Film and TV’s pandemic recovery: Keep the show on the road April 20, 2022 A government scheme kept production firms going during Covid-19. As the scheme closes, Leah Montebello asks whether the City is ready to step in.
The Bad Guys review: Passable family film putting villains in the spotlight April 1, 2022 Once the home of giants including Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, and How To Train Your Dragon, Dreamworks has played it safe over the last few years, with competitor Pixar disappearing into the distance. Films like Boss Baby, Trolls, and The Croods are enjoyable, but they are glossy distractions for children rather than something worth remembering. [...]
Sonic The Hedgehog 2 review: formulaic fun that offers nothing new April 1, 2022 Sonic The Hedgehog 2 reunites viewers with the titular hero (voiced by Ben Schwartz), now living a happy if restless life with his human guardians Tom and Maddie (James Marsden and Tika Sumpter). That bliss is soon shattered, however, when Sonic’s arch enemy Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) returns from the mushroom dimension he was sent [...]
Will Smith should get the sack – his violence wouldn’t be tolerated in an office March 29, 2022 It’s bizarre to think of Will Smith getting the sack. He probably doesn’t ‘need’ work in financial terms, so being let go has a lesser value for him than others, but nevertheless he should be booted out. Yesterday at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles, Smith physically assaulted Oscars host Chris Rock live on stage [...]
The Oscars launches formal review after Will Smith slaps Chris Rock at live ceremony March 28, 2022 The Oscars film academy has formally condemned Will Smith for slapping Chris Rock and has launched a formal review into the incident. Jaws dropped during last night’s ceremony after acting super star and Oscar winner Will Smith climbed on stage to slap gag comedian Chris Rock for a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith. [...]
BFI Flare festival: The best LGBTQ films from the festival to watch at home March 28, 2022 BFI Flare LGBTQ film festival has rolled to a close for another year. Returning to premiere more queer short films and feature-lengths in 2023, here’s a remedy if you’ve got withdrawal already: a selection of some of the best films from across this year’s festival. First up, read our feature on the festival, where we [...]
Watch the Oscars end in chaos: Hollywood jaws drop as winner Will Smith smacks Chris Rock in the face and shouts obscenities March 28, 2022 Hollywood super star Will Smith, 53, appeared to take offence to a gag comedian Chris Rock made on stage about Jada Pinkett Smith’s short haircut, resulting in him marching on stage to confront the comedian. He appeared to hit Rock before returning to his seat and shouting from the audience to Rock on stage. As [...]
Hollywood takes over Waltham Cross as £700m plan for Europe’s largest film studios with 4,500 jobs moves ahead March 24, 2022 Hollywood’s Sunset Studios is moving ahead with its plans to pump around £700m in a new film studio in Waltham Cross, a project that should generate around 4,500 jobs and create the largest film studio in Europe. The Hollywood giant has submitted a range of plans and proposals to the local council, after holding a [...]
Phantom of the Open review: Mark Rylance scores hole-in-one with hilarious underdog tale March 22, 2022 This Mark Rylance comedy-drama is perhaps the most twee film you’ll see this decade, but it’s genuinely heart-warming too, with endless hits of proper comedy. It’s not the year’s first joyous tale of a working class British underdog. The Duke, starring Jim Broadbent as an elderly campaigner against BBC television licensing, was in a similar [...]
Ocean Outdoor holds on to £25m BFI IMAX advertising contract March 15, 2022 The leading operator of premium digital out of home advertising in the UK, the Netherlands, the Nordics and Germany, Ocean Outdoor has nabbed the contract for the iconic BFI IMAX in London yet again.