A critique of toxic workplace culture: my thoughts on “Broken Ceiling”

Rating: ★★★★ We’ve all had to endure conference calls at work, and we all know how boring they can be. When I realised that Broken Ceiling takes place almost entirely within a conference call, I was worried that they wouldn’t be able to keep my attention for a full hour and a half. However, I’m pleased to say I was wrong! Broken Ceiling is Adam Davis’ first … Continue reading A critique of toxic workplace culture: my thoughts on “Broken Ceiling”

Disappointingly Average: A review of “The Girl in the Spider’s Web”

Rating: ★★ 1/2 I love The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo series. The Swedish films are excellent and David Fincher’s US adaptation was a decent watch too. Lisbeth Salander is such an iconic and well-written character, so her return to the big screen was met with much anticipation. With a new cast and new story I was looking forward to seeing it, catching a Limitless preview screening … Continue reading Disappointingly Average: A review of “The Girl in the Spider’s Web”

My thoughts on the 2018 Palme d’Or winning film “Shoplifters”

  Rating: ★★★★★ Last month I had the opportunity to attend a screening of Shoplifters, following its huge success at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. The film was written and directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, and follows a large, multi-generational family who are living on the brink of poverty. They live in a cramped, very basic apartment in the heart of Tokyo, where those able to work all … Continue reading My thoughts on the 2018 Palme d’Or winning film “Shoplifters”

“Bohemian Rhapsody”: An honest, captivating and respectful biopic

Rating: ★★★★ Biopics are not easy to perfect and when you’re dealing with an iconic figure such as Freddie Mercury, it becomes even harder. When this film was announced it seemed natural to feel a little bit of apprehension, because could anyone really portray Freddie? Who could bring him to life on screen before thousands of fans? Thankfully, for me at least, my worries were … Continue reading “Bohemian Rhapsody”: An honest, captivating and respectful biopic

The holiday from hell: A review of “Welcome Home”

Rating: ★★★ 1/2 We’ve all had holidays that didn’t go according to plan, but George Ratliff’s new thriller takes this idea to a whole new level. Welcome Home follows couple Cassie and Bryan as they travel to Italy together. They’ve rented a secluded, spacious home for a few days, so they can spend some quality time together. So far, so simple. However, it’s soon revealed that they’ve been … Continue reading The holiday from hell: A review of “Welcome Home”

“Anchor and Hope”: A heart-wrenching portrait of parenthood & sexuality

Rating: ★★★ Deciding to have a baby is a big step in many couples’ lives, but sometimes, things don’t always go according to plan. Carlos Marques-Marcet’s Anchor and Hope follows two lesbian women who, one drunken night, decide to use their friend’s sperm in order to have a child of their own. It’s not a decision that should be taken lightly, but makes for an interesting story nonetheless. Insemination is … Continue reading “Anchor and Hope”: A heart-wrenching portrait of parenthood & sexuality

“Ekaj”: A gritty, raw portrait of a teenage runaway

Rating: ★★★ 1/2   When I was first introduced to Ekaj, I genuinely thought it was a documentary. The realisation that it was in fact a work of fiction took me by surprise, and this is a testament to the directing style of Cati Gonzalez. She has gone to great lengths to make this film feel as real as possible. None of the actors in the film … Continue reading “Ekaj”: A gritty, raw portrait of a teenage runaway

Halloween 2018: Michael’s back, back again

Rating: ★★★ Happy Halloween everyone! What better way to celebrate than with my review of the latest in the Halloween franchise? 40 years after John Carpenter’s iconic horror film, we are greeted with a brand new instalment in Michael Myers’ saga. It feels like a really special moment for horror fans, as we reflect on the original decades later. The opening credits pay homage to the 1978 … Continue reading Halloween 2018: Michael’s back, back again