Depends On The Dream

It’s often missaid that films are made for current events; that something is a ‘Trump movie’ or a ‘Brexit picture’. Feature films take years to develop, and are at best usually lucky in their timeliness. Martin McDonagh has been working on Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri for eight years after an inspiration that dates back another nine; it is then to our good fortune it feels entirely…

The good news: a quarter of the films at this year’s LFF were directed by women! The bad news: a quarter of the films at this year’s LFF were directed by women. Yes, it’s a step in the right direction, but we’re still a long way off. And no, boneheads, we don’t want an exact 50/50 split. We want a situation where this doesn’t have to be a blog post any more, where we don’t have to talk about how…

On your first time at LFF, you have to fight/show a film of startling promise like these:

What’s the best part of going to a film festival? The endless discussion in the queues? The wealth of talented filmmakers presenting themselves for Q&As and talks? The booze? Close, but no. For me it is the chance of discovering a diamond; of watching a filmmaker’s first offering and knowing you could enjoy their movies for years to come. LFF is fertile ground for such treats, and here are 5 of…

God’s Own Country Review

Dramas about unspoken homosexual love are familiar to the regular cinemagoer. The human triumph of God’s Own Country, the first film from British director Francis Lee, comes in showing how love is tough to express whatever the sexuality of the afflicted. Set amongst the windswept Yorkshire hills, it depicts two farm workers whose connection is so beautifully true that it far surpasses the…

Whatever else 2017 Britain has, good filmmakers are a surety. 5 Brit #LFF picks:

It’s a weird time to be British, right? Brexit, rising xenophobia, a governing party with the competence of a drunk baby trying to conduct major surgery. And yet we still have our artists. British filmmakers are amongst the finest in the world, & over recent years at LFF have showcased brave, innovative work. This year is no different; here is a selection of 5 promising titles to tide us through…

Before Xmas, Halloween. Before Halloween - well, it's #LFF2017. Get your big ones here:

You can’t start Christmas festivities until Halloween is out the way. But when can you start the Halloween fun? For me it’s after the preceding major event is done, and that’s London Film Festival. The 2017 edition is almost upon us; some of you may not have selected your cinematic gifts, whether for your nearest & dearest or treats for yourself. Fear not! Help is here, in the form of DOTD…

In 92 minutes, @ghoststorymovie covers the entirety of time. & life. & love. Impressive, no?:

I can think of few films that are as distant from their promotional photo, and indeed their title, as David Lowery’s A Ghost Story. We might anticipate a post-modern, self-aware horror; what we get is an original and emotionally profound depiction of love, loss and how humans move through time. Lowery has described the film as a…

A Christopher Nolan Bond film would be great, no? Here's a look at both sides of the story:

This week in cinema brings two industry titans back into focus. There is the new Christopher Nolan film Dunkirk, stretching the screen in an IMAX near you now, which is reviewed here. And Monday evening rewarded cinephiles further: James Bond will return, on November 8th 2019 in the US & slightly earlier in his beloved U.K. (You may have noticed that will be 3 years to the day since some…

Christopher Nolan has never made a film about a historical event. Until now. Dunkirk review:

It almost goes without saying that Dunkirk, Christopher Nolan’s 10th feature film, is thrillingly good. The motif of Nolan’s work is an astoundingly high quality level. By turning one of history’s most famous battles into a desperate existential drama, he invigorates yet another genre. Watching a new Christopher Nolan film is as good as cinema gets right now.…

Time to celebrate Christopher Nolan with a definitive, Dunkirk-inclusive ranking of his films:

You’ve read the rest; now read the best. With the release of Dunkirk, Christopher Nolan’s 10th feature film, this is the perfect time for a look back through, and indeed a ranking of his work up until now. He is the most popular director of his generation amongst cinema-goers, with his signature style and frequently flexible timescales applied now to several genres. So fire up the Bat, look over…

Inauguration: bad. Sundance: good. Immerse yourself in films to come with this preview:

For so many films, the journey begins here. The preparation has been done, the music tweaked, that shot of a neanderthal reality star being inaugurated as President removed because it’s too damn unrealistic. The film is ready for Sundance. But are you ready for the Sundance films? You will be, once you’ve read this preview, featuring picks to look out for from each category. The next Usual…

Is La La Land worth making a song & dance about? Find out in this review:

What separates a high-quality, enjoyable film from a cinema classic, etched in the public consciousness? Star performances? An unforgettable soundtrack? Resounding, colourful images? This question is a timely one, as La La Land has all three & much, much more; the level of chatter it has created amongst regular and casual movie-goers alike suggests it is on its way to lasting renown. See it now,…

Would any of these 5 be your pick in the @BFI #myBlackStar poll? If not - who would?

What is your favourite performance by a black actor? This is the question posed by the BFI & Independent Cinema Office ahead of #BFIBlackStar, a celebration of the most memorable black characters from film and TV. Its a tough one – so many powerful roles to choose from, right? Or perhaps it’s easy for you – is there one actor who sticks in your mind? Either way, here is a Top 5 chosen from the…

Here are 5 of the top animations at #LFF 2016. They're sure to draw big crowds:

Animations: they’re not just for kids. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the programme of the 60th London Film Festival, which includes some of the most progressive, fascinating hand and computer-generated films in recent years. Here are 5 of the top animated movies showing at this year’s festival – with a few child-friendly picks in there for good measure… 5. Ethel & Ernest (dir. Roger…

Guess who's back/ Back again/ 5 talented directors with films at #LFF/ Tell a friend.

In its 60th edition and boasting 18 different sections, the London Film Festival is the perfect platform for filmmakers to develop their voice. The festival holds a heritage and reputation that promotes those involved, and a range of categories that allows directors to express their stories on almost any topic. Many have come back several times, popping up in different sections with their latest…

The @BFI #LFF2016 programme has more films by women than ever before. Here are 5 you can't miss:

The BFI London Film Festival is almost upon us again! It seems like moments since last year’s festival preview, but another group of films are straining at the leash, desperate to be set free upon a public pining for silver-screen adventure. The long-standing injustice of the under-representation of women both in front of and behind the camera is finally getting some traction. The number of women…