Wicked film review: Ariana Grande helps this musical really fly November 22, 2024 More than two decades after the production was first staged, Wicked makes it to the big screen in the first of a two-part adaptation. Arriving on a tornado of publicity, expectations are high for the Broadway favourite, but can it be just as popular on film? For the uninitiated, Wicked presents an alternative history behind [...]
Layla film review: a bold tale of London and LGBTQ love November 21, 2024 Layla film review and star rating: ★★★★ Independent film Layla begins with a Pride event that will look familiar to all those sceptical of Rainbow Capitalism. Bilal Hasna plays the title character, a British-Palestinian non-binary drag queen who lands a gig performing for a delivery app company. When a high paying show turns out to [...]
The music of Louis Armstrong in this stirring Democratic Republic of Congo documentary November 18, 2024 Music, history, and politics intersect in this dense Democratic Republic of Congo documentary that informs as well as overwhelms. A Cold War-themed story of rebellion, espionage, and geopolitical intrigue, Soundtrack to a Coup D’etat is set during 1960 as the Republic elects its first independent leader. At the same time, the US begins to send [...]
Memories of a Burning Body review: beautiful ode to women November 16, 2024 Three lifetimes of memories are used to inspire this novel docudrama from Costa Rica. Memories of a Burning Body incorporates interviews from three women over 65 about their lives, loves, and trauma. All three are encapsulated in the character of The Woman (Sol Carballo), walking around her apartment contemplating old age and the stories of [...]
Gladiator II: 2024 sequel is bigger and bloodier, but Paul Mescal isn’t the best bit November 14, 2024 Gladiator II review and star rating: ★★★★☆ Of all the long-delayed comebacks this year, Gladiator II seemed the most puzzling. Mostly because the star of the original, Russell Crowe, was unlikely to return given his character Maximus very famously dies at the end. Nevertheless, 24 years on from the Oscar winning classic, a new take [...]
Pharrell Williams documentary Piece by Piece misses out some important bits November 8, 2024 Music superstar Pharrell Williams tells the story of his rise to fame in the most unusual way: through the medium of Lego. Animated in the style of The Lego Movie and its sequels, Piece By Piece documents Pharrell Williams’ rise from a young Virginia kid with a dream to one of the biggest names in [...]
Piece By Piece review: Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson in soulless Christmas filler by Amazon November 8, 2024 Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson can’t save this soulless Christmas comedy It’s early November, which in Hollywood means the countdown to Christmas has begun. Hoping to kick start the cheer is action comedy Red One. Sadly, it’s as exciting as finding a lump of coal in your stocking. Dwayne Johnson – star of what feels like [...]
Paddington In Peru review: Ben Whishaw return can’t compete with Hugh Grant classic November 7, 2024 Seven years on from its release, Paddington 2 isn’t just one of the best family films of the 2010s, it’s one of the best films full-stop, having become an absolute modern classic. Building on the wholesome inaugural Paddington film released in 2014 to critical success, director Paul King established a film franchise stuffed full with [...]
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story: homage brings a tear to the eye November 5, 2024 Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story review: ★★★★ Next year sees a new version of Superman starring Twisters actor David Corenswet. His performance will inevitably be compared to Christopher Reeve’s, who became world famous for playing the superhero in the 1970s, embodying the role for a generation before a tragic horse-riding accident left him paralysed. Super/Man: [...]
Martha Stewart Netflix documentary reveals surprising side to American icon November 5, 2024 Martha Stewart Netflix documentary review and star rating: ★★★★ Netflix have teamed up with a media mogul for the documentary Martha, chronicling the life and times of Martha Stewart. Coming from humble beginnings, the TV cook and personality would go on to become a national icon in the US before a criminal conviction forced her [...]
