Daisy Ridley on exciting Star Wars future, her marriage, and crying to manage stress Life&Style Star Wars actor Daisy Ridley is on the cover of the December edition of City AM The Magazine. The Londoner on the challenges of living with Graves’ Disease, optimism and making her dream film with her husband, the screenwriter Tom Bateman “I imagine life must be simpler if you really think you’re the shit,” says [...]
Vue: National Minimum Wage and rising costs cuts cinema chain’s earnings Business The releases of Wonka, Kung Fu Panda 4 and Dune: Part 2 failed to boost sales at cinema chain Vue during the first half of its financial year while its earnings were slashed. The company said the falling admonitions and total revenue for the period were the result of coming up against the tough comparison [...]
Layla film review: a bold tale of London and LGBTQ love Life&Style Layla film review and star rating: ★★★★ Independent film Layla begins with a Pride event that will look familiar to all those sceptical of Rainbow Capitalism. Bilal Hasna plays the title character, a British-Palestinian non-binary drag queen who lands a gig performing for a delivery app company. When a high paying show turns out to [...]
The music of Louis Armstrong in this stirring Democratic Republic of Congo documentary November 18, 2024 Music, history, and politics intersect in this dense Democratic Republic of Congo documentary that informs as well as overwhelms. A Cold War-themed story of rebellion, espionage, and geopolitical intrigue, Soundtrack to a Coup D’etat is set during 1960 as the Republic elects its first independent leader. At the same time, the US begins to send [...]
Memories of a Burning Body review: beautiful ode to women November 16, 2024 Three lifetimes of memories are used to inspire this novel docudrama from Costa Rica. Memories of a Burning Body incorporates interviews from three women over 65 about their lives, loves, and trauma. All three are encapsulated in the character of The Woman (Sol Carballo), walking around her apartment contemplating old age and the stories of [...]
Gladiator II: 2024 sequel is bigger and bloodier, but Paul Mescal isn’t the best bit November 14, 2024 Gladiator II review and star rating: ★★★★☆ Of all the long-delayed comebacks this year, Gladiator II seemed the most puzzling. Mostly because the star of the original, Russell Crowe, was unlikely to return given his character Maximus very famously dies at the end. Nevertheless, 24 years on from the Oscar winning classic, a new take [...]
Pinewood: Home of James Bond boosted by Shepperton expansion November 13, 2024 The expansion of the Shepperton film studio helped revenue at Pinewood surge to more than £100m during the first half of its financial year, it has been revealed. The iconic film studio group, known for being the home of the James Bond franchise, saw its revenue jump to £100.4m in the six months to 30 [...]
Piece By Piece review: Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson in soulless Christmas filler by Amazon November 8, 2024 Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson can’t save this soulless Christmas comedy It’s early November, which in Hollywood means the countdown to Christmas has begun. Hoping to kick start the cheer is action comedy Red One. Sadly, it’s as exciting as finding a lump of coal in your stocking. Dwayne Johnson – star of what feels like [...]
Paddington In Peru review: Ben Whishaw return can’t compete with Hugh Grant classic November 7, 2024 Seven years on from its release, Paddington 2 isn’t just one of the best family films of the 2010s, it’s one of the best films full-stop, having become an absolute modern classic. Building on the wholesome inaugural Paddington film released in 2014 to critical success, director Paul King established a film franchise stuffed full with [...]
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story: homage brings a tear to the eye November 5, 2024 Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story review: ★★★★ Next year sees a new version of Superman starring Twisters actor David Corenswet. His performance will inevitably be compared to Christopher Reeve’s, who became world famous for playing the superhero in the 1970s, embodying the role for a generation before a tragic horse-riding accident left him paralysed. Super/Man: [...]