It’s always interesting when you go into a movie with little knowledge of the subject matter, especially when inspired by a true story. The Iron Claw is the story of the Von Erick family, a wrestling family that helps change the face of the professional sport. I knew they had something to do with wrestling…
The Zone of Interest
The events within the walls of Auschwitz have been and will probably be a subject of interest for filmmakers. They make for powerful, sometimes shocking and always heartbreaking movies, like Steven Spielberg’s influential Schindler’s List or the harrowing Son of Saul. Now, Jonathan Glazer, the director of Sexy Beast and the sci-fi Under The Skin,…
The Color Purple
It was a Pultizer-prize-winning novel by Alice Walker that was turned into a hugely acclaimed movie 1985 by Steven Spielberg. Then, it became a West End and Broadway musical. Now we have the film version of The Color Purple, based on that musical. While there is so much to admire, there is something that doesn’t…
The Holdovers
They often say they don’t make movies like they used to. Alexander Payne, the director of such small-scale comedy dramas as About Schmidt, Election and Sideways, has managed to do exactly that. The Holdovers is a bitter-sweet tale of three very different characters brought together during Christmas; we are lucky enough to watch them grow….
Poor Things
Yorgos Lanthimos is a name that might not roll off the tongue, but it’s a name that you need to learn quickly because he is one of the most exciting directors on the scene. His films push the boundaries of cinema to the limit. With a batch of celebrated movies behind him: Dogtooth, The Lobster,…
Priscilla
You seem to wait ages for an Elvis biopic, and then two come along quickly. Actually, that’s not exactly true, for the second release, Priscilla, is more about his former wife than about the King. Yet, suppose Baz Luhrmann’s barn-storming 2022 film was about the showman. Sofia Coppola’s film is about the private life, or…
One Life
Some films almost make themselves. You get a decent enough story and cast the right people in the roles, and all it takes is for a competent director to point the camera in the right direction. One Life is one such story. The tale of an ordinary man who did a most remarkable thing. It’s…
Next Goal Wins
Director Taika Waititi was a rising star in the directing world with movies like Eagle vs Shark, Boy, What We Do In The Shadows and The Hunt for the Wilderpeople, all quirky comedies built of fascinating characters. Then the big boys came calling and tackling Marvel with Thor: Ragnarok. Waititi’s unusual wit and charm created…
Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom
It has not been a great year for superhero movies. Both DC and Marvel have failed to deliver, and it has shown in the box office figures. Only Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 made significant money, while The Marvels, possibly the most enjoyable Marvel movie this year, still failed to connect with audiences. So…
Chicken Run: Dawn Of The Nugget
Aardman Animation has always been at the forefront of clay animation, but what puts them at the front of the filmmaking process is their ability to use whimsical humour, something that suits the Britishness of the products. In 2000, they produced Chicken Run, an affectionate pastiche of The Great Escape but with chickens. Twenty-three years…
Wonka
We are living in very dark times. With wars and political upheaval, the cost of living crisis and corruption all around, you feel downhearted every time you switch the news on. Fear not, good people, for there is a way to feel joy for a few hours, in the form of the latest film from…
Napoleon
My partner’s son is an enormous Napoleon fan, having studied everything about the French leader. When asked what he thought about the film, he replied: “It’s weird!” I suppose that’s one way of looking at it. When asked if he could expand, he began listing all the inaccurate things about the history. We know this…
Stu Loves Film 