United Kingdom

Sundance 2020: IRONBARK
Sundance 2020: IRONBARK

Idealism can be a tough sell, but Ironbark sells the hell out of it nevertheless, remaining firmly committed to its compassion for individuals caught up in the iron grip of history.

THE TURNING: A Scary Amount of Wasted Potential
THE TURNING: A Scary Amount Of Wasted Potential

The last few years have come with a slew of fantastic horror films, and unfortunately The Turning does not fall into that category.

DRACULA: A Dribbling, Messy Monster of a Miniseries
DRACULA: A Dribbling, Messy Monster Of A Miniseries

Despite its modern horror settings, there’s little to sustain anyone who dares dig their teeth into this limp and pale take on the character.

THE DEATH AND LIFE OF JOHN F. DONOVAN: A Rare Case Of Bad Press Tainting A Not-So-Bad Movie

The Death and Life of John F. Donovan is far from perfect, but still manages to be a fascinating attempt at exploring sexual identity, isolation and the consequences of fame.

BAIT: Violence and Class Solidarity in a Cornish Fishing Village
BAIT: Violence & Class Solidarity In A Cornish Fishing Village

Bait is a stunning and memorable debut that pokes itself into the uncomfortable spaces between class and solidarity in modern British society.

THE TRUE HISTORY OF THE KELLY GANG: The Fate Of Father Figures
THE TRUE HISTORY OF THE KELLY GANG: The Fate Of Father Figures

The True History of the Kelly Gang is often punishing and resistant to facile translation, but there’s no denying the merciless power that Justin Kurzel brings.

THE WARRIOR QUEEN OF JHANSI: A Flawed But Surprising Endeavor
THE WARRIOR QUEEN OF JHANSI: A Flawed But Surprising Endeavor

The Warrior Queen of Jhansi displays well the difficult position of Ranibai of Jhansi, with a respect for her cleverness and leadership while acknowledging her faults and mistakes.

IN FABRIC: The Devil Is A New Dress In Beautifully Sleazy Horror
IN FABRIC: The Devil Is A New Dress In Beautifully Sleazy Horror

Anyone disappointed in what the remake of Suspiria came out to be would be remiss to pass up In Fabric.

THE GOOD LIAR: Lies & Deceit Can't Cover Up The Mess At The Center Of This Misfire
THE GOOD LIAR: Lies & Deceit Can’t Cover Up The Mess At The Center Of This Misfire

The Good Liar features great performances from Ian McKellen and Helen Mirren, but the film can’t overcome other problems. Chris Cassingham reviews.

MARRIAGE STORY: An Examination of Divorce That Carries Loose Ends
MARRIAGE STORY: An Examination Of Divorce That Carries Loose Ends

Marriage Story is a promising film, but Baumbach’s strategies in drawing out his character arcs are uneven, insufficient, and disappointing.

THE AERONAUTS: A Stressful and Stunning Adventure
THE AERONAUTS: A Stressful & Stunning Adventure

Regardless of its exhilarating action sequences and strong performances, The Aeronauts is a good film but not necessarily a great one.

LITTLE JOE: Arthouse Genre Hybrid Fails To Compel
LITTLE JOE: Arthouse Genre Hybrid Fails To Compel

By establishing a web of interesting plot threads, and failing to engage with any of them in a memorable way, Little Joe ends up feeling like a severe missed opportunity.

CITIZEN K: The Most Compelling Work About Russian Politics In A While

Alex Gibney’s Citizen K, a deep-dive into the life of the oligarch-turned-activist Mikhail Khodorkovsky, brilliantly utilises his recollections.

1917: War Epic Blends Seamless Technical Work & Painful Emotion
1917: War Epic Blends Seamless Technical Work & Painful Emotion

1917 is a vision of uninterrupted chaos, equipped with a unique blend of personal pathos and visual bravado.

HIS DARK MATERIALS (S1E4) "Armour": Buy One Bear, Get One Cowboy Free
HIS DARK MATERIALS (S1E4) “Armour”: Buy One Bear, Get One Cowboy Free

This episode of His Dark Materials expands the show’s reach and vision just beyond one character, so that we can speculate on things to come.