If you want to explore Japanese feature animation, Studio Ghibli is one of the best places to begin. The studio’s films — largely the work of directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata — combine beautiful hand-drawn animation, memorable characters, and themes that resonate with audiences of all ages. With nearly all of the studio’s major … Read more

This article was written exclusively for The Film Magazine by Christopher Connor. Shaun of the Dead (2004) Director: Edgar Wright Screenwriters: Simon Pegg, Edgar Wright Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kate Ashfield, Lucy Davis, Dylan Moran, Peter Serafinowicz, Rafe Spall, Bill Nighy Since its release, Shaun of the Dead has grown into one of the … Read more

This film review was written exclusively for The Film Magazine by Mark Carnochan. What We Did on Our Holiday (2014) Director: Andy Hamilton, Guy Jenkin Screenwriters: Andy Hamilton, Guy Jenkin Starring: David Tennant, Rosamund Pike, Billy Connolly, Ben Miller, Amelia Bullmore, Lewis Davie, Emilia Jones, Bobby Smalldridge, Harriet Turnbull Movie advertising can determine audience expectations … Read more

Dearly Departed (2020) Director: Elise Martin Screenwriter: Jess Bartlett, Elise Martin Starring: Betty Denville, Ashton Spear, William Paul, Olivia Warren, Sean Kilty Dearly Departed is an inventive short that blends the charm of a tuneful musical with the chills of the supernatural. Directed by Elise Martin and co-written with Jess Bartlett, the film stands out … Read more

Goodfellas (1990) Director: Martin Scorsese Screenwriters: Nicholas Pileggi, Martin Scorsese Starring: Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco, Paul Sorvino, Frank Sivero, Tony Darrow, Mike Starr, Frank Vincent, Chuck Low, Samuel L. Jackson Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas remains one of the most influential and admired American crime films. A vivid, unflinching portrait of mob … Read more

This piece was written exclusively for The Film Magazine by Mark Carnochan. Whisky Galore! (1949) Director: Alexander Mackendrick Screenwriters: Compton Mackenzie, Angus MacPhail Starring: Basil Radford, Joan Greenwood, Gordon Jackson, James Robertson Justice Whisky Galore! (1949) is a compact, character-filled comedy set on the fictional island of Todday in the Outer Hebrides. Directed by Alexander … Read more

It’s hard to imagine modern cinema without Star Wars. For more than forty years, audiences worldwide have flocked to theatres to experience the saga on the big screen, and the franchise’s merchandise sales have made it one of history’s most lucrative film properties. Arguably the most popular film series ever—and certainly a cultural touchstone for … Read more

“Your father’s lightsaber. This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or random as a blaster, but an elegant weapon for a more civilised age.” Few cinematic devices are as instantly thrilling as a well-executed sword fight. Beyond spectacle, blade clashes force protagonists and antagonists into decisive confrontations, often letting them settle … Read more

The Back to the Future trilogy remains a worldwide phenomenon. Since the original film’s release in 1985, the franchise has expanded beyond cinema into an animated series, a Universal Studios motion-simulation ride and a popular stage musical. The three films—celebrated for their inventiveness and charm—earned widespread acclaim, including an Academy Award for Sound Editing and … Read more

Never Rarely Sometimes Always (2020) Director: Eliza Hittman Screenwriter: Eliza Hittman Starring: Sidney Flanigan, Talia Ryder, Théodore Pellerin, Kelly Chapman “Don’t you ever just wish you were a dude?” “All the time.” Eliza Hittman’s Never Rarely Sometimes Always is an intimate, quietly devastating film that tackles vast and urgent issues through the narrow, urgent lens … Read more