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  Certificate: PG Running time: 97 minutes  Starring: Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Daveed Diggs, Questlove, Angela Bassett Directed by: Pete Doctor and Kemp Powers The story: Middle school band teacher Joe has lost his passion for music. When he is transported out of his body, he must find his way back with the help of a young soul. The verdict: Pixar has long since established itself as a studio that produces incredibly popular, successful and award winning animated films. And so with each new release there is an expectation that the film will be another beloved gem, and the small worry that this film may be the one that doesn’t quite live up to the magic that audiences have come to expect. Thankfully, audiences need not worry because Soul is another great installment from Pixar.  Soul stood out immediately to me because it’s such a unique and original story. There have been many animations that have dealt with similar issues but none that have done it in such a way as Soul...

Certificate: 15 Running time: 93 minutes Starring: Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Taylour Paige, Colman Domingo, Glynn Turman Directed by: George C. Wolfe The story: Tensions rise over the course of an afternoon recording session when legendary performer Ma Rainey finds herself battling to take control of her music from her white manager and producer. The verdict: It has to be said that there is an underlying sadness in watching Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. This was the last performance from Chadwick Boseman and his performance just reinforces what a phenomenal talent he was. As I was watching the film, I did feel that it was an Academy Award Best Supporting Actor performance and I dearly hope that he is nominated. All the performances in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom are great, but I must also single out Viola Davis. She can do no wrong and this is another standout performance from her. Based on the play of the same name by August Wilson, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom does often watch like a ...

Certificate: PG Running time: 103 minutes Starring: Honor Kneafsey, Sean Bean, Eva Whittaker, Simon McBurney Directed by: Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart The story: Robyn wants to hunt wolves with her father but when she travels with him to Ireland, where he is tasked with wiping out the last pack, she befriends a girl who has a mysterious connection to the wolves. The verdict: Cartoon Saloon has a history of producing animated films which are rich in both storytelling and colour, and their latest film Wolfwalkers definitely follows this trend. Set in 1650 Ireland, Wolfwalkers immediately transports the audience into its setting with vividly realised animation which is both eye-catching and unique. I was pulled into the story straight away and stayed immersed in it throughout. Wolfwalkers has a number of characteristics to its story. It is a story which adds to werewolf mythology and has many moments that feel as though they have been lifted from a book of fairytales. But t...

Certificate: 15 Running time: 57 minutes Starring: Hayley Bishop, Jemma Moore, Caroline Ward, Emma Louise Webb, Radina Drandova, Alan Emrys Directed by: Rob Savage The story: During lockdown, six friends decide to take part in an online séance via Zoom. But events take a turn for the worst when they notice strange things starting to happen... The verdict: Host originated from a short video posted by Savage that went viral, where Savage investigated strange noises coming from his attic whilst on an online video chat. After the success of the short video, Savage decided to adapt it into a feature. Host sees a group of six friends all meet up on zoom during quarantine. After not seeing each other in person for awhile, one of the friends has arranged for the group to take part in an online séance. Everything about this format really rings true - not only the use of Zoom, which is something that most of us are now very familiar with, but also the behaviour of the friends. There are some who...

  Certificate: 15 Running time: 95 minutes  Starring: Paul Bettany, Sophia Lillis, Peter Macdissi, Steve Zahn, Judy Greer, Margo Martindale Directed by: Alan Ball The story: In 1970's South Carolina, eighteen year old Beth is looking forward to leaving for New York University where her Uncle Frank works as a professor. Both the odd ones out in the family, Beth discovers that Frank is keeping a big secret when they end up on an unexpected road trip together. The verdict: Both a coming of age film and a coming out film, Uncle Frank is a film which arrived on streaming services with little fanfare. This is a shame as it features Paul Bettany and Peter Macdissi in two standout performances. Uncle Frank is billed as a road trip movie but essentially not that much happens whilst on the road, the real drama is based around the family's home in the small town of Creekville and in New York where both Beth and Frank reside. I always think that it is a little unfair and p...

Certificate: 12A Running time: 131 minutes Starring: Gary Oldman, Lily Collins, Tom Burke, Amanda Seyfried, Tuppence Middleton Directed by: David Fincher The story: Mank follows alcoholic screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz as he struggles to finish the script for Citizen Kane. The verdict: David Fincher is often thought of as a divisive director, though probably more for his filmmaking methods rather than his actual films. But I myself am a really big fan of Fincher's work and so I was eagerly anticipating the release of this film. Mank is definitely a film that I think of on two hands. On the one hand it is brilliant. But, on the other hand - is it always brilliantly engaging? And unfortunately the answer to that is no. Mank is a very stylistic film. Not only does the choice of having the film in black and white help immediately transport the audience back to the appropriate time period, but everything about the cinematography and actors' performances screams forties Ho...

Certificate: 18 Running time: 103 minutes Starring: Andrea Riseborough, Christopher Abbott, Tuppence Middleton, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Sean Bean Directed by: Brandon Cronenberg The story: Using brain transplant technology, an elite assassin takes control of other people's bodies in order to execute high profile targets. The verdict: You may have spotted something familiar about Brandon Cronenberg's name, yes he is the son of David Cronenberg - and the apple definitely does not fall far from the tree. Possessor is a sci-fi thriller/horror hybrid with a good dose of violence, nudity and gore - this is not a film for the fainthearted. The film follows Tasya Vos, an assassin whose consciousness is transplanted into other people's bodies in order to carry out assassinations. Often in films such as these, there is some time dedicated to explaining the science behind what is happening or how it is happening, and what was really interesting about Possessor is that nothing is ever ex...

Running time: 83 minutes Starring: Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello Directed by: Grant Singer The story: A documentary film which follows singer Shawn Mendes as he goes on tour and charts how his success began. The verdict: Justin Bieber has his 'Beliebers' and Taylor Swift has her 'Swifties,'  however I had to google what the fans of Shawn Mendes are called - apparently they are known as 'The Mendes Army.' Anyway, whilst I have hummed along to a Shawn Mendes song or two if it has come on to the radio, I definitely have not earned the stripes to name myself as part of The Mendes Army. Thus, when I watched this documentary film, it was very much as someone neutral rather than as a fan - which I believe is an important distinction. Shawn Mendes: In Wonder is an intimately filmed portrait of the singer, and uses both everyday footage of Mendes doing things such as seeing his family and writing in the studio along with concert and performance footage. It was interesting...

Certificate: PG Running time: 122 minutes Starring: Forest Whitaker, Madalen Mills, Keegan Michael-Key, Hugh Bonneville, Anika Noni Rose Directed by: David E. Talbert The story: Years after his apprentice betrays him, a toymaker's life is turned around when his young granddaughter appears on his doorstep. The verdict:  I love films and I love Christmas, so it can only follow on that I am extremely predisposed to enjoying Christmas themed films - I even enjoy the cheesy, always utterly predictable television Christmas films that are on at two o'clock in the afternoon and always have the exact same ending. Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey has been compared to The Greatest Showman and that is a fair comparison. The musical numbers immediately give the film a theatrical feel, a feeling which is enhanced by the sets, costumes and production design. Director David Talbert originally conceived the film as a stage production and that certainly shines through in every frame. The fil...

  Certificate: 15 Running time: 83 minutes Starring: David Stern, David Falk, Sonny Vaccaro, Rick Telander, Jemele Hill Directed by: Yemi Bamiro The story: One Man and His Shoes tells the story of the inception and phenomenal rise of the Air Jordan sneakers and how unusual marketing strategies managed to create this multi billion dollar business. The verdict: This is a very accessible documentary which will appeal to a wide audience. You do not need to be an Air Jordan or Michael Jordan fan to engage with this film as it addresses and explores a number of other interesting issues, such as how big companies market their products. The relatively swift running time of the documentary means that it never has time to stagnate and I was surprised when I realised that the film only had a few minutes of its running time left. I really enjoyed seeing the behind the scenes glimpses at a product that seems so simple but has had such an impact. That all being said - in a lot of ways this film ...

  Certificate: 15 Running time: 101 minutes Starring: Cosmo Jarvis, Barry Keoghan, Niamh Algar, Ned Dennehy, Anthony Welsh Directed by: Nick Rowland The story: Douglas 'Arm' Armstrong works for the feared Devers clan as an enforcer. Often caught up in violence, Douglas struggles to be a good father to his young son. Stuck between two families, Douglas finds himself tested to the extreme when he is asked to kill for the first time.  The verdict: This is the debut feature from Nick Rowland and what a debut it is. Set in rural Ireland, Calm With Horses is visually striking and beautifully shot with the wild and sparse location almost a character within itself. The story is told very visually as well with hues of colour expressing either violence or redemption, which are the two key elements of what this film is all about.  The performances are incredibly engaging in this film and Cosmo Jarvis' central performance is particularly noteworthy. His character is a man of few word...

  Certificate: 15 Running time: 93 minutes Starring: Maisie Williams, Sylvester McCoy, Rita Tushingham, Jake Curran, Andrew Ellis, Ian Kenny Directed by: Julius Berg The story: Thinking that they have found an easy score, a group of friends set their sights on robbing the grand house of an elderly couple. But when the house owners return home unexpectedly early, the thieves find themselves caught up in a deadly game of cat and mouse. The verdict: There exists now a subgenre in which a person or group of people break into a house which turns out to be the worst possible house that they could have broken into - a twist on the classic home invasion film. I must admit that I am not a massive fan of either subgenre. Partly because these films often explode into violence for violence's sake, partly because, with both the people breaking in and the home owners turning out to be 'bad,' the audience ends up with no one to root for and partly because horror in the home is a horror th...

  Certificate: 15 Running time: 111 minutes Starring: Oksana Akinshina, Pyotr Fyodorov, Fyodor Bondarchuk, Anton Vasilyev Directed by: Egor Abramenko The story: After something strange occurs on a mission, a space aircraft crash lands with the commander as its only survivor. When a controversial but renowned psychologist is recruited to evaluate his mental state, it soon becomes clear that the commander may not have returned alone... The verdict: I came across this film awhile ago and filed it away as 'one to watch,' but somehow it slid down my watch list. This was definitely an error on my part as Sputnik turned out to be a great watch and one that I should have gotten to sooner.  I am ashamed to admit that I have not watched an abundance of Russian films, and along with 'Beanpole,' Sputnik is the only other Russian film that I have seen this year. However, after watching Sputnik and really enjoying it, it has certainly inspired me to seek out more of what Russian cine...

Certificate: 15 Running time: 92 minutes Starring: Wunmi Mosaku, Sope Dirisu, Matt Smith, Gamba Cole Directed by: Remi Weekes The story: After escaping war torn South Sudan, a refugee couple have trouble adjusting to their new life in an English town. The verdict: Haunted houses are a well used subgenre in film, often proving to be one of the most effective - there is something particularly horrifying in finding terror where you hang your hat. Joining the haunted house subgenre is another incredibly effective instalment in His House.  His House follows a married couple who have fled from their war torn country. Arriving in England, it is obvious that their journey was not an easy one nor one that they will soon forget. Eager to settle in and move forward, they willingly go along with the asylum process. This process feels utterly devoid of any humanity. Though the couple aren't treated badly, it is clear that they are just another number to be ticked off, another form to be filled ...

  Certificate: 15 Running time: 104 minutes Starring: Emma Roberts, Luke Bracey, Jessica Capshaw, Kristin Chenoweth Directed by: John Whitesell The story: Fed up of being alone and judged on every holiday, Sloane and Jackson agree to be each other's plus one for special occasions throughout the year.  The verdict: Films featuring Christmas, a slightly more cynical view of romance and Emma Roberts are all things that I really like. With that in mind, I thought that Holidate was going to be a sure-fire hit for me and that is why it is even more disappointing to report that this film was a bit of a turkey.  Holidate completely fails as a romantic comedy, namely because it is neither funny nor is the romance element very convincing. The jokes mostly fell flat for me, relying on cheap gags, and I didn't laugh out loud once. Meanwhile the romance is so contrived that apart from a couple of nice moments, that heart-warming "n'aww" feeling that romantic comedies often ins...

  Certificate: 15 Running time: 90 minutes Starring: Emily Mortimer, Robyn Nevin, Bella Heathcote Directed by: Natalie Erika James The story: When Edna goes missing, her daughter and granddaughter travel to her house to search for her. The verdict: I had little knowledge of this film before seeing it, bar hearing that it had really divisive reviews - critics seemed to love it whilst audience scores were low. So, I went into it with some trepidation, often audiences can get it right where critics have got it wrong. However, the opposite can also be true and in this case I firmly agree with the critics on this one - Relic was brilliant.  Relic centres around a woman whose mother has gone missing from her home. Along with her daughter, she travels to her mother's house to search the surrounding area fearing that old age has meant that her mother may be lost nearby and unable to remember her way home. The characters each work really well in this, each embodying a familial role tha...

Certificate: PG Running time: 100 minutes Starring: Dixie Egerickx, Colin Firth, Julie Walters, Edan Hayhurst, Isis Davis, Maeve Dermody, Amir Wilson Directed by: Marc Munden The story: When her parents pass away, young Mary is sent to live with her uncle on a remote country estate where she discovers a secret garden. The verdict: Based on the 1911 novel of the same name, The Secret Garden has been adapted for the screen several times previously. Does this version bring anything new? I don't think that it does, however that doesn't mean that it is not worth watching. This version does take a few liberties with the source material, so fans of the book may find themselves grumbling about this - though rest assured that the novel's main principles are still there. The film is still very much recognisable, it just doesn't stick to exact times and settings. The cast of The Secret Garden may boast Academy Award nominated Julie Walters and Academy Award winning Colin Firth, ho...

Certificate: 15 Running time: 97 minutes Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen, Maria Bakalova Directed by: Jason Woliner The story: Borat agrees to travel back to America to bring Vice President Mike Pence a gift. But things don't quite go to plan when his daughter turns up instead of the gift he was expecting. The verdict: Before I begin this review, I think that perhaps it is worth noting that I am not a particular fan of Borat. That is not to say that I don't like him, but his brand of humour and genre of comedy is not one that I would necessarily choose first if given the choice. Thus, I am aware that Borat Subsequent Moviefilm will be a lot more appealing to fans of his and possibly play differently - I can see how big fans have the potential to love this film as it's Borat as they know and love him. With a film such as this, the first thing that anyone will ask is this - is it funny? The answer to that is yes and no. There are definitely lots of laugh out loud moments and as y...

Certificate: 15 Running time: 117 minutes Starring: Kate Winslet, Saoirse Ronan, Gemma Jones Directed by: Francis Lee The story: Palaeontologist Mary Anning lives a mostly solitary life, working alone and caring for her sickly mother, until she meets Charlotte Murchison who changes everything. The verdict: Director Francis Lee's debut film, God's Own Country, was one of my favourite films of 2017 and so I was really excited to see what his sophomore film would be like. After seeing Ammonite, I think it would be safe to say that Lee is becoming one of my favourite directors because both of his films have blown me away. Ammonite is a gorgeously shot period drama that immediately pulls the audience into the setting and location. As Mary battles the elements on the brutal coastline of Lyme Regis, I could almost feel the wind biting at my face and whipping through my hair. Mary is a fascinating character and it is no surprise to say that Kate Winslet plays her fantastically. Her per...

Certificate: 15 Running time: 97 minutes Starring: Katherine Langford, Charlie Plummer, Piper Perabo Directed by: Brian Duffield The story: When their classmates begin to inexplicably self combust, seniors Mara and Dylan decide to try and live each minute as if it is their last. The verdict: I was unaware before watching this that it is based upon the novel of the same name by Aaron Starmer, and after watching it I will definitely seek out the book because Spontaneous is one of the most unique and original teen films that I have ever seen. Part sci-fi, part black comedy, part horror, part romance - Spontaneous brings together a number of genres. This could have easily made Spontaneous a muddled mess but somehow this blend of genres works really well together, capturing all the emotions of being a teenager and indeed of life. Katherine Langford and Charlie Plummer, both young actors whose work I really enjoy, are both great in this. I loved both of their characters and I thought th...

Certificate: 12 Running time: 102 minutes Starring: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Julie Bowen, Ray Liotta, Naoh Schnapp Directed by: Steven Brill The story: Halloween loving Hubie finds himself with a spooky mystery to solve when strange events start happening in his town of Salem. The verdict: If I am honest, thus far I have not particularly enjoyed any of the offerings that have been produced from the ten picture deal that Adam Sandler has with Netflix. Unfortunately, that trend has continued with Hubie Halloween. To be fair to Sandler, I am not a massive fan of the type of comedy that he is known for. So with that in mind, perhaps I was never really going to like Hubie Halloween. For avid fans of Sandler, there is every chance that they may thoroughly enjoy this as it is classic Sandler - the silly voice, the fart jokes etc. Lead character Hubie is the town misfit and treated appallingly by the townsfolk. He regularly has objects hurled at his head and is nicknamed 'Pubie' Whil...

Certificate: 15 Running time: 84 minutes Starring: Morfydd Clark, Jennifer Ehle, Lily Knight, Lily Frazer, Turlough Convery, Rosie Sansom Directed by: Rose Glass The story: A reclusive young nurse who is caring for a terminally ill patient becomes convinced that she is supposed to save the patient's soul. The verdict: Saint Maud turned out to be one of my favourite cinema experiences of recent times. Firstly, because of the film itself which I will discuss in a moment. But the other reason that Saint Maud was such a good cinema experience was because of the reactions of the rest of the audience in the screening. Throughout, there was an atmosphere of bewilderment and tension - you could tell that people had no idea what to make of the film. One cinema goer left halfway through and didn't come back and when the credits rolled, several people left muttering their dislike of the film. Whilst the majority of the screening appeared to have disliked Saint Maud, I...