I will admit it: I’m not a fan of Christmas movies. It’s always been an issue for me to find the balance between sentimentality and schmaltz. It’s a Wonderful Life is a giant in the genre, as is Die Hard, Elf and a small handful of others. The rest seem lazy, trite, or even apparent…
Tag: film
Conclave
When you look at Conclave on paper, you wouldn’t think it was the most exciting movie idea for mainstream audiences. A film about the voting for a new Pope. At first, it looks like something that arthouse cinemas would thrive on. However, this is not what you think. Yes, it’s about voting for a new…
Moana 2
Disney’s Moana was the surprise hit that no one saw coming. A delightful and impressive tale set in ancient Polynesia with a strong female lead who wasn’t a princess, taking on an incredible journey with a demi-god. While the film was an enormous cinema success, it found its audience on the streaming service Disney+. We…
Heretic
Horrors come in all shapes and sizes. From the gore-fest like the Hostel franchise or the Terrifier films to the body horror of The Substance, to the demonic possession of The Exorcist or ghost stories like The Amityville Horror. Then some play with the genre, give us something much more thoughtful, and don’t rely on…
Gladiator II
Back in 2000, Dreamworks took a chance on an epic sword-and-sandal adventure from Ridley Scott. No one believed the film would be successful, but after winning five Oscars and becoming a box office smash and now regarded as one of the cinematic greats, Scott has decided it’s time for a long-awaited sequel. While it’s not…
Paddington In Peru
Many consider Paddington 2 one of the greatest family movies ever made. It is a dazzling mix of slapstick comedy, unexpected star turns, and a big heart filling the cinema with pure joy. A third adventure from the Bear was always going to be a hard act to follow, especially when the main drivers of…
Nightbitch
If you are looking for something slightly unusual for your cinematic pleasure, I suggest you check out Nightbitch, a simple tale of a woman struggling to cope with motherhood. Doesn’t sound that unusual? This film will take you to a world where you must change to manage. Not in the way you would think. Marielle…
Bird
Andrea Arnold is a British director who specialises in realistic dramas. Her breakthrough movie, Fish Tank, examined the effects a mother’s new boyfriend has on a 15-year-old in Essex. Arnold returns to the life of people living in a tough community with Bird, a powerful tale of a young girl going through the changes while…
Anora
Sean Baker is one of the most exciting filmmakers around. He takes characters who fall outside the norm and gives them a voice, whether they be streetwalkers in Tangerines, a single mother living in a motel in The Florida Project or a porn actor in Red Rocket. Now he turns his attention to a sex…
Transformers One
Let’s face it: Michael Bay’s live-action versions of the popular toys of the 80s were a mess. Loud, incoherent and most of the time confusing, especially for those who are not familiar with the mythology of the series. The series picked up when he walked away from behind the camera to just producing. Bumblebee was…
The Wild Robot
When Dreamworks entered the animation world with Antz in 1998, they were considered a competitor to Disney. Over the years, they have had various degrees of success with movies like Shrek, How To Train Your Dragon, and Kung Fu Panda, but they have never managed to capture the same magic that the mighty animation giants…
Stu Loves Film 