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“It’s 11am and it’s minus 2 degrees on a soggy farm in Alvechurch, a mere stone’s throw from Hopwood Park services. The latest storm, whose name we’ve lost track of, is battering the barn roof while the gang of men inside tool up with shotguns, glocks and rifles. You could be forgiven for thinking this is a herd of farmers gearing up to protest Keir Starmer’s inheritance tax. Instead it’s the…

“It’s loading… The very first movie adaptation of Minecraft, the video game phenomenon that will come to define a generation, is here.  Henry, Natalie, Dawn, and Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison are ready for adventure when they’re drawn into a weird and wonderful world where the only limitations to what they can craft is their imagination. But, there’s real trouble brewing… “ To read the…

“It’s loading… The very first movie adaptation of Minecraft, the video game phenomenon that will come to define a generation, is here.  Henry, Natalie, Dawn, and Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison are ready for adventure when they’re drawn into a weird and wonderful world where the only limitations to what they can craft is their imagination.” To read the rest of mine and Dexter’s Onscreen…

If you’ve got a taste for terror… Take Carrie to the prom. Upping the stakes after last year’s Little Shop of Horrors screening, we’re bringing the frights back to the Botanical Gardens for an immersive viewing of horror classic, Carrie (1976).Based on Stephen King’s debut novel and still as scary as it was nearly 50 years ago, Carrie is the outcast who gets pushed one step too far by her…

“Emma Stone stars as Bella Baxter in this quirky tale of a young woman who’s brought back from the dead to once again find her way in the world… Poor Thing. With more than a doff of the top hat to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Poor Things offers a gothic slice of sci-fi romance that sees Emma Stone’s scientifically resurrected Bella Baxter challenging the authoritative men around her as she…

I Choose Birmingham: Flatpack Festival Feature

“She’s all grown up! B-Town’s very own Flatpack Festival turns sweet sixteen this May. But in typical Flatpack fashion, they’re not doing the usual, such as applying for a moped licence or learning their National Insurance number off by heart. Instead, they are once again bringing a vertiginous variety of cinema, audio visuals and in-person performances to venues all across Brum, May 17 to 22.…

Onscreen Magazine: Nightmare Alley Preview

“With spectacular shows, overpriced snacks, and suspicious games of “skill”, the carnival can be an expensive affair. Throw in Bradley Cooper’s unscrupulous chancer and Cate Blanchett’s savvy psychiatrist, a duo hell-bent on swindling unsuspecting punters, then the cost could become so much more than just cold, hard cash. A fresh take on William Lindsey Gresham’s novel rather than a remake of…

Onscreen Magazine: Belfast Preview

“Written and directed by Kenneth Branagh, the semi-autobiographical story follows a young boy named Buddy and his working-class family as they struggle to navigate life in a community that’s destabilising around them. But Belfast isn’t all about escalating tension, it’s about humanity during times of turmoil. There are moments of joy, acts of bravery, and journeys of self-discovery in an…

Onscreen Magazine: House of Gucci Preview

“Speaking of killer, let’s talk about the cast. Lady Gaga is set to steal the show as socialite Reggiani, with the ever-engaging Adam Driver as Maurizio, Gucci’s new majority shareholder. Jared Leto is unrecognisable as the scheming Paolo, while Al Pacino looks totally in his element as Aldo, the former head of the fashion family. Jeremy Irons and Salma Hayek complete the striking ensemble. All…

I Choose Birmingham: Flatpack Festival Feature

“Paradise Lost + Q&A Live – 26 September (£10)Sat at the centre of the battle over Brutalism, the destruction of Birmingham’s Central Library in 2013 remains a sore point amongst architectural acolytes and fervent futurists. Paradise Lost unravels the story behind those who were pleased to see the building levelled and those wanting a return to paradise. A hit in Flatpack’s online spring…

I Choose Birmingham: Flatpack Festival Feature

“Now 15 years strong, 2021’s Flatpack Festival (Brum’s annual celebration of all things filmy) is entirely available online, on your own screens and accessible from wherever you can get a signal. As we’ve come to expect, it’s innovative, inspirational and in some places, beautifully Birmingham-centric; all of which makes it the second-best reason to stay at home that we’ve had in the last year.…

Here's my latest for Cineworld: a Blo by Blo History of James Bond's Arch Nemesis.

“All great heroes need an arch-villain – Batman has the Joker, and Sherlock Holmes has Moriarty, to name but two. And iconic British agent James Bond is no different.

Arguably, the greatest threats to 007 (and indeed, the entire world) have been the recurring ones, and with all due respect to metal-mouthed henchman Jaws, Bond baddies don’t come more dangerous than Ernst Stavro Blofeld.

The…

Here's my latest for Onscreen Magazine: the Like A Boss preview featuring my fave female bosses.

“Two best friends in the beauty biz go up against an enigmatic entrepreneur, hell bent on a hostile takeover. This isn’t going to be pretty. This is Like A Boss.

Mia and Mel are loving life, living the dream, and running a cosmetics company together. The only problem is, they’re much better at beauty than they are at business and as a result, they’re broke. Step up, the insanely successful…

Just in case you missed it, here's a link to my latest for Cineworld: Bird watching with Harley Quinn.

“In 2016’s Suicide Squad, Margot Robbie’s antihero Harley Quinn stole the show hook, line and sinker from her villainous DC cohorts. No mean feat considering the presence of Will Smith’s Deadshot and Jared Leto’s Joker. With a mouthful of Hubba Bubba and baseball bat in hand, Robbie made an icon of Harley Quinn, inspiring cosplay choices, hair dye hues and dubious New York accents the world over.

For those that blinked and missed it, here's my latest for Onscreen Magazine: a preview of The Personal History of David Copperfield.

“In his bid to become a successful writer, narrator David Copperfield recounts his life from infancy to middle age, traversing great poverty and wealth, while detailing the more eclectic characters he met along the way. Such individuals include a high-kicking, donkey-hating Lady of the Manor, an ever-optimistic office clerk, and a lawyer who enjoys a tipple…or three.”

To read the rest of my…

Cineworld asked me about my fave film of the decade. It was like a dream come true...

“In the wake of the resounding success of 2008’s The Dark Knight, the announcement of an original big budget film both written and directed by Christopher Nolan, certainly felt like a flex. In the wake of his enormous commercial and critical success, Nolan now had carte blanche.

Inceptionmarked a return to the non-linear narrative…

ICYMI, here's my first feature for Zavvi on why Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is a must-see movie.

“Significantly, Episode IX could likely be the last time for a long, long time that we see Star Wars on the big screen.

Disney+’s The Mandalorian is currently being enjoyed in homes everywhere except for the UK, and the upcoming Ewan McGregor Obi‐Wan project, and Cassian Andor prequel spin‐off, will find a fitting home on the small screen too.

As for actual Star Wars movies, even Bothan spies…