The King’s Speech has ‘Oscar contender’ written all over it. From the wonderful performances and Tom Hooper’s direction to the costuming and score, the film is sure to garner numerous nominations. The Duke of York is crippled with a speech impediment that greatly hinders his public service. This is only an intermittent issue; as it is his brother Edward VIII […]
Read moreA remake of the Swedish film Let The Right One In, Let Me In does not stray too far from its antecedent. Although there are a few nice touches added to proceedings, overall this remake seems pretty pointless. Owen is bullied at school and spends most of his time alone. When a girl moves in next door, he finally has […]
Read moreEverything Must Go showcases Will Ferrell’s dramatic talents in a low-budget indie flick that retains a buoyancy despite its serious themes. The film could have opted for a sombre route, but thankfully Everything Must Go addresses issues without a sense of judgement, and is a better film for it. On the same day he loses his job following a relapse, […]
Read moreDespicable Me is a light-hearted animated movie that audiences young and old will enjoy. It does not pack the same emotional punch as a film such as Up, but it is entertaining throughout. Gru’s schemes to become the greatest villain don’t always pay off. In order to triumph over new villain Vector, Gru enlists the unwitting help of three young […]
Read moreConviction The press conference for Conviction was attended by Hilary Swank, Sam Rockwell, Minnie Driver and Betty-Anne Waters. Betty-Anne commented that she was pleased with the movie, and that she thought her late brother Kenny would also be happy with it. She remarked: “It was my brother Kenny who wanted the film more than anything”. When asked what stood out […]
Read moreBased on real events, Conviction could have played out like a made-for-television movie. Thanks to some superlative performances and good production values, however, Conviction is a worthy rendering of an incredible story. After her brother Kenny is convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison, his sister Betty-Anne Waters vows to clear his name. She begins to study law, […]
Read moreAnother Year is typical of a Mike Leigh film in that it concentrates firmly on the characters in a thoroughly British setting. There are some wonderful performances, as well as a real negativity about the film, which is haunting. Another Year follows a year in the life of couple Tom and Gerri, focusing on their relationship with their family and friends. As […]
Read moreIf you can handle the doses of saccharine, Africa United is an enjoyable feel-good film. While the narrative is fairly run of the mill, Africa United distinguishes itself from many others films from the continent by being light-hearted and incredibly positive. Fabrice dreams of becoming a footballing superstar. When he is spotted by a FIFA scout, the teenager, with his […]
Read moreAn adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel, Never Let Me Go is a drama that reaches for a strong emotional resonance, but feels cold at times. Performances are great, but for a film about emotions, the bleakness does not necessarily generate the heart-felt response it should. Kathy grows up at a boarding school in England, in a world where humans are […]
Read moreAdmirers of Oliver Stone’s 1987 classic Wall Street were surely intrigued when news of a sequel first broke. Although the film begins well, it loses its way; Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps does not come close to matching the overall quality of its predecessor. A number of years after he is released from prison, Gordon Gekko is on the book […]
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