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I was initially intrigued by this film because it was shot entirely on an iPhone 7. The result of that is a much narrower shot than standard movie fare, and it is incredible. It gives the viewer a sense of intimacy and unease that traditional filming doesn’t. There are interesting angles and closeups that add to the viewers sense of...

I remember back when Angelina Jolie was Lara Croft (Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – 2001), running around in ridiculous outfits, spouting off silly one-liners as responses to equally silly one-liners from her fellow actors. It was a great idea, poorly executed, and something that we look back on now as being of its time, in the same slightly derogatory way...

Well, what can we say about the climax movie of a tried-and-tested franchise like The Maze Runner? Okay special-effects, flimsy writing, middling acting. Was it good? No, but it was enjoyable for what it was. I’ve definitely seen worse in the genre. Mad Max: Fury Road anyone? I know it got great reviews, and it was about time we saw a...

Sometimes a film comes along that is really, truly, laugh out loud funny. This is one of those films. Max (Jason Bateman) and Annie (Rachel McAdams) have regular game nights with their close group of friends, all very calm and easy going. When Max’s more successful, wealthier brother comes to town after a long absence, he offers to host a...

I had high hopes for this movie. I like a good spy yarn, and done well they can make really great movies. Jennifer Lawrence is pretty good, her character’s story is credible, although there’s little in terms of backstory to explain why she is who she is. She has inherent skills and attitudes crucial to her survival, but we never...

Many reviewers describe Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri as a dark comedy, indeed the poster borrowed for this review calls it “Darkly Comic”. I don’t think so: it’s an emotional rollercoaster, but one that delivers hyped-up, intensified emotions rather than rich emotional experiences. But it delivers them well. I thoroughly enjoyed the film, the performances by Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson,...

Darkest Hour tells the story of Winston Churchill in 1940 as he tries to gain support within Westminster for a firm stand against Hitler and the Nazis. Gary Oldman is outstanding as Churchill, and has the benefit of a great cast around him, particularly Kristen Scott Thomas. Set against the backdrop of the collapse of the BEF and the subsequent...

Black Panther is yet another movie in the MCU franchise. I’m not one for the MCU generally, as with Transformers I think the first in a series is often great, but the sequels are generally poor. MCU and Transformers are high-budget, low-brain movies, mostly about special effects and big bangs. Black Panther definitely shares some of those problems, but as...