Chronicle, 2012. Directed by Josh Trank. Starring Dane DeHaan, Michael B. Jordan and Alex Russell. SYNOPSIS: Three teens develop super powers after stumbling upon a mysterious cave, but they soon come to learn the downside of their amazing gift. What initially put me off Chronicle was the video camera footage. The whole film is shown […]

Martha Marcy May Marlene, 2011. Directed by Sean Durkin. Starring Elizabeth Olsen, John Hawkes, Sarah Paulson, and Hugh Dancy. SYNOPSIS: The damaged Martha (Elizabeth Olsen) is haunted by painful memories and increasing paranoia struggles to re-assimilate with her family after fleeing an abusive cult. During the Sydney Film Festival last year I heard over and […]

Commenting on the critics with Simon Columb… Writer and podcaster for Slash Film, Dave Chen – on his personal blog www.davechen.net – writes about the racist and ethnic stereotypes in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, upon the re-release of the film in 3D, in response to a podcaster who stated that, “I […]

Sean Guard celebrates Black History Month with a selection of acclaimed African American films… In the light and celebration of Black History Month, I’ve put together a small collection from the vast library of highly-acclaimed African American films. From Cicely Tyson to Denzel Washington to Spike Lee, I’ve included some of the classic films and […]

Celebrated American singer and actress Whitney Houston has died aged just 48 after being found unconscious in her room at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, California yesterday afternoon. According to a statement from the police, there were “no obvious signs of criminal intent”, and the cause of death is to be investigated. Born in […]

Presenting our weekly round-up of all the big news stories from the world of movie superheroes… Well, it had to happen sooner or later, but Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises has finally taken a back seat this past week, allowing rival superhero flicks The Avengers and The Amazing Spider-Man to grab the headlines as […]

Safe House, 2012. Directed by Daniel Espinosa. Starring Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, Vera Farmiga, Sam Shephard, Brendan Gleeson and Robert Patrick. SYNOPSIS: A junior CIA agent (Ryan Reynolds) gets caught up in an espionage scandal and is forced to go on the run with a high priority prisoner (Denzel Washington) after their safe house comes […]

There Be Dragons, 2011. Written and Directed by Roland Joffé. Starring Charlie Cox, Wes Bentley, Dougray Scott and Olga Kurylenko. SYNOPSIS: In the wake of the Spanish Civil War, a journalist discovers a dark and devastating connection between his estranged father and a candidate for canonization. Okay I’ll admit it, when first tasked with writing […]

Luke Owen attends the London press conference for The Muppets… When I went a press screening for The Muppets two weeks ago, I also had the pleasure of going to one of the most surreal yet amazing things I’ve ever attended. I went to a press conference with Kermit and Miss Piggy (and director James […]

Hostel: Part II, 2007. Directed by Eli Roth. Starring Lauren German, Roger Bart, Heather Matarazzo, Bijou Phillips and Richard Burgi. SYNOPSIS: Three female Americans travelling through Europe find themselves at a hostel with a violent reputation. Despite having some problems with Hostel (2005), I have to admit that overall I didn’t think it was too […]