Amsterdam film review: An A-List cast can’t save this messy film October 12, 2022 David O. Russell has built a reputation as a boom or bust director, with award-laden films like Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle alongside infamous bombs like I Heart Huckabees and Joy. But the hits are clearly enough to attract big names to new projects: his latest film, Amsterdam, has a jaw-dropping ensemble cast. Set [...]
Babylon’s director should have known better and not let this movie fall into self indulgence January 23, 2023 Movies about movies tend to do well around Oscar season, and no one knows that better than Damien Chazelle. While La La Land famously didn’t win Best Picture in 2017, it did win six Oscars out of fourteen nominations, including Best Director. In Babylon, he returns to Hollywood but looks through a different lens. Starting [...]
Barbie or Oppenheimer? Our top ten films of the year December 14, 2023 The top 10 films of the year, from our film critic
I tried Russell Brand’s alcohol free festival – it changed my outlook for good July 20, 2023 “One more time? How about ten more times? Let’s all get high!” declares a sober Russell Brand on the main stage at his Community Festival, conducting a breathing exercise to a crowd of thousands which is so mind-bending that people frequently collapse. Medics are on hand as Brand stands centre stage. Alongside him is the [...]
Inside Bafta 2024: how Hollywood takes over London for 24 hours February 19, 2024 Inside Bafta 2024: how awards ceremony takes over London
Babylon film review: Brad Pitt can’t save this mess January 19, 2023 ★★☆☆☆ In the first ten minutes of Babylon, an elephant excretes faeces explosively down the camera, a woman pees on her sexual partner and partygoers are seen shovelling cocaine up their noses from a pile almost as high as the elephant. The party kicks on for another half an hour, when naked people start having [...]
UP THE JUNCTION: Why Clapham’s pubs seem to be recession-proof May 8, 2023 Few London neighbourhoods can stir up conversation like Clapham does. Known for its cringey nightclubs and spawning array of trendy coffee shops, the region has long served as a first home for junior account execs and recruiters arriving in the capital to begin their careers and get a taste of city life. It’s also got [...]
What do this year’s Bafta 2024 winners mean for the Oscars? February 19, 2024 Will Cillian Murphy win in Los Angeles at the Oscars next month? Our film editor analyses last night's Bafta 2024 winners
Birds of Prey review: Margot Robbie sparkles in this diamanté-encrusted take on the superhero movie February 10, 2020 Margot Robbie was the saving grace of 2016’s dire Suicide Squad, so it was welcome news that her character Harley Quinn would be thrust into centre stage in DC’s new spandex adventure, Birds of Prey. It’s a diamante-encrusted take on the superhero film, in which Quinn sets out to prove herself as a supervillian in [...]
End of an era: Australian soap hit Neighbours axed after 37 years on screens around the world March 3, 2022 The Australian soap series Neighbours has announced it will cease production of the long-running Australian soap in June. The future of the show had been in doubt after Channel 5 last month confirmed it would stop airing the show. And on Thursday morning the show’s Twitter account said: “We are so sorry to say that [...]