The past twelve months have been amazing for film – we’ve seen minorities start to really break some new ground, although there’s still a long way to go, and we’ve seen the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime really come into their own with their own productions, like it or not. There’s a lot to celebrate but also a lot to still be mindful of (such as the distinct lack of nominated females in non-gender-specific categories).

What follows is a full list of this year’s nominess, with the winners highlighted as they are announced on the evening.

Continue reading “The Academy Awards 2019 Nominees & Winners” →

Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Cast: Yalitza Aparicio, Marina de Tavira, Fernando Grediaga, Verónica García, Nancy García García, Jorge Antonio Guerrero, Diego Cortina Autrey, Carlos Peralta, Daniela Demesa, Marco Graf

Every so often a foreign language film comes along that really grabs an English-speaking audience’s attention. Whether it’s the cultural differences, some people’s dislike of having to read subtitles or some other reason that usually puts people off, it’s quite challenging overall for a foreign language film to appeal to a mainstream English language audience. But given the chance (and plenty of word-of-mouth), one can slip through prejudices and/or a limited cinematic release and become the must-see story that it deserves to be. Is Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma one of those rare exceptions?

Continue reading “Roma – Review” →

The British Academy of Film (and Television) Awards are here once again and are to be hosted by Joanna Lumley for the second year in a row as she continues to take over from 12-year regular Stephen Fry. Also returning to entertain audiences are the Cirque du Soleil acrobatic troupe, who stunned last year with their The Shape of Water-based performance.

Below is a comprehensive list of this year’s nominees. Winners will be highlighted as they are announced via television broadcast.

Tune in to BBC One at 9pm on February 10th for the ceremony (which will be broadcast with an hour’s delay to allow for editing).

Continue reading “2019 BAFTA Nominees & Winners” →

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Cast: Olivia Coleman, Rachel Weisz, Emma Stone, Nicholas Hoult, Mark Gatiss, Horatio the Duck

As awards season gets underway a little earlier this year, we’re starting to see a slew of films put themselves forward in the race for a nomination. One particular film that’s got the tongues of critics wagging recently is The Favourite, the latest directorial offering from critic’s darling Yorgos Lanthimos (The Lobster, The Killing of a Sacred Deer). Boasting a stellar cast, prominent female leads, an apparently very grand production budget and an actual menagerie to boot, is The Favourite going to follow through on its title and prove itself a unique frontrunner, or might it fade behind other blockbusters such as A Star Is Born and Bohemian Rhapsody?

Continue reading “The Favourite – Review” →

Director: Susanne Bier
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Trevante Rhodes, John Malkovich, Jacki Weaver, Danielle Macdonald, Rosa Salazar, Sarah Paulson, Colson Baker, Lil Rel Howery, BD Wong, Vivien Lyra Blair, Julian Edwards

Say what you will about Netflix and its effect on film distribution and role in the potential demise of cinemas, now and again it does push out some interesting, entertaining and often critically successful releases (Okja, Annihilation, Beasts of No Nation, to name just a few) that are reachable (arguably) to a wider audience. It’s a whole other subject to get in to, and Bird Box is just another film to throw into the mix, for good or ill. After all the hype surrounding it and the dangerous stunts it has inspired, has Bird Box earnt its place as one of Netflix’s best-ever releases, or is it another Cloverfield Paradox, with all hype and no substance?

Continue reading “Bird Box – Review” →