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

Alfred Hitchcock is widely regarded as one of the most famous and influential film directors of the 20th century. Known as the “Master of Suspense,” he created some of cinema’s most enduring images and plots, appeared in cameo roles across nearly all his films, and personally promoted his work on radio and television. Born in … Read more

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010) Director: Edgar Wright Screenwriters: Michael Bacall, Edgar Wright Starring: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Anna Kendrick, Alison Pill, Aubrey Plaza, Jason Schwartzman, Ellen Wong, Chris Evans, Brie Larson After completing the first two chapters of his acclaimed Cornetto Trilogy, Edgar Wright turned to Bryan Lee O’Malley’s cult … Read more