My favourite films of 2018

2018 turned out to be the year when I had press accreditation for the London Film Festival! As a result, I was able to see a whole host of films which haven't even been released in the UK yet, which was a real bonus. On the other hand, as usual, I managed to miss a …

First Man

Damien Chazelle shows how to tell a story in a way that still feels incredibly tense even though it's well documented as to how it all works out. Honestly, I found the opening sequence terrifying. Together with a couple of other shots which take place in a fast-moving, madly-shaking spacecraft, it is a reminder of …

My favourite films of 2017

Compiling this list of 2017 films has been an interesting task. There are usually a couple of films which miss the previous year's deadline due to UK release dates, but it's not often that so many of them make my 'best of' list. This year, some of my favourite films on this list may seem …

Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Sooooo much good in this sequel, and yet so much troublesome stuff too. Let's start with the good, shall we? Blade Runner 2049 is an excellent sequel. It picks up, runs with, and explores further the themes raised in its predecessor; what does it mean to be human?, what are memories?, even issues of slavery and …

La La Land

When I saw director Damien Chazelle's previous film Whiplash I commented that the final section had pulled everything together and left me speechless. Well, he's done it again! Just as I was beginning to feel like my interest in the characters was waning slightly, he pulls out the most touching, beautiful, heartbreaking sequence that draws …

The worst films I’ve seen in 2013

As ever with this annual list, these are probably not the worst films, but the ones which have angered, irritated or disappointed me the most this year. Click the film title where there's a link to find out what I thought just after seeing the film. Number 5 - Renoir Airy fairy nothing happens not …

Only God Forgives

I'll be honest, it's taken me a while to work out exactly what to say about this film. Strangely, it wasn't as violent as I thought it would be. Don't get me wrong, there is violence, and it's strong, and I looked away on several occasions. What I mean is, I had expected the violence …

The Place Beyond The Pines

Highly engaging, if a little overlong, story which asks the question of whether the sins of the father are indeed visited on the son.  How far does the physical presence or emotional absence of a father shape the way people turn out? Quality performances from Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper in a film that was not …

Gangster Squad

This film starts with a very deliberate 1940s style film noir narrative, which began to draw me in, and which fit very well with the trailers I'd seen. But for some reason it then took on a comic book feel and it was downhill from there. Sean Penn...