Category Archives: Film

First Man. Film Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7/10

Cast: Claire Foy, Ryan Gosling, Pablo Schreiber, Christopher Abbott, Ethan Embry, Ciaran Hinds, Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, Corey Stoll, Shea Whigham, Patrick Fugit, Lukas Haas, Corey Michael Smith, Brady Smith, Olivia Hamilton, John David Whalen, Leon Bridges.

If a film’s aim is to educate and inform, to make an audience appreciate the life and actions of the subject at hand, then Damien Chazelle’s in depth, almost microscopic, look at the life of Neil Armstrong, of the lead up to moment when he became the first human to take a tentative step on the surface of the Moon, the trials, the agony, the heartache that spurred him on, then First Man would be rightly considered to one of the most endearing and enduring of epics.

First Man. Film Review. full post

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

Hunter Killer. Film Review.

Liverpool Sound And Vision Rating *

Cast: Gerard Butler, Gary Oldman, Linda Cardellini, Toby Stephens, Common, Adam James,  Cory Johnson, Henry Goodman, Carter MacIntyre, Shane Taylor, Kola Bokinni, Mikey Collins, Will Attenborough, Kieron Bimpson, David Gyasi, Michael Nyqvist, Caroline Goodall, David Yelland, Stuart Milligan.

The land of cliche is under constant threat of never being allowed to die in peace, to be remembered for the small annoyances, for the large discomfort felt, a hero must be seen to stand tall and have the attention of the audience, but they must be seen as being more than a two dimensional caricature which sends a signal to the audience, that the land of cliche is being primed and prepped once more for boarding.

Hunter Killer. Film Review. full post

(524 words, estimated 2:06 mins reading time)

Bad Times At The El Royale. Film Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cast: Dakota Johnson, Chris Hemsworth, Jon Hamm, Jeff Bridges, Manny Jacinto, Nick Offerman, Katherine Isabelle, Cailee Spaeny, Cynthia Erivo, Lewis Pullman, Xavier Dolan, Alvina August, Jonathan Whitesell, Sarah Smyth, Jim O’ Heir, Charles Halford, Mark O’ Brien, Bethany Brown, Hannah Zirke, Tally Rodin, Sophia Lauchlin Hirt, Austin James, Billy Wickman, James Quach, Vincent Washington, Caroline Koziol, Austin Abell.

Bad Times At The El Royale. Film Review. full post

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

A Star Is Born (2018). Film Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

Cast: Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga, Sam Elliott, Andrew Dice Clay, Rafi Gavron, Anthony Ramos, Dave Chappelle, Alec Baldwin, Marlon Williams, Brandi Carlile, Ron Rifkin, Barry Shabaka Henley, Michael D. Roberts, Michael Harney, Rebecca Field, Drena De Niro, Greg Grunberg.

A Star Is Born (2018). Film Review. full post

(538 words, estimated 2:09 mins reading time)

Johnny English Strikes Again. Film Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 5/10

Cast: Rowan Atkinson, Olga Kurylenko, Emma Thompson, Jake Lacey, Charles Dance, Ben Miller, Miranda Hennessy, Adam James, Irena Tyshna, Pippa Bennett-Warner, Adam Greaves-Neal.

Rowan Atkinson will always be considered one of the finest pursuers of comedy truth that the U.K. has been blessed with nurturing, supporting and enjoying, of that simple fact there can be no doubt, no argument and yet as time goes on it is possible to wish he would concentrate his considerable talents on the straight television drama, or theatrical endeavour. As his time occupying the role of Inspector Maigret has proved, his talent for empathy, for the understanding of what drives certain men in the periods they live in is just as keenly honed as his notable characters of Edmund Blackadder, Mr. Bean, and the inept but ultimately decent Johnny English have been explored.

Johnny English Strikes Again. Film Review. full post

(499 words, estimated 2:0 mins reading time)

Venom. Film Review.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Cast: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahemed, Scott Haze, Reid Scott, Jenny Slate, Melora Walters, Woody Harrelson, Peggy Lu, Malcolm C. Murray, Dope Aluko, Wayne Pere, Michelle Lee, Stan Lee.

There was a time when Todd McFarlane’s name was as arguably huge as the house of Marvel itself, an artist who breathed new and exciting life into the company for his work on Spider-man and who brought into being one of the most dynamic, deadliest characters in the world to fruition. Todd McFarlane’s name deserves recognition and awe in the same breath as Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, Alex Ross and John Romita, a name that will undoubtedly endure and give graphic novel fans the chills when they think of one particular character above them all, that of Venom.

Venom. Film Review. full post

(615 words, estimated 2:28 mins reading time)

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)