiters. The staff are presented as selfless and brave. This reality is confirmed by the high number of actual staff members that were killed in the siege while protecting their guests.
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Retro Movie Review – Southpaw
The film also provides further proof (if any more is actually needed) on how fine an actor Jake Gyllenhaal has become. His take on the lead role, that of boxer Billy Hope is absolutely mesmeric. His time in the gym and time spent training to learn the techniques of boxing have paid real dividends.
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Gyllenhaal fills the screen with electricity and menace and he makes the most out of what is a rather pedestrian screenplay. Sutter’s ability to plumb the depths of ...
Retro Movie Review – Trainwreck
The story set up is about a woman in the big city not looking for love but finding it anyway. She is comfortable turning around traditional rom-com situations in regards to male and female behaviour for the discomfort of some audience members. She also succeeds in giving the film a big heart amongst all the relationship carnage.
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The way Schumer resolves the final situation is most unexpected and proves her comic ability to think outside the box. It’s a fantastic ...
