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  The story: Three friends from a small town in Ireland get the chance to visit the pilgrimage site of Lourdes. The verdict:  The Miracle Club brings together an all star cast, fronted by powerhouse trio Maggie Smith, Kathy Bates and Laura Linney, in a 1967 period piece set in the heart of Ireland. Directed by Thaddeus O’Sullivan, the film was a potential project for years before it finally came to light.  Set in a working class suburb, The Miracle Club sees lifelong friends Lily (Smith) and Eileen (Bates), along with younger friend Dolly (Agnes O’Casey) decide to enter a talent contest at the local church. First prize is tickets to the famous pilgrimage site of Lourdes, a place that each of them has longed to visit for different reasons. Dolly has a young son who has never spoken a word and is searching for a cure, Lily has never been able to move past the death of her son Declan who drowned many years ago and Eileen has found a lump in her breast.   The Miracle Cl...

  Certificate: 15 Running time: 180 minutes  Starring: Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Josh Hartnett, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Benny Safdie, Dane DeHaan Directed by: Christopher Nolan The story: Physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer is tasked with designing the ultimate weapon, but will this new weapon stop the war or bring about humankind’s demise? The verdict: It’s probably a reasonably safe bet to assume that any Christopher Nolan film is going to be big. Big star power, big visuals, big sound and big interest from cinema goers. Oppenheimer falls into all those categories and perhaps more. For many this will be the film that they declare as Nolan’s magnum opus and that’s not an outlandish statement by any means. As biopics go, this is a fascinating one and that’s before you have even applied any of Nolan’s mastery to the story. Cillian Murphy is a fantastic choice as the titular character. Oppenheimer shows the man himself as both a scientist and in his pers...

  Certificate: 12A Running time: 154 minutes  Starring: Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, Ethann Isidore Directed by: James Mangold The story: Indiana Jones is all set to retire quietly, when he is pulled back into a race against time to retrieve a legendary artefact that could alter the very course of history. The verdict: The Indiana Jones films definitely rank up there as amongst one of my favourite franchises of all time. The original trilogy were some of the films that ignited my passion for film in the first place, so suffice to say I had a vested interest in this final instalment. The opening sequence throws the audience straight into the action. This definitely sets the tone for the entire film as The Dial of Destiny is jam packed with action, which mostly consists of a myriad of different chases. From a car to a plane, from a tuk tuk to a horse - there is nary a form of transport that Indy won’t utilise.  The film...

  Certificate: 15 Running time: 179 minutes  Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Patti LuPone, Amy Ryan, Parker Posey, Nathan Lane, Stephen McKinley Henderson Directed by: Ari Aster The story: A paranoid man tries desperately to get home to his mother, but events keep conspiring against him. The verdict: We all know that Ari Aster can do reasonably straightforward messed up (Hereditary, Midsommar) and now here he is proving that he can also do surrealist messed up. Anyway, deep breath and here we go… The first act of Beau is Afraid is probably one of the most scarily apt depictions of what it is like to live with anxiety that I have ever seen on film. At this point the film is a bit surreal and a bit weird but in a clever and intriguing way and I had high hopes. However as the film carries on, that measure of hope got smaller and smaller until it was all but gone. Now at this point I should probably point out three things. Firstly, I am an Ari Aster fan. I thought Hereditary and Mid...

  Certificate: 12A Running time: 127 minutes  Starring: Anthony Ramos, Dominique Fishback, Dean Scott Vazquez, Peter Cullen, Ron Pearlman, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh Directed by: Steven Caple Jr. The story: A long lost and well protected artefact may hold the key to allowing the stranded Autobots to finally return home, but they’re not the only ones seeking it… The verdict: Rise of the Beasts marks the seventh instalment in the Transformers’ franchise and so it would be fair to say that at this point - you’re either a Transformers fan or you’re not. Whilst this instalment is definitely better than some of the previous films, if giant robot aliens aren’t your thing then they’re just not your thing. However if, like me, giant robot aliens are very much your thing then strap in because Rise of the Beasts is great!  As with Bumblebee (which coincidentally was also great) this film sees a different director take the reins from Michael Bay. Whilst Bay is still producing...

  Certificate: PG Running time: 140 minutes  Starring: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Jake Johnson, Oscar Issac, Issa Rae, Daniel Kaluuya, Karan Soni Directed by: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson The story: Miles Morales returns for another adventure across the multiverse as a dangerous new villain emerges. The verdict: You would think that the better a film is then the more there would be to say about it, but the complete opposite can be true. Sometimes a film is so stunningly great that trying to put into words exactly what it is that made it so amazing is almost impossible. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is that film. This is a sequel that not only matches the original but tops it and does so with zest. As both animated and comic book films go, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse must surely be one of the greatest of all time. Firstly, the animation is incredible. The artistry of this film is absolutely top notch and it’s bright, bold and highl...

Certificate: 12A Running time: 150 minutes  Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Pom Klementieff Directed by: James Gunn The story: The guardians must rally to defend the universe once more and this time one of their own is at stake, but could this be one mission too many? The verdict: To say I like the Guardians of the Galaxy would be akin to saying that Peter Quill kind of likes music. I love the Guardians of the Galaxy. I mean I really love them. These are characters that have captured my heart and my mind and I could go on adventures with them forever. So with that in mind, I went into this film with a heavy heart - I was not ready to say goodbye. Like the previous two instalments before it, Volume 3 is bright, bold and packed full of action. Of course it’s CGI-tastic but that’s the MCU - if you don’t know that by now then I’m afraid you’re in the wrong place. I loved all the visuals and it was great to return to Knowhere in parti...

  Certificate: 18 Running time: 96 minutes  Starring: Lily Sullivan, Alyssa Sutherland, Morgan Davies, Gabrielle Echols, Nell Fisher Directed by: Lee Cronin The story: When a group of siblings discover a mysterious book, they have no idea of the hell that is about to be unleashed upon their unsuspecting family. The verdict: For the majority of my life I have avoided horror films like the plague. The few I had the misfortune of watching growing up, did their job aptly by horrifying me. So if anyone had told me that one day I’d count horror as one of my favourite genres, I’d have laughed (albeit nervously). I mention the above because when I first saw the trailer for Evil Dead Rise, I was transported back to my pre-horror self. The trailer was terrifying enough - this might be a step too far I thought. Who was I kidding though? Of course I found myself seated in a screening,  ready to watch through my fingers if I had to.  Evil Dead Rise opens with one of my favou...

  Certificate: 15 Running time: 82 minutes  Starring: David Jonsson, Vivian Oparah, Karene Peter, Benjamin Sarpong-Broni Directed by: Raine Allen-Miller The story: Two twenty- somethings, both getting over breakups in their own way, find a connection over one fateful day in South London. The verdict: Forget your multiverses and multiple timelines, set aside your blockbuster budgets and CGI - sometimes what an audience really needs is a simple story done really well. And Rye Lane is just that and a whole lot more.  Yas and Dom’s day begins with a meet-cute in some unisex toilets, of all places. Dom is crying and wants privacy, Yas points out that it isn’t the most private of places and just like that the audience is immediately on board with this likeable pair.  What follows is a day of getting to know each other as they navigate their newly broken hearts. With the crying and the pain of broken relationships, Rye Lane might sound like a melancholy affair but oh ho...

  Certificate: 18 Running time: 84 minutes  Starring: Nikolai Leon, Maria Taylor, Craig David Dowsett, Chris Cordell  Directed by: Rhys Frake-Waterfield The story: Pooh and Piglet seek revenge after their friend Christopher Robin abandons then to go to college. The verdict: Filmmaking is no easy business. You need lots of funds and lots of sandwiches, and all manner of other things. With that thought in mind, and knowing the independent roots of this project, I tried very hard throughout this to look for the positives. Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey opens with an animated sequence which is actually really well done. A narrator sets the scene and everything has a very storybook like feel. We then switch to live action as we meet Christopher Robin returning to the One Hundred Acre Woods with his wife. There is an underlying feeling of foreboding and the audience eagerly awaits the moment Christopher Robin will be reunited with his childhood friends - so far, so good....

  Certificate: 12A Running time: 134 minutes  Starring: Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, Hugh all Grant Directed by: John Francis Daley, Jonathan M. Goldstein The story: A group of adventurers embark upon a quest to retrieve a lost relic.  The verdict: I am of the opinion that the world needs more fantasy films and so what could be better than a film based on the most quintessential of fantasy games - Dungeons and Dragons.  Chris Pine leads our story and he is in winsome mode as a bard along with Michelle Rodriguez as his no nonsense, Barbarian best friend. They are joined by Justice Smith as an insecure sorcerer and Sophia Lillis as a distrustful Druid.  As with the game, the film brings together a ragtag team of characters all with their own unique personalities, abilities and backstories. With this blend of characters, it is easy for everyone to have a favourite to root for and overall I really liked the chemis...

  Certificate: 12A Running time: 130 minutes  Starring: Zachary Levy, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu, Adam Brody, Rachel Zegler Directed by: David F. Sandberg The story: Billy Batson and his superhero siblings return to take on the vengeful sisters of Atlas. The verdict: When reviewing a film, it can sometimes be tempting to follow the crowd. If the majority of other reviews dislike a film then you can begin to doubt yourself. Did I see the same film as everyone else? Am I missing something? Am I seeing something that’s not there? However, I have never let other reviews sway me and I have no intention of doing that now. I’m sure you can guess what this preamble is leading up to. And yes you’re correct - I loved Shazam! Fury of the Gods (hereafter Shazam 2). The first film was a great surprise for me. I wasn’t expecting much and was won over by the comedic elements and fun characters. The second instalment follows suit and again this was a film in whi...

  Certificate: 15 Running time: 95 minutes  Starring: Keri Russell, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Alden Ehrenreich, Ray Liotta, Margo Martindale, Brooklyn Prince, Christian Convery Directed by: Elizabeth Banks The story: When a black bear ingests a whole load of cocaine, it goes on a murderous rampage through the forest. The verdict: I have tried to start this review on a serious note several times and each time have ended up laughing. Whilst I could attempt to attribute some kind of poignancy and importance to this film or find some kind of metaphorical meaning within all the insanity of it all - truthfully that would be slightly disingenuous. Make no mistake, this film is exactly what it says on the tin. And guess what? It’s brilliant. Before anyone jumps to any conclusions, when I say ‘brilliant,’ I don’t mean that it’s awards worthy. Rather, it’s arguably the most fun I’ve had at the cinema so far this year. Cocaine Bear is like an adrenaline shot of fun. Of course it’s silly a...

  Certificate: 12A Running time: 124 minutes  Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lily, Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael Douglas, Kathryn Newton, Jonathan Majors Directed by: Peyton Reed The story: Scott Lang and his newfound family find themselves flung into the quantum realm, where they must face a powerful new villain. The verdict: There are two undeniable truths about the Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (hereafter shortened to Quantumania). The first is that this is not a film that stands out as one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s finest’s. Quantumania is a filler film, designed as an interim to provide a little bit more backstory and a stopgap before the next really big battles kick off.  The next undeniable truth is that, in spite of the above, Quantumania is an entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable watch. Sure it’s unlikely to be a treasured MCU favourite for anyone and truthfully it probably won’t even prove particularly memorable come year’s end. However, that doe...

  Certificate: 15 Running time: 100 minutes  Starring: Dave Bautista, Ben Aldridge, Jonathan Groff, Kristen Cui, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Abby Quinn, Rupert Grint Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan The story: A vacation at a remote cabin turns into a nightmare for one family when four strangers come knocking. The verdict:   Could you kill the person you loved most in the world if it meant saving all of humanity? This   impossible question is just one of many in M. Night Shyamalan’s latest film, Knock at the  Cabin.  Taking place in the confines of an idyllic looking cabin in the woods, Knock at the Cabin sees  a family enjoying a peaceful retreat when they are interrupted by a knock at the door. Four  strangers have emerged from within the trees and they need the family to help avert the  apocalypse by making an unthinkable sacrifice.  Whilst the film may appear at first to be rather streamlined and straightforward, Knock at the  Cabin is n...

  Certificate: 12A Running time: 151 minutes  Starring: Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, Gabriel LaBelle, Judd Hirsch Directed by: Steven Spielberg The story: Sammy Fabelman discovers his love of film just as a shattering family secret comes to light. The verdict: Last year Kenneth Branagh impressed audiences with Belfast, a love letter to his childhood and cinema. Now comes Steven Spielberg’s own ode to the very same and just as Belfast did before it, The Fabelmans has earned several Oscar nominations including one for Best Picture. The Fabelmans boasts a plethora of great performances. Michelle Williams’ performance has garnered the most award’s attention, however I enjoyed Gabriel LaBelle’s performance most. LaBelle plays Sammy and there is something incredibly endearing about him throughout. I also related to him the most as someone who sees cinema as something of great wonder and as a source of happiness. The Fabelmans is a coming of age but it is also a dram...

  Certificate: 15 Running time: 115 minutes  Starring: Olivia Colman, Michael Ward, Toby Jones, Colin Firth, Tom Brooke, Tanya Moodie, Hannah Onslow, Crystal Clarke Directed by: Sam Mendes The story: Against the backdrop of an old cinema on the South coast of England in the 1980’s, an unlikely romance begins. The verdict: An explosion of colours against an inky black sky. Two characters silhouetted as they gaze skyward in awe and wonder at the spectacle of fireworks above them. Slowly their eyes meet and something passes between them - whatever problems face them, and in spite of all their differences, they have found something beautiful.  The latest offering from Sam Mendes has received mixed reviews and a fair amount of criticism. Whilst Empire of Light may not rank amongst the very best the director has to offer, I found so much to love about it. For a start, it’s shot beautifully. Of course with Roger Deakins behind the camera, that’s no surprise. But gosh - ther...

  Certificate: 15 Running time: 102 minutes Starring: Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Jenna Davis, Amie Donald, Jen Van Epps, Brian Jordan Alvarez, Ronny Chieng Directed by: Gerard Johnstone The story: When a talented roboticist uses AI to design the latest new toy, she has no idea just how advanced her invention will become. The verdict: In recent months, I have purposely avoided watching as many film trailers as I used to. I love to be surprised by films and we’re all well aware of ‘trailer syndrome’ - an affliction in which trailers pretty much lay out the entire film in the trailer, making audiences feel like they’ve already seen the film and ruining reveals etc. The one place where I haven’t avoided trailers is of course the cinema itself and indeed I saw M3GAN’s trailer on a previous cinema outing.  The reason I mention the above is because M3GAN is a film in which the trailer pretty much lays out the film. M3GAN does exactly what it says on the tin and not a lot more...

  Certificate: 15 Running time: 126 minutes  Starring: Tom Hanks, Mariana Treviño, Rachel Keller, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Truman Hanks Directed by: Marc Forster  The story: Grumpy Otto Anderson is set in his ways and doesn’t like to get too involved with people - people are idiots. When a new family moves into his neighbourhood, Otto meets his match in Marisol and the unlikeliest of friendships begins.  The verdict: There are two magic words which will immediately want to make me go and see any film, and those two magic words are Tom Hanks. No matter the project, Hanks’ involvement always piques my interest and A Man Called Otto was no different. It seems almost pointless to say but Hanks was brilliant and it was good fun to watch him as such a bad tempered character. The supporting cast was also great and I particularly liked Mariana Treviño as Marisol. A Man Called Otto is the second adaptation of the novel A Man Called Ove and a remake of the Swedish film of the s...