Film

By Michael McNulty Extraction could not have been more appropriately titled. Like having all four of your molars pulled at once it requires a general anesthetic to get you through it. As unimaginative as that was, it’s on a level with the quality of this film. Former CIA operative Leonard Turner, played by a Bruce Willis (who must have stipulated in his contract that he would only provide a level of enthusiasm equal to that of a slug) is kidnapped...

A trailer has been released for the hugely anticipated sixth series of the Game of Thrones. After a brutal ending in season 5, there is a lot of rumours circulating about the direction of the sixth series. Based on the as-yet-unreleased novel The Winds of Winter, the TV show has now overtaken George RR Martin's books, although there will be a significant amount of leftover material from the fourth and fifth books, A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons,...

If there’s one film series, which has sparked our love of gadgets, it must be the James Bond franchise. Ever since the chauffeur blew himself up with the cyanide cigarette in Dr No, we’ve been fascinated by the quirky gadgets. The scenes were Q would present James Bond with the latest equipment has become a thrilling event in itself. Not only have these gadgets managed to captivate our imaginations on screen, some of them have found their way on to...

Written by Simon Columb/@screeninsight . Reproduced with thanks from Screeninsight The Martian may have failed to light up the stage at the Oscars, but underneath the space-dust Matt Damon walks upon, there is a powerful message. There is no need for a statuette and a tick-box on a to-watch list here. Instead, The Martian’s socialist message preceded the unstoppable rise and optimism of Bernie Sanders powerful campaign, setting the cinematic stage for a new future. Sci-Fi depictions of the future...

Written by Michael McNulty Hollywood and alcohol pair together as well, if not better, than Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. A magical relationship that brings to screens breathless narratives from comedy to drama, and everything in between. Here are five films so boozy the celluloid may as well have been soaked in whiskey. 1) The Lost Weekend is a masterpiece in filmmaking. Directed by Billy Wilder and released in 1945, this is considered to be the first film to use...

Film Student from Milton Keynes Creates Heart Wrenching Documentary on the Syrian Refugee Crisis For most of us, the genre of ‘student film’ sparks connotations of budget sets and pranks. But one student has pushed the boundaries of the genre with his poignant exploration of the ramifications of the war in Syria and can reveal those living in the camp would prefer to be seen as ‘visitors’ than refugees. For his film ‘Oh Syria, My Syria’, 29-year old Ismael Ahmed,...

by Miranda Schiller @mirandadadada “The Right to Happiness”, this year’s Berlinale motto, is clearly linked to the one most talked about topic in the German media this year: Refugees. Donation boxes for the Berlin Centre for Torture Victims in every cinema, various programmes to help refugees in Berlin, from free tickets to school projects to traineeships, are the concrete ways the Berlinale participates in the effort to welcome refugees. Even George Clooney, star of the opening film “Hail, Caesar!”, has...

Reviewed by Miranda Schiller @mirandadadada Kate and Justin are expecting their first child when new neighbours move into the downstairs flat of their converted terraced house. The new couple, Theresa  (Laura Birn) and Jon, are also expecting a child. While Theresa is full of joy at the prospect of being a mother, Kate (Clémence Poésy) is insecure and fearful about her ability to cope with the responsibility for a child. She quickly warms to the outgoing Theresa and a friendship...

Review and round table interview with director Morgan Neville by Miranda Schiller @mirandadadada After meeting world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma and succumbing to his charm, documentary filmmaker Morgan Neville set out to document his ensemble of musicians from around the world, playing traditional instruments of their home countries, and morphing all these different traditions together to make something entirely new. Yo-Yo Ma's charm is hard not to succumb to, and Neville's storytelling is as light-footed, smooth and masterful as in his...