For as internationally recognized as Ben Stiller is, his work as a director is sometimes overlooked. Since his debut in 1994 he has released six feature films across three decades. While many know Stiller for performances in There’s Something About Mary, Meet the Parents, Starsky & Hutch and Night at the Museum, some of his … Read more

The murder of George Floyd in 2020 reverberated around the world. Floyd, a 46-year-old African American, was detained after an allegation involving a counterfeit bill and died while in police custody when an officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on his neck for more than seven minutes. Video of the incident spread globally and triggered mass protests … Read more

Down Among the Big Boys (1993) Director: Charles Gormley Screenwriter: Peter McDougall Starring: Billy Connolly, Douglas Henshall, Rab Affleck, Ewan Stewart, Ashley Jensen, Gary Lewis, Billy Boyd Released in 1993, Down Among the Big Boys arrived at a difficult moment for Scottish cinema. The industry at that time lacked the commercial momentum and international profile … Read more

The Vast of Night (2019)Director: Andrew PattersonScreenwriters: James Montague, Craig W. SangerStarring: Sierra McCormick, Jake Horowitz, Gail Cronauer, Bruce Davis The Vast of Night is a sharp, confident directorial debut from Andrew Patterson that marries classic 1950s science-fiction atmosphere with modern indie filmmaking sensibilities. Presented like an extended episode of The Twilight Zone or The … Read more

For decades, many LGBTQ+ films have focused on tragedy: lives shaped by rejection, violence, illness and loss. Critics often call this trend “burying your gays,” because queer characters in popular cinema are disproportionately given unhappy endings. That pattern can leave audiences with a narrow view of queer life, reinforcing the idea that LGBTQ+ existence is … Read more

Mark Herman is one of the defining screenwriter-directors of 1990s British cinema. Best known for Brassed Off (1996) and Little Voice (1998), Herman produced films that resonated with critics and audiences alike; his later work on The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008) achieved international recognition. Born in Yorkshire and first noticed as a student … Read more

This article was written exclusively for The Film Magazine by Sophia Patfield. Sofia Coppola’s 2003 breakout film Lost in Translation stands as a defining work of modern independent cinema: a quietly powerful portrait of loneliness, unexpected connection, and the unusual intimacy that can form between strangers. Starring Scarlett Johansson as Charlotte, a young woman who … Read more

Little Voice (1998) Director: Mark Herman Screenwriter: Mark Herman Starring: Jane Horrocks, Brenda Blethyn, Michael Caine, Ewan McGregor, Philip Jackson, Annette Badland, Jim Broadbent Little Voice is Mark Herman’s intimate, character-driven adaptation of the stage musical that balances sharp British humour with a tender study of talent, class and longing. Set in the seaside town … Read more

This article was written exclusively for The Film Magazine by Bethen Blackabee of Films at Focal Point. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008) Director: Mark Herman Screenwriter: Mark Herman Starring: Asa Butterfield, Vera Farmiga, Cara Horgan, Amber Beattie, David Thewlis, David Hayman, Jack Scanlon, Rupert Friend Mark Herman’s 2008 drama The Boy in the … Read more

When people talk about the greatest sequels—films like The Godfather Part II, The Empire Strikes Back, and The Dark Knight—they mean follow-ups that deepen themes, shift tone, and show familiar characters in surprising, meaningful ways. By contrast, some sequels exist merely to trade on a name, leaving audiences wondering why they were made beyond profit. … Read more