Author: James Partridge

Cannes 2016 Review: Sieranevada

Cannes 2016 Review: Sieranevada

Posted by | May 14, 2016 |

Synopsis Three days after the terrorist attack on the offices of Parisian weekly Charlie Hebdo and forty days after the death of his father, Lary, a doctor in his forties is about to spend the Saturday at a family gathering to commemorate the deceased. But the occasion does not go according to expectations. Forced to confront his fears and his past, to rethink the place he holds within the family, Lary finds himself constraint to tell his version of the truth. Thoughts I was genuinely intrigued to see the layers of this complicated family reveal themselves. But this intimate...

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Cannes 2016 Review: Cafe Society

Cannes 2016 Review: Cafe Society

Posted by | May 13, 2016

Synopsis New York in the 1930s. As he has more and more trouble putting up with his bickering parents, his gangster brother and the family jewelry store, Bobby Dorfman feels like he needs a change of scenery! So he decides to go and try his luck in Hollywood where his high-powered agent uncle Phil hires him as an errand boy. In Hollywood he soon falls in love but unfortunately the girl has a boyfriend. Bobby settles for friendship – up until the day the girl knocks at his door, telling him her boyfriend just broke up with her. All...

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Cinema Release Round-Up: 12 May

Posted by | May 12, 2016 |

They say comedy is the hardest thing to write. So knocking it out of the park twice is a rare feat indeed. If the hype is to be believed, Bad Neighbours 2 takes this comedy series to a whole new level of hilarity – rightly deserving a FOTW nod. Actioneer Bastille Day, family flick The Angry Birds Movie, and the doco Teatro alla Scala: The Temple of Wonders round off this week’s offering. See all the trailers here… . Opening today: . BAD NEIGHBOURS 2……FILM OF THE WEEK USA | 92 minutes | Comedy Director: Nicholas Stoller (Bad Neighbours, The Five-Year Engagement, Get Him to the Greek, Forgetting Sarah Marshall) Cast: Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, Rose Byrne, Dave Franco, Chloë Grace Moretz, Selena Gomez, Lisa Kudrow, Ike Barinholtz, Carla Gallo Now that Mac and Kelly have a second baby on the way, they are ready to make the final move into adulthood: the suburbs. But just as they thought they’d reclaimed the neighborhood and were safe to sell, the new sorority move in. A comedy premise worth revisiting. Great to see Chloë Grace Moretz stretching her comedic chops too. Distributor: Paramount / Universal . BASTILLE DAY USA | 92 minutes | Action Directors: James Watkins (The Woman in Black, Eden Lake), Jill Gagé (debut feature) Cast: Idris Elba, Richard Madden, Charlotte Le Bon, Kelly Reilly, Anatol Yusef, José Garcia,...

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Cannes 2016: Festival Preview

Cannes 2016: Festival Preview

Posted by | May 10, 2016

There’s something truly special about the Cannes Film Festival. Ok, I’m slightly bias – I have a love for film… and France! The perfect storm, you might say. Queuing up for over an hour for a screening seems much less of a chore in the sunshine; catching up with fellow film fans, disguised as journalists, having just chowed down on a sensational pastry or a delicious ham and cheese baguette. I’m salivating already. Focus James, back to the films. I’m really excited about this year’s line-up. And, as always, there’ll be plenty of gems to be found in between...

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Cinema Release Round-Up: 18 February

Posted by | Feb 18, 2016 |

Nostalgia rules the roost this week, as Dad’s Army returns… for its big screen debut. Concussion (Will Smith, Alec Baldwin) and How to be Single (Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson) also vie for your attention. Check ’em all out here… . Opening today: . DAD’S ARMY……FILM OF THE WEEK UK | 100 minutes | Comedy, War Director: Oliver Parker (St. Trinian’s, Dorian Gray, Johnny English Reborn) Cast: Toby Jones, Bill Nighy, Michael Gambon, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Tom Courtenay, Bill Paterson, Daniel Mays, Blake Harrison The Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard platoon deal with a visiting female journalist and a German spy as World War II draws to its conclusion. Given the talent involved, this should live up to the legacy. Distributor: Paramount / Universal . CONCUSSION USA, Australia, UK | 122 minutes | Drama, Sport, Biography Director: Peter Landesman (Parkland) Cast: Will Smith, Alec Baldwin, Luke Wilson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Arliss Howard, Paul Reiser, David Morse, Albert Brooks The true story of Dr. Bennet Omalu, the brilliant forensic neuropathologist who discovered a serious kind of brain trauma caused by American football. But in his attempt to bring this finding to light, he is constantly outfoxed by some of the richest, most powerful institutions in the world. Feels a lot like 1999’s The Insider. I hope it’s as good. Distributor: Roadshow . HOW TO BE SINGLE USA | 109 minutes | Comedy, Romance Director: Christian...

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