And it’s that time of the year again…The nominees for Academy Awards have been released! Leading the race is The Revenant with 12 nominations, closely followed by Mad Max: Fury Road with 10. 2015 has certainly been a noteworthy year for films, Ex Machina, Room and Spotlight have especially been a few favourites of mine. The most questionable and absurd nomination this year…
“I ain’t afraid to die any more. I’d done it already.” Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu, who won the Academy’s prestigious awards last year with Birdman for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. His latest cinematic creation, The Revenant, is a compelling wintry western, set in the 1980’s. Explorer, Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio), survives an inexplicable bear attack. He…
A suffocating view of humanity. Directed and produced by Charlie Kaufman, based on his own eponymous play, comes the story of the delusional Michael Stone (David Thewlis), a British author who’s forte is customer service. He soon finds himself in the hotel room of two women, both fans of his work who are in town to hear him speak. Michael sees something different in…
Hollywood did this one right, Charles Schultz would be pleased. He’s back, and this time, attempting to get through the school year. Charlie Brown (Noah Schnapp) finds a new crush, and takes part in a talent show with the help of his friends and his beloved dog, Snoopy. How lovely that a whole new generation are…
“The funny thing about hiding…you’re never hidden from yourself.” Directed by David O. Russell, the Silver Linings Playbook cast have reunited: Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, and Bradley Cooper for this seasonal flick. From an early age, Joy (Jennifer Lawrence) had taken an interest to making creative things. However, as the years have gone by,…
A raw, unconventional take on abduction. Abducted at the age of 17 by a man known as ‘Old Nick’, Joy Newsome (Brie Larson) has been held captive for 7 years. The one thing however, that has kept her alive, is her 5-year-old son, Jack (Jacob Tremblay). The two share a strong bond. The film shadows the characters lives in ‘Room’, their attempts to…
As flat as a frying pan. Directed by Joe Wright, during WWII, a young orphan named Peter, is kidnapped by pirates, who take him to Neverland. Here, he discovers his destiny to become the hero, who will be forever known as “Peter Pan”. The script being its greatest flaw, contains some of the most absurd lines to come out of film…
Try not to mistake this for Mrs Doubtfire. Copenhagen in the 1920’s, Artist, Gerda Wegener (Alicia Vikander) asks her husband Einar (Eddie Redmayne) to stand in for a female model. When the paintings prove to be popular, Einar begins dressing and living as a woman nicknamed Lili. Having discovered her true identity, Lili’s marriage to…
Every dream begins with a single step. Based on a true events, Philippe Petit (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a French street performer, travels to New York in 1974 to place his high wire between the newly built Twin Towers, in hope to walk across them (minus the safety wire); achieving his dream. What appears to be an impossible task, and what some would perceive…
Makes one long for the days of hats. Set in the 1950’s, a shy shop assistant, Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara) begins an intense friendship with a woman named Carol Aird (Cate Blanchett), after being of her assistance over the counter during the Christmas sales at a department store. Both women however, are confined to their heterosexual roles. An unpleasant battle between…
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