Toni Erdmann is a hard sale for a UK cinema audience but it absolutely rewards on an emotional level those who watch it. A German comedy with subtitles and a running time of 162 minutes that is about a father and daughter who struggle to connect might not seem worth your time but it really … Continue reading Toni Erdmann

Denzel Washington brings to the screen a play by August Wilson, filled with searing performances and meaty dialogue but hamstrung somewhat by its lack of cinematic quality. Troy (Washington) is a middle-aged man working as a refuse collector trying to get through to Friday every week. He is filled with bitter regrets of not being … Continue reading Fences

William (Matt Damon) and Tovar (Pedro Pascal) are mercenary warriors searching for gunpowder. Chased by hill tribesmen they seek refuge at The Great Wall where they discover a vast army fighting off monsters. Will they stay and fight or escape with the weapon they seek? Clearly, we all know what they will do, but it … Continue reading The Great Wall

Keanu Reeves returns as the mythical John Wick in a blistering display of gun-fu action. Picking up straight from the end of the first film, Wick's retirement is postponed again when Santino D'Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio) calls in a "marker" that compels Wick to do a job for him. Mayhem ensues and fighting and action aficionados … Continue reading John Wick: Chapter 2

Arrival released in November last year and was a spectacular film. The "extended" version appears to be a misnomer however and is perhaps the poorest advertising strategy I have seen to get people to watch a Best Picture Oscar nominated film. This re-release is simply the theatrical cut with an 8 minute featurette at the end. … Continue reading Arrival (Extended Version)

The true story of Ray Kroc (Michael Keaton), a salesman who stumbles upon a burger stand, run by two brothers called McDonald. What follows is a story about a family run restaurant which slowly succumbs to becoming a commercial behemoth. Keaton is highly watchable when performing his sales patter, but it can sometimes be a … Continue reading The Founder

Based on the true story of Richard and Mildred Loving, who were arrested and convicted by the state of Virginia for the crime of interracial marriage and banished from the state. Their case would find its way to the Supreme Court. Written and directed by Jeff Nichols, the filmmaker behind Take Shelter, Mud and Midnight Special … Continue reading Loving

Hidden Figures manages a fine line between worthy award-bait grandstanding and feeling like something truly substantial. Set in the early 1960's space race it tells the story of three pioneering African American women working for NASA. The trailer worried me some what, appearing to be a saccharine sickly affair full of speeches from Kevin Costner … Continue reading Hidden Figures

Will Arnett was so ludicrously funny as Batman in The LEGO Movie that he gets his very own spinoff. And whilst the creative leaders of that film have left to make the Han Solo Star Wars spin-off film, those brought in to replace them have an equally good grasp of what made the LEGO movie … Continue reading The LEGO Batman Movie

21 years since the seminal original film, Danny Boyle reunites his cast to provide us with a sequel that is different, but just as worthy of praise. Renton (Ewan McGregor) returns to Edinburgh for the first time since he double crossed the group and stole their money. Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller) runs a number … Continue reading T2 Trainspotting