Director: Jerry Rothwell | 1h 22mins | Documentary Based off of the memoir by Naoki Higashida, a non-speaking 13 year old autistic child, The Reason I Jump is an immersive documentary trying to bridge the gap between those struggling to understand the world around them and those unable to understand them. The best documentaries out there are the ones that keep the interest of its … Continue reading REEL Review – The Reason I Jump (2020)
Director: Steve McQueen | 2h 4mins | Drama Based on the true story of the Mangrove 9, Steve McQueen’s latest instalment in the Small Axe series dramatises the story of the protesters fighting against police brutality during the late 1960’s in Notting Hill. Spanning across multiple decades, Steve McQueen’s latest writing and directing outing is a series of features for the BBC, two available at … Continue reading REEL Review – Mangrove (2020)
Director: Bill Ross IV, Turner Ross | 1h 38mins | Documentary This review of Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets (2020) is written by Connor Cudmore. A darkly comic and moving portrayal of America’s down-and-out generation. Directed by Bill Ross IV and Turner Ross, Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets follows the coming and goings of a group of barflies that find solace in a dilapidated Las Vegas bar. … Continue reading REEL Review – Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets (2020)
Director: Jessica Hausner | 1h 45mins | Drama, Horror, Thriller Plant breeder Alice (Emily Beecham) and co-worker Chris (Ben Whishaw) dedicate their newest genetically modified ‘happy’ flower to her teenage son Joe (Kit Connor). Just before it’s announced to the public, Alice starts to wonder whether her unapproved techniques have caused Little Joe to have more influence than just your happiness. Taking a somewhat unique … Continue reading REEL Review – Little Joe (2020)
Director: Jóhann Jóhannsson | 1h 10mins | Sci-Fi On the verge of extinction, humans from 2 billion years in the future send a message out into the unknown, using their heightened evolution to reach back in time to us. “Listen patiently”, the opening line read by omnipotent narrator Tilda Swinton summarises Jóhann Jóhannsson’s directorial debut and – due to his sad untimely passing – his … Continue reading REEL Review – Last and First Men (2020)
Director: Sam Mendes | Runtime: 2h 2mins | Drama American Beauty: A Contemporary Retrospective is written by Connor Cudmore. Twenty-one years on, Sam Mendes’ tale of American tragedy is as poignant now as it was then… but not always for the right reasons. The satisfaction of telling your boss where to stick their job is a luxury that’s afforded to… well, none of us. But … Continue reading American Beauty: A Contemporary Retrospective
Director: Denis Villeneuve | Runtime: 2h 11mins | Drama, Mystery | Language: French, Arabic Editor’s Pick – Incendies (2010) is written by Connor Cudmore. After losing their mother Nawal (Lubna Azabel) Canadian twins Jeanne and Simon (Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin and Maxim Gaudette) travel to their war torn native country to follow her last wishes. Over the course of the past decade, Hollywood has clawed Denis Villeneuve … Continue reading Editor’s Pick – Incendies (2010)
Director: David O. Russell | Runtime: 1h 56mins | Biography, Drama From The Vault: The Fighter (2010) is written by Connor Cudmore. Based on the true story of professional boxer Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg) as he attempts to step out of the shadow of his troubled by successful older brother Dicky Eklund (Christian Bale). It’s difficult to find autobiographical stories in cinema that don’t feel … Continue reading From The Vault: The Fighter (2010)
Director: Mark Jenkin | Runtime: 1h 29mins | Drama A once thriving fishing village in the heart of Cornwall is under threat from an ever increasing horde of tourists. Tensions rise as Fisherman Martin (Edward Rowe) has been forced to sell his childhood home and his brother Steven (Giles King) uses their late fathers old boat as a short tourist trip around the cove. There’s … Continue reading REEL Review – Bait (2019)
Director: Christopher Storer | Runtime: 1h 12mins | Comedy Hasan Minhaj’s first stand up special came courtesy of Netflix, mostly chronicling the immigrant experience of his parents and how it effected his childhood, Homecoming King also takes a dive into how his senior Prom night somehow lead to being a correspondent on The Daily Show. Netflix has created a enormous back catalogue of content since … Continue reading Editor’s Pick: Homecoming King (2017)
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