Category Archives: Film

Black ’47, Film Review. Picturehouse@F.A.C.T., Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: Hugo Weaving, James Frecheville, Stephen Rae, Freddie Fox, Barry Keoghan, Moe Dunford, Sarah Greene, Jim Broadbent, Ciaran Grace, Colm Seoighe, Olivier Biwer, Kieran Boland, Antonia Cambell-Hughes, Dermot Rowley, Diarmuid de Faoite, Fiach Kunz, Joe Lydon, Geraldine McAlinden, Aiden McCardle, Liam McEvoy, Keith McErlean.

In the best traditions of the revenge film genre, Black ’47 must surely sit as a truly incredible example of writing, not only in terms of its absorbing, harrowing storyline but in the judgement it passes on the nature of greed and neglect for our neighbours, our souls and what they are worth when we can idly sit by as people die in the streets as the hunger and cold eats away at their resolve and their lives.

Black ’47, Film Review. Picturehouse@F.A.C.T., Liverpool. full post

(531 words, estimated 2:07 mins reading time)

Night School. Film Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision rating * *

Cast: Kevin Hart, Tiffany Haddish, Rob Riggle, Taran Killam, Romany Malco, Keith David, Loretta Devine, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Yvonne Orji, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Ben Schwartz, Anne Winters, Bresha Webb, Al Madrigal, Jeff Rose, Tilda Del Toro, Fat Joe.

You do have to wonder sometimes about cinema and the film industry when it finds ways to bring out the worst in the genre. It seems to be a problem that continues for the most part with what is loosely termed- American comedy, a sink hole into which its small screen cousin always hits absolute highs, and yet it cannot transfer to the pulling power available to the longer format.

Night School. Film Review. full post

(489 words, estimated 1:57 mins reading time)

A Simple Favour. Film Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Blake Lively, Anna Kendrick, Henry Golding, Glenda Braganza, Andrew Rannells, Dustin Milligan, Danielle Bourgon, Gia Sandhu, Zack Smadu, Andrew Moodie, Sugenja Sri, Rupert Friend, Bashir Salahuddin, Eric Johnson, Linda Cardellini, Paul Jurewisc, Sarah Baker, Jean Smart, Roger Dunn, Nicole Peters, Lauren Peters.

A Simple Favour. Film Review. full post

(549 words, estimated 2:12 mins reading time)

The Little Stranger. Film Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: Domhnall Gleeson, Ruth Wilson, Will Poulter, Charlotte Rampling, Josh Dylan, Katie Phillips, Anna Madeley, Camilla Afwedson, Tim Plester, Dixie Egerickx, Darren Kent, Amy Marston, Lorne MacFadyen, Thea Balich, Alison Pargeter, Tipper Seifert-Cleveland, Sarah Crowden, Liv Hill, Kathryn O’ Reilly, Oliver Zetterstrom, Martin Carroll.

The Little Stranger. Film Review. full post

(522 words, estimated 2:05 mins reading time)

American Animals. Film Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

Cast:  Evan Peters, Barry Keoghan, Blake Jenner, Jared Abrahamson, Spencer Reinhard, Warren Lipka, Eric Borsuk, Chas Allen, Betty Jean Gooch, Ann Dowd, Laura Grice, Udo Kier, Fedor Steer, Jack Landry, Wayne Duvall, Whitney Goin, Gary Basaraba, Robert C. Treveiler, Jane McNeill, Dorothy Reynolds, Maggie Lacey.

The overall problem with most cinematic experiences is that with some certain emotions, the truth of understanding them, even seeing them portrayed, is as likely as receiving an apologetic face from a pet cat after it has done its business in the wrong place; some reactions, some sentiments are impossible to replicate, even in the hands of a master actor.

American Animals. Film Review. full post

(529 words, estimated 2:07 mins reading time)

The House With A Clock In Its Walls. Film Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5.10

Cast: Cate Blanchett, Jack Black, Lorenzo Izzo, Owen Vaccaro, Colleen Camp, Kyle MacLachlan, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Sunny Sulijc, Perla Middleton, Sandy Givelber, Alli Beckman, Christian Calloway, Vanessa Anne Williams, Jalyn Hall, De’Jon Watts, Kom Chauncheun, Anna Chauncheun.

The House With A Clock In Its Walls. Film Review. full post

(497 words, estimated 1:59 mins reading time)

King Of Thieves. Film Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Michael Caine, Michael Gambon, Charlie Cox, Tom Courtenay, Jim Broadbent, Ray Winstone, Francesca Annis, Paul Whitehouse, Kellie Shirley, Martha Howe-Douglas, Ann Akin, Adam Leese, Claire Lichie.

There is no honour amongst thieves, however, there is always truth, infallibility and greed and it always makes for a great story to be retold, examined and pursued; regardless of whether it is steeped in fiction, or the absurdity of truth, the heist film is one of intricate plans and betrayal, and it is one in which King of Thieves is a good quality diamond in which to fall in love with.

King Of Thieves. Film Review. full post

(572 words, estimated 2:17 mins reading time)

The Predator. Film Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7.5/10

Cast: Boyd Holbrook, Trevante Rhodes, Olivia Munn, Jacob Tremblay, Keegan-Michael Key, Sterling K. Brown, Thomas Jane, Alfie Allen, Augusto Aguilera, Jake Busey, Brian A. Prince, Yvonne Strahovski, Peter Shinkoda, Mike Dupond, Niall Matter, Javier Lacroix, Gabriel LabBelle, Nikolas Dukic, Garry Chalk.

Occasionally it is not what the film says at the time but what it can promise for the future which makes it an enjoyable feast to get your teeth into; admittedly cinema goers and film goers would prefer to see this happen on the first attempt, the climax of the film serenading those glued to their seats with a lullaby of further adventures to come, of the tale being even more dynamic, and in some cases, revealing more to the story and the character’s depth.

The Predator. Film Review. full post

(595 words, estimated 2:23 mins reading time)

The Blackkklansman. Film Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: John David Washington, Adam Driver, Laura Harrier, Ryan Eggold, Topher Grace, Jasper Paakkonen, Michael Buscemi, Paul Walter Hauser, Ashlie Atkinson, Alec Baldwin, Isaiah Whitlock Jr, Damaris Lewis, Ato Blankson-Wood, Corey Hawkins, Robert John Burke, Brian Tarantina, Arthur J. Nascarella, Ken Garito, Frederick Weller, Robert John Burke, Dared Wright, Faron Salisbury, Ryan Preimesberger, Harry Belafonte, Gina Belafonte.

The Blackkklansman. Film Review. full post

(469 words, estimated 1:53 mins reading time)

Searching. Film Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

Cast: John Cho, Debra Messing, Sara Sohn, Michelle La, Joseph Lee, Dominic Hoffman, Sylvia Minassian, Melissa Disney, Connor McRaith, Colin Woodell, Brianna McLean, Derek Ellis, Ric Sarabia, Joseph John Schirle, Reed Buck.

Innovation is to be praised, the guts to try something new for an audience whilst retaining the classic elements of what makes the genre a success in the first place; to find a way to tell a story which diverts from the expected is a pleasure and one that you can spend a life time Searching for.

Searching. Film Review. full post

(461 words, estimated 1:51 mins reading time)