From the opening frame of this new season Gotham seems like a different animal. There is a swagger in the step, a confidence somehow sealed in stone, which was lacking
Directed by Rachid Bouchareb. Starring Forest Whitaker, Harvey Keitel, Ellen Burstyn, Luis Guzman and Brenda Blethyn. From its opening sun baked vista to that closing image in blinding silhouette, Two
Directed by Arie Posin. Starring Annette Bening, Ed Harris, Robin Williams, Amy Brenneman, Jess Weixler and Linda Park. Anything concerning itself with themes of romantic redemption should beware. Soderbergh navigated this
Paying tribute to Wes Craven in its opening moments, Scream: The TV Series launches into the season finale without missing a beat. Employing multi-media to isolate, frighten and confuse whilst
Anything which opens with Shakespeare and closes on family in fighting must be worth watching. That The Strain manages to lever arch in some decapitation, merely adds spice to an
Earlier this week news broke of Wes Craven’s death from brain cancer. A debilitating, dignity stripping disease which I have had the unfortunate honour of witnessing first hand. However, with
Once again I’m late to the party with fleeting impressions of episode seven. After another blinding forty minutes of television my conclusion is simple. The Strain was worth every penny
Directed by John Erick Dowdle. Starring Owen Wilson, Lake Bell and Pierce Brosnan. SYNOPSIS: In Southeast Asia an American family get caught amidst a violent political uprising. Amongst the
Directed by Richard Loncraine. Starring Morgan Freeman and Diane Keaton. Ruth and Alex is proof that the presence of talent is no guarantee of success. On paper this should be
As we roll into the final few episodes Scream: The TV Series is gaining some serious momentum. Either putting Willa Fitzgerald through the Scream Queen wringer. Peppering the walls with Kubrick
Resurrected with an authentic chrome dome Corey Stoll is kicking arse and taking names. Since casting off his synthetic weave Ephraim Goodweather has found some cojones. No more the
When a twist makes you swear out loud, then someone, somewhere, did something right. Especially if that curveball is proper ‘Heath Robinson’. If I’ve lost you just Google the
After Season One’s endless exposition, The Strain is finally playing out like a hybrid espionage thriller. Ephraim Goodweather is heading the charge into uncharted territory, with Corey Stoll going full
Directed by Sam Esmail. Starring Emmy Rossum and Justin Long. Some things are hard to categorise. These would include anything by Lars von Trier, a cross section of Wim Wenders work, or
Amadeus Serafini is an anomaly. Part Christian Slater during his Nicholson phase, with a smidgen of Jason Patric pre Speed 2 and post Lost Boys. Noticeable only for his absence from my
My experience of Mexican wrestling movies is limited to Nacho Libre. That ‘comedy’ which proved to me Jack Black should stick to what he does best. By which I mean
Directed by Joe Dante. Starring Anton Yelchin, Ashley Greene, Alexandra Daddario and Oliver Cooper. If you took a moment to examine the work of Joe Dante something would be obvious. Whether
Directed by Luke Seomore and Joseph Bull. Starring Barry Ward and Hayley Squires. This film is beautifully bleak in an unrelenting way. Charting a journey of redemption for Barry Ward’s Adam,
Webs of deceit are quickly unravelling this week in an episode where no one gets killed. Now I know the premise rests on someone regularly biting the dust, but
After last week’s personal epiphany I am pleased to say things remain unchanged. Despite a lack of flashbacks The Strain retained a certain momentum, which unfortunately highlighted another problem. It
This review has been started over three times now. I keep going back and deleting huge chunks of text because nothing feels right. Whether I am preoccupied or not
It would be presumptuous of me to think that I have influence on the course of any programme, much less one like Scream: The TV Series. That strangest of all
For the longest time I had issues with the emotional content of The Strain. Numerous reviews spanning several months did nothing but bitch about how remote this series felt. Others
In the penultimate episode of this ‘event drama’ things take a disturbing turn. With feelings running high, expectations weighting heavy upon Matt Dillon’s Ethan Burke and the towns folk
Things are messy this week beginning with a misplaced opening flashback. Such techniques need employing with precision and purpose, to provide that all important point of reference. But what Scream:
Having failed to defeat The Master, Ephraim and his team retreat to Red Hook and begin fortifying their position… Guillermo Del Toro directs the opening ten minutes of season
Directed by Rupert Goold. Starring James Franco, Jonah Hill, Felicity Jones, and Ethan Suplee. SYNOPSIS: New York Times journalist Michael Finkel (Jonah Hill) has lost his job. Fired for
There is an old adage. Power corrupts, whilst absolute power corrupts absolutely. It is written that the last ruler of Rome went mad. Duly elected by the people to
It is now officially time for the gloves to come off. Scream: The TV Series rolls into episode two with mild invention and solid character development. Lifting dialogue from the film
Directed by Ara Paiaya. Starring Gary Daniels, Mickey Rourke, Eric Roberts, Michael Madsen and Darryl Hannah. SYNOPSIS: This dark tale of redemption set amongst the denizens of London’s underworld,
Week on week there are so many ideas playing out in Wayward Pines, that the superficial framework of plot and structure seem effortless. By showing us behind the curtain producers
Anyone remember Party of Five? Exactly the same as Dawson’s Creek but without those homely qualities of a Katie Holmes or Michelle Williams. It aired on Channel Four in the Nineties, convincing
Directed by Bernard Rose. Starring Danny Huston, Jack Huston, Sienna Miller and Jacqueline Bisset. SYNOPSIS: Jack Hussar is a legendary Hollywood director, whose persona commands respect and adoration from
Back story is always a difficult nut to crack. It is necessary for two reasons. Number one people require context. That annoying essential for the sake of plot and
As many more individuals of each species are born than can possibly survive; and as, consequently, there is a frequently recurring struggle for existence, it follows that any being,
How’s that for a tagline? Just grabs you by the lapels and won’t let go will it. Before you move on, let me give you some reasoned context to
Nestled away just off embankment in London sits Whitehall Place. Amongst the opulence and heritage sits ‘The Corinthia’. A hotel for which the phrase ‘five star’ was invented and
Directed by Ben Palmer. Starring Simon Pegg, Lake Bell, Ophelia Lovibond, Rory Kinnear, Olivia Williams, Sharon Horgan, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Harriet Walter and Ken Stott. SYNOPSIS: A single woman who’s
Wayward Pines is turning into some sort of twisted Alice in Wonderland. There are now so many levels of weird involved that David Lynch might bulk. This week it really is
This dishevelled detective story nurtured by Chuck Hogan and realised by M. Night Shyamalan, takes a bunch of time to go the long way round. Taking on an increasingly
For anyone unfamiliar with Blake Crouch here are a few pointers. His flavour of thriller fiction has made him a household internet sensation. One such creation made its way
I never was a comic book fan. Had no affinity for the medium. Watchmen was only purchased for research purposes before the cinematic release. And what’s more I only just made
Perched on the prow and majestic in torchlight stood a figurehead. Her vessel advanced with all the ceremony of a Viking burial, only to dispatch them moments later, like
I find myself between a rock and a hard place. With metaphorical marching bands and the news of another royal mouth to feed, we find ourselves at an end.
For anyone up on their entertainment news it comes as little surprise that Jada Pinkett Smith is leaving Gotham. With a heavy heart we bid farewell to someone who has
This was to be my grand gesture. A return to form and way back from literary oblivion. Gotham was the weapon of choice, episode eighteen and nineteen the literary armour
Unbalanced personalities, damaged psychosis and narrative conventions all jostle for position, in this penultimate portion of Gotham on Fox. Erin Richards, all but forgotten in the ebb and flow of
Any time somebody brings circuses into the equation things turn sinister. Tempered by the needs of a mainstream audience and being firmly pre-watershed, this circus is not quite the
A purveyor and peddler of sensory drugs for those into a little action, Constantine represents the bad boy in all of us. Inherently cool, ultimately flawed and perpetually alone
David O’Hara has a face you recognise, even if the name leaves a lesser impression. Character actor familiar from Braveheart, Wanted and Scorsese’s The Departed he brings a lot of acting luggage with