Examining Controversial Depictions of Jesus Christ in Cinema-As one of history's most influential figures, depictions of Jesus Christ have caused controversy and discord since the days of the early church, and the same goes for cinema. In this piece Katie Doyle examines cinema's most provocative interpretations of the Easter Story.
Quentin Tarantino Movies Ranked-All 10 Quentin Tarantino movies from 'Reservoir Dogs' to 'Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood', via the likes of 'Pulp Fiction' and 'Kill Bill' ranked worst to best by Beth Sawdon.
The Truth (2019) Review-Palme d'Or winning director Hirokazu Koreeda follows up his smash hit 'Shoplifters' with 'The Truth', his first film made outside of his first language, starring Juliette Binoche and Catherine Deneuve. Sam Sewell-Peterson reviews.
Windows Into Bong Joon-ho’s ‘Parasite’-Bong Joon-ho's Best Picture Oscar winning feature 'Parasite' (2019/2020) makes spectacular use of windows to establish and reinforce themes. Sam Sewell-Peterson explores in this 'Parasite' essay.
Bloodshot (2020) Review-Is new Vin Diesel action film worth a shot on VOD? Jacob Davis takes a look in his review of 'Bloodshot' (2020) from director David S.F. Wilson.
Porco Rosso (1992) Review-'Expect an unexpectedly satirical edge' to Hayao Miyazaki's 'Porco Rosso' (1992), a strange diversion from the usual Studio Ghibli output. Review by Sam Sewell-Peterson.
Twilight Movies Ranked-The Twilight Saga movies ranked from worst to best. Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner star in the film adaptations of Stephenie Meyer's work, ranked here by Leoni Horton.
Plot Reveals vs Plot Twists – When They Work and When They Don’t-When plot twists work and when they don't. Kieran Judge explores one of cinema's most controversial, discussion stirring narrative elements, ruminating on some of the form's best and most famous examples.
Our Ladies (2020) GFF Review-Directed by Michael Caton-Jones, 'Our Ladies' is a 'wildly entertaining riot of a movie'. Click to read Sophie Butcher's review in full.
Onward (2020) Review-Pixar have done it again with the heartwarming, family friendly, adventure film 'Onward' starring Chris Pratt and Tom Holland. Review from Charlie Gardiner.
The Railway Children (1970) Review-The Railway Children may have its issues according to Annice White, but it still makes for an enjoyable nostalgia-filled afternoon. Full movie review here.
Bad Tales (Favolacce) Press Conference – Berlinale 2020-Insight into the 2020 Berlinale Golden Bear competition entry 'Favolacce', known in English as 'Bad Tales', from the press conference by brother directors Damiano and Fabio D'Innocenzo. Report by Rose Dymock.
The Invisible Man (2020) Review-This is not your great-grandfather's 'Invisible Man', this is Blumhouse and writer-director Leigh Whannell ('Upgrade') making the horror film we need right now. Sam Sewell-Peterson reviews.
The Identity Crisis of Hong Kong Cinema-How the films of the likes of John Woo and Wong Kar-wai have illustrated the identity crisis and cultural anxieties of Hong Kong during the state's rich history of cinema.
“So Bad It’s Good” Revival-What does it mean when a film is "so bad it's good"? Jacob Davis explains in his resurrection of our beloved series So Bad It's Good.
Misbehaviour (2020) Review-'Misbehaviour' (2020) from director Philippa Lowthorpe and starring Keira Knightley, Jessie Buckley and Gugu Mbatha-Raw, is not without its issues but "a charming, heartwarming and funny film about feminism" nonetheless. Annice White reviews.
The Last Thing He Wanted (2020) Review-Netflix Joan Didion adaptation 'The Last Thing He Wanted' (2020), from 'Mudbound' director Dee Rees, starring Anne Hathaway, Ben Affleck and Willem Dafoe is "fails miserably on almost every conceivable level". Leoni Horton reviews.
Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989) Review-Studio Ghibli anime feature 'Kiki's Delivery Service', written and directed by the legendary Hayao Miyazaki, is "beautiful to look at", "a hugely relatable coming-of-age film". Sam Sewell-Peterson reviews.
Greed (2020) Review-New Michael Winterbottom movie 'Greed' starring Steve Coogan and an ensemble of A-List British talent "is not as smart as it thinks it is". Annice White's review.
The Rhythm Section (2020) Review-Blake Lively and Jude Law star in spy-thriller 'The Rhythm Section' from director Reed Morano. Do we have the next Bourne? Sophie Cook reviews...
A Brief History of the Director’s Cut-From the Ridley Scott's Director's Cut of 'Blade Runner' to Peter Jackson's 'Lord of the Rings' extended editions and right through to the Snyder Cut of 'Justice League' - the history of the director's cut as presented by Sam Sewell-Peterson.
How Cathy Yan’s ‘Birds of Prey’ Reawakens the Ethos of the Riot Grrrl-‘That girl thinks she’s the Queen of the neighbourhood, I got news for you, she is!’ - How Cathy Yan's 'Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey' embraces the Riot Grrrl ethos in its fresh attempts to validate female anger. Article by Leoni Horton.
Kes (1969) Review-"Kes (1969) is one of the premiere British films ever made. A bold, critical, moving masterpiece from one of the true masters of the form." Joseph Wade's review of Ken Loach film 'Kes'.
10 Best Wrestlers Turned Actors-The best actors who used to be wrestlers, and the best wrestlers who at one time did some acting. List includes Dwayne Johnson, John Cena, Dave Bautista and more. By Joseph Wade.
Bedelia (1946) Review-The film adaptation of the Vera Caspery novel "Bedelia", starring Margaret Lockwood as the titular character and directed by Lance Comfort, reviewed by Joseph Wade.
Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) Review-"If Detective Pikachu was the exception that proved the rule that video game to cinema adaptations don't work, Sonic the Hedgehog just rewrote that rule." Joseph Wade's review of Jeff Fowler and SEGA Studios' live-action 'Sonic the Hedgehog' (2020).
Gretel and Hansel (2020) Review-Oz Perkins directs 'Gretel & Hansel', a film with an obvious upside that is worth considering as a choice for a trip to the theatre. Jacob Davis reviews.
Bong Joon-ho Films Ranked-Bong Joon-ho made history by winning 4 Academy Awards at the 2020 Oscars, but is his Best Picture winner 'Parasite' his best film? Find out in this Director Bong special edition of Ranked.
The Host (2006) Review-Bong Joon-ho feature 'The Host' is not only "a smart and entertaining thriller, but a tender family drama and a rip-roaring comedy." Sam Sewell-Peterson's review.
Why Parasite’s Oscars Dominance Matters-'Parasite winning, and winning so big, shows that maybe barriers are being broken down'. Jacob Davis on why 'Parasite' winning big at the Oscars 2020 matters.
Birds of Prey (2020) Review-Harley Quinn is unleashed from under the Joker's thumb and teams up with three other lethal ladies of Gotham in Cathy Yan's 'Birds of Prey'. Click to read Sophie Butcher's review in full.
Billy Madison (1995) Retrospective Review-Does Adam Sandler's 'Billy Madison' (1995) stand up to modern day audiences in 2020? Jacob Davis reviews the film that launched the Sand-Man's career 25 years ago.
The Animation Race 2020-Which films are nominated in the Animated Feature category at the 2020 Oscars and which one is most likely to win? Find out in The Animation Race 2020 by Rebecca Seghini.
Kitbull – Oscar Nominated Animated Short Review-Disney Pixar have been nominated in the Oscars Animated Short Film category in 2020 for 'Kitbull' the story of a kitten and a pitbull making friends in bad circumstances. Joseph Wade reviews this Rosana Sullivan film.
In the Absence – Oscar Nominated Documentary Short Review-In 2014, 250 school children drowned to death when their ferry sank off the coast of South Korea. 2020's Oscar nominated documentary short 'In the Absence' explores the ethical quagmire that led to this disaster. Joseph Wade reviews.
Could ‘Frozen II’ Win Best Original Song? – Oscars 2020-"in the final “Into the unknown” in the chorus, [Elsa] goes so far past the safe notes, way into the enchanted forest. Here the chorus acts as a microcosm for the whole narrative." - Sophie Cook on why "Into the Uknown" should win Best Original Song at the 2020 Oscars.
In Defence of The Academy – A Sarcastic Address of the Controversy Surrounding The Oscars-For close to a century, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has been a pillar of open-mindedness and has set benchmarks for inclusion. This article celebrates their otherworldly knowledge and passion that totally isn't bought or the source of controversy.
1917 Is Not Nationalistic-Is '1917' inherently nationalistic? The multi-time Oscar nominee and Golden Globes winner has come under fire from certain sections of the press, but Jacob Davis disagrees with the consensus. Full feature/essay here.
The Personal History of David Copperfield (2020) Review-'The Death of Stalin' screenwriter-director Armando Ianucci tackles the bane of the English classroom's Charles Dickins, in his adaptation of 'The Personal History of David Copperfield' starring Dev Patel. Katie Doyle reviews.
The Turning (2020) Review-“Huh?” seems to be the only response you'll have. Mackenzie Davis, Finn Wolfhard and Brooklyn Prince star in 'The Turning', a 2020 horror from Floria Sigismondi, reviewed by Jacob Davis.
Kobe Bryant: 1978-2020-The writer and producer of Oscar-winning short 'Dear Basketball' was one of the sport's greatest ever players. His untimely death at the age of 41 is one felt around the world. This is Jacob Davis' tribute to a sporting icon taken too soon.
Bad Boys for Life (2020) Review-Are the Bad Boys really "for life"? Sam Sewell-Peterson reviews the third installment in the Will Smith and Martin Lawrence action-comedy franchise 'Bad Boys'.
Just Mercy (2020) Review-Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx and Brie Larson star in Destin Daniel Cretton's 'Just Mercy', the true story of a man attempting to clear a prisoner on death row of a crime he didn't commit. Annice White reviews.
Box Office Report – 2019 Year In Review-2019 - All Wrapped Up! The UK, Chinese and Worldwide box office rounded up, including the highest grossers, biggest losers and what to expect in 2020.
Spring Breakers (2012) Review-"A fascinating movie", Harmony Korine's 'Spring Breakers' (2012) starring James Franco, Vanessa Hudgens and Selena Gomez is more than what you might expect. Full review here.
1917 (2019) Review-It's rare to see a film about World War I, but Sam Mendes' '1917', photographed by Roger Deakins, becomes a pretty fine example of the sub-genre according to Sam Sewell-Peterson.
Baz Luhrmann’s Iconic Postmodern Trilogy: An Exploration-Baz Luhrmann exercises postmodernism in his work through his instantly recognisable work in adaptation and reimagining, including in his three most iconic pieces, a postmodern trilogy explored by Sophie Cook.
Underwater (2020) Review-Kristen Stewart, Vincent Cassel and T.J. Miller star in Christopher Eubank directed Sci-Fi 'Underwater' (2020). Full movie review courtesy of Jacob Davis.
Bombshell (2020) Review-Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie star in 'Bombshell', the dramatisation of the Fox News takedown that came before #MeToo as we know it. Read our review, as written by Sophie Butcher.
The Grudge (2020) Review-Despite some positive aspects, the new version of 'The Grudge', from director Nicolas Pesce, fails offer enough to warrant the franchise resurrection. Jacob Davis reviews.
100 Film Challenge-Join The Film Magazine in watching 100 films in 2020 for the #100FilmChallenge 2020. Check out what we're looking for and how to update us on your progress here.
100 Greatest Films of the 2010s-The Film Magazine's selections of the 100 Greatest Films of the 2010s, a decade in which some of the most important work the art form has ever seen has been produced.
10 Best Films 2019: Jason Lithgo-The 10 best films of 2019 according to Jason Lithgo. Could one of the box office's billion-dollar hits break the top 10? Find out here.
10 Directors with 3 or More Great Films from the 2010s-10 of the most impressively prolific directors of the 2010s, listed in alphabetical order by Sam Sewell-Peterson. If you watch the work of 10 filmmakers from this past decade, these should be the ones.
10 Best Films 2019: Joseph Wade-2019 has been a year in which some of the most influential auteurs have released films, blockbusters have taken on a new significance and some stagnant genres have been reignited, but what are the 10 best films of 2019? Joseph Wade selects, here.
10 Best Films 2019: Jacob Davis-The 10 Best Films of 2019, as selected by The Film Magazine's Jacob Davis based on wide North American release dates.
Uncut Gems (2019) Review-Safdie Brothers film 'Uncut Gems' (2019), starring Adam Sandler, brings the myth of Sisyphus to life in a movie that provides "joy in the struggle", according to Jacob Davis in his review.
Little Women (2019) Review-"Little Women will be the Greta Gerwig movie that will establish her as one of the most important filmmakers of the 21st century". Katie Doyle reviews 'Little Women' (2019) starring Saoirse Ronan and an ensemble of talent.
Cats (2019) Review-The Tom Hooper directed adaptation of stage musical "Cats" is "cat-tastrophic" and "uncomfortable to say the least". Pagan Carruthers reviews the film starring the likes of Taylor Swift.
2019 Superhero Movies Ranked-2019 has been a bumper year for superhero films with 9 releases from 6 studios, including 4 billion dollar box office hits, but which are the best and worst of the year? Joseph Wade ranks them here.
Marriage Story (2019) Review-Netflix original drama 'Marriage Story' (2019) from screenwriter-director Noah Baumbach, starring Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson, is a complex and human tale of divorce according to Sam Sewell-Peterson in his review.
Jumanji: The Next Level (2019) Review-Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Karen Gillan are joined by Danny Devito, Danny Glover, Awkwafina and more in the sequel to 'Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle', 'Jumanji: The Next Level'. Sam Sewell-Peterson reviews.
Tokyo Godfathers (2003) Review-'Tokyo Godfathers' (2003), from visionary Anime director Satoshi Kon, is an unlikely Japanese Christmas film with progressive messages and a real heart. Sam Sewell-Peterson reviews...
The Holiday (2006) Review-It has become one of the Christmas holiday season's most recognisable staples since its release in 2006, but does Nancy Meyers' 'The Holiday', starring Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law and Jack Black still hold up? Francesca Militello reviews.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) Review-The final instalment of the 'Star Wars' Skywalker saga has arrived, but does it fulfil expectations and conclude the franchise effectively? Joseph Wade reviews.
Black Christmas (2019) Review-The sorority slasher is back - directed by Sophia Takal and starring Imogen Poots, this remake of Black Christmas is transported to modern times and given a thoroughly feminist spin. Read our review, as written by Sophie Butcher.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) Review-National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989), from screenwriter John Hughes and starring Chevy Chase, is "highly entertaining farce" according to Bradley Weir in his review.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) Review-In defense of 'The Last Jedi', Jacob Davis breaks down how and why Rian Johnson's Skywalker Saga 'Star Wars' entry is deserving of praise. His review.
Knives Out at UK Box Office – Roundup 29th Nov-1st Dec 2019-'Knives Out' starring Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis and Ana De Armas debuts at the UK box office, but was it enough to de-throne Disney Animation's 'Frozen II' from the top spot? Charlie Gardiner reports.
Knives Out (2019) Review-'Knives Out' (2019), a modern whodunnit from 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' director Rian Johnson, starring an ensemble headlined by Daniel Craig, as reviewed by Sam Sewell-Peterson.
Charlie’s Angels (2019) Review-"Whilst the tone can be offputting, it doesn’t detract entirely from some enjoyable elements" - Elizabeth Banks' 'Charlie's Angels', starring Kristen Stewart, Ella Balinska and Naomi Scott, reviewed by Sophie Butcher.
George Lucas Directed Movies Ranked-George Lucas films ranked - the films directed by 'Star Wars' creator George Lucas ranked from worst to best, including the Star Wars prequels.
Blade Runner 2049 (2017) Review-"a simply marvellous blend of technical skill and emotional resonance", Denis Villeneuve's 'Blade Runner 2049' starring Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford is "simply an achievement". Harrison Thorne reviews.
The Hunger Games Movies Ranked-The Hunger Games movies were a success at both the box office and with critics. But which is the best of the franchise? Sophie Butcher ranks the films that propelled Jennifer Lawrence's rise to stardom...
Ford v Ferrari / Le Mans ’66 (2019) Review-New James Mangold film 'Le Mans '66'/'Ford v Ferrari' (2019) starring Matt Damon and Christian Bale is "more than an exciting adventure into the world of motorsport made for motorsport enthusiasts" according to Francesca Militello's review.
Frozen II Debuts – UK Box Office Roundup 22-24th Nov 2019-This week's UK Box Office Report tells of the success of new Walt Disney Animation release 'Frozen II', as well as the continued success of 'Joker'. Charlie Gardiner collates and presents the information, here.
A Separation (2011) Review-Asghar Farhadi's 'A Separation' (2011) is the "film that stands out above all else" from the 2010s, according to Bradley Weir's review of the Oscar-nominated movie.
Harry Potter Movies Ranked-Which 'Harry Potter' movie is the best? And which is the worst? Take a read of Beth Sawdon's Harry Potter Movies Ranked to find out.
Audrey Hepburn’s 3 Career-Defining Performances-She has gone down in history as one of the most iconic actresses of all time and a timeless fashion icon, but what are Audrey Hepburn's career defining performances?
Star Wars Movie Directors Ranked-Which of the live-action 'Star Wars' movie directors has had the best career? Find out in our Star Wars Directors Ranked article from Joseph Wade.
A Hidden Life (2019) Review-A war drama and true life story that combines the early narrative accomplishments of screenwriter-director Terrence Malick's earlier career with the visual motifs of his later work. Starring August Diehl. Joseph Wade's review.
10 Magnificent Moustaches at the Movies-In support of Movember, Sam Sewell-Peterson has counted down 10 of the most magnificent moustaches in cinema history.
Last Christmas (2019) Review-Last Christmas (2019) is the George Michael-inspired, festive romcom written by Emma Thompson, directed by Paul Feig and starring Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding. But is it a new Christmas classic? Sophie Butcher reviews...
Mission: Impossible Movies Ranked-Every Mission: Impossible movie starring Tom Cruise, from the Brian De Palma film to Mission: Impossible - Fallout, Ranked from worst to best by Joseph Wade.
Ema (2019) Review-"One of the most alive, bustling, energetic and effervescent movies of 2019", 'Ema' from 'Jackie' director Pablo Larraín, starring Gael Garcia Bernal is "a film of the year". Joseph Wade's review.
Terminator: Dark Fate (2019) Review-Sam Sewell-Peterson explains how "'Terminator' movies should always be chase movies, and [Dark Fate] is one hell of a taut and gripping one". His review of the new Terminator franchise entry from Tim Miller.
Parasite (2019) Snapshot Review-Bong Joon-ho's Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or winning thriller 'Parasite' is the latest film to prove that genre filmmaking is back. Jacob Davis reviews.
Jojo Rabbit (2019) Review-A satire from 'Thor: Ragnarok' director Taika Waititi that, even when examining Nazis, proves "love will always win over hate in the end" according to Bradley Weir in his review of 'Jojo Rabbit' (2019).
Doctor Sleep (2019) Review-Mike Flanagan honours two distinct visions of 'The Shining' in his adaptation of Stephen King's 'Doctor Sleep' starring Ewan McGregor and Rebecca Ferguson. Sam Sewell-Peterson reviews.
The Aeronauts (2019) Review-Tom Harper film 'The Aeronauts' (2019) starring Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones "transforms reality into something poetic and magical that demands to be seen on the biggest screen possible", according to Holly Weaver in her review.
The Shining (1980) Retrospective Review-"Humans are scarier than ghosts" and Stanley Kubrick's precise vision for Stephen King's 'The Shining', released in 1980, explores that. Sam Sewell-Peterson offers a retrospective review of the horror classic.
Sorry We Missed You (2019) Review-'I, Daniel Blake' was "our quiet rage", 'Sorry We Missed You' is an impassioned cry for help. Joseph Wade reviews the latest film from Ken Loach, the Cannes nominated 'Sorry We Missed You'.
Shot For Shot: Safe-Theft Scene in Hitchcock’s ‘Marnie’ (1964)-Over half a century later, Hitchcock's movies still have us on the edge of our seats. But why? Kieran Judge breaks down how he masterfully manipulates his audience in a shot-by-shot analysis of a scene from 'Marnie' (1964).
Countdown (2019) Review-An app that counts down to when you die, and a premise that reaches too deep to find logic according to Jacob Davis in his review of 'Countdown' (2019).
The Lighthouse (2019) Snapshot Review-Films like Robert Eggers' 'The Lighthouse' (2019) "are why cinema exists", the Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe starring movie being "engrossing and mysterious", according to Jacob Davis in his review.
The Cell (2000) Review-"if you like really weird things that go all-in on the weirdness, 'The Cell' (2000) is worth a watch" according to Jacob Davis in his review of the Jennifer Lopez, Vince Vaughn and Vincent D'Onofrio starring film.
Waves (2019) Review-Trey Edward Shults' 'Waves' (2019) starring Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Taylor Russell "is a cautionary tale about lack of communication" with strong, potentially award earning performances. Pagan Carruthers reviews.
The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019) Review-'The Peanut Butter Falcon' (2019), headlined by Down's Syndrome actor Zack Gottsagen, Shia LaBeouf and Dakota Johnson, has a soaring message according to Sam Sewell-Peterson.
Analyzing ‘Star Wars’ Lore: The Jedi-The history, development and contradictions in Jedi lore in the 'Star Wars' franchise. Article by Jacob Davis.
Zombieland: Double Tap (2019) Review-Zombieland: Double Tap (2019), from director Ruben Fleischer and starring Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Abigail Breslin and Emma Stone, is too self-congratulatory. Sophie Butcher reviews...
Jexi (2019) Review-Jexi (2019) starring Adam DeVine and Alexandra Shipp pits humanity against technology as DeVine must choose between his phone and a new romantic interest in this movie romcom. Jacob Davis reviews.
Official Secrets (2019) Review-Keira Knightley heads an all-star British cast for 'Official Secrets', a political thriller from 'Eye in the Sky' director Gavin Hood about the true story of Katherine Gun. Joseph Wade reviews.
Your Holiday Guide to Bad Halloween Movies-In a genre that has thrown out its fair share of stinkers, Jacob Davis outlines 12 particularly bad horror movies to avoid watching... ever.
Gemini Man (2019) Review-Ang Lee action movie 'Gemini Man' (2019) starring Will Smith in two opposing roles may be a technical marvel, but is it an exciting movie? Jacob Davis reviews.
Honey Boy (2019) Review-"A moving reflection, perhaps even an exorcism" from the pen of Shia LaBeouf, directed by Alma Har'el and starring Lucas Hedges - our review from Pagan Carruthers.
The Irishman (2019) Review-New Martin Scorsese film 'The Irishman', starring Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Al Pacino, is "a thrilling, nostalgic and self-retrospective gangster movie" according to Joseph Wade in his review.
Live-Action Jokers Ranked-Every live-action incarnation of The Joker - as played by Cesaro Romero, Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger, Jared Leto & Joaquin Phoenix - ranked from worst to best.
Portrait of A Lady on Fire (2019) Review-New Céline Sciamma film 'Portrait of a Lady on Fire' offers "some of the most extraordinary filmmaking this century" according to Joseph Wade in his review of the Queer Palm winning film.
Nightmare on Elm Street Films Ranked-All 9 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' movies, from the original in 1984 to the remake in 2010 and including 'Freddy vs Jason', Ranked from worst to best by Sam Sewell-Peterson.
Joker (2019) Review-After all the controversy, was the powerful performance from lead actor Joaquin Phoenix enough to save 'Joker' (2019) from failure? Joseph Wade reviews.
10 Best Horror Movies of the 2010s-The best horror movie of each year 2010-2019 listed in this article: 10 Best Horror Movies of the 2010s. Written by Jacob Davis.
The Last Tree (2019) Review-2019 Shola Amoo movie 'The Last Tree' is "a British offering that will not only make you think about its message and feel towards its characters, but also encourage you to take in the very essence of cinema as an art form". Joseph Wade's review.
The Farewell (2019) Review-'The Farewell' (2019) starring Awkwafina "marks Lulu Wang out as a vivid talent" according to Sam Sewell-Peterson in his review.
Ad Astra (2019) Review-'The Lost City of Z' filmmaker James Gray has teamed with Brad Pitt for 'Ad Astra', a space exploration film being likened to 'Apocalypse Now'. Joseph Wade reviews.
1st Summoning (2019) Review-"Found Footage is a subgenre that requires creativity and a semblance of originality... this film fails on both counts." Raymond Wood directs '1st Summoning', Jacob Davis offers the horror movie review.
Rambo: Last Blood (2019) Review-Did 'Rambo: Last Blood' manage to pay fitting tribute to the franchise's 4 previous iterations under the direction of Adrian Grunberg? Check out Jacob Davis' review to find out.
Danny Boyle Films Ranked-Celebrating 25 years as a director in 2019, Danny Boyle has made movie classics and film award winners. Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire, Yesterday and more, ranked.
Downton Abbey (2019) Review-Could the 'Downton Abbey' movie recapture the heart of the television series or did it sell out to a more reductive, cinematic experience? Annice White reviews,
Border (2018) Review-Ali Abbasi movie 'Border' (2018), also known as Gräns, is "one campfire story you're not going to forget in a hurry" according to Sam Sewell-Peterson in this review.
The Souvenir (2019) Review-While "at times you struggle to understand what makes these characters worth your attention", "you’ll find yourself more invested than you realised you could be". Sophie Butcher of The Cine Blog reviews Joanna Hogg drama 'The Souvenir'.
The Scariest Scene of the 2010s – Rogue One: A Star Wars Story-Despite the resurgence of horror in the 2010s, the scariest scene of the decade came from a 'Star Wars' movie? Kieran Judge explores how Darth Vader has never been more terrifying than in 'Rogue One'.
The Wizard of Oz – 80 Years of Social Relevance-The impact of 'The Wizard of Oz', its context to politics at the time and the profound effect it had during the 2nd world war examined in the year of its 80th anniversary by Beth Sawdon.
A Textual Critique of ‘Stand Your Ground’-2014 Michael McClendon movie 'Stand Your Ground' sides you with the assailant in a "based on true events" story of a real-life murder trial from the perspective of the perpetrator's mother. Jacob Davis explores its problematic stance.
It Chapter Two (2019) Review-Jacob Davis thinks "Bill Skarsgård was so phenomenal that he made Tim Curry’s version of the character seem less like an Eldritchian horror and more like a weirdo at a circus." His full review here.
Stanley Kubrick: The Exhibition – Review-"A peerless insight" into the career of Stanley Kubrick, Stanley Kubrick: The Exhibition offers "inspiring experience to cinephiles young and old".
Little Women (1994) Retrospective Review-Gillian Armstrong's 'Little Women' (1994) starring Winona Ryder is one to "watch during the lazy nights of Christmas and New Year’s Day, underneath a throw with a hot chocolate: man or woman, brothers or sisters" according to Katie Doyle.
Overcomer (2019) Review-New Kendrick Brothers movie 'Overcomer' (2019) is "a visual “and then”, like a toddler telling a story", according to Jacob Davis' review.
Dragonworld (1994) Review-"Fortunately, Dragonworld is incredibly entertaining because it’s so stupid" are the words of Jacob Davis in his review of the 1994 picture from writer-director Ted Nicolaou.
Tim Burton Movies Ranked-All 19 of the films directed by iconic filmmaker Tim Burton ranked from worst to best, including 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory', 'Sweeney Todd', 'Edward Scissorhands' and 'Beetlejuice'.
47 Meters Down: Uncaged (2019) Review-The Johannes Roberts directed sequel to the surprisingly well received '47 Meters Down', '47 Meters Down: Uncaged', starring Corinne Fox, reviewed by Jacob Davis.
Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (2019) Review-Perhaps "the precise moment we can pinpoint as Tarantino signing his career's own death warrant", 2019 release Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt, reviewed by Joseph Wade.
The Emoji Movie (2017) Review-"The Emoji Movie is a legendarily bad film", but is it worth all of the vitriol? Jacob Davis explores in his review of the Sony Pictures Animation movie, here.
Top 10 UK Box Office Movies of 2019 (So Far)-Which of this year's spate of high budget, massively popular releases have broken into the UK's top 10 box office hits of 2019? Josh Greally of Big Picture Film Club takes a look.
The Lion King (2019) Review-"While The Jungle Book enhanced the magic of its predecessor, The Lion King did the opposite." Samuel Sybert reviews 'The Lion King' (2019).
Gwen (2019) Review-"Moody, tense and visually stunning, 'Gwen' (2019) is a dark delight that holds back no punches and speaks of some cold, hard truths in the world." Kieran Judge reviews.
Crawl (2019) Review-"Does this movie really expect me to believe that a college swimmer that can't even win in practice is outswimming an 8-million year old killing machine?" Jacob Davis reviews 'Crawl' (2019).
Demolition Man (1993) Snapshot Review-Imagine a film about a defrosted Sylvester Stallone, a nightmarish sexual simulator and Wesley Snipes saying "what's your boggle". You don't have to imagine it any more, because it exists and it is absolutely worth your time.
The Happy Science Filmography Ranked-The movies of Happy Science, a New Age religious movement, Ranked (from worst to best) in terms of their entertainment value, by Jacob Davis.
Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019) Snapshot Review-New Spidey movie 'Spider-Man: Far from Home' (2019) marks the 22nd entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Kieran Judge reviews the film starring Tom Holland and Jake Gyllenhaal.
Midsommar (2019) Review-"With Midsommar, Aster has scored again, topping his first film with a truly horrific nightmare drenched in sunlight." Samuel Sybert reviews 'Midsommar' starring Florence Pugh.
Yesterday (2019) Review-He's woken up in a world where The Beatles don't exist and it's up to him to reintroduce the music to them. Himesh Patel and Lily James star in Danny Boyle's 'Yesterday'. Katie Doyle's review.
The Dead Don’t Die (2019) Review-Bill Murray and Adam Driver star in the latest movie from Jim Jarmusch, a zombie survival movie titled 'The Dead Don't Die'. Joseph Wade reviews.
Another Cinderella Story (2008) Review-"I hope she was paid a pile of cash for this pile of trash." Jacob Davis reviews 'Another Cinderella Story' starring Selena Gomez and Jane Lynch.
Rocketman – Analysis of the Movie, the Biopic, the Musical-With Dexter Fletcher’s new biographical drama, we catch a glimpse of Elton John’s rock n' roll lifestyle. Beth Sawdon explores this in her special feature on 'Rocketman' (2019).
Treacle (2019) Short Film Review-'Treacle' (2019), the new short film from Mini Productions, written by and starring April Kelley, and directed by Rosie Westhoff, has been reviewed by Joseph Wade.
Gramps Goes to College (2014) Analytical Review-"Just when you think that this movie has no more turns to take, it gets even nuttier." Jacob Davis' review of 'Gramps Goes to College' from director Chips Rossetti and writer Donald James Parker.
Toy Story 4 (2019) Review-Woody and the crew are back for the latest Disney Pixar instalment of Toy Story, 'Toy Story 4' (2019). Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Annie Potts star, Becca Seghini reviews.
The Sound of Silence (2019) Review-Peter Sarsgaard and Rashida Jones star in the feature debut of Michael Tyburski, The Sound of Silence, a story of a man connecting the pitches of sound in New York City. Joseph Wade reviews.
Firecrackers (2019) Review-'Firecrackers', a new coming of age drama from Jasmin Mozaffari, could become the debut feature of 2019. Joseph Wade reviews.
The Emperor of Paris (2019) Review-L'Empereur de Paris (The Emperor of Paris) from acclaimed 'Mesrine' director Jean-François Richet, starring Vincent Cassell and Olga Kurylenko, movie review.
Help! (1965) Retrospective Review-The Beatles' 2nd movie, 'Help!' (1965), is a gem of British surrealist comedy with a problematic backdrop that can't go unseen in the contemporary landscape. Katie Doyle reviews.
Venezia (2019) Review-Rodrigo Guerrero's powerful, cinematic 2019 release 'Venezia' asks us to ponder the very nature of existence in a profound visual journey. Joseph Wade reviews.
7 Reasons (2019) Analytical Review-Evangelist turned filmmaker Ray Comfort has turned his attentions towards abortion in his latest documentary '7 Reasons'. Jacob Davis reviews.
Ham on Rye (2019) Snapshot Review-"If you like works that are off the beaten path" Tyler Taormina's 'Ham on Rye' (2019) may be the film for you. Jacob Davis reviews.
The Mountain (2019) Snapshot Review-'The Mountain', the 2019 release from 'Entertainment' director Rick Alverson, starring Tye Sheridan and Jeff Goldblum, as reviewed by Jacob Davis.
Greener Grass (2019) Review-'Greener Grass', the 2019 comedy from Dawn Luebbe and Jocelyn DeBoer, is "a bold comedy that is also incredibly detailed". Jacob Davis reviews.
Dark Phoenix (2019) Review-Do Fox's X-Men go out with a bang or a whimper in Simon Kinberg's 'Dark Phoenix' (2019)? Sophie Turner, James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender star in this movie reviewed by Joseph Wade.
Ma (2019) Review-Octavia Spencer is the titular 'Ma' in a new horror-thriller from Tate Taylor, director of 'The Help'. Jacob Davis reviews.
Always Be My Maybe (2019) Review-'Always Be My Maybe', the latest movie rom-com from Netflix, starring and written by Ali Wong and Randall Park, reviewed by Joseph Wade.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) Review-Part 3 of Legendary's titan-centered cinematic universe 'Godzilla: King of the Monsters' from director Michael Dougherty has hit the big screen. Is it worth the hype? Check out our review by Jacob Davis for more.
A Hard Day’s Night (1964) Retrospective Review-"With the likes of 'A Hard Day’s Night', their music and joie de vivre of their early days will never die." Katie Doyle's review of 'A Hard Day's Night' starring The Beatles.
Brightburn (2019) Review-'Guardians of the Galaxy' director James Gunn attached his name to horror-superhero film 'Brightburn', but was it worth it? Jacob Davis outlines in his spoiler-filled review.
The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Movies Ranked-Each of Peter Jackson's 6 J.R.R. Tolkien adaptations, from both the 'Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' movie trilogies, ranked from worst to best by Esther Doyle.
Booksmart (2019) Review-Olivia Wilde's 2019 coming of age comedy 'Booksmart' is a "genuinely funny" and hearty movie "headlined by two superlative performances" according to Joseph Wade in this review.
4 of the Most Depressing Disney Movie Moments-Steamboat your willies and bibbity bobbity brace yourselves, as The Film Magazine counts down the most depressing Disney movie moments.
5 Most Profound Scenes in Star Wars (1977)-5 profound moments from 'Star Wars' (1977) that helped to evolve George Lucas' sci-fi epic into one of the biggest franchises of all time.
Laika Animated Movies Ranked-Laika have been producing unique and interesting visions through animation for over 10 years. Sam Sewell-Peterson ranks each of their 5 releases, from 'Coraline' to 'Missing Link', from worst to best.
Clownado (2019) Trailer Review-Nope, not a tornado... a CLOWNADO. Jacob Davis reviews the trailer for 2019 horror b-movie 'Clownado', starring a tornado of clowns.
Top 10 Times Nicolas Cage Went Full Cage-A performer so unique he's had much of his work become famous memes, Nicolas Cage has gone "full cage" so many times. Here are the top 10 (as presented by Craig Sheldon).
Top 10 Wrestling Movies-The best movies about wrestling, whether it be the fantasy of past glories in 'The Wrestler', the true-to-life story of Paige in WWE, or a wrestling documentary. List by Joseph Wade.
Top 10 Contemporary Rom-Com Ensembles-Which rom-coms can boast the best ensemble casts in contemporary cinema? Take a look back in time and through many an era for these, the Top 10 Contemporary Rom-Com Ensembles.
The Fool (2019) Review-From Evangelist Ray Comfort comes 'The Fool' (2019), a documentary on how he takes atheists to task on their atheism. Jacob Davis reviews.
The Curse of La Llorona (2019) Snapshot Review-Michael Chaves' 2019 horror film 'The Curse of La Llorona' is "a weak entry into the Conjuring Universe' according to Jacob Davis in his snapshot review.
Avengers: Endgame (2019) Review-Avengers: Endgame (2019) is the most important superhero film of all time. Joseph Wade reviews Marvel's culmination of a 21-film journey, directed by the Russo Brothers, here.
Loki: The Development of One of Marvel’s Greatest Villains-He became one of the most iconic superhero villains of all time. In this feature, Francesca Militello charts Loki's development from prince to villain to brother between 'Thor' and 'Infinity War'.
What’s The Deal With ‘New Mutants’?-A trailer for the X-Men spin-off 'New Mutants' debuted in late 2017, so where is it? Jacob Davis takes a look at a film long-gestating under the Fox banner ahead of Disney's purchase of the company in 2019.
Fourigin: A Series of Fantastic Flops-The rights to the Fantastic Four have reverted to Marvel, but what are the lessons they can learn from the other three attempted franchise starters? Jacob Davis takes a look at the "series of fantastic flops" here.
Top 10 Brie Larson Performances-Beth Sawdon takes a look at the filmography of Brie Larson and her journey to becoming the most famous female in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
MCU: 10 Ideas for the Next 10 Years-We're entering a phase of uncertainty with the Marvel Cinematic Universe following Endgame and the launch of Disney Plus. Jacob Davis presents his 10 ideas for the next 10 years at Marvel Studios.
Laika Animation: Meditations on Alienation and Death… for Kids!-Laika, the stop-motion animation house behind 'Kubo and the Two Strings' and 'Missing Link', have been tackling soft subjects in child friendly ways for a decade. Sam Sewell-Peterson takes a look at how they made death and alienation not only digestible but also relatable.
Us (2019) Snapshot Review-Jordan Peele directed 'Us' (2019) "is the best movie of 2019 so far" according to Jacob Davis in his snapshot review.
Wild Rose (2019) Review-Jessie Buckley "simply owns the screen" in Tom Harper's 'Wild Rose' (2019), the tale of a Glaswegian ex-con turned country singer intent on visiting Nashville. Joseph Wade's review.
Captive State (2019) Snapshot Review-'Captive State' (2019), the new film from writer-director Rupert Wyatt starring John Goodman and Machine Gun Kelly, reviewed by Jacob Davis.
Top 10 Video Game Movie Adaptations-The history of video-game-to-movie adaptations has been far from kind to us, but Craig Sheldon has done his best to compile a list of the 10 best thus far.
Shazam (2019) Review-'Shazam!' (2019), the latest film from the DCEU starring Zachary Levi and directed by David F. Sandberg has made a few waves, but has it been for good or bad reasons? See here in Jacob Davis' review.
Unplanned (2019) Review-The Chuck Konzelman and Cary Solomon anti-abortion movie from PureFlix is "a poorly reconstructed facsimile of reality"; "a Gish gallop caught on film". Jacob Davis reviews.
The Dirt (2019) Review-From the director of 'Jackass' and 'Bad Grandpa' comes the Mötley Crüe biopic that promises drink, drugs and rock 'n' roll but leaves you with "thoughts of what could have been".
Gotti (2018) Review-Just say Gambi-No! 'Gotti' (2018) from director Kevin Connolly and starring John Travolta "is the worst of what cinema has to offer". Jacob Davis' full review, here.
Ray & Liz (2018) Review-Richard Billingham's 'Ray & Liz' (2018), starring Justin Sallinger, is "a superbly photographed document" but features a "mean-spirited smugness" according to Lucas Hill-Paul in his review.
Us (2019) Review-Jordan Peele returns with his latest horror outing 'Us' (2019), a film Kieran Judge has described as "a startling vision by one of the new masters of the dark side of humanity".
Aliens (1986) Retrospective Review-In his retrospective review of James Cameron's 'Aliens' (1986), Lucas Hill-Paul describes the famous sequel as "a landmark in action-horror". Read the full piece here.
The Muppets Movies Ranked-All 8 'The Muppets' movies released theatrically have been ranked from worst to best by our Muppets aficionado Katie Doyle.
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) Snapshot Review-In watching 2001 video game adaptation 'Lara Croft: Tomb Raider' starring Angelina Jolie, "you might just find yourself unearthing some fun" according to Craig Sheldon in his review.
Alien (1979) Retrospective Review-Ridley Scott's 'Alien' (1979) pairs "genuine, spine-tingling horror and thematic resonance" to create a classic of horror and sci-fi. Lucas Hill-Paul reviews...
Designing Nightmares: H.R. Giger and ‘Alien’-When you think of 'Alien', you think of Ridley Scott and the Xenomorph, but the man behind the disturbing visuals is H.R. Giger, the artist profiled by Kieran Judge in this article.
The Thing (1982) Review-John Carpenter’s The Thing is a suspense-riddled, snow-covered sci-fi horror and Kurt Russell is the fiery cherry on top of a perfectly-iced paranoia cake.
Captain Marvel (2019) Review-It has taken us 21 movies to get the Marvel Cinematic Universe's first female-fronted solo superhero movie, but is it any good? Our Captain Marvel review...
The Success and Significance of The Wandering Earth-'The Wandering Earth' has broken all sorts of records in China and at the worldwide box office. Joseph Wade tackles the significance of this success and why it is successful in this special feature.
Cruel Intentions (1999) 20th Anniversary Review-Doesn’t time fly when you’re playing duplicitous sex games? It’s hard to believe that 20 years have gone by since Cruel Intentions' seductive step-siblings Kathryn and Sebastian writhed onto cinema screens.
Birds of Passage (2018) Review-Cristina Gallego and Ciro Guerra's 'Birds of Passage', a Colombian picture chronicling country's Marijuana Bonanza, has "the literary feel of a modern classic". Lucas Hill-Paul reviews.
Fighting With My Family (2019) Review-Even if you've never seen a wrestling match in your life, 'Fighting With My Family' is enough to get you hooked. Joseph Wade's review of Stephen Merchant's film about WWE wrestler Paige, starring Florence Pugh, Nick Frost and The Rock.
Green Book’s Win Says More About the Academy Than Society-"A Green Book Oscars win is the cinematic equivalent of burying one’s head in the sand" writes Jacob Davis of its Oscars 2019 Best Picture win in this special opinion piece.
2019 Oscars Best Picture Nominees Ranked-All 8 of the 2019 Oscars Best Picture nominees, from A Star Is Born to Vice, BlackKklansman to Black Panther, RANKED (from worst to best) by Joseph Wade.
The Animation Race 2019-The five nominees for the 2019 Oscar for Animated Feature are summarised and analysed by Rebecca Seghini in this, the Animation Race 2019.
The Five Most Idiotic Oscar Snubs 2019-The Oscars seem to have got a lot wrong in 2019, from hosts to broadcasting. In this list, we celebrate 5 of their most overlooked in this: the 5 most idiotic Oscar snubs 2019.
Shoplifters (2018) Review-Hirokazu Koreeda's Oscar-nominated Foreign Language film 'Shoplifters' is "humanist poetry on film". Review by Sam Sewell-Peterson.
Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018/19) Review-Marielle Heller's 'Can You Ever Forgive Me?' starring Oscar nominated Melissa McCarthy and Richard E. Grant "should have been nominated for Best Picture". Sam Sewell-Peterson's review.
BlackKklansman (2018) Review-Nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, Spike Lee's 'BlackKklansman' is "the film America needs right now". Sam Sewell-Peterson's review.
Black Panther (2018) Review-Nominated for 7 Oscars including Best Picture, Ryan Coogler's 'Black Panther' as reviewed by Sam Sewell-Peterson.
Animal Behaviour (2018) Oscar Nominated Short Film Review-2019 Oscar nominated short film animation 'Animal Behaviour' from David Fine and Alison Snowden of Snowden Fine Animation, is "a brilliantly funny piece of cinema" according to Joseph Wade's review.
Weekends (2017) Oscar Nominated Short Film Review-Nominated for a Short Animation Oscar in 2019, the Trevor Jimenez directed 'Weekends' (2017) is "an experience in artistry" according to Joseph Wade in his review.
One Small Step (2018) Oscar Nominated Short Film Review-2019 Oscar nominated short film 'One Small Step', from Taiko Studios and screenwriter-directors Andrew Chesworth and Bobby Pontillas, is evidence that silent cinema can still be bone-chillingly heartbreaking according to Joseph Wade's review.
Late Afternoon (2017) Oscar Nominated Short Film Review-2019 Oscar nominated short animated film 'Late Afternoon', from screenwriter-director Louise Bagnall and Cartoon Saloon, is "a delicately told tale" with "astute storytelling nous and a beautifully designed storybook style of animation" according to Joseph Wade in his review.
Bao (2018) Oscar Nominated Animated Short Film Review-2019 Oscar nominated Animated Short Film 'Bao', from Disney Pixar Animation Studios and directed by Domee Shi tells the tale of one woman's nurturing of a... dumpling. Yes, a dumpling. Joseph Wade's review.
Oscars 2019: What Should Have Been Nominated?-In this special series, The Film Magazine editor Joseph Wade offers his suggestions for what should have been nominated in the 2019 Oscars biggest categories.
When Harry Met Sally (1989) Retrospective Review-On its 30th Anniversary, Katie Doyle takes a retrospective look at just why When Harry Met Sally has been dubbed the greatest rom-com of all time.
Cinema’s Biggest F**kbois-So you thought men in the movies were something to dream of? Think again! Annice White has outlined what to look out for when trying to spot a cinema f**kboi.
Ghostbusters (1984) Snapshot Review-Ivan Reitman’s 80s classic Ghostbusters proves that deadpan humor (and nuclear-powered blasters) is the best defence against the dead, as Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson rid New York of paranormal pests.
How Bad Is The Happytime Murders?-On the back of the announcement of this years Razzie Nominations, Jacob Davis takes a look at just how bad is The Happytime Murders?
39th Golden Raspberry Nominations-The nominees for the 39th Golden Razzie Awards are in. Who will have the pleasure of taking home the coveted worst titles of 2018?
Mary Queen Of Scots (2019) Review-Oscar nominated Josie Rourke historical drama 'Mary Queen of Scots' (2019) had the star power but did it also have the required impact? Francesca Militello reviews.
Glass (2019) Review-M. Night Shyamalan has finally brought us the concluding story for the Eastrail 177 Trilogy, but is 'Glass' the conclusion audiences hoped for?
Colette (2019) Review-Based on a true story, 'Colette' (2018/19) starring Keira Knightley and Dominic West, directed by Wash Westmoreland, is "a colossal bore" according to Joseph Wade in his review.
Stan & Ollie (2019) Review-New Laurel & Hardy movie biopic 'Stan & Ollie' starring Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly, "has all the wit and charm of the double act's greatest works but, like those films, fails to capture the imagination beyond its performances" according to Joseph Wade's review.
The Trump Prophecy: A Bigly Boorish Bore-A movie about a regular man turned prophet of God, 'The Trump Prophecy' has been broken down by Jacob Davis through an in-depth analysis of its shortcomings in this enlightening piece.
Bird Box (2018) Review-Susanne Bier's Bird Box envisions a family trying to survive with their eyes shut in suicide-riddled world, where the act of seeing can drive humanity to the brink of destruction.
A Millennial’s Take on Vice-Approaching Adam McKay's Dick Cheney biopic 'Vice' from the perspective of someone too young to remember Cheney properly is Jacob Davis.
Mary Poppins Returns (2018) Review-'Mary Poppins Returns' starring Emily Blunt is "the best temporary antidote to our dark and twisted times" according to our review of the Disney film by Joseph Wade.
Why Aquaman Can Save the Drowning DCEU-How 'Aquaman' (2018) set the stage for a new era in the DCEU and provided fans with lots of reasons to be positive according to Jacob Davis.
The Favourite (2019) Review-Yorgos Lanthimos' 'The Favourite' starring Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz and Olivia Colman "is by no means a typical period drama [...] but it did offer all of the splendour expected of such a film and was terrifically constructed from top to bottom" according to Joseph Wade in his review.
The 100 Film Challenge-Make 2019 your year of cinematic enlightenment with The Film Magazine's 100 Film Challenge 2019.
Slender Man is the Worst Film of 2018-Jacob Davis outlines how 'Slender Man' went beyond being in poor taste to actually be an almost indecipherable mess of a film and the worst of 2018.
2018 Superhero Movies Ranked-From Aquaman to Spider-Man, Black Panther to Infinity War, 2018 has been quite the year for superhero movies. Joseph Wade ranks each of them here.
Your Holiday Guide to Bad Christmas Movies-10 films straight out of the would-be bargain bin and available to stream this Christmas, as presented by Jacob Davis. "So bad it's good" doesn't quite cover it.
Aquaman (2018) Review-2018 DC release 'Aquaman' from James Wan, starring Jason Momoa, features "some fun, distinguishable and easy to digest characters, as well as exciting and creative action set pieces".
Director Spotlight: Na Hong-Jin-South Korean director Na Hong-Jin has developed a recognisable style throughout his three releases to date, something Kieran Judge dissects and celebrates in this Director Spotlight.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) Review-'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' (2018) is an "electric, atmospheric, festival of colour" and "may even be the best superhero film of 2018" according to Joseph Wade.
Mowgli (2018) Review-Netflix release 'Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle' (2018), directed by Andy Serkis and starring Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett and Benedict Cumberbatch review.
Bleach (2018) Review-2018 live-action anime adaptation 'Bleach' from director Shinsuke Sato has been reviewed by Darcy Rae. Was it just another poor live-action adaptation or something more?
Blue (2017) Short Film Review-Maryam Farahzadi's thought provoking 2D animated short film Blue is a wordless journey of finding acceptance from others and within yourself. Joseph Wade reviews.
Meteorlight (2018) Short Film Review-Short film 'Meteorlight' (2018) directed and animated by Jonny Eveson is "a piece of cinema indicative of a filmmaker with an immense talent for his craft". Joseph Wade's review.
20 Vintage Movies to Warm Your Heart in the Winter Months-Grab yourself a hot chocolate, lean back into your most comfortable chair, put your feet up and indulge in these 20 vintage movie to warm you up this winter. As presented by Beth Sawdon.
Outlaw King (2018) Review-David Mackenzie's new Netflix Original film 'Outlaw King' starring Chris Pine is "a historical epic to remember - one that can satisfy visually and in terms of its brutality" according to Joseph Wade in his review.
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) Review-2018 Queen biopic 'Bohemian Rhapsody' is "a picture that settles for a greatest hits sing-along medley to let the audience do all the emotional work for themselves" according to Luke Whitticase of Whitty Stuff.
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018) Review-Adapted from the works of E.T.A. Hoffman & Tchaikovsky comes Disney's 'The Nutcracker and the Four Realms', an "enjoyable but not all that memorable watch".
Peterloo (2018) Review-"If Ken Loach's 'I, Daniel Blake' was "our quiet rage", then Mike Leigh's 'Peterloo' was our very real, contemporary fears" according to Joseph Wade in his review of the 2018 film.
Hymn of Hate (2018) Short Film Review-"an effective tribute to the lost lives of World War I", Matt Kennard's 'Hymn of Hate' (2018) short is "a beautiful, moving picture delivered with skill and poise".
First Man (2018) Review-Damien Chazelle's 'First Man', the tale of Neil Armstrong's journey to being the first man on the moon, starring Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy has been reviewed by Joseph Wade.
Halloween (2018) Review-'Halloween' (2018) "transports you back to the original classic in terms of tone and atmosphere" for a "fun slasher movie" according to Rebecca Seghini in her review of the film, here.
10 Best Horror Movies of the 90s-The best and scariest horror movies of the 90s have been ranked and ordered by Elizabeth Howlett in this special top 10 list to satisfy any horror fan all year round, but especially at Halloween.
Hereditary (2018) Review-"If you're a fan of the original 'The Wicker Man', then you'll enjoy 'Hereditary'" according to Esther Doyle, whose review of the 2018 horror film is available here.
The Best Films of the New French Extreme-Not for the faint hearted, the New French Extreme wave of cinema has had its very best presented by Jason Lithgo in this list. Content warning: abuse, gore.
The History of Zombies in Cinema-Drawing from John Landis' "Monsters in the Movies", Rhian Gillah explores the development of zombies throughout cinematic history.
Jacob’s Ladder: A Masterpiece Often Forgotten-Why more people should remember 'Jacob's Ladder', a film that "takes the themes and iconography of horror and moves into something deeper and more meaningful" according to Kieran Judge.
Top 10 Family Halloween Movies-Halloween is a time for everyone, not just the gore-loving horror enthusiasts of adulthood. That's why Joseph Wade has compiled a list of the Top 10 Family Halloween Movies.
Leatherface (2017) Review-'Leatherface' (2017) is "so far removed from the original that it's offensive" according to Jacob Davis in this spoiler filled horror film review.
20 Greatest 21st Century Horror Movies-Stuck for what to watch over the Halloween period? Find inspiration from Holly Bowler's list of the 20 Greatest 21st Century Horror Movies (likely to be found on a streaming service), here.
Instruments of Terror: The Music In Horror Films-"music was the hot new thing in town and no other genre would benefit more than Hollywood’s angsty teenage brother, the horror film." Craig Sheldon's exploration of music in horror films, here.
20 Best Movies To Watch In Autumn-Dig out that old jumper, dust off your biggest coffee cup and make your way through this list of Autumnal cinematic gems, as presented by Beth Sawdon.
A Look Inward: Introspection in A Star Is Born-"Seeing someone’s true self is important in 'A Star Is Born', but being able to look at one's self is even more important." Introspection in 'A Star Is Born', by Jacob Davis.
Fabric Love: Costume in Gay Cinema-The role of clothing in male-male romances is very distinct. Annice White takes you through the how and why with comparisons between 'Call Me By Your Name', 'God's Own Country' and 'Brokeback Mountain'.
Submarine (2010) Snapshot Review-Richard Ayoade's 'Submarine' is "like a song by The Smiths wrapped in the sort of self-aware cinematic tropes that paint a picture of teenage nothingness as if it is most special and unique in its intricacies." From Joseph Wade.
A Star Is Born (2018) Review-Bradley Cooper's 2018 version of 'A Star Is Born' co-starring Lady Gaga is "a strong all-american outing that is bound to get some awards season buzz" according to Joseph Wade's review.
Fullmetal Alchemist (2017) Review-"The good points were few and far between, sporadically wedged between repetitive actions and dialogue, and tedious scenes of intense eye contact" according to Darcy Rae's review, here.
The Lost Boys (1987) Snapshot Review-The Lost Boys brought vampire narratives back into focus for the MTV-era with a peroxide mullet-sporting villain at the helm.
The Nun: The Prequel We Didn’t Need-With a story that lacked narrative and jump scares that avoided originality, should 'The Nun' be the end for the 'Conjuring' universe?
Death Note (2017) Review-Netflix "missed the point" of 'Death Note' in adapting it for their streaming service in 2017 according to Darcy Rae in her review of the Adam Wingard directed movie.
Cold War (2018) Review-Pawel Pawlikowski's new film 'Cold War' (2018), for which the director won Best Director at Cannes, is "a piece of almost indescribable beauty and impact" according to Joseph Wade's review.
The 8 Most 80s Movies of the 1980s-The Film Magazine runs down the 8 films that truly embody 1980s cinema, and which characteristics make them so unapologetically 80's.
Holy Water and Unholy Ghosts – The Resurrection of Hammer-Hammer, perhaps the most iconic horror movie company in the world, mirrored some of its classic films to come back from the dead. But what happened next? Kieran Judge examines...
Commando (1985) – Snapshot Review-Arnold Schwarzenegger takes up one of his most iconic roles as khaki-clad, tree carrying wonder John Matrix, on a mission to retrieve his kidnapped daughter, and help Bennett let off some steam.
Adam McKay Directed Movies Ranked-From modern comedy classics like 'Anchorman' to Oscar-winning dramas like 'The Big Short', here are all 6 of Adam McKay's movies ranked (from worst to best).
MCU Movies – The First 10 Years Ranked-Every movie from the first 10 years of the MCU (2008-2018) RANKED worst to best. 20 movies overall (including Infinity War).
Why Are We Still Scared of Horror Movies?-How have horror movies changed to keep us squirming in our seats and seeking the thrill time and time again? Beth Sawdon investigates in this special feature.
Ben Affleck Movies Ranked-Every movie directed by Hollywood megastar Ben Affleck has been ordered from worst to best in this edition of Ranked.
New Records and ‘Mission: Impossible’ | Box Office Report 25-27th July 2018-'Incredibles 2' crosses 1 billion dollars worldwide and 'Mamma Mia 2' may be one of the biggest UK hits of all time, plus news on 'Mission: Impossible - Fallout' and its record setting opening weekend, in this week's box office report.
Set It Up (2018) Review-Refreshing, modern and worthy of your time, 'Set It Up' (2018) is a Netflix original that is unlikely to disappoint you - a modern take on the outdated tropes of the rom-com that'll bring a smile to your face.
The Terminator (1984) Snapshot Review-A film famously made as a result of high-temperature hallucinations, James Cameron created a nerve-twisting nightmare world of surrealist violence and bionic monstrosity.
Working Girl (1988) Snapshot Review-'Working Girl' proves that a simple plot can be transformed with a star-studded cast, and reminds us that rom-coms can be a backdrop to an empowering female narrative.
How To Make A Good Book-to-Movie Adaptation-Beth Sawdon offers advice on how to make a good book-to-film adaptation, taking lessons from the good and often downright ugly adaptations of the past in this special feature.
Lowest Grossing Weekend of the Year | UK Box Office Report 6-8th July 2018-It was the lowest grossing weekend of 2018 at the UK box office this past weekend (6-8th July 2018), as 'The First Purge' pushed to the top spot and Whitney Houston documentary 'Whitney' disappointed. Joseph Wade's full report, here.
Sicario 2: Soldado (2018) Review-"if 'Sicario 1' was a policy changing expose article from the New Yorker, the sequel was like a an hour of Sean Hannity on Fox News." Our review of the Stefano Sollima movie starring Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro.
Mike Bassett: England Manager (2001) Review-2001 football Mockumentary 'Mike Bassett: England Manager' starring Ricky Tomlinson has some "deliciously witty writing" and is "the perfect cure to World Cup years, be it tears of joy or disappointment", according to Katie Doyle's review.
Overboard (1987) Snapshot Review-A film that entirely encapsulates its title, 'Overboard' holds a cast of the decade’s cherished regulars whose performances are sure to smack a smile on the sternest of faces – if they can overlook the whole slave labour kidnapping sub-plot.
10 Must-See Football Movies-There have been some classic football movies released over the years, and the 2018 FIFA World Cup got us thinking, so we had Joseph Wade list the top 10 football films of all time.
The Exceptionals: The Philosophies of The Incredibles-In this special feature, Luke Whitticase explores the philosophies of 'The Incredibles' and its director Brad Bird, drawing particular parallels with exceptionalism and Randian Objectivism.
The Breadwinner (2017) Review-2018 Oscar nominee 'The Breadwinner' is "a carefully crafted concoction of direction, art and voice-acting [that] squeezes heartbreak, wrath, terror and joy from every frame" according to Katie Doyle's review of the animated movie.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) Review-"The monsters are out of the closet, they're off the island and they're in your bedroom, but these monsters are not the ginormous prehistoric animals you might expect". Review by Joseph Wade.
On Chesil Beach (2018) Flash Review-'On Chesil Beach' starring 'Lady Bird' Saoirse Ronan is "a movie that is not without its problems, but a British release that is worth celebrating nonetheless" according to Joseph Wade's review of the 2018 release, here.
More Damning ‘Solo’ Statistics | UK Box Office Report 1-3rd June 2018-'Solo: A Star Wars Story' is set to be the first financial failure in live-action 'Star Wars' history and will likely be out-grossed by 'Peter Rabbit', 'Fifty Shades Freed', 'Detective Chinatown 2' and 'Operation Red Sea'. Full details in this week's box office report.
How Science Fiction Movies Have Influenced Technology-"what is science fiction really? By definition, it's science that isn't real. Or is it?" Craig Sheldon takes you through the real-life impact sci-fi movie gadgets and gizmos have had in this special feature.
Ibiza (2018) Review-Joseph Wade has reviewed Netflix's summer party movie, and "complete waste of time", 'Ibiza' starring Gillian Jacobs; an unfunny comedy that "completely missed the mark in all aspects of the production".
Solo Bombs | UK Box Office Report 25-27th May 2018-Solo: A Star Wars Story bombs at the box office, falling below even 'Peter Rabbit' as regards its opening weekend total at the UK box office. Full UK box office report for the weekend of May 25th-27th 2018.
Adventures In Babysitting (1987) Snapshot Review-A stood-up babysitter gets more than she bargained for when her efforts to retrieve her stranded bestie at the bus station are hilariously sabotaged at every turn. Elizabeth Shue stars in 'Adventures in Babysitting', as reviewed by Elizabeth Howlett.
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) Review-The latest 'Star Wars' movie 'Solo: A Star Wars Story' is "fun but unessential" according to Joseph Wade in his review of the 2018 Ron Howard (Disney) release here.
The Foreigner (2017) Snapshot Review-Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan star in 'The Foreigner' (2017) from 'Casino Royale' director Martin Campbell, a movie Joseph Wade has tagged as "an effective piece [...] worth an intrigued glance". Full review here.
Exploring the Great Empathy Machine – Cinema’s Most Romantic Moments Part 1-In his third blog on The Great Empathy Machine we know as cinema, Joseph Wade presents part 1 of a miniseries of posts regarding Cinema's Most Romantic Moments. He begins with 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' and the line "what if you stayed this time?"
The Clapper (2018) Snapshot Review-"There are no saving graces here. This is bad. This is so bad it might even be offensive." - Joseph Wade's review of the Ed Helms and Amanda Seyfried film 'The Clapper' (2018).
An Artist’s Contributions: David Wark Griffith-Highly influential 'Broken Blossoms' and 'The Birth of a Nation' director David Wark Griffith is the topic of Francesca Militello's latest piece in her "An Artist's Contributions" series. Just how did Griffith influence modern cinema? Find out here.
Full Avengers: Infinity War Box Office Analysis | UK Box Office Report Apr 27-29th 2018-Full reports on 'Avengers: Infinity War' (2018) in the UK, North America and worldwide, as it sets all kinds of records at the box office. Take a look at how it compares to other superhero movies and the historical importance of the film in this week's UK box office report.
Exploring the Great Empathy Machine: Joseph Wade Blog 1 – An Introduction-In the first of a new blog series, our editor Joseph Wade discusses the impact of 'Interstellar' on his life and how YouTube channel Like Stories of Old helped him to understand how so many of his favourite films are linked.
Avengers: Infinity War (2018) Review-Our spoiler-free review of 'Avengers: Infinity War' tags the movie as "unforeseen and unprecedented", "an event invitation you're not going to want to pass up on". Read it here.
Rampage vs A Quiet Place | UK Box Office Report 20-22nd April 2018-$120million action-monster movie 'Rampage' versus $17million horror film 'A Quiet Place' at the box office, plus news on the UK performance of 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society' and the pre-'Infinity War' landscape in this week's UK box office report.
Kickboxer (1989) Snapshot Review-Lower your plotline standards, avoid looking for any connections and don’t take it too seriously, because watching 'Kickboxer' (1989) is like having a cheap and dirty one-night stand.
Netflix versus Cannes: All You Need to Know-Netflix and Cannes Film Festival have been embroiled in a bitter debate regarding cinema. Here's all you need to know about the Netflix versus Cannes debate.
Is Rampage a Financial Success? | UK Box Office Report 13-15th April 2018-'Rampage' tops the chart, but is it actually financially successful? Which national cinema has become the 3rd biggest in UK cinemas over the past 12 months? Could 'A Quiet Place' become the most profitable movie of 2018? Answers to these questions and more in this week's UK Box Office Report 2018.
Jaws (1975) Snapshot Review-As more blood clouds the water, Brody must keep a clear head while keeping Quint and Hooper from bashing each other’s in, and avoid the rows of razor sharp teeth waiting for him under the waves.
‘To the Bone’ (2017) Snapshot Review-"Impressively, whilst maintaining a thoughtful approach, [Netflix's 'To the Bone' (2017)] didn’t shy away from showing the brutality of its topics" according to Sophie Grant in her Snapshot Review of the film.
Tomb Raider (2018) Snapshot Review-'Tomb Raider' (2018) is "a finished product that fans of the gaming franchise and adventure movies in general may appreciate or even come to adore" according to Francesca Militello's review of the film starring Alicia Vikander.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) Snapshot Review-Jake Kasdan's Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle's plot is weak, features an absentee villain and is devoid of emotion. Thankfully comedy refreshed a rebooted concept, bringing new energy to the typical archetypal cast of angst-ridden teens.
Ready Player One (2018) Snapshot Review-Joseph Wade has described Steven Spielberg's 'Ready Player One' (2018) as "one of the best teenage adventure movies of the past 20 years" and "an instant family classic" in his spoiler free review of the Tye Sheridan movie, here.
Cameron Crowe Movies Ranked-All 10 of quirky, effervescent director Cameron Crowe's feature-length films, including the likes of 'Say Anything', 'Jerry Maguire' and 'Elizabethtown' have been ranked from worst to best by Joseph Wade, here.
Katie Doyle’s ‘Movies I Had A Religious/Spiritual Experience With’ Part 3-Terry Gilliam's 'Brazil' and Martin McDonagh's 'In Bruges' are the subject of Katie Doyle's 3rd piece in her "Movies I Had A Religious/Spiritual Experience With" series, in which she dissects the morality of each film and their profound effects on her.
Peter Rabbit’s Remarkable Performance | UK Box Office Report March 16-18th 2018-'Peter Rabbit' just out-performed Disney Pixar at the box office and grossed more in 3 days than most 2018 releases have in total, while 'Tomb Raider' performed way under expectations. We've also got news on 'Finding Your Feet' and 'Black Panther', among others, in this week's UK Box Office Report.
Dark River (2018) Review-Clio Barnard's 'Dark River' focuses on "universal themes of womanhood, hunter versus hunted, righteousness versus evil and the way of nature versus god in a way comparable to the works of one of the silver screen's greatest ever poets, Terrence Malick" in what Joseph Wade describes as a film that "must be seen by anyone who wishes to support this art form we know and love" in his review.
Walk Like A Panther (2018) Flash Review-'Walk Like A Panther' may have had a relatively poor screenplay, but it was still an uplifting film. Read Joseph Wade's shortened review of the wrestling-inspired film, here.
Which Best Picture Oscar Nominee Won the Box Office? | UK Box Office Report March 9-11th 2018-Which Oscars Best Picture nominee was the only one to not at least double its production budget, and just how well are 'The Greatest Showman' and 'Black Panther' doing at the box office? We have the answers, and much more box office analysis in our UK Box Office Report (March 2018).
Jennifer Lawrence Bankable? UK Box Office Chart 2nd-4th March 2018-Following the release of 'Red Sparrow', is Jennifer Lawrence still a bankable Hollywood star? How well is 'Black Panther' doing relative to other Marvel films? Is Polish cinema the new Bollywood at the UK box office? All in our UK Box Office Report 2nd-4th March 2018.
The 2018 Oscars Winners-Take a look at each of the 90th annual Oscars' awards winners and how many awards each film won in a night celebrating inclusion and acceptance from the Dolby Theatre in California. The full results.
2018 Oscars Best Picture Nominees Ranked-All 9 of the 2018 Oscars Best Picture nominees have been ranked from worst to best by Joseph Wade in this special 90th Annual Oscars edition of Ranked.
Lady Bird (2017/18) Review-Greta Gerwig's "anything but ordinary" 2018 awards season headliner 'Lady Bird' is a film where the performances of Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf "are the heart and soul of the film", according to Jason Lithgo's review of the Best Picture nominee, here.
The Animation Race 2018-Take a look at Rebecca Seghini's rundown of the 2018 Best Animation Feature Oscar nominees and their likelihood of taking home Gold in the 2018 edition of The Film Magazine's The Animation Race.
Lady Bird vs Best Picture Nominees – UK Box Office Report Feb 23-25 2018-In this week's UK Box Office Report: Joseph Wade takes a look at Lady Bird's opening weekend in comparison to the other Oscar Best Picture nominees, has an update on Black Panther, outlines The Greatest Showman's continued success and more.
‘Black Panther’ Box Office Debut: UK Box Office Report Feb 16-18th 2018-Marvel's 'Black Panther' broke all kinds of records at the UK box office, North American box office and worldwide box office this past weekend, out-grossing many a superhero film in just a matter of days. All the facts and figures you need are in our UK box office report.
4 Unconventional Mother-Daughter Movie Relationships-Elizabeth Howlett runs down her top 4 list of movies featuring unconventional mother-daughter relationships, similar to Greta Gerwig's 'Ladybird'. Disclaimer: list does not include 'Mermaids' (1990).
Top 5 Sexiest Movies of All Time-Which films are the sexiest of all time? We've deliberated long and hard to celebrate just five in this list: The Top 5 Sexiest Movies of All Time.
Top 10 Ron Howard Movies-Director, producer, actor, screenwriter Ron Howard has had quite the career, directing 25 films across 5 decades ahead of directing 'Solo: A Star Wars' story. We've listed the top 10 Ron Howard movies here.
What Does the Crystal Mean in Darren Aronofsky’s ‘Mother!’?-What does the crystal represent in 'Mother!' (2017)? Elizabeth Howlett takes you through her theory about this vital aspect of the controversial Darren Aronofsky film starring Jennifer Lawrence, here.
The Post (2018) Review-Steven Spielberg's 'The Post' (2018) "abandons obvious extravagance to focus its tightly knit story on the nuggets of wonder we can find in the pursuit of truth, those we consider to be truth seekers, and the very idea of truth itself." Joseph Wade's review...
An Artist’s Contributions: Sergei Mikhailovich Eisenstein-Sergei Eisenstein, the father of many modern theories on cinema, is the latest filmmaker to be included in Francesca Militello's An Artist's Contributions series. Take a look at what made him so influential, here.
Darkest Hour (2018) Review-'Darkest Hour' (2018) is "so anti-Europe and pro-war that only in 2018 could a film such as this have been made" according to Joseph Wade's review of the Joe Wright movie starring Gary Oldman, available here.
Female Directed Films in 2018: January – March-Filminine's Vicky Wheeler breaks down the top female-directed films that you should see in January, February and March 2018, including 'A Wrinkle in Time' and 'The Miseducation of Cameron Post', here.
A New Number 1: UK Box Office Report Jan 19th-21st 2018-News on 'The Last Jedi' becoming the 5th highest grossing UK box office release of all time, 'Jumanji' becoming the 5th highest grossing Sony movie ever, 'The Greatest Showman' setting records and more.
The Bourne Collection Ranked-All five movies from the 'Bourne' movie franchise, from 'The Bourne Identity' in 2002 to 'Jason Bourne' in 2016, have been ranked from worst to best here at The Film Magazine.
‘Before Christmas’ (2016) Short Film Review-Sophie Grant has reviewed Chuyao He's short film 'Before Christmas' (2016), "eight-hundred and ninety-six seconds [she] couldn't get back".
All Change: UK Box Office Report Jan 12-14th 2018-The UK greeted awards season this week by welcoming 'Darkest Hour' to the top of the box office chart. Check out analysis of the top films, as well as updates on 'The Last Jedi', 'Jumanji' and 'Ferdinand'.
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017/18) Review-Martin McDonagh's 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri' (2017/18) is "a standout of the year as regards performance" that "bleeds into your subconscious" with "dictatorial precision". Full review:
The Shape of Water (2017/18) Review-'The Shape of Water' (2017/18), the new movie from fantasy-horror director Guillermo Del Toro, is a "beautifully crafted whimsical fairy tale" according to Joseph Wade's review of the film.
A New Chart Topper: UK Box Office Report Jan 5-7th 2018-'Jumanji' hits number 1 in the chart, 'Paddington 2' surpasses the £40million mark to become the 5th highest grossing 2017 release and we have information on the debuts of 'Molly's Game' and 'All the Money in the World' in our weekly box office report.
UK Box Office Dec 29th 2017 – Jan 1st 2017-'The Last Jedi' enters 2018 atop of the UK box office, surpassing 'Beauty and the Beast' to become the no.1 film released in 2017.
10 of the Worst: Films of 2017-Our picks for the top 10 worst films of the year includes two entries for Michael Fassbender, two sequels and a host of high profile filmmakers. Check out what made the list here.
11 The Film Magazine Articles to Read from 2017-11 of our favourite articles from the 2017 calendar year including interviews with filmmakers, a feminist critique of a beloved 2017 sci-fi, a film essay and more. Celebrate our very best, here.
Every 2017 Comic Book Movie Ranked-Every comic book superhero movie of 2017, including 'The Lego Batman Movie', 'Logan', 'Thor: Ragnarok' and 'Justice League', has been ranked from worst to best in this end of year edition of Ranked.
UK Box Office Report Dec 15-17th 2017-'Star Wars; The Last Jedi' hit a landmark total in its opening weekend at the UK box office. Find out why its £28million total was so remarkable as we look at this week's chart and begin to predict the annual top 5 in this week's box office report.
The Disney/Fox Merger: All You Need to Know-All you need to know about Disney's $52.4billion purchase of 21st Century Fox, including how it benefits the Murdochs and how it effects you.
UK Box Office Report Dec 8-10th 2017-'The Disaster Artist' fails to break the top 5 as the UK Box Office prepares for 'The Last Jedi', with news on 'Justice League' financials, the possibility of a 'Daddy's Home 3' & the entire top 15 chart, here.
UK Box Office Report December 1st-3rd 2017-'Thor: Ragnarok' officially becomes the 5th top grossing film of the year in the UK while 'Paddington 2' continues its success story and 'The Disaster Artist' performs well in limited release previews, in our Box Office Report.
UK Box Office Report November 24-26 2017-This week in the UK Box Office Report: the reason for the surprise return of Disney favourite 'Frozen' to the chart, more on Polish cinema becoming more powerful & 'Daddy's Home 2' topping the chart.
Justice League (2017) Review-'Justice League', starring Ben Affleck and Gal Gadot, is "one of the largest blends of bad ideas put to screen in 2017" according to Joseph Wade's review of the DC Comics adaptation.
Falsified (2017) Short Film Review-Short film 'Falsified' (2017), from screenwriter-actor Ashley Tabatabai and director Stefan Fairlamb, is "a little too unsure of itself to be what it is clear that the film could potentially be" according to Joseph Wade's review.
UK Box Office Report November 17-19th 2017-Did you know that 'Justice League' may have debuted at number 1 in the UK box office chart this week, but that it's only the 6th biggest superhero film of 2017? Information on this and more damming statistics in Joseph Wade's box office report.
An Introduction to Italian Neorealism – Essay-Francesca Militello outlines the famous film movement of Italian Neorealism in this introductory essay complete with suggestions on what to watch and why.
10 Picks from ASFF 2017-The Film Magazine selects 10 short films from the Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2017 that you must see, from 'NEON' to 'Squirrel Island' and beyond.
Paddington 2 (2017) Review-Luke Whitticase of Whitty Stuff has described the UK Box Office smash hit 'Paddington 2' as "an absolute delight; an utterly charming storybook adventure". The review...
UK Box Office Report November 10-12th 2017-'Paddington 2' shot to the top of a competitive UK Box Office Chart this week. Joseph Wade outlines its impact and the less than impressive performances of a few films elsewhere in this week's Box Office Report.
Experiencing Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2017-The TFM team took to York for the Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2017 this past week. Joseph Wade writes about the experience, describing it as "one of the friendliest and most respectable festivals on the circuit".
UK Box Office Report October 27-29th 2017-This week's Box Office Report features an analysis of the success being had by 'Thor: Ragnarok' in comparison to other superhero films as well as notes on the success of 'The Death of Stalin'.
Thor: Ragnarok (2017) Review-'Thor: Ragnarok' (2017) is "undeniably the funniest Marvel movie yet" according to Joseph Wade's review of Taika Waitit's Marvel movie starring Chris Hemsworth & Cate Blanchett.
The Snowman (2017) Review-New Jo Nesbø movie adaptation, 'The Snowman' (2017) starring Michael Fassbender, is "an ineptly made mess" according to Cold Coffee Press writer Stephen Porzio in his review.
The Evil Dead (1981) Retrospective Review-Sam Raimi's 'Evil Dead' (1981) is the "heart and charm" of horror filmmaking according to Katie Doyle in her retrospective review of the horror classic, available here.
Wachowski Movies Ranked-Each of the Wachowski siblings' movies, including 'The Matrix', 'Speed Racer' & 'Cloud Atlas' have been ranked from worst to best.
UK Box Office Report October 13-15th 2017-'Botoks' surprises everyone by landing a top 5 spot in the UK Box Office chart this week. Joseph Wade focuses his analysis on its success and makes comparisons between 'LEGO Ninjago' and older Lego movies.
‘Star Trek’ Movies Ranked-All 13 'Star Trek' feature-length cinematic releases have been ranked from worst to best by Katie Doyle, here.
The Meyerowitz Stories (2017) Review-The latest Netflix release, 'The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)', from 'Frances Ha' director Noah Baumbach and starring Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler & Dustin Hoffman, has been reviewed by Joseph Wade.
IT (2017) Review-'IT' (2017), directed by Andy Muschietti, is a box office hit but is it a good horror movie? Take a look in our review by Holly Bowler.
UK Box Office Report October 6-8th 2017-Full UK Box Office Report - 'Blade Runner 2049' fails to outshine its 2016 counterpart as 'Dunkirk' finally bows out of the top 15 and 'IT' sets a landmark for the year.
UK Box Office Report September 29th-October 1st 2017-'Goodbye Christopher Robin' and 'Victoria & Abdul' are flying the flag for British independent film, it seems 'Mother!' won't be a financial failure after all, and 'IT' is about to overtake a Marvel juggernaut, in this week's box office report.
UK Box Office Report September 22nd-24th 2017-A special look at the impact of 'Kingsman: The Golden Circle' and 'IT' at the September box office, as well as more on the continued success of 'Dunkirk' in this week's box office report.
Mother! (2017) Review-'Mother!', one of this year's most controversial movies - from Darren Aronofsky and starring Jennifer Lawrence - has been reviewed as 'having elements that are no less than spectacular' by Joseph Wade.
How the TV Renaissance Has Helped Film Actors-What was once a death nail to any film actor's career now seems like a more enticing proposition as film actors embrace tv, giving the small screen a bigger draw and changing the industry.
The Hitman’s Bodyguard (2017) Review-'The Hitman's Bodyguard' (2017), one of this Summer's chart-topping action movies - starring Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson - has been reviewed by Joseph Wade.
UK Box Office Report September 8th-10th 2017-This week's UK Box Office report, featuring news on a British independent film being doomed to fail financially and a revival of box office fortunes courtesy of 'IT' making its debut.
You’ve Been Watching ‘Signs’ Wrong-A 'Signs' alternative theory. Could the aliens in 'Signs' really be angels or demons? Joseph Wade takes you through the facts...
Top 10 Movies of 2007-With the likes of Paul Thomas Anderson, the Coen brothers and David Fincher at work, 2007 was a stellar year for film. Here are the top 10 movies from 2007.
Alone in Berlin (2016) Review-'Alone in Berlin' (2016), Vincent Pérez's Hans Fallada novel adaptation starring Emma Thompson, Brendan Gleeson, Uwe Preuss and Daniel Brühl, has been reviewed by Francesca Militello.
47 Meters Down (2017) Review-'47 Meters Down', starring Mandy Moore and Claire Holt, and directed by Johannes Roberts, has been reviewed by Sophie Grant using our 24 point scale. Where did it rank? Take a look...
James Ponsoldt Movies Ranked-Every James Ponsoldt film, from 'Off the Black' (2006) to 'The Circle' (2017), ranked from worst to best in the latest edition of Ranked by Joseph Wade.
Hurricane (2016) Short Film Review-Christiano Dias' short film 'Hurricane' (2016) starring Lisa Roumain, Corey Page and David Jay is "a film of great quality". Read more...
The Circle (2017) Review-'The Circle' Review: James Ponsoldt directs Emma Watson, Tom Hanks, John Boyega and more in this technology conscious film.
The Beguiled (2017) Review-"Instantly grabbing", Sofia Coppola's 'The Beguiled' (2017) starring Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, Elle Fanning and Colin Farrell "is very much about women as individuals and a collective". Our review.
Baby Driver (2017) Review-Edgar Wright's 'Baby Driver' (2017) has been described by Joseph Wade as 'La La Land on wheels' in his review of this hugely successful film from the director of 'Shaun of the Dead' and 'Hot Fuzz'.
Top 10 Ridley Scott Movies- From 'Alien' to 'Gladiator', 'Blade Runner' to 'Thelma and Louise', here are the 10 best films directed by iconic British filmmaker Ridley Scott. List by Joseph Wade.
The 6 Billion Dollar Threat to Hollywood-The advances of Video on Demand service Netflix into the realms of original programming and film distribution offers a very real threat to Hollywood. Lee Royle explores.
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) Review-"Marvel have certainly put their best foot forward in reigniting the Spider-Man character" according to Joseph Wade in his spoiler-free review of 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' (2017) starring Tom Holland.
The Dark Crystal and Why 80s Nostalgia Can Be Good-Katie Doyle presents why she feels the reemergence of 'The Dark Crystal' via Netflix signifies the positive side of this decade's 80s nostalgia trip.
The Mummy (2017) Review-Universal's Dark Universe has kicked off with 'The Mummy' (2017) starring Tom Cruise and Russell Crowe, a movie described as being "like a bad Mission: Impossible film with zombies", in our review.
Wonder Woman (2017) Review-See where 'Wonder Woman' (2017), directed by Patty Jenkins and starring Gal Gadot, ranks on our 24 point scale in Joseph Wade's review of the Warner Bros/DC movie.
Dirty Books (2016) Short Film Review-Katie Doyle considers Zachary Lepierre's 2016 short film 'Dirty Books', starring Noah Bailey, to be "made of some sensational parts" in her movie review.
What Jack Built (2015) Short Film Review-Matthew Mahler's 'What Jack Built' (2015) short film is "a swing and a miss for all involved" according to Joseph Wade's review.
Here Lies Joe (2016) Short Film Review-Mark Battle's 'Here Lies Joe' (2016), a short film about a man's struggle with depression, is "poignant and raw" according to James Cullen's review.
Toni Erdmann (2016/17) Review-Foreign Language Film BAFTA winner & Oscar nominee 'Toni Erdmann' (2016/17), a movie about a father using comedy to reconnect with his estranged daughter, has been reviewed by Joseph Wade.
Annie Waits (2017) Short Film Review-Marnie Paxton's 'Annie Waits' (2017) short film is "honest, sex-clad, female-driven cinema that so admirably represents the in-between members of Generation Y", according to Joseph Wade's review.
‘Total Performance’ (2015) Short Film Review-Sean Meehan's short film 'Total Performance' (2015) presents "an original concept we can all appreciate" according to Sophie Grant in her review.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) Review-Out spoiler-free review of James Gunn's 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2' (2017) starring Chris Pratt and gang, describes it as "a romp of an adventure". Read it here.
Edith (2016) Short Film Review-'Edith' (2016), a Mini Productions short film directed by 'Cemetery Junction' star Christian Cooke and starring Peter Mullan, is " an emotionally stirring 15 minutes of cinema that has enough about it to move even the most hardened of film goers".
How Robin Williams Affected Millennials-Robin Williams was a legend, but to millennials he was something more. Hear about it straight from the horses mouth in Catherine Giggal's special piece.
The Fate of the Furious (2017) Review-"Movies this fun are truly hard to come by these days" according to Joseph Wade in his review of 'The Fate of the Furious (2017) starring Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Charlize Theron and Jason Statham.
Going In Style (2017) Review-'Going In Style' (2017), the OAP heist movie starring Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Alan Arkin, and directed by Zach Braff, is a "paint by the numbers movie" according to Joseph Wade in his review.
INDOOR AIR (2014) Short Film Review-Ron Purtee's short film thriller - 'Indoor Air' (2014) - is "a stirring short thriller" according to Joseph Wade in his review.
The Simpsons Movie (2007) Flash Review-Nearly 10 years removed from 'The Simpsons Movie' (2007), James Cullen looks back on the film with this flash review.
This World We Live In (2017) Short Film Review-"It is movies like 'This World We Live in' that we need more than ever" according to Katie Doyle in her review of Gage Oxley's LGBT+ short film about a young man's battle to uncover his sexuality in an oppressive society.
The Great Gatsby (2013) Review-'The Great Gatsby' (2013), Baz Luhrmann's F. Scott Fitzgerald adaptation starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan, has been reviewed by Francesca Militello.
MERCS (2017) Short Film Review-Short film 'MERCS' (2017), directed by Michael Morris, is "an admirable attempt at an idea way too large for its budget and skill sets", according to Joseph Wade in his review.
Fate (2016) Short Film Review-Short film 'Fate' (2016), from director Chris Hallas, is "a well constructed cautionary tale pushed each step of the way by its meritorious screenplay" according to Joseph Wade in his review.
1984 (1984) Review-'1984', Michael Radford's adaptation of George Orwell's famous novel, "is an important film because of its ageless quality" according to Katie Doyle in her review.
Beauty and the Beast (2017) Review-Disney's remake of their "tale as old as time", 'Beauty and the Beast' starring Emma Watson, has been described by Becca Seghini as "visually pleasing and full of nostalgia" in her review.
Logan (2017) Review-'Logan' (2017) "is challenging and emotional more than it is exciting and awe-inspiring in the best of ways" according to Joseph Wade in his review.
Weiner (2016) Review-Former US Congressman Anthony Weiner, who resigned when explicit pictures were posted publicly, is documented in the midst of his run for New York mayor in this documentary reviewed by Joseph Wade.
The Evolution of Disney Dads-What does the interaction a Disney Princess has with her father tell us about how times have changed between 1989 and 2016? James Cullen explores.
Hidden Figures (2017) Review-'Hidden Figures' (2017), one of the Oscars' Best Picture nominees, telling the tale of some of the black women who took the US to the moon, has been reviewed by Elle Cole.
Sing (2016/17) Review-'Sing' (2016/17), the latest animation from Illumination Entertainment starring Matthew McConaughey, Scarlett Johansson and a host of star names, has been reviewed by Catherine Giggal, here.
Spirit of ’45 (2013) Review-Ken Loach's documentary on the development of social standards and the National Health Service in the UK, 'Spirit of '45', has been reviewed by Katie Doyle.
T2 Trainspotting (2017) Review-20 years have passed since cult classic 'Trainspotting' was released. Could Danny Boyle, Ewan McGregor, Jonny Lee Miller, Ewen Bremner & Robert Carlyle recreate the magic with 'T2 Trainspotting'? Here's our review.
13th (2016) Review-Ava DuVernay's 2017 Oscar-nominated documentary feature '13th', about the use of prisoners as free labour in a racist system of incarceration, has been reviewed by Joseph Wade.
The 6 Best Films Snubbed by the Oscars 2017-The Oscars forget important films every year and 2017 has been no different. Here are the 6 films that are too good to have been forgotten about.
‘I, Daniel Blake’, Its Significance and Recognition-'I, Daniel Blake' has become a significant film for more than just its art. In this piece, Joseph Wade outlines how the film transcended cinema and looks at the reasons for its lack of awards show recognition.
Singin’ in the Rain (1952) Review-Take a look back at one of Hollywood's most classical musicals, 'Singin' in the Rain', starring Gene Kelly and the recently deceased Debbie Reynolds, in Francesca Militello's review.
David Brent: Life on the Road (2016) Review-'David Brent: Life on the Road' (2016), Ricky Gervais' silver-screen follow-up to his hit series 'The Office', has been reviewed by Catherine Giggal.
La La Land (2017) Review-'La La Land', the awards happy musical from 'Whiplash' director Damien Chazelle, starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, has been reviewed.
#52FilmsByWomen-#52FilmsByWomen is the subject of our latest guest publication as Gemma Pecorini Goodall outlines her testing attempt to watch a female-led film each week of the year.
Nocturnal Animals (2016) Review-Tom Ford's Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal starring psychological drama 'Nocturnal Animals' is a film reminiscent of "Hollywood's more famous classical directors" according to Joseph Wade. His full review is available here.
Katie Doyle’s ‘Movies I had a Religious/Spiritual Experience With’ Part 1-A person's faith can have a profound effect on their cinema watching experience and, sometimes, the cinema watching experience can have a profound effect on a person's faith. Katie Doyle's journey through cinema has been bullet pointed by such moments. In this piece, the first of two articles, she outlines three movies she had a spiritual experience with.
What Happened to the Breakfast Club?-What happened to 'The Breakfast Club'? Take a look at what happened to Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson and company in the decades following their iconic performances.
5 Picks from ASFF 2016-5 short films you should see from Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2016 and a round-up of all of the festival's awards, here.
The Illusionist (2006) Review-'The Illusionist' (2006) starring Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti and Jessica Biel has been reviewed by Francesca Militello here.
Experiencing ASFF 2016-Aesthetica Short Film Festival took over the city of York in the UK this weekend. Joseph Wade was in attendance and he's run-down his thoughts, here.
The Killing of America (1981) Review-Banned from release or distribution in the United States in 1981, the Schrader brothers documentary 'The Killing of America' proposed that America and violence were wed. Joseph Wade has a review, here.
I, Daniel Blake (2016) Review-Ken Loach's Palme d'Or winning, society questioning, government challenging drama 'I, Daniel Blake' has been reviewed by Joseph Wade.
30 Greatest Universal Films-During the month of September we counted down the 30 Greatest Universal Studios films. Here is the final list.
Swiss Army Man (2016) Review-'Swiss Army Man' (2016), the Dan Kwan & Daniel Scheinart screwball comedy starring Daniel Radcliffe as a dead body and Paul Dano, has been reviewed by Joseph Wade.
Star Trek Beyond (2016) Review-2016's 'Trek' offering, 'Star Trek Beyond', as directed by Justin Lin, has been reviewed by resident Trekkie Katie Doyle, here.
The Choice (2016) Review-'The Choice' (2016) has been reviewed by Sophie Grant. See what we think and where it ranks on our 24 point scale here.
Maggie’s Plan (2016) Review-'Maggie's Plan' (2016) starring Greta Gerwig, Julianne Moore and Ethan Hawke, has been reviewed by Joseph Wade. See where this New York independent movie ranks on our 24 point scale, here.
30 Greatest Comic Book Movies-The 30 greatest comic book movies of all time were counted down over the course of the month, here is the final list.
How Everyone Finally Got Over Ben Affleck Being Batman-Ben Affleck won over most of his critics with his performance in 'Batman v Superman' (2016). Joseph Wade analyses how he managed to do so in a follow up to his contentious piece 'Why It's Finally Time To Get Over Ben Affleck Being Batman' (released in 2015).
Jason Bourne (2016) Review-'Jason Bourne' (2016) sees Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass return to the spy-thriller-action franchise 'Bourne'. See where it ranks on our 24 point scale in this spoiler-free review.
The Nice Guys (2016) Review-'The Nice Guys' (2016), a buddy cop movie starring Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling, has been reviewed by Joseph Wade. See why "Gosling was great" and where the movie ranks on our 24 point scale, here.
The Young Victoria (2009) Review-'The Young Victoria' (2009) starring Emily Blunt as Queen Victoria in a historical drama about her early years as the monarch of the UK, has been reviewed by Francesca Militello.
The Film Mobcast Comic Book Movie Special-In this special edition of The Film Mobcast Podcast, regular host Joe is joined by Becca to discuss Comic Book Movies. Together, they re-cast the Avengers, judge the best of 2016, and more!
Knight of Cups (2016) Review-The latest film from Terrence Malick, 'Knight of Cups' (2016), starring an ensemble cast led by Christian Bale, has been reviewed by Joseph Wade, here.
Greta Gerwig: The Essential Collection-Greta Gerwig: The Essential Collection presents independent movie star Greta Gerwig's most recognisable and notable career entries from 'Frances Ha' to 'Nights and Weekends'.
Bowie: The Man Who Changed the World (2016) Review-'Bowie: The Man Who Changed the World' (2016), a documentary feature that told the story of the legendary artist David Bowie, has been reviewed by Katie Doyle.