If a filmmaker can bring together two contrasting, even jarring, storytelling elements and make them cohere, the result stays with the audience. Working in a visual medium, directors often combine opposing tones to provoke a particular reaction and leave a lasting impression. Because people instinctively respond to both laughter and, to a lesser extent, reflection, … Read more
Gotti (2018) Director: Kevin Connolly Screenwriters: Lem Dobbs, Leo Rossi Starring: John Travolta, Kelly Preston, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Spencer Lofranco I watched a light romantic comedy called Little Italy this week, and the contrast with Gotti (2018) was stark. Where Little Italy delivers predictable, sugary beats about rival pizza-shop children falling in love, Gotti attempts … Read more
Apple Unveils Apple TV+: A New Streaming Service Focused on Original Content Apple officially announced its long-rumored entry into the streaming market with the launch of Apple TV+ during a high-profile event at its Cupertino headquarters. The company presented Apple TV+ as an ad-free streaming service built around original movies and television series produced exclusively … Read more
Before Lara Croft holstered her twin pistols and became a Hollywood action icon, the landscape of video game movies was struggling. Early attempts to translate popular games to the big screen—such as Super Mario Bros., Street Fighter, Dungeons & Dragons and Mortal Kombat—had met mixed to poor critical reception, and many studios were wary of … Read more
This article was written exclusively for The Film Magazine by Lucas Hill-Paul. Ray & Liz (2018) Director: Richard Billingham Screenwriter: Richard Billingham Starring: Ella Smith, Justin Sallinger, Joshua Millard-Lloyd, Tony Way In the opening moments of Richard Billingham’s Ray & Liz, we find a middle-aged man emerging from a fog of stupor. He lights a … Read more
Us (2019) — Review Director: Jordan Peele Screenwriter: Jordan Peele Starring: Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Elisabeth Moss, Tim Heidecker, Shahadi Wright Joseph, Evan Alex After the critical and commercial success of Get Out, Jordan Peele returned with Us, a daring and unsettling second feature that cements his status as a contemporary master of psychological horror. … Read more
Aliens (1986) Director: James Cameron Screenwriter: James Cameron Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Bill Paxton, Carrie Henn Aliens (1986) remains one of the most influential action-horror films of its era, a sequel that pushes the original Alien mythos into adrenaline-fuelled territory while deepening Ripley’s human story. James Cameron transformed the lurking, psychological dread of the … Read more
MPAA: 2018 Marked the Biggest Year in Global Box Office History On 21 March 2019, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) published its annual report summarizing the global film industry’s performance for the 2018 calendar year. According to the MPAA, 2018 set a new record for worldwide box office receipts, driven in part by … Read more
Beyond his innovations in puppetry and special effects, Jim Henson’s work has left a lasting, personal impression on generations of viewers, myself included. I grew up with Bert and Ernie turning counting and the alphabet into fun; as a teenager I was riveted by David Bowie’s unforgettable presence in the 1986 fantasy Labyrinth; and the … Read more
Christopher Nolan has announced the first three cast members for his untitled new film, scheduled for release on 17 July 2020. The initial casting revealed on 20 March 2019 names Elizabeth Debicki, Robert Pattinson, and John David Washington as the primary performers attached to the director’s top‑secret project. Left to right: Debicki (Widows), Pattinson (High … Read more