Following the critical and commercial success of the Safdie Brothers Adam Sandler led thriller Uncut Gems, fans will be excited to hear they are set to collaborate once again. Details are as sketchy as Sandler’s Uncut Gems character Howard Ratner, but IndieWire’s Eric Kohn revealed in an article about collaborations between upcoming talent and major […]
20 Great Performances from the Past Decade
Tom Jolliffe looks back at 20 great performances from the past decade… There have been plenty of legendary performances through the years. Some gain the greatest of acclaim from the off, culminating in Oscar glory. Others hit below the radar, or don’t get the marketing push required for an Oscar run. Award season is in […]
When the Big Screen Experience is Unforgettable
Tom Jolliffe looks back on his treasured big screen memories, and why seeing unforgettable films in a cinema will always be the ultimate experience… There was a horrible feeling for cinema fans last year, which was perpetual until a few months ago. Cinema chains were struggling to stay open, and not just because of forced […]
Ten Essential Gambling Films
Tom Jolliffe puts his chips on ten essential gambling films… The money goes down. You’ve placed your bets. Now it’s time for the nitty gritty. Win or lose. If you win, do you quit while you’re ahead or go again? Cinema has long held a fascination with gambling across its many forms, but the predominant […]
Now Is The Time for Indie Films To Strike
Tom Jolliffe looks at a pre-Covid rise in popularity for independent films, and a big upcoming push for content going forward… Slowly but surely, changes were afoot this time last year. It had been a progressive rise for a few years. Cinema was still monopolised by the mega budget blockbusters. In particular, Disney and every […]
The 2019 Movies Unfairly Overlooked During Awards Season
Tom Jolliffe takes a look back at several of last year’s films overlooked by the major award ceremonies…. As we find ourselves almost half way between the last Oscars and the next, with some uncertainty about just what we’ll see at the 2021 Academy Awards (after months of delayed films and closed cinemas), seems like […]
Films That Leave You Speechless
Tom Jolliffe on films that leave you speechless… Spoilers ahead. Cinema can enthral, entertain, amuse, and terrify. You finish a film and you ordinarily have an idea of your feelings on it, or said film will help you wind down with a denouement before the credits roll. Sometimes though, a film finishes and you’re left […]
No Laughing! When Comedians Get Serious
Tom Jolliffe looks at when comedic actors take on more challenging (and sometimes darker) material… When you’re a star renowned for a particular genre, it can be hard to break out of that. Over the years, many a comedy star has become synonymous with churning out an array of comedy vehicles. It’s often easier to […]
A24: Fighting to keep cinema engaging and promoting diversity
Tom Jolliffe looks at the growing impact of A24 and why they’re the best thing in cinema right now…. The widening grip of Disney expands almost every year. They can seemingly rest a little on their laurels having generally found a formula that works with minimal boundaries pushed, or need for innovative dramatic ideas. Whilst […]
Mann, Refn and the Safdies: Mastering Neo-Noir
Tom Jolliffe looks at a few examples of classic neo-noirs… Dark tales in rain sodden streets with the glistening neons of a big City. There comes that inevitable moment. A wrong choice, the self-destructive move to an inescapable corner. The neo-noir, the resurrection of the classic film noir genre that typified much of 30’s-50’s cinema. […]