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With the cinemas among the first places to be shut down by the coronavirus pandemic, it’s natural that we’ll be turning to the many streaming sites for our film fix over the coming weeks. Lost Girls, based on the true story of the of the investigation surrounding the Long Island serial killer, is the latest offering to be snapped up ...

At a time when the world seems a very scary and serious place, The Hunt serves as a very welcome escape from reality. Produced by Jason Blum, written by Lost alumni Damon Lindelof and Nick Cuse, and directed by Craig Zobel, it’s a politically charged action offering that enjoys playing with the audience before reaching a very satisfying conclusion. Feeling ...

Even the most devoted of video game enthusiasts would have to admit that Holywood doesn’t have the best record of transferring stories from our hands to the big screen. As somebody who has a real passion for gaming, I can honestly tell you that some of the best storytelling I’ve ever enjoyed has come from video games. Sure, Assassin’s Creed ...

Charitable panto-goers over Christmas have helped Polka Dot Pantomimes raise more than £1,000 for a homeless charity. The company’s version of Rapunzel was the panto on over Christmas at the South Holland Centre in Spalding. A Polka Dot Pantomimes spokesman said: “£1,179.18 was the total amount of donations made by the wonderful audiences who came along to watch Rapunzel at ...

If anything good came from the largely disappointing Suicide Squad film back in 2016, it was that Margot Robbie made for a great Harley Quinn. The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) have duly taken note of that relatively small win and thrown her front and centre of their latest offering; Birds Of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn, ...

As somebody with no prior knowledge of Charles Dickens’ novel David Copperfield, it was certainly interesting to check out Armando Iannucci’s big screen take on the old Victorian tale. It’s fair to say that the works of Dickens and the Victorian era aren’t really my cup of tea when it comes to source material, but it was hard not to ...

For a certain generation of people (myself included), the first two Bad Boys films are indicative of an era of blockbuster action films that feel like they’ve been phased out over the past decade. Violent, foul-mouthed and full of humour, the Bad Boys series is unapologetically bombastic – with the more recent films in the Fast and Furious series perhaps ...

Every now and then, a film comes along at the cinema that manages to grab your full attention from its very first moment. Sam Mendes’ 1917, a story set in the grim setting of World War One, achieves that goal by presenting the brilliant illusion of a one-shot film – and 100 per cent immersion is guaranteed. Casting two young ...

It’s not just Kevin McCallister’s parents forgetting the kids this Christmas – in ending the 42-years-long Star Wars ‘Skywalker’ saga, director JJ Abrams and Disney have left the children in the audience behind, too. With The Rise of Skywalker – Star Wars 9 – Disney goes straight for the hearts of the wealthiest section of its audience, the middle-aged devotees ...

By student writer Charlie Jiggins Scorsese. De Niro. Pesci. Pacino. With the iconic and legendary names surrounding The Irishman, Martin Scorsese’s latest masterpiece more than lives up to its promise. Backed by Netflix, The Irishman is Scorsese’s first film to have a limited cinema release, but rather a more prominent appearance on the small screen. Twenty five years after Scorsese’s ...

Given the impressive nature of its cast, Knives Out always looked like being capable of lighting up the pre-Christmas vacuum at the cinema. A modern murder-mystery helmed by writer/director by Rian Johnson, there’s a lot to admire about a film that is as much of a comedy as it is a ‘whodunnit’ thriller. The story follows the apparent suicide of ...

When it comes to films about motor racing, it’s often hard for the audience to connect with what they are seeing. If you think of other sporting offerings, be it the Rocky films, Invictus or one of the many American football movies, it’s often easy to relate to what you’re viewing. In the case of motorsport, the car puts a ...

It seems incredible that Helen Mirren and Ian McKellan, given their standing in the industry, had never starred in a film together. That’s the hook provided by The Good Liar, with throws the pair together in a sometimes brutal revenge thriller that boasts an intriguing story. In what is (of course) a very British-feeling film, the pair come together after ...

As somebody who wasn’t overly enamoured with The Shining (against popular opinion), I had quite low expectations for Doctor Sleep. However, I’m pleased to admit that my preconceived ideas were way wide of the mark as Doctor Sleep – which serves as a sequel to the cult Stanley Kubrick horror (or the Stephen King novel, whichever you prefer) – is ...

While all three Terminator movies since 1991’s Judgement Day have been solid action offerings, none of them ever really managed to recapture the magic of a film that played a huge role in the future of cinema. James Cameron’s use of computer-generated imagery in the 90s classic paved the way for much of what we see in the sci-fi and ...

When it comes to naming the best TV series ever made, I’d suggest that Breaking Bad should always be in the discussion. The Netflix show ended with some of the greatest episodes I’ve ever seen and managed to find that sweet spot of being satisfying while not outstaying its welcome. But, while the fate of main character Walter White (Bryan ...

A rock band of retirees want to find a singer so they can get gigging. The group comprises ex-MD Mark Craig (drums), ex-food industry consultant John Armstrong (bass), ex-GP Peter Holmes (keys and guitar) and ex-hairdresser Phil Cox (lead). All that’s missing is a singer to get them out there, playing gigs and charity events. Mark said: “We rehearse in ...

Every now and then, a film comes along that is able to impressively showcase a new kind of technology. I remember being wowed by The Matrix’s use of Bullet Time and Avatar showing the rest how 3D should be done after their releases. Gemini Man may not be as good as those two classics, but it does a fine job ...

If you’re thinking ‘not another comic book film’ and are put off by the idea of Joker, be prepared to be surprised. As a veteran of pretty much every comic book film made over the past decade, I can tell you that this Todd Phillips-directed DC Comics offering is unlike anything else in the popular genre. Set in the early ...

I’ll lay my cards on the table from the off – I’m a sucker for space and science fiction films. Maybe it’s my love of Star Wars as a child, but I’ve always enjoyed entertainment that presents that idea that the human race isn’t alone in the universe. The beautifully shot Ad Astra explores that very notion, while also showing ...