DON’T LOOK UP REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Although his films are divisive, in the last twenty years, Adam McKay has become one of the most successful filmmakers working today. To some, he’s best known for making comedies with Will Ferrell in the leading role such as Anchorman and its sequel. Recently, however, McKay has become better known for his Oscar nominated films, The Big Short and Vice. Despite this success, McKay’s films are divisive. There are those who find his works to be entertaining, however, others aren’t as impressed. I belong in the former category and it’s because of this and the star studded cast why I was so excited for McKay’s latest film, Don’t Look Up.

Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence), an astronomy grad student, and her professor Dr. Randall Mindy (Leonardo DiCaprio) make an astounding discovery of a comet orbiting within the solar system. The problem: it's on a direct collision course with Earth. The other problem? No one really seems to care. Turns out warning mankind about a planet-killer the size of Mount Everest is an inconvenient fact to navigate. With the help of Dr. Oglethorpe (Rob Morgan), Kate and Randall embark on a media tour that takes them from the office of an indifferent President Orlean (Meryl Streep) and her sycophantic son and Chief of Staff, Jason (Jonah Hill), to the airwaves of The Daily Rip, an upbeat morning show hosted by Brie (Cate Blanchett) and Jack (Tyler Perry). With only six months until the comet makes impact, managing the 24-hour news cycle and gaining the attention of the social media obsessed public before it's too late proves shockingly comical -- what will it take to get the world to just look up?

Although I enjoyed Don’t Look Up, I can understand why it has received a mixed response following its recent release in select cinemas. There are those who found it to be funny with McKay’s script exploring a more realistic response to an apocalyptic event. Others thought that the film aimed too high for its scattershot barbs to consistently land. Although I can understand that not everyone will like Don’t Look Up and fail to understand the hype surrounding it, I belong in the former category. A lot of disaster films, including 2012, are serious but have a happy ending. However, what’s most interesting about Don’t Look Up is that, for most of its 138 runtime, it’s a tongue in cheek comedy that focuses on two scientists, Kate and Randall, who struggle to convince everyone that the world is ending. Kate and Randall first meet the President of the United States, Janie Orlean, however, she doesn’t take them seriously and tells them to “sit tight and assess”.The disappointing response from the President leads to Kate and Randall trying to warn the population by appearing on a daytime chat show presented by bright and optimistic hosts, Brie and Jack. Despite Kate and Randall’s warning, Brie and Jack’s try to make light of the situation with the latter hoping that comet will hit his ex-girlfriend’s house. Although this scene is funny, it’s also a little sad as this is probably how most people will respond to a serious warning. 

Those hoping that Don’t Look Up will be similar to his Oscar winning film, The Big Short, and find success at next year’s Academy Awards, may be disappointed because the tone is more like Anchorman as they’re both original comedies written and directed by McKay. While the humour doesn’t always work, Don’t Look Up is rarely boring as it’s filled with memorable characters with the talented ensemble cast delivering amusing performances. After taking a break from acting, Lawrence makes a welcome return as the feisty Kate. Out of the entire cast, she delivers the most serious performance as Kate becomes increasingly annoyed by the laidback response to her and Randall’s warning that a comet is threatening to destroy Earth. Alongside Lawrence, DiCaprio delivers one of his most comical performances as Randall who frequently has mental breakdowns but soon accepts that the world is going to end despite his and Kate’s attempt to try and stop the comet. As the President, Streep is clearly imitating Donald Trump with her portrayal. Because she’s known for her dramatic and Oscar winning performances, it was interesting to see Streep take on a more comical role. As her son and chief in staff, Jason, Jonah Hill is also amusing.
 Like Streep, Blanchett is given an opportunity to deliver a more comedic performance and she succeeds with her portrayal of Brie who develops a crush on Randall. Pop star Ariana Grande is perfectly cast as pop star, Riley Bina, who releases a song, Just Look Up, that supports Kate and Randall’s campaign. Although its Oscar potential may seem uncertain, due to the mixed critical response, if Don’t Look Up could possibly be nominated for anything, my guess would be Best Original Song for Just Look Up.

With Don’t Look Up, writer/director Adam McKay has created a witty comedy that explores how people would really react to the end of the world and is worth watching just for the amusing performances by its impressive ensemble cast.

7/10 

HOUSE OF GUCCI REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Despite being in his early eighties, there’s no sign of slowing down Ridley Scott who, in the last year, has directed two films. The first, The Last Duel, was released last month, is a Medieval drama starring Jodie Comer, Matt Damon, Adam Driver and Ben Affleck. Despite being praised by critics for its serious story and strong performances, it was a disappointment at the box office. Scott’s latest film is House of Gucci, which also stars Driver alongside an impressive cast that includes Lady Gaga, Jared Leto, Jeremy Irons, Salma Hayek and Al Pacino. However, since its release, House of Gucci has divided viewers, including critics who were left disappointed by what Scott had created. 

House of Gucci follows the ambitious Patrizia (Lady Gaga) as she romances Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver) and marries her way into the dynastic Italian luxury label. The family business holds little allure for bookish Maurizio, and the real power is held by his father Rodolfo (Jeremy Irons) and his uncle Aldo (Al Pacino). If an outsider like Patrizia wants to be a true force at Gucci, she'll have to pit the rest of the family against each other. Eventually, even Patrizia and Maurizio find themselves at odds, and her rage at him soon turns murderous.

House of Gucci is based on Sara Gay Forden’s book, The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed, which was published in 2001. It’s easy to see why Scott wanted to adapt Forden’s book into a film as it explores the family behind one of the biggest fashion brands in the world and documents, not only the planned murder of Maurizio by Patrizia, but also the feuding between the family. Although Scott’s film isn’t as “sensational” as the book it’s inspired by, House of Gucci is still filled with interesting characters who are all fascinating to watch. Because most of the film takes place between the late 1970s and 1990s, there will be those, like me, who are unfamiliar with the true story of how, shortly after their divorce, Patrizia planned to have Maurizio killed. The film explores the highs and lows of Patrizia and Maurizio’s relationship, with the former acting as a Lady Macbeth type figure as she convinces her husband to take over the fashion brand from his family. However, Maurizio isn’t interested in fashion and is studying to be a lawyer when the couple first meet. Those who know the story will probably already have their own opinion of Patrizia and, like Maurizio’s father, Rodolfo, think that she’s nothing more than a gold digger who only married Maurizio for his wealth. However, what House of Gucci does well is show another side to Patrizia and that’s a woman who truly loved Maurizio.

House of Gucci sees its talented cast delivering their most memorable performances. In only her second major film role (the first being A Star Is Born), Lady Gaga continues to impress with her acting skills and delivers the strongest performance. Many have criticised her attempt at an Italian accent and said that she sounds more Russian, however, others have compared her voice to that of the real Patrizia and the two sound similar. While Gaga’s performance in A Star In Born was better, as it was an original character she was portraying, her portrayal of Patrizia is the most impressive aspect of House of Gucci. Patrizia is rarely anything less than a fascinating character. Gaga shares chemistry with Driver who, as Maurizio, continues to establish himself as one of the most versatile actors. Despite his appearance as the villainous Kylo Ren in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, Driver has managed to deliver impressive dramatic performances, receiving two Oscar nominations for Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman and Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story. House of Gucci is also his third film this year after appearing as the creepy Jacques Le Gris in Scott’s The Last Duel and as stand up comedian in Leos Carax’s bizarre yet entertaining musical, Annette. Although Driver’s performance as Maurizio isn’t as memorable as the other two, he still portrays him as a charming and likeable individual who finds himself in the middle of a family drama caused by his wife. Solid supporting roles are provided by Hayek as Patrizia’s psychic friend, Giuseppina Auriemma, and Pacino as Maurizio’s uncle Aldo. Unfortunately, although Leto is unrecognisable as Paolo underneath layers of impressive prosthetics and make-up, his performance is too over the top for him to be taken seriously. I can imagine that Paolo was meant to be a tragic figure who has own unique fashion ideas, he comes across as a caricature. 

The end of the year sees the release of films that could potentially be nominated at the Academy Awards. Although it hasn’t had the best critical reception, I think that House of Gucci could receive a few nominations, including Lady Gaga’s performance, the make-up and hairstyling and costume design by Janty Yates. Because Gucci is one of the world’s biggest fashion brands, Yates had to create a lot of outfits that could look like they were designed by them and she has succeeded. While the film itself will divide viewers, there’s no denying that the many costumes and outfits, especially those worn by Gaga as Patrizia, are stylish. In terms of receiving a Best Picture nomination, I think that, because of the disappointing response from critics, House of Gucci’s chances are less likely. However, Bohemian Rhapsody divided critics and was still successful at the 91st Academy Awards, being nominated for Best Picture and winning Best Actor for Rami Malek’s uncanny portrayal as pop icon Freddie Mercury. House of Gucci has most of the ingredients for a typical Oscar nominated film, including an original and compelling story and strong performances by its talented cast, however, it is difficult to say whether it will actually be nominated next year.

It’s easy to see why House of Gucci has become one of this year’s most talked about films as it features memorable performances by its cast and tells the unbelievable true story about the family behind one of the world’s biggest fashion brands.

7/10

PETITE MAMAN REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

In 2019, Céline Sciamma wrote and directed Portrait of a Lady on Fire, a historical romantic drama that focused on the intimate relationship between two women. At the Cannes Film Festival that year, the film won the Queer Palm, with Sciamma winning an award for Best Screenplay. Portrait of a Lady on Fire was critically acclaimed, with most of them describing it as a “singularly rich period piece that finds stirring, thought provoking drama within a powerfully acted romance”. Because of this, expectations were high for Sciamma’s latest film, Petite Maman. 
After her grandmother dies, Nelly (Joséphine Sanz) is taken to her mother's childhood home. While her parents go about cleaning out the house, Nelly explores the surrounding woods. She encounters Marion (Gabrielle Sanz), a girl exactly Nelly's age and to whom she bears a striking resemblance. The pair become fast friends, constructing a hut together, sharing lunches, and talking over the life transitions both are in the midst of. (Marion is only days away from going to hospital for an operation.) Incrementally, the girls' eerie similarities yield revelations that merge events of the past with those of the present.

Like Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Petite Maman is a moving and heartfelt drama. Sciamma’s script is thematic and explores the relationship between Nelly and another young girl who is the same age. However, it doesn’t take long for Nelly to realise that the girl is her mother, Marion. This discovery isn’t a major revelation or plot twist but is revealed early on in the film. Instead of trying to explain how this is possible, Sciamma focuses more on the friendship that forms between Nelly and Marion as they play together. Although little happens over its 72 minute runtime, Petite Maman is rarely anything less than a lighthearted drama that makes for a quick and easy watch.

What was most impressive about Petite Maman were the performances delivered by sisters, Joséphine and Gabrielle Sanz. Unsurprisingly, they share chemistry and work really well together. Joséphine is perfectly sweet as Nelly who is saddened by her grandmother’s recent death. Her mother (Nina Meurisse) is also upset by this tragedy, leading to her leaving Nelly to be taken care of by her father (Stéphane Varupenne). Joséphine’s sister, Gabrielle, is equally as impressive as the younger version of Nelly’s mother, Marion, who is nervous about an upcoming operation but is happy to have made a new friend in Nelly. They spend their time together in the forest and at Marion’s home making pancakes and play acting. The friendship between Nelly and Marion is where Petite Maman is at its most heartwarming. 

Petite Maman is being released in cinemas in the UK on November 19th, however, I was able to watch it a few days earlier at ODEON’s Screen Unseen which provides viewers with a mystery film. On social media, ODEON posted clues that hinted at Petite Maman’s plot. Although there were quite a lot of people in my screening, unfortunately, most of them exited when the film was revealed to be Petite Maman. What is most disappointing about this is that they didn’t give it a chance and walked out before the film had even started. Although I can imagine some of those people were probably expecting Ghostbusters: Afterlife (which is release the day before Petite Maman), it’s likely that it’ll make a lot of money at the box office as it’s a sequel to the 1984 comedy hit, Ghostbusters, however, Petite Maman will probably be overlooked when it’s released later this week. While it’s great that these blockbusters are finally being released after cinemas were closed due to the pandemic, we need to be giving original films such as Petite Maman a chance as, in my opinion, they’re more meaningful and leave more of a lasting impression.

I can’t imagine those who enjoyed Portrait of a Lady on Fire being disappointed with what Céline Sciamma has created with Petite Maman. With her latest film, Sciamma continues to impress with her unique filmmaking skills and has created a meaningful and thematic drama.

8/10

KING RICHARD REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Sisters Venus and Serena Williams are two of the most famous tennis players so it may come as a bit of a surprise that King Richard focuses more on their father and how he inspired them rather than their success. However, whilst watching the film, it’s easy to understand why the sisters wanted a film made about their father. 

Based on the true story that will inspire the world, King Richard follows the journey of Richard Williams (Will Smith), an undeterred father instrumental in raising Venus (Saniyya Sydney) and Serena Williams (Demi Singleton), two of the most extraordinarily gifted athletes of all time, who will end up changing the sport of tennis forever. Driven by a clear vision of their future and using unconventional methods, Richard has a plan that will take Venus and Serena from the streets of Compton, California to the global stage as legendary icons.

Since its premiere at the Telluride Film Festival in September, King Richard has been well received by critics who praised Smith’s performance and the film’s inspiring true story which explores how Venus and Serena became the tennis champions they are known as today through their father’s determination. Although I’m not the biggest fan of tennis or any sport for that matter, I still thoroughly enjoyed what director Reinaldo Marcus Green and screenwriter, Zach Baylin, have created with King Richard, which, for the majority of its 138 minute runtime, is rarely anything less than engrossing and entertaining. 

It can be quite a difficult task to make a sports-based drama as, because there’s been so many, it’s easy for the film to feel formulaic, cliched and predictable. Fortunately, that’s not the case with King Richard. Although a lot of people will know who Venus and Serena Williams are, there will be those who aren’t aware that they credit their successful tennis career to their father, Richard, who faced hardships growing up and wanted the best for his daughters. What surprised me the most was that Venus and Serena actually had three other sisters, Tunde (Mikayla LaShae Bartholomew), Isha (Danielle Lawson) and Lyndrea (Layla Crawford). One of the most poignant themes of King Richard is family which is clearly captured in the film and the chemistry between the Williams family. Richard clearly wants the best for his daughters which is evident throughout the film. What’s most admirable about him is that he frequently reminds Venus and Serena to remain humble, despite their increasing success. They also make the surprising yet respectable decision to turn down a $3 million contract as the agent hasn’t seen Venus play. This is proof that the young tennis players cared more about the sport rather than earning a lot of money.

There’s no denying that Smith is one of the most successful actors working today and delivered many memorable performances in action blockbusters such as Independence Day and Men In Black and touching dramas including The Pursuit of Happyness. Smith received his first Oscar nomination for his portrayal of boxing legend, Muhammed Ali, in Michael Mann’s Ali. Unfortunately, two of his recent films, Collateral Beauty and Gemini Man, were both disappointments. King Richard represents one of Smith’s best films and also one of his most impressive performances. He portrays Richard as a determined and caring father. It’s a powerful performance that is sure to see Smith receive an Oscar nomination at next year’s Academy Awards. It would have been easy for Smith’s performance to overshadow that of his fellow cast members, fortunately, that’s not the case with King Richard which allows the rest of the cast to deliver equally impressive dramatic performances. Both Sidney and Singleton deliver likeable and confident performances as the Williams sisters. Aunjanue Ellis provides a strong supporting role as Richard’s wife and the mother of the Williams sisters, Oracene. Jon Bernthal is perfectly charismatic as former tennis player, Rick Macci, who coaches Venus and Serena.

Aside from Smith’s performance, I think that King Richard could also potentially receive a nomination for Best Original Song for Beyoncé’s Be Alive, which features in the film’s trailer and is played during the end credits which show various clips and pictures of the real Venus and Serena with Richard. Beyoncé’s song is empowering and could see her follow in the footsteps of Adele and Lady Gaga who have each won an Oscar for Best Original Song, with the former winning for her song, Skyfall, which was the theme song for the 2012 James Bond film of the same name, and the latter winning for her song, Shallows, which she sung in the 2018 drama, A Star Is Born.

With an impressive dramatic performance by Will Smith, King Richard tells the inspiring true story of how sisters, Venus and Serena Williams, became tennis champions with the help of their father.

8/10

DUNE REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

There’s no denying that Denis Villeneuve is one of the best visionary filmmakers working today. In the last decade, he’s found success with films such as Prisoners, Sicario, Arrival and Blade Runner 2049. This is why Villeneuve was the ideal choice to adapt Frank Herbert’s novel, Dune, into a feature film. The book has already been adapted into a film in 1984 by director David Lynch but the results were disastrous as it failed to impress at the box office with critics describing it as too dry and a truncated adaptation of Herbert’s book. With a higher budget, better special effects and a talented ensemble cast, is Denis Villeneuve’s Dune a successful adaptation of its source material?

A mythic and emotionally charged hero's journey, Dune tells the story of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet's exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence-a commodity capable of unlocking humanity's greatest potential-only those who can conquer their fear will survive.

Making a film adaptation of Dune has been a longstanding dream project for Villeneuve, however, he didn’t think he would succeed in getting the rights to Herbert’s book. After establishing himself as a skilful and unique visionary filmmaker with Arrival and Blade Runner 2049, Herbert’s son, Brian, who was the author of later books in the Dune series, confirmed that Villeneuve would be directing the project. Fortunately, the hard work has paid off as Villeneuve has succeeded in adapting Dune into an epic and spectacular science fiction film. I think that the film will mean more to those who have read the novel as they’ll have a better understanding of the story and know who the characters are and what they represent in regards to the narrative. However, Dune is worth watching for those who enjoy watching science fiction films that prioritise a compelling and original story and interesting characters over artificial special effects and underwhelming action sequences. 

The main issue with Lynch’s take on Dune was that it struggled to include all of the book into its 137 minute runtime. Because the book features complex ideas and themes within its story, adapting it into a feature length film with a running length of roughly two hours was always going to be challenging, however, Villeneuve made the decision to split the book into two parts. This decision was a risk as, at the time of its release, a Part Two hadn’t been announced as the producers wanted to wait for the box office results of its opening weekend before confirming a follow up. Fortunately, at the time of writing this review, Dune has impressed at the box office, making over $41 million, leading to a sequel being confirmed. A release date is yet unknown, however, it will most likely be released within the next two years. Understandably, many may be disappointed that Dune doesn’t cover all of its source material and ends quite abruptly, however, for those who can’t wait to find out what happens next can easily pick up a copy of Herbert’s book. 

Because I hadn’t read Herbert’s book or seen Lynch’s infamous 1984 adaptation, I had no idea what to expect from Dune, however,  I mainly wanted to watch it as Villeneuve is one of my favourite directors and I was impressed by the talented actors appearing in the film. Since its release earlier this month, Dune has been praised by critics with most of them saying that its issues, including its unwieldy source material, are “overshadowed by the scope and ambition of this visually thrilling adaptation”. This is how I felt about Dune as, although I wasn’t always sure about the characters and story, I was blown away by the incredible visuals brought to life through Villeneuve’s unique filmmaking talents. Although in the United States it has been released simultaneously in cinemas and on the home streaming service, HBO Max, there’s no denying that Dune was a film made to be experienced on the big screen. It’s a film that needs your 100% attention which is why I’m happy I was able to watch it at the cinema as, if I had watched it at home, I would’ve lost interest and become confused as I’m easily distracted at home. Dune will most likely frustrate impatient viewers as the film takes its time introducing the characters and setting up the story.

Dune features an impressive ensemble cast, however, only a handful of the actors appearing are given enough screen time to leave a lasting impression. The standout is, unsurprisingly, Chalamet who has previously appeared in critically acclaimed dramas such as Lady Bird and Call Me By Your Name and recently had a role in Wes Anderson’s latest film, The French Dispatch. As Paul, he delivers a strong performance. Both Rebecca Ferguson and Oscar Isaac stand out as his parents, Jessica and Leto, who is the ruler of House Atreides. Other memorable performances are delivered by Jason Momoa as one of Paul’s mentors and the sword master of House Atreides, Duncan Idaho, and Josh Brolin as the weapons master, Gurney Helleck. What’s most surprising and also disappointing about Dune is that, despite featuring prominently on the poster and in interviews as part of its marketing campaign, Zendaya has little screen time as Chani who is a mysterious young woman that Paul has visions of throughout the film. The two meet towards the end, with Villeneuve promising that she’ll have a bigger role in part two.

After originally being scheduled for release in 2020, Dune has finally been released and, for fans of Frank Herbert’s novel, is certainly worth the wait. It benefits from Denis Villeneuve’s unique vision as he has created one of the year’s most visually stunning and spectacular looking films.

8/10

THE LAST DUEL REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

In 2005, Ridley Scott directed the medieval drama, Kingdom of Heaven, which starred Orlando Bloom and Eva Green. It received a mostly positive response from critics who praised the action packed battle sequences. Sixteen years later, Scott returns to the genre with The Last Duel, which is set in the midst of the Hundred Years War that explores the ubiquitous power of men, the frailty of justice and the strength and courage of one woman willing to stand alone in the service of truth. Based on actual events, the film unravels long-held assumptions about France's last sanctioned duel between Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon) and Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver), two friends turned bitter rivals. Carrouges is a respected knight known for his bravery and skill on the battlefield. Le Gris is a Norman squire whose intelligence and eloquence make him one of the most admired nobles in court. When Carrouges' wife, Marguerite (Jodie Comer), is viciously assaulted by Le Gris, a charge he denies, she refuses to stay silent, stepping forward to accuse her attacker, an act of bravery and defiance that puts her life in jeopardy. The ensuing trial by combat, a grueling duel to the death, places the fate of all three in God's hands.


Although The Last Duel is a compelling and thought provoking drama with strong performances by its talented cast, it is difficult to watch at times, especially the graphic and gruesome rape scene which is shown twice from the perspective of Le Gris and Marguerite. Those who are affected by rape are best off avoiding The Last Duel as Scott doesn’t shy away from showing the rape twice. I think that this is definitely the most controversial aspect of The Last Duel as a lot of people will feel uncomfortable watching this scene once, let alone twice.
Aside from the graphic rape scene, The Last Duel is a powerful drama. Although it takes place in the late fourteenth century, the story couldn’t be more relevant. Its exploration of significant themes are what make it an effective watch. The story is told from the three perspectives of Carrouges, Le Gris and Marguerite. In Carrouges’ story, it’s revealed that he is friends with Le Gris, however, they soon become enemies when the latter is given a piece of land owed to Carrouges by Count Pierre (Ben Affleck). Although Damon delivers a solid leading performance as The Last Duel, this is where the film is at its weakest. The second chapter, which is told from Le Gris’ point of view, is where the drama and tension increases, with Driver delivering a perfectly creepy and intimidating portrayal. Because Le Gris is in love with Marguerite, he believes he’s being charming and thinks that she feels the same way. The Last Duel is at its best during the final hour, with Marguerite’s story being told, leading to the titular final battle between Carrouges and Le Gris. Comer impressed with her performance as the fierce assassin, Villenelle, in the thrilling series, Killing Eve, and stood out alongside Ryan Reynolds in the action packed comedy, Free Guy. Now, in The Last Duel, Comer continues to establish herself as a talented actor. In the beginning, Marguerite is simply seen as Carrouges’ wife, however, after she is attacked by Le Gris, she becomes braver and more self assured. Despite being accused of lying by those around her, Marguerite stands by her truth, making her a respectable and inspiring individual.

The script for The Last Duel is written by Damon, Affleck and Nicole Holofcener, and is based on Eric Jager’s 2004 novel, The Last Duel: A True Story of Trial by Combat in Medieval France. Although the story takes place thousands of years ago, the story is still relevant. I can imagine a lot of people being shocked by medieval society’s view of sex. When Marguerite struggles to conceive a baby with Carrouges, a fertility doctor tells her that it’s because she isn’t being pleasured at the same time as him, which is untrue as a woman can still become pregnant even if she hasn’t achieved orgasm. When Marguerites first accuses Le Gris of raping her, instead of questioning the latter, it’s the former who faces judgement from the public. It’s unfortunate that, in the thousands of years since this story took place, there’s been little to no progress, as women are still being asked what they were wearing and/or if they were drunk when they were attacked. The Last Duel is definitely one of the most thought provoking films to be released this year.

All of the drama and tension builds up to the climatic duel between Carrouges and Le Gris. Because I hadn’t read the book that The Last Duel is based on, I had no idea how it was going to end. The final duel is where The Last Duel is at its most intense as, if Le Gris wins the battle and kills Carrouges, Marguerite’s accusation will be deemed false and she’ll be burnt alive. Both Carrouges and Le Gris are both strong fighters so it’s hard to predict who will win the duel. 

With impressive performances by Jodie Comer and Adam Driver, The Last Duel is a powerful medieval drama. 

8/10

SPENCER REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

There’s been an increasing interest in the life of the British Royal Family ever since the release of the drama series, The Crown, in 2016, on the streaming service, Netflix. The latest series saw Olivia Colman in the role of Queen Elizabeth II and focused on her son, Prince Charles, and his marriage to Diana Spencer, the Princess of Wales, who was portrayed by Emma Corrin. Corrin was widely lauded for her performance as the late Diana as she captured her personality and mannerisms perfectly and received numerous awards including the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama. Earlier this year, it was announced that Kristen Stewart would be taking on the role of Diana in a drama film directed by Pablo Larraín. Many were unsure about the casting as Stewart is American and, despite its conclusion almost a decade ago, is still remembered for her role as Bella Swan in the Twilight saga. However, shortly after the announcement, pictures were released of Stewart as Diana and she really resembled her. Because of this, Spencer quickly became one of my most anticipated films of this year.


The marriage of Princess Diana (Kristen Stewart) and Prince Charles (Jack Farthing) has long since grown cold. Though rumours of affairs and a divorce abound, peace is ordained for the Christmas festivities at the Queen's Sandringham Estate. There's eating and drinking, shooting and hunting. Diana knows the game. But this year, things will be profoundly different. Spencer is an imagining of what might have happened during those few fateful days.


Unsurprisingly, the standout aspect of Spencer is Stewart’s portrayal of Diana and delivers her most impressive and best dramatic performance yet. It’s a delicate and profound performance that is sure to see Stewart recognised by the Academy next year. Although she lacks screen time, Sally Hawkins provides a memorable supporting role as Diana’s dresser and confidante, Maggie. Both Timothy Spall as Equerry Major Alistair Gregory and Sean Harris as the Royal Head Chef, Darren McGrady, are equally as impressive. What’s most interesting about Spencer is that the members of the Royal Family, including Queen Elizabeth II (Stella Gonet), are kept mostly in the background which I think was a good decision as the film is about Diana. The only other member of the Royal Family to have significant screen time is Diana’s husband, Prince Charles. Their scenes are intense, with Diana revealing she knows about his affair with Camilla Parker-Bowles, as he bought her the same pearls. While most of the film is most likely fabricated and dramatised, the tense relationship between Diana and Charles is the most authentic detail. 

In 2016, Larraín directed the drama, Jackie, which focussed on a recently widowed Jacqueline Kennedy following the shocking assassination of her husband, President John F. Kennedy. It was a raw and powerful character study with Natalie Portman impressing with her performance as the titular former First Lady. A similar comment can be made about Spencer, which sees Diana struggling to cope with life in the Royal household. Larraín doesn’t shy away from showing viewers the darkest aspects of Diana’s life, including her struggles with bulimia and self harm, and that is what makes it such an enthralling and captivating watch throughout.

Those expecting a biopic that explores Diana's life will probably be disappointed by Spencer as it’s more of a character study and takes place over the holidays, beginning on Christmas Eve and ending on Boxing Day. However, because Diana's life is well known, I can understand why Larraín chose to make a character study that explores her behaviour, her personal struggles and relationships with the Royal Family as it makes for a more insightful watch. Through Diana's closed and awkward body language, it's clear she doesn’t fit in with the Royals, however, she has a better relationship with her sons, William (Jack Nielen) and Harry (Freddie Spry). The scenes Diana shares with her sons is where Spencer is at its most heartwarming and poignant. 

Despite spending the Christmas holidays at the Queen's Sandringham Estate, a vast country house filled with countless rooms, Diana feels trapped within the strict rules set by the Royal Family. While they all indulge themselves on extravagant food in celebration of the festive holidays, Diana struggles with her bulimia and is frequently seen purging, a common symptom of the eating disorder. Those who are daily triggered may want to avoid watching Spencer as Diana's disordered eating behaviours are clearly shown. There's also a bizarre weighing machine that requires the individual to sit on a set of scales and have their weight written down with Diana revealing that the overindulgence allows the individuals to gain three pounds to prove that they’ve enjoyed themselves. It's not surprising that she ends up struggling with her bulimia as a result of the Royal Family's obsession with food. What's heartbreaking is that Diana receives no help for her eating disorder. After being sick in the bathroom, Diana frequently has members of the household staff knocking on the door telling her that dessert is ready. 

Although Diana is a captivating character study with Stewart shining with her portrayal of Diana, the film isn't without its issues. Throughout the film, Diana becomes obsessed with Anne Boleyn after finding a  book. This leads to Anne Boleyn frequently appearing as a figment of Diana's imagination throughout the film. While I can imagine that Larraín wanted to show Diana becoming delirious, the Anne Boleyn scenes felt too strange and out of place. I also think that the ending, while it concludes the film on a joyful scene, may be divisive. Fortunately, these flaws didn’t ruin my overall enjoyment of what director Pablo Larraín has created with Spencer, which is a fascinating character study with Kristen Stewart delivering her best dramatic performance yet.

8/10

RESPECT REVIEW

 *MAy CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Known as the "Queen of Soul" and for iconic songs such as Respect and (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, Aretha Franklin was a legendary singer and songwriter. She has twice been placed 9th in Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. Because of this, it’s unsurprising that a biopic has been made about Franklin.


Following the rise of Aretha Franklin’s (Jennifer Hudson) career from a child singing in her father's church's choir to her international superstardom, Respect tells the remarkable true story of the music icon's journey to find her voice.


After coming seventh on American Idol in 2004, Hudson rose to fame after winning her first Oscar for her supporting role as Effie White in Dreamgirls at the 79th Academy Awards. Hudson continues to impress and shines with her portrayal of Aretha. She captures the singer’s powerful vocals and diva like personality. I’ll be surprised if Hudson isn’t nominated for Best Actress at next year’s Academy Awards. The supporting cast are also on top form, with Forest Whitaker as Aretha’s father Reverend C. L. Franklin and Marlon Wayan as Aretha’s violent husband, Ted White, standing out. Both are controlling of Aretha’s singing career and make most of the decisions, however, whilst working with her father, she struggles to find success. While the entire cast of Respect each deliver strong performances, it’s Hudson who stands out and the film is worth watching just for her performance. 

Following Respect’s release in the United States last month, it’s received a mixed response from critics who praised the powerful performance by Hudson but described the narrative as generic. While the story follows a typical path, I still found it to be a fascinating watch. Although I’m familiar with Aretha Franklin and her songs, I knew little about her personal life. Respect doesn’t shy away from showing the darkest sides of Aretha’s life, including her struggle with alcoholism and her relationship with her abusive husband, Ted. These scenes prove that, despite her successful music career, Aretha’s life was far from perfect. Despite its lengthy 145 minute runtime, Respect only briefly explores each of the aspects of Aretha’s life, including the sexual abuse she received when she was just a child and her mother’s death. Respect succeeds in exploring her controlling relationships with her father and her husband, Ted White, who, because of his violent and angry outbursts, is a terrifying presence.  

I found Respect to be similar to the 2019 biopic, Judy, as both are about legendary musicians who had tragic life stories. Those who found the Judy to be a fascinating watch will probably enjoy what director Liesl Tommy has created with Respect. It’s clear that Tommy wanted to create a biopic that does justice to Aretha Franklin and highlights her successful music career but also gives viewers an insight into her personal life and I think that she has mostly succeeded.

While Respect mostly consists of compelling drama, it’s at its best when it’s focusing on Aretha performing some of her most well known songs, including, of course, Respect. These sequences prove why Aretha Franklin was known as one of the greatest singers of all time and, despite her tragic death in 2018, why she’ll never be forgotten. 

With Respect, Liesl Tommy has created a fascinating biopic about Aretha Franklin, with Jennifer Hudson impressing with her performance. 

7/10

STILLWATER REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

In 2016, Tom McCarthy directed Spotlight which was a compelling drama starring a talented ensemble cast including Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams. Following its release, it was lauded by critics who praised the film’s handling of a dark subject. At the 88th Academy Awards, Spotlight won the Oscar for Best Picture. Because of this, expectations were high for McCarthy’s next drama, Stillwater, however, is it as impressive as Spotlight?

Unemployed roughneck Bill Baker (Matt Damon) travels from Oklahoma to Marseille to visit his estranged daughter Allison (Abigail Breslin) who has been imprisoned for a murder she claims she did not commit. Allison seizes on a new tip that could exonerate her and presses Bill to engage her legal team but Bill. eager to prove his worth and regain his daughters trust, takes matters into his own hands. He is quickly stymied by language barriers, cultural differences, and a complicated legal system until he meets French actress Virginie (Camille Cottin), mother to eight-year-old Maya (Lilou Siauvaud). Together, these unlikely allies embark on a journey of discovery, truth, love and liberation.

Although Stillwater probably won’t be as successful as Spotlight at next year’s Academy Awards, I still found it to be an engrossing drama. The standout aspect of Stillwater is the performances delivered by its talented cast. Damon is almost unrecognisable underneath Bill’s cap, sunglasses and beard and captures his determination to free his daughter. Breslin is best known for her memorable performance in the Oscar winning 2006 film, Little Miss Sunshine, and in the horror-based comedies, Zombieland and its sequel, Double Tap, which was released in 2019. However, as Allison, Breslin delivers one of her most impressive performances. Cottin delivers a heartfelt supporting role as Virginie. I’m glad that she wasn’t written as a simple love interest for Bill. Young Lilou Siauvaud is a scene stealer as her daughter, Maya. What’s most impressive about Siauvaud is that she handles the dramatic scenes really well.

For the majority of its 140 minute runtime, Stillwater is never anything less than a serious and twisted drama. While I think that it’s worth a watch for the strong performances and fascinating story, I can imagine that many will find it to be a difficult watch as the intensity increases, especially towards the end. A late sequence sees Bill kidnapping a suspect he believes is responsible for murder and keeps him in the basement. Although this shows how determined Bill is to prove his daughter’s innocence, his actions are problematic. I think that this is where Stillwater was at its most thought provoking. Bill’s actions have a big impact on his relationships with Virginie and Maya, something he regrets. Damon is known for his roles as charming main characters, including Jason Bourne in the Bourne franchise and as astronaut Mark Watney in Ridley Scott’s sci-fi drama, The Martian, so it was refreshing to see him portray a flawed character who isn’t the most likeable.

Since Stillwater’s premiere at the Cannes Film Festival last month, it’s been received well by critics, with the majority of them saying that its “thoughtful approach to intelligent themes gives it a steadily building power”. I agree with what they’re saying as the first hour is where Stillwater is at its weakest as it focuses on introducing the characters and their situation. The film is at its most compelling during its final hour which sees Bill taking matters into his own hands. During the later scenes, some may be wondering what they would do in his situation, making it a thought provoking drama,

While Stillwater is a well-made drama with impressive performances delivered by its cast, it’s hard to say whether it will be remembered during award season next year. I think that Damon could potentially be nominated for his performance, however, I won’t be surprised if he’s overlooked.

With Stillwater, director Tom McCarthy has created an engrossing drama with Matt Damon delivering one of his most impressive performances.

7/10

THE LAST LETTER FROM YOUR LOVER REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

In 2016, a feature film adaptation of Jojo Moyes’ book, Me Before You, was released and starred Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin. It was a romantic drama that focused on the relationship between a paralysed young man and his bubbly caretaker. While some people found it to be an emotional watch, critics were divided and praised the performances by Clarke and Claflin, however, they weren’t impressed by the film’s clumsy handling of a serious subject. Me Before You was more successful at the box office and made over $208 million. Following its success, Moyes’ 2012 book, The Last Letter from your Lover has been adapted into a feature film starring Felicity Jones, Shailene Woodley and Callum Turner. 

A pair of interwoven stories set in the present and past follows Ellie Haworth (Jones), an ambitious journalist who discovers a trove of secret love letters from 1965 and becomes determined to solve the mystery of the forbidden affair at their centre. As she uncovers the story behind Jennifer Stirling (Woodley), the wife of a wealthy industrialist, Laurence (Joe Alwyn) and Anthony O'Hare (Turner), the financial journalist assigned to cover him, Ellie's own love story unfolds with the assistance of Rory (Nabhaan Rizwan), an earnest, endearing archivist who helps her track down more letters.

Those who liked Me Before You will almost certainly enjoy with what director Augustine Frizzell has created with her adaptation of Moyes’ book, The Last Letter From Your Lover as both are romantic dramas. What’s most interesting about the film is that it tells two stories that take place in different time settings. The film is at its most romantic and compelling when it’s focusing on the affair between Jennifer and Anthony, with Woodley and Turner sharing chemistry. The modern day scenes could have easily been boring, however, they benefit from Jones’ charming performance as Ellie who is fascinated by the letters she finds that were written by Jennifer and Anthony. As Ellie works to uncover the mystery behind the letters, she finds herself falling in love with Rory. Because the scenes that take place in the past are serious, the modern day scenes are more lighthearted and provide occasional moments of comic relief. Getting the balance between drama and comedy can be challenging as, during a serious scene, the humour feels out of place and vice versa. Fortunately, this wasn’t the case with The Last Letter From Your Lover. Most of the humour comes from Ellie’s awkward interactions with Rory that soon develop into a romance.

The story is far from unpredictable, despite this, however. I still found The Last Letter From Your Lover to be a romantic and heartfelt drama. What makes it compelling is the affair between Jennifer and Anthony. Although Jennifer is married to Laurence, she’s clearly unhappy and, shortly after meeting Anthony, she quickly falls for him. Because Jennifer doesn’t love her husband, we want her to be with Anthony. Meanwhile, in the present day, Ellie discovers their love letters. Like Ellie, we want to know if the couple ended up together. The answer may not be that surprising, however, it leads to a moving ending.

What I found most interesting about The Last Letter From Your Lover is how romance is explored in the two different timelines. Nowadays, many people form romantic relationships through dating apps, however, the film shows how relationships were formed in a time when phones and computers didn’t exist and, instead of text messages, people would write heartfelt and meaningful letters. Some of the romantic films that have been released recently are modern so it was refreshing to watch a film that explores love in the 1960s. I think that The Last Letter From Your Letter may appeal to those who grew up and made relationshps in the same setting as it will make them feel nostalgic.

The strength of The Last Letter From Your Lover lies in the performances delivered by its talented cast. The standout is Woodley who delivers a passionate performance as Jennifer alongside Turner as her love interest, Anthony. Recently, Jones has become known for her appearances in films that are set in the past including The Theory of Everything (where she portrayed Stephen Hawking’s wife, Jane, and earned her first Oscar nomination), On The Basis of Sex (where she delivered an impressive portrayal of Ruth Bader Ginsberg and was overlooked by the Academy) and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (a spin-off that takes place a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away), however, as Ellie, she is naturally sweet and instantly likeable. Aside from the three leading performances, credit also has to be given to Diana Kent and Ben Cross who portray the older versions of Jennifer and Anthony in the modern day setting. In just one scene, they were able to capture the chemistry of the younger versions of their characters. 

While the acting on screen is impressive, the work on f The Last Letter From Your Lover from behind the scenes also stand out, including the costume design and Jennifer’s stunning wardrobe, including her luxurious dresses, comfortable beach outfits and sleek casual clothes. 

It goes without saying but the last year and a half has been incredibly difficult for obvious reasons. However, now more than ever, we all need escapism and films provide that. The Last Letter From Your Lover was recently released on the streaming service, Netflix, in the United States but is getting a cinema release in the United Kingdom. Whether you watch it at home or on the big screen, I think that The Last Letter From Your Lover is worth watching for those looking for a romantic drama that tells an interesting story and is easy to watch.

7/10

OLD REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

M. Night Shyamalan is one of the most interesting filmmakers working today and has created a wide range of films that varied in quality. Although he’s written and directed twisted thrillers such as The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable, Shyamalan is best known for his bad films, including the unintentionally funny The Happening, the disappointing After Earth and his abysmal live action adaptation of the animated series, The Last Airbender. There’s always interest surrounding a new film made by Shyamalan as it could either be good or bad. Since its release, Shyamalan’s latest film, Old, has received a mixed response, with critics describing his direction as uneven, however, there are those who enjoyed it. Its divided reception increased my interest in watching it. 

Old focuses on a family on a tropical holiday who discover that the secluded beach where they are relaxing for a few hours is somehow causing them to age rapidly reducing their entire lives into a single day.

Inspired by the graphic novel, Sandcastle, which was written by Pierre Oscar Levy and Frederik Peeters, Old has an interesting premise, unfortunate, the execution through Shyaman’s directing leads to a film filled with over the top performances and a story that is more confusing than clever. The plot twists are strange and disturbing as children age rapidly. Despite these flaws, however, I still found Old to be a fascinating and fun watch. 

The irony of Old is that, despite focusing on a group of characters who age quickly, it does have pacing issues. The first twenty to thirty minutes are spent introducing the characters including Guy (Gael García Bernal), his wife, Prisca (Vicky Krieps) and their young children, Trent (Nolan River) and Maddox (Alexa Swinton). Guy and Prisca are clearly having marriage issues and want to have one final holiday with their children before they divorce. The opening scene is where Old is at its weakest as the set up feels perfunctory and introduces other characters, including surgeon Charles (Rufus Sewell), his wife, Chrystal (Abbey Lee) and their young daughter, Kara (Kyle Bailey). When they all arrive at the beach, the story becomes more interesting when Trent finds a corpse of a woman who had visited the beach the previous night. Following this gruesome discovery, the visitors soon learn that the beach is far from the paradise that they were initially promised and are trapped there.

The majority of Old takes place on the mysterious beach and this is where it’s at its most compelling. Each of the characters is affected in different yet no less disturbing ways, with Trent, Maddox and Kara ageing at an alarming rate. Both Guy and Prisca are shocked to discover that their children have grown into teenagers within hours. Guy also finds his vision deteriorating with Prisca’s tumour growing in her abdomen leading to a gruesome scene that sees Charles removing it. Shortly after ageing into a teenager, Kara finds herself pregnant before giving birth to a baby moments later. These disturbing outcomes are where Old is at its most twisted, however, Shyamalan’s flawed filmmaking skills prevent it from leaving much of an impression. 

A common trademark that features in most of Shyamalan’s films is a plot twist that occurs towards the end of the film. However, most of these twists are absurd and that’s the case with Old. For most of the film, I was wondering if the characters were going to get off the beach and, if they were, how? The final thirty minutes answered that question, however, it left me with more questions than I had at the beginning and found the twist to be more puzzling than clever.

What’s most interesting about Old isn’t anything to do with the film itself bur rather the fact that it was filmed during a pandemic. The worldwide outbreak of coronavirus in the last year has deeply impacted the filmmaking industry significantly, with films having their release dates postponed and other productions being stopped altogether. However, principle photography for Old began towards the end of 2020. Shyamalan said Old’s subject matter, in which a group of people find themselves trapped on an isolated beach, dealing with a deadly phenomenon, mirrored the experience of being in lockdown and the uncertainty of the pandemic. 

Following my watch of Old, I can understand why it’s received such a divisive response, with those having a lot of fun watching the twists unfold on the beach with others failing to be impressed with what Shyamalan had created. My feelings towards Old are mixed. Although I didn’t think it was as bad as I was expecting, it wasn’t as great as it could have been. I think that if it had been made by a more skilful director, Old could have been a riveting and twisted thriller, however, it’s held back by Shyamalan’s uneven directing and the melodramatic performances by its cast.

6/10

SUPERNOVA REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci are two of the most talented actors working today, with the former earning his first Oscar at the 83rd Academy Awards for his portrayal of King George VI in The King’s Speech, and the latter being one of the most versatile actors and appearing in films such as The Devil Wears Prada, Easy A, Spotlight and big blockbuster films such as Captain America: The First Avenger and The Hunger Games. When it was announced that Firth and Tucci were appearing in a drama, named Supernova, together, I soon became interested in seeing it. 

The premise focuses on a couple, Sam (Firth) and Tusker (Tucci) travelling in a RV across England visiting friends, family and places from their past. 

While Supernova sounds like a lighthearted film, it’s far from it as Tusker was diagnosed with early on-set dementia two years ago. Dementia is a horrible disease that causes long-term and often gradual decrease in the ability to think and remember that is severe enough to affect daily functioning. The care and understanding that has gone into making Supernova is clear. Director Harry Macqueen establishes himself as a talented filmmaker and, with Supernova, he has created one of the year’s most moving and heartbreaking films. 
A lot of films that focus on a main character’s health declining feel sentimental and manipulative. That’s not the case with Supernova. Its story progresses naturally with Macqueen taking his time to establish the main characters and what they’re going through. Those who know someone with dementia will resonate with the main characters in Supernova, however, it is tough to watch at times, especially towards the end. 
Undoubtedly, the strongest aspect of Supernova are the passionate performances delivered by both Firth and Tucci, who share chemistry and are convincing as a married couple whose relationship is impacted by dementia. While Sam doesn’t want to lose Tusker, the latter knows his health is only going to get worse and doesn’t want to live a life where he doesn’t recognise Sam. This is where the moral conflict arises. Is it fair to force someone you love to live a life where their health is deteriorating simply because you can’t be without them? Or would it be better to let them die peacefully before their health gets worse? It’s a heartbreaking position no one should have to be in.

I first watched Supernova at last year’s London Film Festival in October and I found it to be an incredibly moving feature. At the time, I thought that both Firth and Tucci and Supernova could be nominated at this year’s Academy Awards. Unfortunately, it was overlooked, however, that doesn’t take away how good Supernova is. Because of its serious subject, many people may not want to watch a film that focuses on a character’s health deteriorating, especially following the release of the Oscar-winning The Father, which also focused on the main character suffering from dementia. However, I’d say that Supernova is easier to watch as it focuses more on the relationship between Sam and Tusker, rather than the latter’s deteriorating  health. There are some heartwarming scenes, including when the couple attend a party with their family and friends. What I liked about Supernova was its handling of the main character’s sexuality. It’s hard to believe that it’s rare for a film, like Supernova, to feature a same sex couple as the main characters. What’s refreshing about Sam and Tusker was that they weren’t described as homosexuals but rather two human beings who are deeply in love. Too many homosexual characters are stereotyped as camp, I’m glad that wasn’t the case with Sam and Tusker.

With Supernova being a road trip film, there are many beautiful landscape shots with breathtaking cinematography by Dick Pope. There were many times throughout the film where I wanted to escape in a RV and travel across the countryside. 


Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci each deliver their most passionate and heartfelt performances in Supernova, a film that will both warm and break your heart.

8/10

IN THE HEIGHTS REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Lin-Manuel Miranda is best known for creating the award winning musical, Hamilton, which premiered at The Public Theatre in New York City in 2015. The staged production was filmed and released on the streaming service, Disney+, so it could be enjoyed by musical fans outside of the United States. Miranda also wrote the songs for the Disney animated feature, Moana, with one of them, How Far I’ll Go, receiving an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song. In 2018, Miranda delivered a memorable supporting role alongside Emily Blunt in Mary Poppins Returns. Safe to say there’s no end to Miranda’s musical talents and that’s further proven with In The Heights, which first premiered in 2005, and has been adapted into a feature film directed by Jon M. Chu who previously directed the romantic comedy, Crazy Rich Asians. 

In The Heights tells the story of Usnavi (Anthony Ramos) who owns a bodega and has mixed feelings about closing his store and retiring to the Dominican Republic or staying in Washington Heights. The film also focuses on the lives of other characters including Vanessa (Melissa Barrera), who Usnavi has a crush on and is a fashion designer, Nina (Leslie Grace), who has recently returned from Stanford University, however, she doesn’t want to go back but doesn’t know how to tell her father, Kevin (Jimmy Smits), who paid for her tuition. 

From its energetic and uplifting opening to its meaningful conclusion, In The Heights is a feel good musical that will make you want to get up from your seat and dance with the characters. The story is filled with heartwarming romance, engaging drama and amusing comedy. Prior to watching In The Heights, I hadn’t seen the original stage musical so wasn’t sure what to expect, fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised. It’s definitely one of the best musicals since the Oscar winning La La Land. Both films are thematic and explore how following your dreams can affect your personal relationships. In In The Heights, Usnavi wants to leave Washington Heights to live in the Dominican Republic but doesn’t want to leave Vanessa who he has had a crush on since high school. After following her dream of going to Stanford University, Nina returns home disappointed by her experience and how she was treated. Although In The Heights is mostly a joyful and uplifting musical, the story doesn’t shy away from important themes, such as home, dreams, love and death, which are all explored through musical numbers. 

Unsurprisingly, In The Heights is at its most entertaining during the musical numbers. The film opens with the titular song which introduces the characters, including Usnavi, his cousin, Sonny (Gregory Diaz IV), Vanessa, Abuela Claudia (Olga Merediz) who is the matriarch of Washington Heights and portrayed as a motherly figure to most of the characters, Kevin, Nina’s father who runs the taxi company, and Benny (Corey Hawkins) who works for Kevin and is in love with Nina. All of these characters are memorable and interesting enough to keep viewers invested in their stories. Most of these characters get their moment to shine with their own musical numbers where they express their thoughts and feelings. Personally, my favourite songs were 96,000, which focuses on the characters singing about what they would do with a winning lottery ticket worth $96,000, Blackout, which takes place during a power cut, and Paciencia y Fe which is a moving ballad sung by Abuela shortly before she passes away. This was one of the most emotional scenes in In The Heights as Abuela was a mother figure to many of the characters who are saddened by her death. I don’t think there was a dry eye in my screening during this sequence.

What I liked most about In The Heights was that it didn’t just focus on Usnavi and his story, it followed the lives of other individuals who lived in Washington Heights. The framing device sees an older Usnavi telling his life story to a small group of children. At first, it appears that Usnavi is living on a beach in the Dominican Republican, making the viewer believe that he succeeded in following his dream and leaving Washington Heights. However, it’s revealed later on that the location he’s in a shop he built with Vanessa that has a backdrop that looks like the Dominican Republican. This was a clever twist that I didn’t see coming and made for a satisfying ending to Usnavi’s story. 

In The Heights benefits from the lively performances delivered by its cast. Most of the actors aren’t that well known, because of this, they’re more convincing in their roles. Ramos previously had a small supporting role in the Oscar winning A Star is Born alongside Lady Gaga, however, in In The Heights, he delivers an impressing leading performance as Usnavi. Fans of hit sitcom, Brooklyn Nine-Nine will recognise Stephanie Beatriz who appears as one of the salon ladies. He shares chemistry with Barrera who portrays Vanessa. Miranda has a cameo as Piragüero, who owns a small food stand. I was expecting Miranda to have a bigger role in In The Heights, however, I can imagine that he didn’t want to steal the spotlight from the main cast. 

While fans of the original staged musical will, most likely, be impressed with what Chu has created with his adaptation of In The Heights, I think that it can be enjoyed by viewers who are less familiar with it. Because of its mostly lighthearted tone, it’s family friendly and can be enjoyed by viewers of any age. 

The last year has been especially difficult for obvious reasons. The timing of In The Height’s release couldn’t be better as it’s the feel good film we all need right now. Because of its energetic musical numbers, In The Heights is sure to bring a smile to your face. Many people go to the cinema to escape from the realities of the outside world and In The Heights is the perfect film for that. Although 143 minute runtime may seem long, the story and musical numbers are so entertaining that you’ll forget how long it is. 

With energetic and upbeat musical numbers, In The Heights is the ultimate feel good film that we all need right now.

8/10

A QUIET PLACE PART II REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Following its release in 2018, A Quiet Place was successful both with critics, who praised John Krasinski’s writing and directing and the original and scary premise, and at the box office, making over $340 million. Because of this, a sequel, A Quiet Place Part II, was made and scheduled to be released in cinemas in March last year. Unfortunately, after cinemas were forced to close after the spread of coronavirus, its release was postponed. A Quiet Place Part II has finally been released, however, was the wait worth it?

Following the deadly events at home, the Abbott family, mother Evelyn (Emily Blunt) and her three children, Regan (Millicent Simmond), Marcus (Noah Jupe) and her newborn baby son, must now face the terrors of the outside world as they continue their fight for survival in silence. Forced to venture into the unknown, they quickly realise that the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats that lurk beyond the sand path.

Many sequels disappoint as they fail to live up to expectations and feel like uninspired follow-ups that repeat the same story and don’t offer anything new. Fortunately, this isn’t the case with A Quiet Place Part II which is just as intense and thrilling as its predecessor. I can’t imagine those who were impressed with A Quiet Place being disappointed with what Krasinski has created with this sequel which is filled with intense and thrilling sequences. The majority of the previous film takes place long after the monsters have invaded Earth, however, the sequel opens on the first day the aliens invaded. The Abbott family are at a baseball game that Marcus is playing in when the monsters suddenly appear and attack the terrified and screaming crowd. Because they don’t know that the monsters are blind and hunt by sound, almost everyone is killed. I think that this is a great opening to A Quiet Place Part II as it is incredibly intense. Although it’s obvious that the Abbott family survive, not everyone is as lucky and are violently killed by the monsters. A Quiet Place Part II further proves that Krasinski knows how to make a genuinely scary horror film that keeps you on the edge of your seat for the majority of its 97 minute runtime. Because of its short runtime, there aren’t any pacing issues with the story moving at a quick pace, with the tension increasing leading to a riveting climax. 

A Quiet Place Part II was originally scheduled to be released in cinemas in March last year, however, because cinemas were forced to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it wasn’t released until recently. While a lot of films have skipped being released in cinemas and gone straight to video on demand, A Quiet Place Part II proves why cinemas are important. They provide audiences with a unique viewing experience that can’t be recreated at home. The several jump scares and the suspense wouldn’t have been as effective when watched at home. Although I don’t really mind watching films at home, I’m easily distracted, however, at the cinema, my focus is entirely on the film and I enjoy it more and that was certainly the case with A Quiet Place Part II. 

Although I’m not the biggest fan of horror films, as I get scared easily, what I liked most about A Quiet Place Part II is that it focuses more on story and characters rather than trying to scare its audience. Since the reopening of cinemas earlier this month, there have been the release of several horror films including Spiral: From the Book of Saw, The Conjuring 3: The Devil Made Me Do It and The Unholy, however, they have received a mixed to negative response from critics and audiences. However, since the release of A Quiet Place Part II, critics have said that it “expands the terrifying world of the franchise without losing its heart” and I agree. It doesn’t feel like a direct copy of its predecessor with both the stories and characters progressing. Despite the traumatic events they’ve been through, the Evelyn, Marcus and Regan have developed into brave individuals. At the end of A Quiet Place, Regan discovered that the monsters are vulnerable to the high frequency sound from her cochlear implant. This leads to her wanting to travel to a radio tower on an island so that she can transmit the high frequency sound. Simmonds’ performance is one of the most impressive aspects of A Quiet Place Part II. Because Simmonds is deaf, she understands Regan and delivers a moving performance. Although Regan is scared, she knows that she has an advantage against the monsters. Her brave actions makes her all the more admirable.

As well as Simmonds, the rest of the cast leave lasting impressions with their performances. Blunt stands out with her portrayal of overprotective mother, Evelyn. Cillian Murphy joins the cast and delivers a strong performance as Emmett, who was friends with Lee and reluctantly agrees to help Evelyn and her family. Because he is sent by Evelyn to go after Regan, Emmett spends most his screen time with her and he becomes like a father figure for her. Unfortunately, while Blunt, Simmonds and Murphy impress with their performances, both Jupe and Djimon Hounsou, who is one of the most underrated actors, are underused. As Evelyn’s oldest son, Marcus, Jupe isn’t given much to do except scream, look scared and take care of his baby brother. Hounsou briefly appears towards the end as a character who lives on the island. What’s most disappointing is that Hounsou’s character isn’t even given a name and is killed off shortly after helping Regan and Emmett. 

The main reason I don’t like horror films is because they rely too much on jump scares and gory violence. What I liked most about A Quiet Place Part II was that it focused more on the story and characters, however, the scene near the beginning where Marcus accidentally gets his foot caught in a bear trap is shocking. Due to the excruciating pain, Marcus screams with Evelyn trying to quieten him whilst freeing his foot from the trap, with the tension quickly increasing. Although A Quiet Place Part II isn’t that violent, squeamish viewers may want to avoid watching this. 

A Quiet Place ended with Evelyn reloading her gun and preparing to kill more monsters, with the sequel picking up shortly after. After several riveting sequences involving Evelyn, who is forced to leave Marcus alone with the baby in order to get medical supplies, A Quiet Place Part II ends with Regan and Emmett fighting off a monster using the high frequency sound from Regan’s cochlear implant. Although I think that this was a great ending, I would like to see a second sequel, involving Regan as she has useful skills that can kill monsters. However, I can understand if Krasinski chooses not to make another sequel. 

With A Quiet Place Part II, writer/director John Krasinski has created a sequel that matches the quality of its predecessor and is a riveting thriller.

8/10

SOUND OF METAL REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Since its premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in 2019, Darius Marder’s Sound of Metal has been widely praised by critics, with the majority of them saying that it’s an “evocative look at the experiences of the deaf community”. Because of this, Sound of Metal became one of my most anticipated films.

During a series of adrenaline-fueled one-night gigs, itinerant punk-metal drummer Ruben (Riz Ahmed) begins to experience intermittent hearing loss. When a specialist tells him his condition will rapidly worsen, he thinks his music career, and with it his life, is over. His bandmate and girlfriend Lou (Olivia Cooke) checks the recovering heroin addict into a secluded sober house for the deaf in hopes it will prevent a relapse and help him learn to adapt to his new situation. But after being welcomed into a community that accepts him just as he is, Ruben has to choose between his equilibrium and the drive to reclaim the life he once knew. 

Utilising startling, innovative sound design techniques, director Marder takes audiences inside Ruben’s experience to vividly recreate his journey into a rarely examined world. He achieves this by frequently muting and distorting the sounds. When Ruben’s hearing first begins to become impaired, we feel his frustration at or being able to understand what people are saying and losing his ability to communicate with them. I think that Sound of Metal will resonate with anyone who has physical and/or mental disability as they’ll be able to connect with Ruben and not being able to live the life they want. However, through its story, Sound of Metal sends out an inspiring message about not letting your disability prevent you from living your life. 

To cope with his hearing loss, Ruben is sent to a rehab facility owned by Joe (Paul Raci). This is where Sound of Metal was at its most compelling as Joe tasks Ruben with writing endlessly and sitting peacefully in an effort to make him comfortable with the silence, and confides to him that he himself will do the same, simultaneously. Ruben joins Diane's class and starts to connect with the children and gives them basic drumming lessons. Although hearing loss can have a negative impact on someone’s life, these scenes are fascinating as they show that the characters have accepted their loss of hearing and have learned to live with the condition. This is what makes them all the more admirable.

The most impressive aspect of Sound of Metal is Ahmed’s performance as Ruben. Ahmed has made small appearances in Nightcrawler, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Venom, however, in Sound of Metal, he is given an opportunity to show off his talents as a dramatic actor and, with his performance as Ruben, he has succeeded. He captures most of the emotions that an individual experiences when faced with a life debilitating condition including shock, anger, frustration, sadness, acceptance and optimism. It’s a career defining performance that has earned Ahmed several award nominations including Best Actor at this year’s Academy Awards. Equally as impressive is Raci as Ruben’s mentor, Joe, who helps him accept his new condition and shows him how to live with it. It’s a memorable performance that has led to Raci receiving an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Olivia Cooke also delivers a strong supporting performance as Ruben’s girlfriend, Lou. Since appearing as the cancer stricken Rachel in the surprisingly funny Me and Earl and the Dying Girl in 2015, Cooke has continued to impress with her acting skills by appearing in a wide range of films including the twisted thriller, Thoroughbreds, alongside Anya Taylor-Joy, in Steven Spielberg’s virtual reality based blockbuster, Ready Player One, and last year in the crime based comedy, Pixie. Prior to watching Sound of Metal, I was worried that she was simply Ruben’s girlfriend, however, I didn’t think that was the case as the final act sees Ruben visiting Lou in Paris on her father’s (Mathieu Amalric) birthday. 

Sound of Metal is directed by Marder who wrote the story with Derek Cianfrance who is best known for writing and directing films such as Blue Valentine and The Place Beyond The Pines. With Sound of Metal, Marder, his brother, Abraham and Cianfrance have written a thoughtful drama that explores how the loss of sound has an major impact on a drummer’s life. It’s an interesting premise that is executed through Marder’s skilful direction. He clearly knows how to make a compelling drama that keeps its viewers invested throughout. 

Aside from Ahmed and Raci’s performances, Sound of Metal has also received Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Sound and Best Film Editing. After watching it, I can fully understand why Sound of Metal has been received so favourably and regarded as one of the best films to be released recently as it’s a thoughtful drama that features an impressive lead performance from Riz Ahmed and tells an fascinating story.

8/10

THE FATHER REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Films that focus on a character’s mental and/or physical health deteriorating are often told from an outsider’s point of view with the story showing how the character’s situation impacts them. Although this can be sometimes be effective, it can be hard for the viewer to connect with the character. Florian Zeller’s The Father is told from the point of view of Anthony (Anthony Hopkins), a man suffering from dementia and struggling with memory loss. 

The beginning of the film introduces us to his daughter, Anne (Olivia Colman) who tells him that she’s leaving him to be with her new boyfriend in Paris. However, Anthony is confused as he thinks that she’s married to which she replies that she’s been divorced five years. The Father takes viewers into Anthony’s mindset and, like him, we are just as puzzled and are trying to figure out what’s going on. Zeller makes subtle yet significant changes in every scene. After Anne leaves Anthony’s flat, he soon sees a mysterious man (Mark Gatiss) who says that he’s Anne’s husband and that he’s in their flat. This only adds to Anthony’s confusion as Anne had just told him that they’re divorced. I found The Father to be similar to Christopher Nolan’s Memento as both of the main characters struggled with memory loss with the narrative being told backwards. I think that this was a clever way of capturing Anthony’s struggles with memory loss. In the beginning, we are just as confused as Anthony, however, it’s not until the very final scene that we have a clear understanding of what was going on. 

Although we’re only three months into 2021, I doubt any other film that’s released this year will come close to matching the emotions that The Father leaves you with. For the majority of its 97 minute runtime, The Father is rarely anything less than heartbreaking to watch. It’s far from the easiest of watches as it focuses on Anthony’s mental health deteriorating as a result of his dementia. Although, thankfully, no one in my family has had the disease, many members of my family do have issues with memory. I try and remind them about past events and films we’ve watched, unfortunately, they don’t remember them or they only have vague recollections. This is why I’m appreciative of my own memory as I know that, as I get older, I could lose them. It’s because of this why I found The Father to be a tough watch at times. Although it is a well made film that effectively details the puzzled mindset of an ageing individual, those who know someone that has dementia may want to avoid watching The Father as it details the effects in a realistic and serious way. 

The Father is based on Zeller’s 2012 play, Le Pere. I can understand why he wanted to adapt it into a feature film as the subject is something that resonates with a lot of people. Recently, there have been many feature film adaptations of stage plays including George C Wolfe’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Regina King’s One Night In Miami. Although both are great films, I’d say The Father is the best of the three as it has the most moving story. Zeller is the perfect choice to direct as, obviously, it’s his play. What’s most impressive about Zeller is that The Father is the first feature film that he’s made. With The Father, the director doesn’t shy away from showing the darker sides of dementia, including a scene that shows Anne’s husband insulting and hitting Anthony. After watching The Father, I’m really interested in what Zeller does next as he’s proven himself to be one of the most skilful directors. 

Undoubtedly, the most impressive aspect of The Father is Hopkins’ transformative leading performance. Because his character, Anthony, is a mentally weak man struggling with his memory loss, it’s quite hard to believe that this is the same actor that won his first Oscar for his role as the terrifying villain, Hannibal Lecter, in Jonathan Demme’s psychological horror, The Silence of the Lambs, in 1991. Although since wining his first Oscar in 1992, Hopkins has continued to have a successful acting career, appearing in a wide range of thrillers and even portraying Odin, Thor’s father, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There’s no denying that he’s one of the greatest actors as, in my opinion, he hasn’t delivered a bad performance. At the time of writing this review, Hopkins is currently nominated at the 93rd Academy Awards for Best Actor. While he thoroughly deserves to be nominated, I’m unsure if he’ll win as the late, great Chadwick Boseman is also nominated for the same award for his performance as Levee in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Although both performances are great, I would like to see Boseman win the Oscar as it’s his final performance and he delivered it whilst battling cancer. I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been for the actor to act whilst suffering in real life. Saying that, I won’t be unhappy if Hopkins wins as it’s a deeply moving performance. Without him, The Father wouldn’t have left much of an impression. The supporting cast are all great too, especially Olivia Colman who continues to impress after winning her first Oscar for her portrayal of Queen Anne in Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Favourite. In The Father, Colman delivers a heartfelt performance as Anthony’s daughter, Anne, who deeply cares about her father. Gatiss, Rufus Sewell and Imogen Poots each portray significant roles in Anthony’s story. 

Although the on-screen work is impressive, the work behind the screen is worth nothing too, especially Ben Smithard's cinematography. The camera frequently follows Anthony as he walks round from one room to another. In the beginning, he is in his apartment, however, when he enters a different room, he is told by Anne's husband that he's in their home. Because Anthony's flat and Anne and her husband's home look quite similar, it’s easy to understand Anthony's confusion. The production design by Peter Francis and Cathy Featherstone is worth noting as they’ve created two locations that look similar, with subtle changes to the design, making it harder to know where Anthony currently is. The editing by Yorgos Lamprinos is effective, with the film transitioning to the next scene effectively. It's obvious that a lot of effort has gone into making The Father, not just from the actors on-screen but also from the work behind the scenes as well.

As well as Best Actor for Hopkins, The Father is also nominated for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress for Colman. Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for Zeller and Best Production Design. I’m not surprised that The Father has been recognised by the Academy as, since its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January last year, it’s been lauded by critics, with most of the praise going towards Hopkins’ outstanding performance and Zeller’s directing. In the United States, The Father is available to watch via Premium Video On Demand. However, it’s not being released in cinemas until June which is after the Academy Awards. At first, I was worried I wasn’t going to be able to watch it before the Oscars, however, thanks to Borderline’s virtual Film Festival, I was able to watch it recently. Because it’s been critically acclaimed, my expectations were high for The Father and, fortunately, it didn’t disappoint. 

8/10