Reviews
‘Mr Smith Goes to Washington’ at 85 – Review - We behold the outrage of director Frank Capra, and absorb the performance of an all-time great career from James Stewart, in 'Mr Smith Goes to Washington. Review by Bella Madge.
The Wild Robot (2024) Review - Dreamworks Animation's adaptation of Peter Brown's children's book, 'The Wild Robot' (2024), is emotional and powerful, an unmissable theatrical experience. Review by Joseph Wade.
‘Ed Wood’ at 30 – Review - Loving artist portrait 'Ed Wood' (1994), from director Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp and Martin Landau, isn't deep, but there are plenty of ways to enjoy. Review by Sam Sewell-Peterson.
Joker: Folie à Deux (2024) Review - Todd Phillips DC movie 'Joker: Folie à Deux' (2024), starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, is pulled in too many directions. It is boring. Review by Joseph Wade.
Megalopolis (2024) Review - Francis Ford Coppola passion project 'Megalopolis' (2024) is a failure. It is a downright unenjoyable vanity project that proves the director's best days are behind him. Review by Jacob Davis.
The Substance (2024) Review - Coralie Fargeat offers some of the year's best special effects and sound design in 'The Substance' (2024), a film spearheaded by a career-best performance from Demi Moore. Review by Margaret Roarty.
His Three Daughters (2024) Review - Azazel Jacobs family drama 'His Three Daughters' (2024), starring Natasha Lyonne, Carrie Coon and Elizabeth Olsen, is a serious and poignant slice of life. Review by Martha Lane.
The Company of Wolves (1984) Review - Neil Jordan's adaptation of Angela Carter's reworked fairy tale, 'The Company of Wolves' (1984) invites us to relive the beauty and horror of growing up. Review by Margaret Roarty.
Speak No Evil (2024) Review - The 2024 English language remake 'Speak No Evil', from director James Watkins and starring James McAvoy, is a chilling reflection on the cost of silence. Review by Jake Fittipaldi.
The Critic (2023) Review - Ian McKellen offers perhaps the darkest performance of his film career in Anand Tucker's British period drama 'The Critic', co-starring Gemma Arterton. Review by Kieran Judge.
West Side Story (1961) Review - Feature musical 'West Side Story', from directors Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, still encourages us to feel immensely, more than 60 years after its release. Review by Bella Madge.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024) Review - 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' is more than your typical legacy sequel, it's a return to form for its director Tim Burton. Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder and Jenna Ortega star. Review by Margaret Roarty.
‘Dr Strangelove’ at 60 – Review - Stanley Kubrick's cold war comedy 'Dr Strangelove' (1964) is one of the director's most lasting projects and features a trio of masterful performances from Peter Sellers. Review by Sam Sewell-Peterson.
Sing Sing (2024) Review - 'Sing Sing', starring Colman Domingo, is an important cinema release on the power of art and creation; one of the year's most emotive experiences. Review by Joseph Wade.
AfrAId (2024) Review - Ironically, 2024 Blumhouse horror 'AfrAId', from director Chris Weitz, is so formulaic it wouldn't be surprising to discover that the entire film was written by AI. Review by Kieran Judge.
‘The Third Man’ at 75 – Review - Carol Reed's noir thriller 'The Third Man' (1949), starring Joseph Cotton and Orson Welles, remains one of the greatest films ever made, 75 years after its release. Review by Kieran Judge.
Black Dog (2024) Review - Un Certain Regard winner 'Black Dog', from director Hu Guan and starring Eddie Pang, is hugely memorable with meticulously constructed shots. Review by Sam Sewell-Peterson.
Strange Darling (2023) Review - JT Mollner's 'Strange Darling', with cinematography from Giovanni Ribisi and a strong performance from Willa Fitzgerald, is exactly what we should be clamoring for more of. Review by Jacob Davis.
The Crow (2024) Review - The 2024 remake of 'The Crow', starring Bill Skarsgård and FKA twigs, directed by Rupert Sanders, is ill-conceived. It should have stayed dead and buried. Review by Margaret Roarty.
Incoming (2024) Review - Netflix teen comedy 'Incoming' (2024), from Dave and John Chernin ('It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia') settles for a scenario done to death. C-. Review by Martha Lane.
Alien: Romulus (2024) Review - 'Alien: Romulus' (2024), Fede Álvarez's horror-leaning entry into the 'Alien' franchise, is beautifully crafted, uncontroversial and simple cinema. Review by Kieran Judge.
It Ends with Us (2024) Review - 'It Ends with Us' (2024), Justin Baldoni's adaptation of Colleen Hoover's novel, is a stylish melodrama carried by vulnerable performances. Review by Margaret Roarty.
Trap (2024) Review - 'Trap' (2024), from writer-director M. Night Shyamalan, and starring Josh Hartnett as a serial killer trapped at a concert, suffers from a lack of logic and immersion. Review by Joseph Wade.
The Dead Don’t Hurt (2024) Review - Viggo Mortensen waters the bone-dry terrain of the Wild West to create a new hero with his 2024 western 'The Dead Don't Hurt', co-starring Vicky Krieps. Review by Patrick Hayes.
‘The Iron Giant’ at 25 – Review - 25 years on from the release of Brad Bird's Warner Animation film 'The Iron Giant', it still has the power to inspire awe. It has stood the test of time. Review by Sam Sewell-Peterson.