Category Film Reviews

Intimate, romantic and visually stunning, BROOKLYN is a sure-fire contender for this year’s Academy Awards

John Crowley’s superb adaptation of Colm Tóibín’s novel BROOKLYN certainly caused a stir at the BFI London Film Festival when it made its gala premiere on 12 October and rightly so.

BROOKLYN tells the story of Eilis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan), a young girl who departs from her home in Ireland for the shores of New York City...

Since his death in 2011, Steve Jobs has been the focus of a biopic starring Ashton Kutcher, a documentary directed by Alex Gibney and two prominent biographies. The first of these biographies, written by Walter Isaacson and authorised by Jobs himself, is the inspiration for the film for Danny Boyle’s new film STEVE JOBS.

Directed by Boyle and adapted for screen by Aaron Sorkin, STEVE JOBS takes a look at the trials and triumphs of a modern day genius, the late co-founder and CEO of Apple, Ste...

One film causing a stir at the 59th BFI London Film Festival is BLACK MASS, an American crime drama directed by Scott Cooper.

Based on the best-selling 2001 book by Dick Lehr and Gerard O’Neill, BLACK MASS tells the true story of James “Whitey” Bulger (Johnny Depp), the brother of a state senator Billy Bulger (Benedict Cumberbatch) and the most infamous violent criminal in the history of South Boston, who became an FBI informant for childhood friend John Connolly (Joel Edgerton) in order to tak...

Director Jay Roach steps out of his comfort zone with TRUMBO, a biographical drama film starring Bryan Cranston and Helen Mirren

Three years after THE CAMPAIGN, Director Jay Roach returns to the big screen with TRUMBO, an American biographical drama film starring Bryan Cranston, Diane Lane, Elle Fanning, John Goodman and Helen Mirren.

Based on the biography by Bruce Alexander Cook, TRUMBO tells the incredible true story of Dalton Trumbo, a successful Hollywood screenwriter who is blacklisted in...

ELEPHANT DAYS is a spirited exploration of the streets and people that populate Elephant and Castle

Making its world premiere at the 59th BFI London Film Festival on October 12 is a feature length film commissioned by acclaimed Mercury nominated British band The Maccabees.

ELEPHANT DAYS is a documentary film about Elephant and Castle, the underappreciated area of London which houses The Maccabees studio and inspired their fourth album, the number 1 selling Marks To Prove It.

Directed by James C...

Stephen Frears directs THE PROGRAM, a biographical drama about infamous pro cyclist Lance Armstrong

Two years after MUHAMMAD ALI’S GREATEST FIGHT (2013), director Stephen Frears returns to the world of sport with his latest film, THE PROGRAM, a biographical drama about infamous pro cyclist Lance Armstrong who came back from testicular cancer to win the Tour de France seven times before finally confessing to using performance-enhancing drugs.

The film kicks off in early 1990s with young cyclis...

WHO KILLED NELSON NUTMEG? is a funny, enjoyable family film with an intriguing twist

In a summer short of live action family movies, Tim Clague and Danny Stack come to the rescue with WHO KILLED NELSON NUTMEG?, a new family adventure film which makes its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival on 10 October as part of the Family strand.

WHO KILLED NELSON NUTMEG? tells the story of four misfit kids who while on their annual summer holiday to Nelson’s Retreat, suspect that the holiday park...

Modern, edgy and deliciously dark, Ben Wheatley meets JG Ballard head-on in this savage and utterly brilliant adaption

As a fan of JG Ballard’s classic novel, I had high expectations for Ben Wheatley’s highly-anticipated adaptation of HIGH-RISE. Ballard’s cautionary tale of dystopia and societal collapse has taken nearly 40 years to make it to big screen. Thankfully, it was worth the wait.

Set in 1975, HIGH-RISE tells the story of Dr...

Despite its initial promise, Daniel Petrie Jr.’s latest melodrama DAWN PATROL fails to deliver

With Scott Eastwood, Rita Wilson and Jeff Fahey on the cast list, I had high expectations for Daniel Petrie Jr.’s latest melodrama DAWN PATROL. Unfortunately, I was left disappointed.

DAWN PATROL tells the story of a surfer-turned-Marine who sets out to avenge his brother’s murder. The film opens with John (Scott Eastwood) held at gunpoint in a distant desert...

Craig Roberts (left) and Emile Hirsch in Just Jim. Photograph: Soda Pictures

Craig Roberts makes an impressive directorial debut with JUST JIM

After his breakout performance in Richard Ayoade’s SUBMARINE, Craig Roberts makes his directorial debut as the director, writer and star of JUST JIM, a surreal psychological black comedy set in a leafy village in 90’s Rural Wales.

Jim (Craig Roberts) is an awkward and depressed teenager, failing at life...