The slasher flick has seemingly been around forever. Arguably the most popular, and possibly the first, was Hitchcock’s Psycho. But the first to champion the term has to be John Carpenter’s 1978 film Halloween.

Not every actress can be a AAA star, after all Hollywood is very picky about giving actresses lead roles as it is, and it certainly wouldn’t want to give them ideas above their station in thinking they were in anyway equal to their male counterparts.

The one thing that is becoming patently clear with the passing of every day is that AI will end mankind, and probably sooner than we think.

Anyone familiar with the oeuvre of François Ozon will be aware with his penchant for the serious. With films such as Under the Sand, Swimming Pool and By the Grace of God.

There is one horror writer whose work has been adapted for the screen more than any other: Stephen King. It’s no surprise considering both the quality and quantity of his work, which has seen over 60 films and 50 TV shows adapted from his books.

The parody film has been around for some time, with the first being 1905’s The Little Train Robbery, spoofing the popular 1903 film The Great Train Robbery, but with an all children cast.

There are certain films, often deemed as true classics, that you just steer clear of remaking. Or so you would think. And although some titles are on fairly safe ground, such as Citizen Kane, Jaws and Die hard, you can never say never, as this film illustrates.

So you’re a director, whose last three films did pretty well, earning nearly $4 billion in total at the box office – thanks Spidey – what do you do next?

If there’s a map charting when certain individuals became stars through one particular film, Simon Pegg’s name will be on it next to the title Shaun of the Dead.

There’s one mythical beast that fascinates audiences both young and old – dragons. Youngsters can read about them in books as well as see them on screen in films like How to Train a Dragon...

They say you can’t keep a good superhero down; actually those saying it are probably disgruntled super villains much to their disappointment. ...

There was a time when there was something romantic about travelling on trains, but not anymore. Now it’s a constant battle; passengers talking on their phones on speakerphone, eating smelly foods next to you...

Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. That’s a useful mnemonic that many children at school use to remember what an utter bastard Henry VIII was to his unfortunate wives.

Poor old Peter Parker; it seems that Marvel are intent on having him as the Peter Pan of the superhero universe by never allowing him to grow up. This is the third re-boot for the web-slinger...

The future could have panned out very differently for Arnold Schwarzenegger. Having moved from Austria to the US to pursue a career in bodybuilding, which he crushed, he then turned his sights to acting...

Marc Webb’s sequel to his 2012 film feels like a stepping stone that would lead further into the Spider-Man story.

Having dabbled with a few Hollywood titles in recent years, including 2012’s Contraband, 2013’s 2 Guns and 2015’s Everest, Icelandic director Baltasar Kormákur returns home, albeit briefly, before heading off to the UK for this bittersweet romance.

Although the high school genre often focuses on a rites of passage for its protagonists, the genre itself offers such an experience for its audience itself, with every generation having their own.

With the end of the Sam Raimi trilogy, it was time for another Spider-Man to web sling his way onto the big screen, with the talented Andrew Garfield next up to put on the suit for director Marc Webb, for this 2012 reboot.

There are various reasons why we’ll see a film: it may star an actor or actress that you like, or it may have a director behind the camera who you admire, or it may well just be a genre that tickles your fancy.

With titles such as Eighth Grade, Midsommar, Past Lives and Dream Scenario, A24 have a reputation for producing films with a truly independent sensibility, often peppered with a fair amount of quirkiness.

Teaching is a profession that is often much maligned, and it’s usually only years after that you fully appreciated the challenging task they all face, to educate young minds.

Although getting older is something we all aspire to achieve – gracefully or otherwise – it comes with many challenges.

In his 1905 play Man and Superman George Bernard Shaw wrote “Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.” Shaw knew how to throw shade, and his sentiment towards the teaching profession has certainly lingered.

One of the first moving narratives we’re introduced to as children are cartoons. The characters, often animals of some kind, are so bold and colourful, set against a striking soundtrack in a world that fuels our imaginations.

After four seasons in the early eighties as a regular cast member on the iconic live sketch show Saturday Night Live, Eddie Murphy decided to make the jump onto the big screen, with his first two films being 1982’s 48 hours and 1983’s Trading Places.

If you were to take a poll of actors and who their favourite actor was, you would find the name Gene Hackman either at the top, or close to it.

n 1976 Sidney Lumet’s intense drama Network was released. It was a bold statement about capitalist ideological leanings of a TV news network, that would go on to win 4 Oscars, including two for its stars Peter Finch and Fate Dunaway...

If there’s one issue around the world that can cause tense debate its immigration. If it isn’t walls being built it’s boats making treacherous trips.

Here’s a pop quiz for the group: who is Jessica Alba? No she did not star in Zero Dark Thirty, that was Oscar-winning actress Jessica Chastain. Nor is she Jessica Rabbit...

Some of us who are fortunate to reach the grand age of 86 would already be enjoying a no doubt well earnt retirement, pottering around at the bottom of the garden, taking satisfying afternoon naps and moaning about kids today, but not so Sir Anthony Hopkins.

The theme of magic is a regular one for filmmakers, one that Hollywood is often quite keen to produce, being able to throw bagfuls of money at special effects, in a Harry Potter kind of way.

Some jobs just suck. Positions that often come up on the worst jobs ever list include working in fast food, cleaning, pest control and roofer.

Disney have established themselves as the leading global brand in the world of animation over the years, which has only been solidified with them buying Pixar.

Choose life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Lines uttered by Ewan McGregor in the iconic opening to Danny Boyle’s 1996 Trainspotting, which gets a theatrical re-release 28 years on with a 4K restoration.

Often topping the list of most common phobias isn’t, as you might expect, the fear of common lists of phobias, but arachnophobia – the fear of spiders.

There are times when it comes to choosing a destination to travel to that your love for a particular film and its locations may play a part.

Nestled against the southern tip of Pakistan, hugged by the Arabian Sea is the city of Karachi. Not only is it the largest city in the country, it’s also the 12th largest in the world, with a population of over 20 million.

Just a year short of celebrating its eightieth anniversary, Roberto Rossellini’s Rome, Open City is getting a rare outing on the big screen.

It was in the middle of the sixties that the term ‘groupie’ was coined, during an explosion of musical talent at the time. It’s a term that is used to describe teenage women and their desire to follow a ban or artist with almost religious fervour.

One of the greatest gifts that Italian cinema has given the world has to be the genre neo realism. It was a movement that was embraced by such filmmakers as Luchino Visconti, Roberto Rossellini...

If you asked before 2022 who Alan Ritchson is, you’d probably be greeted with ‘who?’. If you asked today however, well, you’d probably be met with the same response, in all fairness...

Anyone who has ever had the misfortune of working in an office knows how very soul destroying it can be. The filing, the phone calls, the awkward conversations in the kitchen area whilst the drinks machine takes its sweet time to deliver your hot beverage of choice.

All film genres are cyclical, with some appearing on our screens more frequently than others, such as comedies, dramas and action films.

There’s something typically British about a fete. Where home baked goods, such as preserves and jams, can be bought, games can be played such as racing with eggs on spoons, and raffles entered, as well as counting how many Smarties there are in a jar.

There are some people in life who you appreciate are just hugely talented individuals. And then there are a handful who take it too far, by being so talented they just make you sick. Just like Cynthia Erivo.

In 1989 the action film Road House was released. It starred Patrick Swayze, who had already shot to fame starring in the 1987 hit Dirty Dancing...

In 1997, Cate Blanchett, starring in only her third major role in a film, Oscar & Lucinda opposite Ralph Fiennes, made such an impact that it would be her last shot in her homeland of Australia for some time.

Sometimes you just can’t beat brotherly love. It’s certainly held the Coen’s in good stead for the 18 films to date that they’ve made together since 1984’s Blood Simple.

Here’s a pitch for you: ‘funny man’ (depending on your use of the term) Adam Sandler in space! Now if you’re not a Sandler-rite - the unofficial term for his fans...

Considering his vast contribution to culture and science, there really haven’t been that many films about Leonardo da Vinci. You would think a triple A star would have had a go by now, putting on some dodgy Italian accent. But no.

There was a time when you knew what you were getting with a Peter Farrelly film. Along with his brother Bobby, they brought to the screen the likes of Dumb and Dumber, Kingpin...

It’s becoming abundantly clear that Iceland is one of the most cinematic locales in the world. It’s no wonder then that shows such as Game of Thrones and the recent True Detectives, and films such as...

In 2007 Juno, directed by Jason Reitman and starring Michael Cera and Ellen (now Elliot) Page was released. It was a sharply observed script, which won the film its only Oscar, which went to Diablo Cody for her first ever script.

It’s great when an actor gets to reinvent themselves; you know the kind of thing, like Liam Neeson playing a broad range of roles, only to be pigeon-holed as an action star later in life.

If there’s one thing that’s going to get people in a proper tizz it’s land. Think of all the wars and conflicts, past and present, and at the heart of them all you’ll find a dispute about land, and more to the point, who owns it.

It took French author Victor Hugo fifteen years to complete what is not only considered his best work, but one of the greatest novels of all time - Les Misérables - published in 1862.

Zac Efron isn’t just a pretty face. Although the 36-year-old actor clearly used his matinee idol looks to great effect staring out in his career with the Disney show High School Musical, thus ensuring heartthrob status.

It’s been twenty years since writer Charlie Kaufman won his Oscar for writing the phenomenal Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Jeffrey Wright is just one of those actors that immediately improves whatever he happens to be in, and in whatever capacity.

When it comes to animated ducks, one reigns supreme – no not Count Duckula – it is of course Donald.

It’s been six years since Andrew Haigh’s remarkable Lean on Pete, which happens to be yet another addition to the British director’s eclectic collection of films to date, despite his relatively small body of work.

Some of the most prominent figures in any young person’s life are their teachers. And of course you had your favourites, who were usually the most friendly and accessible.

A recent term that has entered the lexicon is ‘ghosting’; it means to cease all communications suddenly, either in a new relationship, or even with an existing one.

The most common story found in films must be that of the underdog. A character facing adversity, with the odds stacked against them, yet find a way to succeed. What can be more heart-warming and satisfying than that?

According to statistics, travelling by aeroplane is still the safest way to travel. That might well be the case, but how many deaths have been reported by monorail for instance? Or canal boat?

Americans are notorious for doing things bigger - although not necessarily better. The perfect example would be that of the world of wrestling...

onsidering he made his directorial in only 2004 with Dawn of the Dead, Zack Snyder has had an impressive career to date.

It all started with a ball of clay in the early seventies; from it was created a character known as Morph by Aardman, who featured in the British children’s TV show Vision On, who would later star in his own show. The rest, as they say, is clay history.

One day the world is going to end. It’s been scientifically proven; using their powerful calculators scientists have estimated that in about a billion years our sun will die, and therefore so will we. So that’s a date to circle in your diaries folks.

Certain directors have their favourites when it comes to the talent they work with, which is why a number of them work with them time and again. Of course they don’t call them favourites, they call them muses, being performers they have a connection with.

The last time US director Brian Helgeland was behind the camera was for 2015’s double trouble Legend, starring Tom Hardy as London’s notorious Kray twins.

One of the most labour intensive forms of filmmaking has to be animation. And although it’s come on leaps and bounds since its origins of hand-painted cels by artists, thanks to the advances in computer technology, they are still years in the making.

Films that are often split into two parts are usually the domain of huge Hollywood blockbusters. It’s difficult not to see them as a bit of a scam, stretching out a plot so that you get twice the admission fees for the same film.

Yet another re-release that may find you in nostalgic mood is Elf celebrating its 20th anniversary.

Bill Murray. Chevy Chase. Eddie Murphy. Bill Hader. Kristen Wiig. Adam Sandler. Mike Myers. Tina Fey. Will Ferrell. Just a few of the names that share one thing in common: they’ve all come through the institution known as Saturday Night Live and gone on to become huge stars.

In life we’re continually confronted by markers that remind us of the passing of time – specifically our own. Sometimes it could be something physical such as starting to make a groaning noise getting out of a chair...

With the recent re-release of Love, Actually, now 20-years-old, it’s a timely reminder of the considerable talents of its writer and director Richard Curtis.

In 1985, an estimated 18.5 million viewers stayed up to watch the conclusion of the World Championship final between two legends of the snooker world, Dennis Taylor and Steve Davis.

Tilda Swinton always appears to be in high demand, which is no surprise when you consider what she often brings to a role. The British actress has a remarkable track record with working with a diverse range of directors...

Although the name Rebecca Miller may not be all that familiar to you, the author, actress and director comes from remarkable stock...

With the extortionate cost of living currently, taking a taxi anywhere can feel somewhat of an indulgence. So if you’re anything like us, the last thing you want is a chatty driver.

There are certain things that are difficult to explain, such as flickering, moving lights in the night sky, the disappearance of ships in the Bermuda triangle, and why men don’t sit down and pee instead of making such a mess when they do standing up.

You know when you’re in love, right? There’s that feeling you get, just being with them. That look they send your way that just makes your insides melt. Or they say “pain au chocolat” in such an adorable way that makes you run away to France together forever.

Chuck Palahniuk has a lot to answer for. In 1996 his novel Fight Club was released, which David Fincher then brought to the screen three years later. You know the one, with the first rule being about not being able to talk it.

Never has the conversation regarding the trans gender community been more vocal than now...

In 1997 Heather Graham made quite an impact in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Boogie Nights as Roller Girl. She quickly followed it up playing Felicity Shagwell in the comedy hit Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.

It’s late at night, you’re running low on petrol and you’re bursting for the loo. You then see a sign that a service station is up ahead and you suddenly feel a sense of relief. An oasis at the side of an unending road, with an array of snacks and drinks to choose from.

Space. If we've learnt one thing from the films that have ventured into it, it's this: it's big. It's so big that no one knows where it starts or, like Adam Sandler's career (sadly), where it ends.

The lives of artists always make great material for films, as they explore their artistic drive, usually against a backdrop of humble beginnings.

It was in 1956 that Maggie Smith made her first appearance on the big screen in an uncredited role as a party guest in the film Child in the House. If you told that young actress that she would go on to appear in over sixty films...

If you asked every human on the planet for a tech company with a fruity name you would get one answer – Apple - such is the global dominance of the brand.

It was with the release of Bryan Singer’s 1996 classic The Usual Suspects that Benicio del Toro’s career was placed quite firmly on the acting map. It is a career that has seen him notch up over sixty appearances, as well as pick up a Best Actor in a Supporting Role Oscar for his turn in Steven Soderburgh’s 2000’s Traffic.

You’ve been to one of those parties, with your partner, where you look around trying to see if there are any nibbles left and see a couple who clearly shouldn’t be together, but somehow are. Of course the chances are they’re looking right back at you and thinking exactly the same thing.

American director Wes Anderson has already shown his love for British writer Roald Dahl, when he animated an adapted version of his Fantastic Mr. Fox in 2009.

For most bands, when it comes to a version of their stage show being filmed, it’s usually nothing more than merchandise for the fans.

Relationships can be tricky things. The notion of two beings, finding ways to understand one another, discovering ways of enjoying each other’s company, as opposed to merely enduring it is no easy thing.

One of the most awkward aspects of having cancer is telling those close to you after you’ve been diagnosed. This awkwardness is twofold as the person you’ve told goes through a similar process of comprehending the news.

You can say what you like about the internet, but it has its uses. Not only can you harass various individuals on a myriad of social media sites to your heart’s content, shop for items you really don’t need and have them delivered almost before hitting the ‘buy’ button...

2001 was a bad year for farming; it was the year that saw the first outbreak of Foot & Mouth disease in the UK in three decades, which saw millions of livestock get slaughtered.

There can be a calm tranquillity to the oceans of the world, especially below the surface, when our bodies – and minds – become weightless.

With nine Oscar nominations under his belt, Denzel Washington has proven himself to be one of the greatest actors of his generation, and yet it still feels as if he doesn’t quite get the recognition he deserves.

For those in the profession, many would say that acting is a full-time job. So you can only admire those who not only choose to write but direct as well.

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. It’s unlikely that companies such as Louis Vuitton and Saint Laurent would agree however with cheaper knock-offs of their products widely available in the market place.

It’s a sign of the times when a major star’s latest film doesn’t get a theatrical release – at least in the UK – and debuts on a streaming site, as this one does on Amazon Prime, starring Gerard Butler.

Question: when is a toy not a toy? When it becomes a collectible. There are times when a toy is released, and for whatever reason, it hits mass appeal, thus driving up its value.

With US studios like Disney, Pixar and DreamWorks, and their impressive output of animated films, it can be difficult for other studios around the world to get a look in.

Contrary to the many rumours that have circulated recently over social media, Jamie Foxx is very much alive. That’s not to say that it wasn’t touch and go for a minute, when the Oscar-winning actor was hospitalised in April, from an unspecified medical emergency.

One of the earliest examples of Netflix being able to create original content with mass appeal was 2018’s Bird Box, starring Sandra Bullock. Although receiving mixed reviews at the time, it went on to rack up impressive viewing figures for the relatively new streaming platform, including 26 million viewers in the US in its first seven days of release.

It’s difficult not to notice the current state of things in the UK at the moment, with just a trip to your local supermarket causing outrage – five quid for a tub of Lurpak indeed.

You can imagine that a germ of a seed for a script can then develop over time, crafted, tinkered with, until you get something great like Raging Bull.

If you know anything about world cinema, and we hope you do, then you’re probably aware that when it comes to the French, they take their cinema seriously. After all, it’s the home of New Wave, and auteurs such as Truffaut and Godard.

Having only just finished her stint as a member of the highly dysfunctional Roy family in the critically acclaimed Succession, you would think that Sarah Snook, who played Shiv in the HBO series, would allow herself some time off and put her feet up for a bit. But that’s not been the case.

There are no other sports that are as brutal or as punishing as boxing, with the possible exception of Mixed Martial Arts. Up until recently it has been a sport where men have faced off in the ring, trying their utmost to get the better of their opponent.

It’s almost a rite of passage for Australian actors to appear in a TV soap opera, either Neighbours, or Home and Away, or even both, as is the case with Chris Hemsworth, although it was his role as Kim Hyde in Home and Away that got him noticed.

When it comes to British black cinema, there’s a disappointing tendency to not only rely on tired clichés, such as gang, drugs and crime culture, but to reinforce them.

Considering the recent pandemic, you would think that it would spur creative types to produce more upbeat material for the masses. Not so for writer and director Jane Gull however, who follows up her 2016 film My Feral Heart with a love story that certainly goes through the wringer.

whis•tle•blow•er ˈ(h)wi-səl-ˌblō-ər variants or whistle-blower plural whistleblowers or whistle-blowers: one who reveals something covert or who informs against another especially : an employee who brings wrongdoing by an employer or by other employees to the attention of a government or law enforcement agency

It seems these days that if you’re after an on screen hero, they only come in tight, Lycra costumes with some kind of silly name attached like Ant-Man or Wonder Woman.

If any director can be accused of a split personality it’s Robert Rodriguez. The US director made a name for himself with films like 1995’s Desperado, 1996’s From Dusk ‘till Dawn and 2005’s Sin City, all of which, it’s safe to say, are aimed at an adult audience.

For her two previous films, French-Tunisian director Erige Sehiri presented two documentaries. For her third film Under the Fig Trees, despite being her first work of fiction, you could almost mistake it for a documentary, focusing as it does on the workers of a fig plantation.

As he sat in front of his typewriter about to bring a British secret agent to life, writer Ian Fleming had to first contemplate what to call him. As he admits in this film, he wanted a “flat, quiet name”.

We’ve a reached a point now where so much acting talent from our humble shores have not only made the move into the US market, but dominated it, it’s almost embarrassing.

If you ask youngsters today what they want to be when they grow up, top of the list is bound to be the likes of reality star or social influencer. One career you can guarantee that won’t feature on any list is that of poet.

When actor Zach Braff made the jump from the small screen in his hugely successful comedy show Scrubs, to the big screen with his directorial debut, 2004’s Garden State, it looked very much like the perfect transition.

Back in the day, way back, before new fangled smarty pants phones, if you wanted to end a fairly new relationship, you had to mostly do it in person, often with the phrase ‘it’s not you, it’s me’.

When it comes to genres, we’ve had the main staples, such as comedy, drama, musical, etc, for decades now, with no real additions.

1980 saw the release of not only one of the best sports films ever made, but one of the best ever films of all time in Martin Scorsese’s Raging Bull.

The reason we watch films is to experience emotions. For instance, you can get an adrenaline kick from an action flick, or feel a deep sense of dread from a horror film.

You can appreciate that Jason Statham has a lot of time for fellow Brit Guy Ritchie, who after all, gave the action star his first break in Ritchie’s directorial debut Lock, Stock and two Smoking Barrels in 1998.

Believe it or not, there was a time when there wasn’t a deluge of superhero films. When the only fix you could get of a display of superpowers defeating evil were in the pages of comic books.

Despite a thriving industry, films from the Philippines don’t often make waves on the global stage, with other countries in the region proving more popular.

If there’s one comedian who has mystifyingly conjured up a long-standing career in film, it’s Adam Sandler. For the most part, he has been solely responsible for some heinous crimes against comedy in a whole slew of terrible films such as The Waterboy, Big Daddy and Little Nicky.

It’s been a pretty good year for Irish cinema, not only was The Banshees of Inisherin a huge success, despite not winning one of its eight Oscar nominations, but Irish actor Paul Mescal got a nomination to for his role in the overrated Aftersun.

This film opens with a disturbing fact: 800 murders a year go unsolved in France. Now there are various reasons that could be attributed to this, such as the sheer lack of man power to solve the crimes...

Everybody needs good neighbours, with a little understanding, you can find the perfect blend. Neighbours should be there for one another, that’s when good neighbours become good friends.

It’s not unusual to see monsters on the big screen in various guises. Some have made so many returns that the franchise has also included an origins story, which has become more and more prevalent in recent years.

If you talk to someone in the film industry who has won an award, and you ask them where they keep it, more often than not they say the loo.

Just like many of its grotesque leads, the horror genre never dies. Right now, for example, it currently appears to be enjoying yet another renaissance with the return of an old franchise in Scream, and a new one with Ti West’s 'X' for example.

For many, usually of a slighter older demographic, there’s a certain romance regarding travelling by ship. Although that notion was somewhat tainted when Covid jumped on board, turning the vessels into virtually ships of death. But hey, if you look up into the night sky, you still might catch the Northern lights.

There appears to be somewhat of a trend developing amongst Hollywood actors, and that is playing a version of themselves on screen. One of those obvious examples would be 1999’s Being John Malkovich, but more recently we saw Nicolas Cage in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, having a lot of fun at his own expense.

This is one of the rarest of things, sadly, a film written, directed and produced by women, featuring a cast of hugely talented females.

Question: have you ever eaten a raspberry? It may not be the most hard hitting of questions to ask, but when you’re a one inch tall shell, it’s important to know.

It’s only natural for someone to look back at their life the older they get; a time of reflection, missed opportunities perhaps, as well as reminiscing over friendships that have long since passed.

So you may have come across something like this in your social media feeds, when there’s a picture of an object, and if you know what it is – like the spindle to a vinyl record, for instance - it’s supposed to make you feel really old.

In 2015, Paris fell victim to the worst terrorist attacks on its land, which saw 130 people killed and 494 wounded.

Filmmaking is about one thing, and one thing only – storytelling. And one of the greatest storytellers in modern film history is Steven Spielberg.

There has always been a macabre fascination with serial killers, especially by filmmakers, who have been compelled to retell their stories on the big screen in all their gory details.

Britain has a tradition for producing serious young actors, with one of the most interesting in recent years being Christian Bale.

IIt’s said that history allows us to learn from our mistakes, and yet we still find ourselves in a position of continuing to make them.

Making a name for yourself in the acting business in your own country is hard enough, but there’s something even more impressive to make it in the States, especially if English isn’t your first language.

It was with the release of American psychologist Walter Pitkin’s self help book Life Begins at Forty in 1932, that the phrase grew in popularity. But it wasn’t always the case, as prior to it, it was more common for it to be said that ‘death begins at forty’, due to a far shorter life expectancy.

Whenever there’s a major sporting event, as we’ve just had with the World Cup, we’re inundated with adverts that attempt to entice us into the world of gambling, followed by the sombre voice of Ray Winstone to tell us to gamble responsibly. As if there was anything responsible about gambling.

When the great Haddaway asked ‘What is Love’ in 1993, we never got a definitive answer, which is a shame really, as it feels like it’s worth knowing. Instead we were offered a lyrical tome on the vulnerability that comes with the whole love thing.

Although there’s no scientific proof of twins enjoying actual powers, such as telepathy, there’s no denying that many have a strong bond. This film, starring Letitia Wright and Tamara Lawrance as real-life twins, shows a more vulnerable side to being so close to your sibling.

Although the world of animation has often been used to bring the impossible to life, animators have also been keen to literally draw our attention to matters of reality.

When it comes to acting, young aspiring talent needs to start somewhere. Daytime TV is often a first stop for many, with a recurring role on a soap being a big deal.

We will look back in the bleak future ahead, with the little time that is left, on the halcyon days of experiencing four seasons in a year. Long gone are the varying temperatures and conditions, replaced with unbearable searing heat that burns instantly on the flesh, forcing the handful of humans, that have manage to survive this far, underground, until the oncoming end of days.

Who the hell is Florence Pugh? The 26-year-old British actress has had a career that has been seemingly rocket propelled, from wowing audiences with her first major role in a feature in 2016’s Lady Macbeth, then the BBC drama The Little Drummer Girl and Midsommar, to joining the MCU as Yelena Belova, Black Widow in waiting.

It was with her film Winter’s Bone in 2010 that the world started paying attention to Jennifer Lawrence, and it’s been paying attention ever since. Which is probably how she became the highest paid actress in both 2015 and 2016, as well as making it into Time Magazine’s 100 most influential list in 2013.

Someone who doesn’t mind trying his hands at different things is Russell Crowe. The Oscar-winning actor also dabbles with singing in a band, as well as producing and directing film.

Thanks to the phenomenal success of Stranger Things, Millie Bobbie Brown is possibly on the very pleasing career trajectory of becoming a household name. Somehow the British actress already comes across as an old hand at this acting lark, at the tender age of 18. That’s what comes with starring in a huge Netflix hit at the age of 12 – playing Eleven - for you.

It’s official, British actors are now far better at playing Americans than actual American actors. It’s the only explanation for so much British talent going over there and stealing all their jobs. For example, not one but two Englishmen have played the world’s most famous web-slinger. That’s just nuts.

If you’ve ever had the misfortune to live next to bad neighbours, you can appreciate how utterly annoying they can be; be it constantly having conversations on loud speaker on their phone outside, or playing jazz, of all things, in their garden at a failed attempt to seem a cool cat, or just being twats in general.

Having already established himself as a great director at creating atmosphere, with the likes of 1976’s Assault on Precinct 13, 1978’s Halloween and 1981’s Escape from New York, John Carpenter looked to the 1951 film The Thing from Another World, and the short story it was based on, Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell written in 1938, for the inspiration for his next project The Thing.

Love. You can fall in it, out of it, but the tricky bit must surely be staying in it. Cinema has been there, over the years, documenting the business of love, in a number of ways, with the most entertaining being the romantic comedy – aka the rom-com.

There are certain expectations from a Hollywood sci-fi film that may or may not include blaster guns, sliding doors that make a swishing sound and robots. European sci-fi however, doesn’t necessarily follow those conventions, as this haunting film from Lithuania proves.

It was 2012 with the release of her break out show Girls that Lena Dunham took centre stage, with a show that she not only created, but starred in, as well directing and writing an number of episodes too.

In 1987 the debut album The Lion and the Cobra was released by a young Irish singer by the name of Sinéad O’Connor. It was an incredible showcase of an amazing talent, and the start of a career no one could have predicted.

The English as a whole don’t have the best reputation when going abroad. We’re not all that keen on the foreign muck they serve, and prefer that standards of fish and chips and the full day breakfast are available at all times.

There are only a handful of individuals that transcend the label of film star to icon, with the biggest arguably being Marilyn Monroe. But as is often the case, all the fame and money in the world don’t necessarily bring happiness, as this Netflix original production most definitely illustrates.

When Irish actor Liam Neeson took the starring role in Taken in 2008, he was 58. No one knew, including Neeson, that the role would be pivotal in establishing the actor as an action hero, one that he continues to portray at the grand old age of 70.

It appears that when it comes to the decision of who becomes a national treasure, it’s a completely arbitrary process as to who is and who isn’t. Dame Maggie Smith, tick. Sir David Attenborough, tick. Keith lemon, not on your nelly.

If there’s one country that has seen global recognition for its film industry in recent years, it’s South Korea. Films by the likes of Yeon Sang-ho (Train to Busan) and Kim Jee-woon The good, The Bad, The Weird receiving critical acclaim around the world for their features.

Nature is a marvellous thing, what with the wind and trees and that. And not forgetting birds, with their beaks and feathers, and tiny little claws. And their creative way to give birth; their young all pre gift wrapped up in a protective shell, to no doubt cut down on all that unnecessary mess.

If there’s one man who has explored the deviant nature of science, it’s David Cronenberg. The Canadian director has spent the majority of his career bringing us films with a dark edge, stories dipped in outrageous sci-fi plots, such as Scanners and The Fly.

With fascinating documentaries such as Free Solo and The Alpinist highlighting the incredibly dangerous endeavour of free climbing, it’s surprising that Hollywood hasn’t seen fit to jump all over it, in a dramatic sense. And no, Sly’s 1993 Cliffhanger doesn’t count.

Sibling rivalry must be a bitch. Well, we’re guessing it’s more so when the siblings work in the same industry. Take the McDonagh’s: John Michael and his younger brother Martin. Both are writers and directors of film, but only one of them has been nominated for Oscars (three), and won one.

Although it sounds like a sure thing now to have Star Trek the TV show make the jump to light speed onto the big screen, the franchise wasn't anywhere near how it is now, back in the late seventies/early eighties, as Star Trek: The Motion Picture proved.

There have been six films to date featuring the Predator, and that’s including the two spin-offs where it hangs with its cinematic chum Al, aka Alien. It’s a surprising amount for a character from space, that not only doesn’t have a cool catchphrase, but doesn’t speak at all, only making electronic purr-like sounds; although make no mistake, you wouldn’t want it sitting on your lap.

You know you’ve made it as a world recognised landmark when you’ve found yourself in snow globe. Shrunk down into a snowy scene as a piece of tat for tourists that can be picked up at the souvenir shop.

If there were to be a top three for the best ever diarists, it would have to include the following: Anne Frank, Samuel Pepys and Adrian Mole. Of course they all have their merits, but taking the coveted number one slot, in our books at least, would have to be Mole, if only for his heartbreaking relationship with Pandora. And no, Bridget Jones’ doesn’t even make the top five.

If there’s one country that has seen an incredible appetite grow for its cinema of late, it’s South Korea. It’s varied output has received much acclaim, for films such as 2016’s Train to Busan and The Handmaiden, 2018’s The Spy Gone North, and pretty much anything by Bong Joon-ho, director of such titles as 2006’s The Host, 2009’s Mother and the history-making Parasite, which became the first non-English feature to win the Best Picture Oscar in 2019.

Since branching out into TV and film production with their streaming service Apple TV+, the tech behemoths have enjoyed a fair amount of success with TV shows such as The Morning Show, Pachinko, The Essex Serpent and of course Severance.

There have been reports surfacing of late that Netflix may well be having some issues with losing subscribers. They appear to be throwing more money at projects than they’re making back, which isn’t the best business model.

It’s surprising how often animators turn to not only featuring animals that talk, but also ones with a penchant for the martial arts.

If we’ve learnt anything from films it's that humankind will be wiped out by robots. Maybe aliens, but more likely robots.

They say that playing the lotto is a mug’s game, that you have more chance of being hit by lightning, run over by an ambulance and have a heart attack all on the same day. Tell that to the couple who recently won £184 million on the national lottery in the UK, and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.

When someone within your family gets seriously ill, so ill in fact that they need full-time care, it’s often left to a member of the family if resources are scarce to hire a professional.

Considered to be the first example of a pornographic film is A L'Ecu d'Or ou la bonne auberge (‘At the Golden Shield’ or ‘The Good Inn’), released in France in 1908. No doubt it caused quite a kerfuffle at the time, as it probably could only be viewed with an audience and not on your smartphone, which must have been all kinds of awkward for all concerned.

We’re in a period of history, where, due to the heinous actions of Russia on the people of the Ukraine, it serves as a reminder of how lucky many of us are in terms of our human rights – for now.

There’s something truly disturbing about a film that features dental work; if any of you have seen Marathon Man then you’ll completely understand. It’s time then to prepare for another, which may not go the full “is it safe?” route, but is just as haunting in its own way.

Unlike the sleight of hand of a magician, the pickpocket is far less theatrical. The trick is to remove an item of value – a watch say, or a wallet – without its owner, or anyone else for that matter, knowing.

Children are wonderful creatures. Or so they lead us to believe. But what we should try to remember, as they stand there in front of us being all adorable and that, is that all serial killers, tyrants and murderers used to look at everyone exactly the same way when they were kids.

When it comes to a modern author’s work being adapted for the screen, there can only be one king – Stephen King in fact.

For many, starting the next level of schooling can be the next bold and brave step in their development. This new stage can also be quite perilous, especially if confronted with the phenomenon known as the school bully.

There’s always something fascinating about the heist flick; the notion of a cunning plan, months in the preparation, seeing a crack team recruited for an outrageous job that, if they manage to pull it off, will make them a fortune.

If you’re looking to get into a business that has a long history of making serious money, look no further than religion. Sure, it’s often at the expense of others, so it’s just as well that most gods appear to be very forgiving.

Since making his film acting debut in 1981’s Taps, Sean Penn has become one of Hollywood’s most fascinating stars, who has consistently chosen roles of substance over box office appeal.

With his classy accent, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Kenneth Branagh was anything but an Englishman through and through. The fact is, he was actually born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and didn’t move to England until he was 9 years old.

There was a time when you could go to a restaurant and not know who the chef was. Then bloody Gordon Ramsey happened.

We need to talk about Tilda Swinton. Despite having won an Oscar (for 2007’s Michael Clayton), and notching up nearly a hundred screen credits, the English actress is still somewhat of an anomaly.

French director Julia Ducournau has previous when it comes to the macabre, with her 2016 directorial debut Raw, a film that followed a young woman who had the taste for human flesh.

The doppelgänger flick. It is a genre that has many an actor chomping at the bit to do; it’s that rare opportunity to play multiple roles, allowing for exploration into a number of characters in the same film.

Although there’s no denying that Tom Cruise was the star of Top Gun, the film also made a star of one of his contemporaries, Val Kilmer. Kilmer played Iceman, who has become somewhat of an iconic character, and one, incidentally, that Kilmer has returned to for the forthcoming sequel.

Having gained rave reviews for her role as Lisbeth Salander in the original The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy, it was no wonder Hollywood would come-a-knocking for Noomi Rapace, having starred in the likes of Ridley Scott’s Prometheus and Will Smith’s Bright, as well as Amazon Prime Video’s Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan opposite John Krasinski.

You’d be forgiven for not being able to summon up the usual kind of excitement for the festive period this year. There have been two major factors that could dampen your yuletide cheer: a global pandemic, and the fact that they start showing Christmas films in July, both of which we could truly do without.

Christmas can bring out the worst in folk. Maybe it’s just all that alcohol knocking about, or the idea of having to be cooped up with people you really can’t stand – that’s right, your family – festivities have the ability to go tits up real quick.

There are certain films that need to be seen without knowing too much about them. Probably the most memorable being 1999’s The Sixth Sense; if you walked into the cinema knowing the twist, then it really wasn’t worth watching.

Having arguably played one of the greatest sporting icons of all time in 2001’s Ali, who else would there be for Will Smith to play from the world of sport? Well, how about the father of the most successful tennis sisters of all time?

It was 1993 when Kiwi director Jane Campion made her mark on the film industry globally with the release of her film The Piano, which picked up three Oscars for its trouble.

Once upon a time there was a company called Apple, which was founded by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. They released their first computer in 1976 – the Apple I – which was designed and hand-built by Wozniak. It went on sale for $666.66, selling around 175 units in 10 months. The rest, as they say, is history, and a very lucrative one at that.

If you have ever been in a casino then you’ll know what soulless, depressing venues they are. Sure they look exciting in films, but the reality is far more sombre and sobering; natural light is banned so that punters aren’t aware of the time of day it is - therefore how long they’ve been on the premises losing for – as customers pour their hard-earned cash into hungry slot machines with no intention of paying out big.

The art of letter writing is dead. Insert Loudly Crying Face emoji here. Why take the time and trouble to write to someone, when you can send a one line text, followed by a vegetable of your choice, to express how you feel.

There must be something pretty special about Haddonfield, Illinois; despite there being a notorious serial killer on the loose, one with a penchant for pointy cutlery and babysitters, town folk are more than happy to stay there.

Nobody likes a test. Except maybe swats, but nobody cares about them. Sitting down with a bunch of questions that are to determine how smart you are. Or not.

On average, it takes between three to four months to shoot a Hollywood film. There are of course exceptions, with Richard Linklater’s 2014 Boyhood certainly being a contender for the longest, with it taking over 12 years to shoot.

Considering the richness of the source material, The Addams Family franchise is certainly ripe for animation. Or so you would think. Unfortunately 2019’s The Addams Family proved to be a huge disappointment, as it failed to deliver a story worthy of the kookiest of families.

Despite many of her comedy features being hit or miss affairs, Melissa McCarthy is always worth watching. Sometimes just one inspirational ad-libbed line from her can save an entire film from being completely terrible.

For the last five years or so, Nicolas Cage has been churning out an average of five features per year. It’s possibly this extraordinary work rate that has lead to issues as far as quality control is concerned, with many titles being painfully poor.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of 9/11, a date that saw the world witness the most horrific terrorist attacks on US soil.

For decades now the action hero genre has been dominated by the male of the species, making global stars out of the likes of Schwarzenegger, Stallone and Willis. The women featured in these films have been mostly set dressing, there to be rescued by their beefy hero.

It wasn’t that long ago that film actors wouldn’t touch a TV project with the proverbial barge pole, as it mostly would signal a decline in their career.

We’ve never been shy in voicing our disdain for the musical genre. Under no circumstances is it OK for a character on screen to explain how they feel in song. Never. If someone is so desperate to do so, release a single or album; just don’t commit the heinous crime to celluloid.

As Brits we will never understand American football. Ever. It didn’t stop us watching Dwayne Johnson’s show Ballers however; it saw Johnson playing an ex football pro turned financial manager, as he attempted to make profitable plays off of the field.

On the 31st of January, 1990, the very first McDonald’s opened its doors in Russia, in its capital Moscow. Since then, the American fast food giant has opened over 750 restaurants all over Russia.

It’s all very well having a world, or should that be universe, of superheroes, but what would they be without supervillains? They’d be useless entities walking around in silly costumes, with nothing better to do than to appear at children’s parties and have the odd selfie taking with them.

There’s no disputing the fact that society has benefitted from the incredible advances in technology over the years. But as welcome as these advances are, they can come at a cost. For instance, the adoption of electronic mail has brought with it the death of the art of letter writing.

The horror genre has been fairly formulaic over the years, with the intention of hopefully scaring the bejesus out of an audience. There have also been some attempts to mix in some humour to the horrific proceedings, with one of the best examples being Wes Craven’s 1996 feature Scream.

With the likes of Disney and Pixar producing such high quality films, the world of animation is hugely competitive. That hasn’t stopped DreamWorks however, who since their debut Antz in 1998, have been producing animated features, albeit with mixed results.

There was a time when Pixar could do no wrong; the likes of the Toy Story, Monsters Inc., The Incredibles, and Finding Nemo franchises, saw the studio hitting it out of the proverbial animation park, time and time again.

It’s fair to say that Europeans like their drink. Unsurprisingly, according to 2016 WHO data, 18 of the top twenty countries around the world who consume the most alcohol are from Europe. Surprisingly, the UK isn’t one of them, coming in at a relatively sober 24th on the list.

If you’re expecting the latest sci-fi epic from this title, prepared to be disappointed. Although it does have stars, in the form of Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci, its story is of a couple taking a trip in a campervan in the UK, and not in a galaxy far, far away.

Difficult news is always hard to convey, but the truth is, Milla Jovovich is no longer with us. It’s by no means a recent thing either; it happened when she met British film director Paul W.S. Anderson, whom she married in 2009.

It’s all too easy to make assumptions about a film from the barest information. Take this film for example, a British drama, starring national treasure royalty Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman, with its patriarchal title sounding like a feature rich in family tension, that could possibly lean on the theatrical side somewhat, and come across as a tad pompous and dreary.

Here’s a question for you, do you know anyone who has ever been possessed? By a demon that is, not by a rage brought on by the stupidity of others. It’s a bit like asking if you believe in UFO’s, or God even, with the replies likely to split opinion.

One of the most versatile actors of his generation is Ben Whishaw. The British actor can seamlessly transition from TV - from the very English The Hour, to his role in the current series of Fargo - to film - from his lucrative appearance in the Bond franchise as the latest incarnation of Q, to more intimate fair - like his starring role in this British independent feature.

Considering the amount of effort he put into his ‘cut’ of Justice League, coming in as it does with a superhuman four hour duration, it’s amazing Zack Snyder has had any time to work on anything else. But presumably if Netflix turn up with a bank or two of cash, much like the characters in his film, the allure of such a large prize is difficult to turn down.

Having a working relationship with one of the world’s most famous writers of the 20th century is impressive on its own, but to then have that story as a subplot, focusing instead on your own life at the time is certainly bold. But that’s exactly what has happened here, with the film version at least, of Joanna Rakoff’s time in New York City.

There’s a fine line between playing homage to a classic and simply ripping it off, and this latest thriller from Netflix teeters dangerously close to the later.

With the videogame industry now making more money than the film industry, it’s no wonder that Hollywood is always keen to punch, right, right, left, up, jump on the gaming bandwagon and bring gaming characters and franchises to the big screen.

To say that machines will eventually take over the world sounds almost like a statement that doesn’t fully understand the concept; after all, machines in general and technology specifically have already taken over the world.

You can’t help but like Steve Zahn. And although he’s far from being an ‘A’ lister, he’s a performer who puts the character into character actor. So what if that character is a well-meaning stoner, Zahn has got it down to a tee.

John Patrick Stanley may not necessarily be a name that you’re familiar with, but this Oscar-winning writer has been responsible for a diverse range of scripts including 1990’s Joe Versus the Volcano, 1995’s Congo, 2008’s Doubt and 1997’s Moonstruck for which he won his gold statue for.

It was only in the last few weeks, on these very pages, that we bemoaned the talent of Carey Mulligan, and how she appears destined to play dull and dreary characters forever more in period dramas.

For a film with such an indie/European sensibility, it’s quite impressive that the sound of metal that could actually be heard is that of multiple Oscars clanking together, as it has received six nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actor for its star Riz Ahmed.

When both towers of the World Trade Center came crashing down on 9/11, it sent ripples of shock and fear around the world. It was such a blatant attack on democracy, that the US demanded not only answers, but revenge.

Question – when is a US film not a US film? Well, according to the Golden Globes, Minari, a film about a Korean family starting a farm in rural Arkansas, fell foul of their rules, which states that if a film contains more than 50% dialogue in a language that isn’t English, it can only be considered in the Foreign Language category, and not Best Motion Picture.

Although it feels like the Russo brothers have been around forever, they had only directed a couple of features before being called up for Marvel duty, where they helmed four features, including the finale to the current Avengers arc, Avengers: Endgame.

With the phenomenal success of streaming sites such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, the distinction between acting on a TV show or feature films is almost non-existent, with talent now freely ably to flit back and forth between the two.

Despite having an iconic laugh and starring in some of the most successful films of the eighties, there is a generation that exists now that may have no idea who Eddie Murphy is.

We’ve almost reached a point in the casting of major Hollywood films and TV shows, that British involvement is almost guaranteed. Not so much a pool of talent, more an ocean.

With the global pandemic making such a prolonged impact on our lives, it was merely a question of when to see its presence on our screens.

Gloom and doom. For much of the world’s population, this feels like the particular umbrella we’ve been living under for over the last year. For many, the threshold to the front door is one that is rarely crossed, never mind the notion of packing your bags and jet-setting to an exotic locale, unless you're a selfish, mindless ‘influencer’ of course, who feels they’re offering a service by filming themselves in revealing swimwear in somewhere in Dubai.

If there’s one actor whose doorway to their mind could be prised open and peaked into, it would be Nicolas Cage’s. Recently Cage surpassed the hundred screen credits mark in his career, proving that he has a strong work ethic if nothing else. Unfortunately his choice of projects is less commendable.

Robots. It’s already been established that they will eventually take over the world; currently they’re sussing out the human race, having already calculated that they can wipe us out over night, just before they serve us our last dark roasted latte and turn all our lights out – literally.

To quote from Harper Lee’s classic To Kill a Mockingbird “You can choose your friends but you sho' can't choose your family”. Life would certainly be more harmonious for many if you could, as family relationships can be exhausting.

A sled, a police box, a phone booth, a hot tub, and of course a customised DeLorean DMC-12, may well sound like the rider for a Kanye West gig, but they also happen to be iconic, on screen time machines.

There are some truly chilling things that can be watched online, and we’re not just talking about the myriad of cat videos.

It’s been just over four years now since the world lost one of the most creative musical artists of his generation – David Bowie. Never one to tread water creatively, Bowie constantly reinvented himself and his music, making it impossible to second guess what he would do next.

Generally speaking, robbing a bank is a bad idea. Certainly the odds are against you pulling it off, with three out of four robbers eventually getting caught. One group of society who, more often than not, are less likely to get sucked into that 25% chance of getting away with it are women.

There are a number of things that spring to mind when you think of Argentina: the tango; some of the best footballers in the world; a decent Malbec, and the country Evita asked not to cry for her, to name but a few.

Whenever films deal with the premise of mind control, nothing good ever comes of it. Everything from The Manchurian Candidate, Scanners, to the recent Get Out, all involve getting inside the mind of others for nothing short of really despicable behaviour.

Men. Tools. The relationship between the two can be almost symbiotic for some. In fact the receiving of one’s first tool box is almost a rite of passage.

When adapting a biographical story for the screen, you would expect a key requirement is to pay attention to factual details. This film however, isn’t quite as respectful to the truth, despite featuring a real life figure in history, as it’s based on a novel involving said figure in fictional events.

It’s trying times like these that you can truly appreciate the great outdoors, even if it’s only just outside your kitchen door. It’s no wonder then that there have been more people developing green fingers, in the vain attempt to grow a piece of veg or two, and connect with the outside world.

The new normal. Three words that are now almost casually used to describe what has become of much of the world since the global pandemic took hold of it.

Acting can be a funny old business; one minute you’ve got the camera trained on you at the Oscars as a nominee in the Best Actress category for your starring role in Guillermo del Toro’s Oscar-winning The Shape of Water, the next you’re filming a low-budget drama in a rundown part of Wales. So is the life of acclaimed British actress Sally Hawkins.

The white whale for many an overseas artist or band is to make it big in the US of A. Despite its distance, a number of musicians from down under have made the journey a successful one, including INXS, Crowded House and Olivia Newton John.

The resident of 221b Baker St, London, also happens to be one of the most enduring characters in film and television history. If ever you needed a crime solved, then undoubtedly Sherlock Holmes is your man.

There’s a saying ‘be careful what you wish for’. This can certainly be dangerous in regards to film, with audiences clambering for more after being whipped into a frenzy by a cinematic offering.

There are a few telltale signs that you’re in the realms of a European art house film. One of the biggest give aways is if it’s shot in black and white.

If there’s any man who could lead us to believe he has led more than one life, it would be Javier Bardem. The Spanish actor has had an incredible career to date, starring in small independent European films, like 2004’s The Sea Inside, to stealing the show in blockbusters such as 2012’s Skyfall, and everything in-between.

Have you ever wondered how urban myths are created? Possibly more interesting is what makes one take off over another? For instance, why isn’t the curse of the Egg Man an actual thing? We could start it right here, right now, but without enough people investing in it, the Egg Man will be beaten to an eggy pulp and part of an omelette before you know it.

In terms of learning your trade as an actor, you can do a lot worse than start in a soap opera. In fact it’s almost a rite of passage for new acting talent in Australia, with many of their biggest stars including Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, Chris Hemsworth and Margot Robbie all getting soapy at the early stages of their careers.

It’s this time of the year where usually things start hotting up at the box office, when Hollywood releases its big hitters. This year however, due to current Covid conditions, is very different.

Pickling produce is a peculiar practice. After all, who decided that putting an egg in a jar to be pickled would be culinary acceptable? Of course it isn’t, proving there’s literally no accounting for taste.

Being a Bond ‘girl’ can be a bit of a poisoned chalice as far a career in film is concerned. That hasn’t been the case for Gemma Arterton however. Her breakthrough role was in Daniel Crag’s second outing as Bond in Quantum of Solace, as the fruitily titled character Strawberry Fields.

Everything about children can be challenging. From raising them, to tolerating them, to being wholly responsible for them, and to liking them. Obviously the last on that list is a tough one, particularly in regards to your own, but is less so for those that are just paid to care for them.

After blowing every member of the cast away in 2017’s Lady Bird, and then delivering the funny big time in 2019’s hugely enjoyable Booksmart, Beanie Feldstein has shot to fame in rapid fashion, and deservedly so.

Cosa Nostra. For those in it, it was family, who looked out for one another, with the interest of sharing financial rewards. For the rest of us on the outside, this criminal organisation went by another name – the mafia.

With the very core of the film industry obsessed with its stars being prime physical specimens, with good looks and beauty to match, there’s little room for films that deal with people who may be considered less than perfect physically – or at least that’s what we are led to believe.

Someone should probably have a quiet word in the ear of Charlize Theron. With this her latest release she has chalked up nearly fifty roles in her career, with nine of those just in the last three years.

With everyone told to stay in and not go anywhere, the concept of getting on a plane and travelling somewhere has proven to be eerily foreign, as well as very much condoned by governments.

There was a real, tangible sadness that fell over Europe recently. Not for the deadly pandemic sweeping our shores, but because it cancelled the musical institution that is Eurovision.

Much like films about superheroes are currently dominated by the likes of Disney (Marvel) and Warner Bros. (DC), driving flicks that are currently in pole position with audiences across the globe are those from the Fast & Furious franchise.

Following up on his Oscar-winning 2018 film BlacKkKlansman, Spike Lee streams his latest effort through the medium that is Netflix. With a strong cast, Lee has packed his bags and headed to the warm climes of south-east Asia, as a group of Vietnam vets revisit their past.

It’s quite remarkable how quickly the media landscape has changed in recent years. Not only have streaming sites become the norm, but they’re huge popularity has led to them producing their own features.

Despite being in the 21st century, which sounds about as futuristic as can be, we still find ourselves very much in the dark ages. Take the highly contentious issue of abortion. The Pro Life campaign is still bullying women, hassling them outside clinics across the US, as if that somehow justifies their means.

You can imagine that starring in a show about wrestling as Betty Gilpin does (playing “Debbie Liberty Belle” Eagan in Glow on Netflix), she puts a shift or two in at the gym.

With it’s astonishing – and some might even say overwhelming output – it’s understandable that many might consider Marvel’s Cinematic Universe as the first. But it wasn’t, not by a long shot.

There’s something really disturbing about pet owners who insist on dressing their dogs and cats up. These days of course, they think of it as the perfect photo opportunity for social networking lols. It isn’t, and they really shouldn’t.

Here’s a quick pop quiz for you: which country is the fifth largest by area, and the sixth most populated? Of course all you eggheads know that the answer is Brazil.

To all intents and purposes, Daniel Radcliffe’s career should be over. Being a child star should be known as suffering from LRS - Logan’s Run Syndrome; as soon as a young actor hits puberty, their career dies.

It’s amazing what people did before they had the internet 24/7 in their hands. There were buildings young and old could visit, where they could just wander in off the streets, grab a book and start reading.

Considering how impressionable the minds of the very young are, it’s a huge responsibility when it comes to entertaining them. When you get it right, you instil memories in them that last a lifetime, getting wrong, and it could be years of therapy. Take Emu for instance; never has there been a more violent and disturbing character on children’s TV. And don’t even get us started on Pob.

One of the hardest things in the world must be to run an animation studio. Not only is the process painstakingly slow, it can take a number of years before you get a finished product.

All credit to Robert Pattinson. Despite global success with the Twilight franchise, he has shown keen, and much promise, by choosing plenty of interesting indie projects to work on. Sure there have been some stinkers (and we most definitely mean High Life), as well as the odd gem, like Good Time.

It was obvious from his compelling performance in 2013’s Fruitvale Station that Michael B. Jordan was going to be a star, but no one could have predicted his meteoric rise, no matter how well deserved.

Having to take part in sports at school in the UK for most is just another opportunity to underachieve but in a more public forum. There’s comfort from knowing however, that those with a sporty disposition will probably end up in a low paid job and living a very sad life indeed.

It’s not unusual as part of a young child’s development, for them to conjure up an imaginary friend. Someone they can connect with, play with, and have the kind of relationship they just can’t have with someone real at that point in their life.

The climate in Europe is changing, and it’s not just the weather. The political spectrum is shifting dramatically, making countries more fractured – just look at what Brexit has done to the UK.

For the majority of time in film, a fear is built from something coming towards us; it could be from the very depths of space, or maybe a foreign country stepping on our toes, but sometimes what we fear the most could be right on doorstep – quite literally.

There’s nothing quite like a magic trick; the sleight of hand, the waving of a wand, a puff of smoke, all part of a magician’s routine to entertain. It’s no wonder then that a film-maker would want to have a renowned magician as his subject, particularly with such a remarkable story.

The zombie apocalypse. Everyone has pretty much come around to the inevitability of it, probably more so than climate change ironically, so it’s just a question of when, not if.

If ever there were an actor of the current generation that it’s difficult to get a handle on, it’s Shia LaBeouf. He’s gone big with the likes of the Transformers franchise, he’s gone indie for Lars von Trier in both volumes of Nymphomaniac, and various stops in-between.

Good things come to those who wait, so they say, but for fans of warped creative genius Chris Morris, he takes waiting to a whole new catatonic level.

Here’s a bit of trivia that, if you’re of a certain age, could make you feel really rather old: it’s nearly twenty years since Brit Jamie Bell made his debut in the titular role of Billy Elliot.

Prison flicks are two-a-penny, with the genre well established in cinema history. And although not as well represented, there are a surprising number of equine features that rear their maned heads from time to time on the big screen.

The smartphone will be the death of us all, that’s just an undeniable fact. However we may all be far too busy watching cat videos on YouTube to notice the planet die beneath our very feet. Still, those cute kitties are rather adorable.

With the ridiculous political shenanigans that the UK is currently enduring, it’s almost impossible not to relate anything and everything to the absurdity that is Brexit. But with German director Christian Petzold’s latest film, its themes of immigration feel as if they give the feature added social weight and relevance.

Love is all around, if Marti Pellow and his Wet Wet Wets are to be believed, that is. Wherever it may be, it feels to be in dangerously short supply if the current political climate around the world is anything to go by. So perhaps this fluffy love story, set in the city that apparently never sleeps, is just what the world, and everyone in it, needs right now.

Politicians – can’t live with them, can’t vote them out of power if they’re a tyrant like Putin. We’ve reached a freaky point in history where the world of politics has almost taken on the status of a reality TV show. The unbelievable is now somehow the norm. You only need look at a couple of the world leaders and their Twitter feeds to realise that.

If we took a holiday, took some time to celebrate, just one day out of life, it would be so nice. It’s a wonderful sentiment, but clearly not the one that director Isabella Eklöf had in mind for her film, as the title is about the only thing it shares with Madonna’s 1983 sunny hit. For Eklöf’s dark debut isn’t likely to find you scrawling on a postcard “wish you were here” any time soon.

With nearly a hundred roles under his belt, Dennis Quaid has certainly been around the Hollywood block. He made an impact with his early roles in the eighties, with the likes of The Right Stuff, The Big Easy, Great Balls of Fire! and Innerspace.

Have you ever had one of those days? Of course you have; it’s the kind of day that, despite all your efforts, is just simply unwilling to behave itself. It’s one and only saving grace is that it will eventually end, and you’d have to be pretty darn unlucky for it to leak into the next.

With the ability to shoot video on phones, there was an expectation to see an avalanche of new talent seep through the old guard of Hollywood. Even with YouTube, where anyone could upload their efforts, this route to the commercial film market has been remarkably quiet.

If you would believe films, and let’s face it most of us do, teens are obsessed with parties. Sure, the ones that were always invited loved a good party. Who wouldn’t, what with all the jiggying, the gentle lingering of frivolity in the air, choons and of course a balanced selection of nibbles. We’re guessing.

Films about drug wars aren’t that unusual, they often go a bit like this: young whippersnapper comes up the ranks, wants to make an impression, throw their considerable ego around, “hey, who are you, to throw your ego around?” – “bang, bang, you’re dead!”, - ”No, bangbang You’re dead!!”. The end.

Looking at director Joe Berlinger’s career to date and two things spring to mind: his attention to all things criminal generally, and Ted Bundy specifically, shows impressive dedication; and he really should get out more.

You would have had to have wrapped yourself from head to toe in tin foil (which would be troubling on so many fronts) not to be aware of the current stories regarding climate change regularly in the news.

Your school days were just one big jigsaw puzzle. Every day pieces would be added to it, some welcome, others not so much, until finally, at the end of it, you’re left with a picture that represents everything you’ve gone through.

We’re now three films deep into director S. Craig Zahler’s CV, and it’s safe to say that he’s forming a familiar M.O. 1/ Write a cracking screenplay that is both stark and brutal, and hold back on the pacing 2/Cast iconic actors who some may describe, somewhat cruelly, as past their sell-by date. 3/ Above said actors must be male. Female actors seeking a starring role, needn’t apply.

The 1990s. They say if you remember them, you were more than likely there. You were probably watching Friends and ER, listening to Moby and Nirvana, playing Tetris on your Game Boy, and thinking life couldn’t possibly get better than this. You wait until you get on the internet, you whisper to your younger self.

There are just not enough good people in the world. Fact. This is no doubt because bad things invariably happen to them. Take that Jesus fella; he was always doing nice things for other folk, making sure they had food on their plates, sorting them out with their aches and pains, and look what happened to him.

There are some extreme places to live, as anyone who lives in South London can testify too. Norway is one of them; with its trippy policy to ban night time with a period when the sun isn’t allowed to set, as well as celebrating the existence of trolls in a big way, it’s no wonder it can bring out the cuckoo in certain folk.

Whenever Keith Lemon chats with one of his guests on Celebrity Juice, be it a minor celebrity or bland pop star, he invariably has to ask them about the product they’re on the show to plug. He asks every single one of them the same, exact question: what’s the message? It’s a deep question, and one that they can never answer conclusively, thanks to him.

There are very few Scottish actors who go on to become megastars; there is Sean Connery, of course, and that’s about it. And no, Mel Gibson in Braveheart doesn’t count.

Change is in the air, and that’s not a comment on climate change. There appears to be a greater tolerance towards our differences in society, which can only be a good thing.

It must be great to be a Gyllenhaal. It doesn’t matter which one really, Maggie, or younger bro Jake; whenever either of them pop up in a film, you know it’s worth a watch, just because one of them is simply in it.

It’s fair to say that British writer and director Steven Knight has come a long way in his career. In the early days, he wrote for Brummie comedian Jasper Carrott on various projects, including his BBC comedy series The Detectives which also starred Jesus, AKA Robert Powell.

There has to be times, in all our lives, where we’ve considered suing our parents for one thing or another. For instance, TV doesn’t constitute being an actual bone fide baby sitter. Nor does having to trawl around a supermarket on a Saturday afternoon count as a family day out.

Truth is a curious old concept. After all, one person’s truth can be another’s stinking pile of rotting cabbage. And as Mark Twain said (or did he?), never let the truth stand in the way of a good story. So if you thought that fake news was a modern phenomenon, think again.

When actor Joel Edgerton decided to pop behind the camera for 2015’s The Gift, which he also starred in, alongside Jason Bateman and Rebecca Hall, it felt as if that maybe more the direction, as it were, his career was going to take him.

Veep – the world’s ultimate understudy role. No real power per se, but if something were to happen to the President of the United States, you are expected to jump in and immediately assume the position as one of the world’s most powerful leaders. The irony is, of course, that you’ll probably just be a foot note in history, and no-one will remember your name.

It ’s unclear quite when it happened, but somewhere along the way, Olivia Colman became a national treasure, or at the very least, a national treasure in waiting. No doubt playing royalty, twice in quick succession (here and as Liz 2 in the upcoming third season of The Crown on Netflix), is a big help. Just ask Helen Mirren.

If there’s one actor who is keen on keeping the period drama alive it’s Keira Knightley. For the majority of her career, she has been wearing corsets, jaunty hats and serious pouts, in various historical dramas. And doing very well as a result.

Not so long ago, cinema was seen as a fairly serious medium, primarily aimed at grown-ups. By comparison, the relatively new medium of TV was, on the whole, generally accepted as delivering the light and frothy. How times have changed.

It was back in 1995 when Chloë Sevigny marked her big screen debut in Larry Clark’s controversial Kids. Since then, she has carved out an impressive career, flitting back and forth from big to small screen with considerable ease.

It’s always interesting to see the project a director chooses after they have tasted success with their last film.

Up until recent atrocities, the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was mostly known for being a former steel town, as well as home to the Penguins, Steelers and Andy Warhol.But what a lot of people outside of the States may not realise, was that it was also the neighbourhood for national treasure Mister Rogers and his puppet friends.

Before the internet, music fandom was pretty much contained; you could put the posters up on your wall, go to the gigs, buy the t-shirts, and possibly even wait at the stage door for a glimpse of your favourite band.

There are some actors who, for some indefinable reason, are just watchable, whatever they appear in. Oscar Isaac is in one such artist. It may be because he has the air of something old school about him. If he were born to an earlier generation, he could easily fit in with the likes of Pacino and Hoffman; not necessarily the prettiest of performers, but something about them that the camera – and audiences - loves.

Ahh the Emerald Isle. Famed for its black stout, leprechauns, that Bono chap, and potatoes. It just so happens that this film centres when one from this list was more prevalent, and surprisingly, it’s not all about the Bono. Unless of course, there was a Bono Mr Potato Head, which wouldn’t be at all surprising.

Just say no. That’s what the first lady Nancy Reagan declared to the American public regarding the taking of drugs. Luckily for one man, Columbian Pablo Escobar, they didn’t listen. At one point, 80% of all the cocaine that made it into the good ole US of A, was supplied by Pablo.

However much of an upstanding citizen you believe yourself to be, you’ve no probably dabbled in some five-fingered discounts in your time. And yes, the pick ‘n’ mix does count. There’s nothing like that high, no doubt heightened by that sugar rush, where you walk away thinking that you’ve just stuck it to the man and are clearly invincible. Unless you got caught of course.

It’s true that TV shows are the new black. Not that you need a TV to watch them anymore of course, but you catch our drift. There is now fluidity for actors between ‘TV’ and film like never before, with many effortlessly switching back and forth.

Fights are rubbish. Punchy punchy here, bop bop there. And nothing but bruises to show for your troubles. The one exception is if you just so happen to be Anthony Joshua, who has made a pretty penny from his left-right, left-uppercut shenanigans. For the rest of us, it’s just not worth it.

With the likes of A Quiet Place and Hereditary doing their bit to increase heart rates and have sweat glands working overtime in cinemas, horror is on a high with audiences right now.

There’s something romantic about train stations. Not the tatty, rural kind, with permanently locked toilets and waiting rooms with the scent of pee and foreboding. The grand city kind, with concourses bigger than small countries, platforms as long as your imagination, and exits and entrances akin to the Penrose stairs.

Cinema has been fascinated with stories of monsters since its inception. One perennial favourite that can often be found on the big screen, spreading fear throughout its audiences, is of course Frankenstein and his home-made creature.

Stories of youths struggling to fit in are two a penny in the world of film. There have been so many from the US alone for instance, that their high schools are probably more familiar than our own education establishments, with Grange Hill being the exception, naturally.

It’s common knowledge that the Oscars often get it wrong. A fine example of this was in this year’s Best Animated Film category. The category was dominated by glossy Hollywood titles, with the Oscar going to the surprisingly disappointing Disney Pixar title Coco.The film that should have won was the beautiful Loving Vincent, with this title coming in a very close second.

There’s no doubt that winning an Oscar can open doors for a performer. Since picking up her statuette for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in 2015’s The Danish Girl, Alicia Vikander has starred opposite Matt Damon in Jason Bourne, kicked ass as the new Lara Croft, as well as married her The Light Between Oceans co-star, Michael Fassbender.

Despite pretty much being big dogs, albeit trickier to hug, horses don’t get the spotlight as much as other animals. But over the years, they have featured heavily in film, in everything from Black Beauty to War Horse.

Hollywood, as well as other film industries around the world, has been particularly sizeist over the years. Anything that makes you crane your neck upwards to see is often rewarded with a barrage of bullets. Just ask Godzilla.

The last twelve months have been popular for the word ‘wonder’ in film; there was the syrupy Wonder with Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson; there was also Woody Allen’s highly enjoyable Wonder Wheel, and now this from American director Todd Haynes.

With so many creative types being called out – quite rightly – for inappropriate behaviour, it’s becoming more of a minefield when it comes to critiquing their work. Director Woody Allen has been in and out of the controversial spotlight for most of his career, and yet still continues to produce film after film.

So often in life, kids end up taking advantage of their parents, in one way or several others. It usually starts off with small stuff, like silly amounts of pocket money, or demanding a new phone to ignore them on, to ultimately moving back rent free because of your failed life/marriage and demanding they sign up to Netflix so you can catch season 2 of Jessica Jones.

They say that competition is healthy, but it can really bring out the worst in people. So much so that there’s actually a new version of the board game Monopoly – the Cheaters Edition – that encourages cheating to win. But even in this version, someone still has to lose, and presumably badly, so even trying to cheat doesn’t guarantee success, although certain politicians could argue otherwise.

If an actor is serious about their profession, then at some point they have to lawyer up. It’s a rite of passage for many to play an advocate of the law, and for some they’re just ticking a box. Denzel Washington already knows this, as he got his lawyering badge for his role in 1993’s Philadelphia. But he had to take a back seat for that one, as his co-star Tom Hanks stole the show, picking up an Oscar for his troubles.

Once upon a time, there was a super creative animation film company called Pixar. They made films that everyone of all ages loved. Then, in 2006, a bigger animation company called Disney, came along and gobbled Pixar up. Ever since, Pixar has never been the same. The End.

History can be a funny thing. For instance, there will be a section of the population, who will, due to an inadequate education/being pig-ignorant, when asked who Churchill was, will probably say that dog off of the telly. No, no, no, no, no. Of course, if you’re a film fan who, having a great range of general knowledge, you will already know who Churchill was – from watching last year’s film of the same name, starring Brian Cox.

Steve Coogan clearly loves his grub. He swans off regularly to some of the finest eateries in Europe with the likes of Michael Caine, Ronnie Corbett and Sean Connery - or at least all voiced by the same man, Rob Brydon - in Michael Winterbottom's series The Trip. It's a jolly that sees two grown men constantly attempt to out-impersonate one another, whilst stuffing their faces. Not bad work when you can get it.

According to Oscar Wilde all art is quite useless. And on the basis of this filmed art installation, it's a sentiment that's hard to refute. German artist and filmmaker Julian Rosefeldt has created an interesting premise by taking the manifestos from various figures throughout history, including revolutionary socialist Karl Marx, architect Bruno Taut and filmmaker Lars von Trier, and allowing their words to flow through various characters, all of which are played by the versatile Cate Blanchett, in very different settings.

There was a time, believe it or not, when if you had something to say to someone, you'd say it to their face. Or if you were sly, behind their back. Thanks to social media however, you can now slag said person off to the world - isn't that right Donald? That's progress for you. #progresssucksHeart emoji or poo emoji, social media is here to stay. It's no surprise then that this technological zeitgeist bleeds over into old media, e.g. film. For his first full length feature, director Matt Spicer pokes the darker side of social media and this comic drama is what pops out.

It's hard to believe that back in the day, films about Nazis were as popular as superhero ones are today. Fewer sequels, granted - unless you count WW2 of course - and less Lycra for the most part, the war genre was pretty prolific . Instead of being an all out war film, French director Cédric Jimenez focuses his attention on one man, and his rise to fame within the Nazi party.

Starring in a big budget film as a child actor doesn't guarantee further success – just ask Macaulay Culkin or the kid who played Anakin Skywalker in The Phantom Menace. Well, you could try asking them, but you have to find them first. In 2001, at the age of eleven, Daniel Radcliffe got the lead in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, a role he continued to play for the next ten years, making him pretty much a household name. Since then, he's been pretty bold with his post-Potter roles, with darker fair like The Woman in Black and Kill Your Darlings. But just to reinforce his acting credentials, he also took to the stage to reveal himself, in all his glory, in the demanding Equus. In a sense, Horns sees Radcliffe return to the realms of fantasy in his latest role, for what he probably considered one hell of a part.

As a nation, we produce some of the world’s finest actresses, such as your Dench’s and Smith’s, but they don’t often go on to have global successes and star in big Hollywood blockbusters. Someone who did was Kate Beckinsale.

If you told someone that one of the scariest characters in cinema wore a red and green striped jumper and a brown hat, it’s unlikely that they would believe you. And yet Freddy Kruger is the stuff of nightmares – literally.

Family relationships are a rich source of material for writers, and none more so than that between brothers.

Families can be such awkward beasts. Situations can arise where the reason they do so is due only to a bloodline. For example, a sibling getting into constant trouble at school...

10 PRINT “BIG WILLY” 20 GOTO 10 It was the first piece of code that many of us got to grips with as children, tapping quickly into a brand new machine that arrived on the shelves of Dixons, that we quickly abused on our way back from school.

Even though when you think about vampire films you’ll immediately think of Hollywood classics, we have a rich history with blood-sucking vamps on these shores.

It’s fair to say that after directing 1991’s Thelma & Louise, British director Ridley Scott hit a bit of a rough patch with the mediocre offerings that followed: 1992’s 1942: Conquest of Paradise, 1996’s White Squall and 1997’s G.I. Jane. So he was really in need of a hit.

Shows about cooking are all the rage. From your humdrum reality shows such as Ready, Steady, Master Cook Up a Storm, to watchable dramas such as Stephen Graham’s Boiling Point to the highly enjoyable The Bear.

Snuggled between 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises and 2017’s Dunkirk, Christopher Nolan released his quiet, sci-fi epic Interstellar in 2014.

There’s very much a sense, tingly or otherwise, that director Jon Watts doesn’t hold back in the last entry of his trilogy. With his Peter Parker of Tom Holland, he creates not only a fitting end to his part in the franchise...

The courtroom drama: often presenting cases, fictional or based on fact, where the outcome can have a severe outcome on someone’s life, as the courtroom debates innocence versus guilt.

With Jon Watts’ first entry into the Spider-Man franchise doing pretty well at the box office, bringing home a cool $880 million at the box office worldwide, a lot was expected with this sequel.

When it comes to crime fighting duos, there can only be one: Batman and Robin. Although featured in DC comics over the years, it probably wasn’t until the classic 1960’s Batman TV series...

In 2009 Matt Smith became the Eleventh Doctor in the BBC’s long-running sci-fi show Doctor Who, at the age of 27. Having to follow David Tennant was no easy feat, but he did a great job for four years.

The internet is a marvellous tool; it gives everyone access to the world at their fingertips, where you can find news, salacious gossip, trolls, recipes, and the occasional entertaining review.

There was a time when you couldn’t help but awkwardly bump into a rom-com at nearly every corner you turned. But much like manners, Sweet ‘n’ Sour Pot Noodles and Hailey’s comet, they are a rare oddity these days.

Hollywood has a history of occasionally putting together a stellar cast like no other - think The Magnificent Seven with a cast that included Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson...

It must have been a clever bit of marketing by the makers of champagne to become synonymous with celebrations. Just think, people reach for a bottle of the expensive bubbly stuff for the likes of birthdays...

If it felt like anyone had won the lottery after the success of 2011’s Bridesmaids it was Paul Feig, after delivering one of the best comedies in years.

2007’s Spider-Man 3 concluded Sam Raimi’s trilogy, and was the final full film to have Tobey Maguire as his Peter Parker.

It’s been a matter of public record in film for a number of years now that you should never cross streams.

If Marvel were to have one poster boy for their superhero antics, there could be only one: Spider-Man. His films have grossed nearly nine billion to date, making him the highest grossing hero of them all.

For a substantial part of her career, Pamela Adlon was cleaning up in the world of animation, putting her distinctive voice to good use in various shows, but most notably King of the Hill, voicing Bobby Hill, for which she won an Emmy in 2002.

Although Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson opened up a path for wrestlers into the world of film, his impressive box office success also makes him a hard act to follow...

TV is our friend, we all know that. And although the method we view content may have changed over the years, with the current form embraced being that of streaming, it’s still all about the shows.

There are some genres where you can expect a fair amount from them, like sci-fi for example, with its world-building and storytelling - but not the slasher...

The average person spends a third of their life asleep. It’s no wonder that some feel the need to use some of that valuable time to be more productive, by talking in their sleep, or even sleepwalking...

There’s a trend right now for streaming sites to produce their own content, be it their own shows or in this case feature films, as much as possible. And it has to be said between them all, there’s little in the way of consistency.

It’s amazing what one film can do for a career, just ask Lilly Gladstone. She’s been a jobbing actress for a number of years but got her big break starring in Martin Scorsese’s 2023 film Killers of the Flower Moon...

You have to commend the choices that have been made by Zac Efron. From teen heartthrob beginnings with the High School Musical franchise, the young star has carved out an interesting path acting wise...

One of the greatest horror films of all time, to this day, is 1973’s The Exorcist. It’s theme of religion vs. evil is one that has been much copied, as has the concept of evil taking over a body.

There’s been a worrying resurgence in cinema of late of filmmakers – mostly male - producing women in peril features. If it’s not suspended in the air as in Fall, then it’s struggling in water as Blake Lively was in 2016’s The Shallows...

When it comes to animation, the biggest advantage it has over live action films is bringing imaginative stories to life. Of course Hollywood and its use of CGI can pretty much handle anything thrown at it, but even it would struggle with a live version of this film.

One of the most diverse independent directors in the US over the years has to be Richard Linklater. Since his 1990 debut Slackers, he has produced a surprising array of stories, as well as tell them in very unique ways...

In 1979 on the banks of Bluff Creek in Northern California, two filmmakers, Bog Gilmin and Roger Paterson, shot some film of a mysterious creature in the woods...

In the late nineties, Keanu Reeves was already an established screen heartthrob and star, having not only starred with Sandra Bullock in Speed, but also the first two Bill & Ted films.

Believe it or not Viggo Mortensen’s first big screen role was playing a member of the Amish community in Peter Weir’s 1985 Witness.

We’ve often made comments on these very pages of how terrifyingly good many of the young screen actors are these days, with the kind of performances that suggests they have absorbed the Stanislavsky theory at an embryonic stage.

If there’s one thing that we all learn from a pretty early age is that sex sells. It’s used to sell every item under the sun on billboards and advertising...

Time is a concept that we are all infatuated with. A continuing cycle of 24 hours, unstoppable, that we can attempt to cram as much into, or just have it pass us by.

As a child, you may well have been subject to the phrase ‘little horror’ as, curiously, a term of affection. Of course it would have been completely unmerited, and could even be argued that it was merely a reflection of some questionable parenting.

TV is such a great proving ground for young actors, as a role in a particular show can catapult a career by several levels – just ask a lot of the cast of Channel 4’s drama Skins.

The career pivot. When you decide that you’ve had enough of being a postie and decide you want to be a gynaecologist instead; it makes sense, going from one delivery slot to another.

So you’re a black actor, doing pretty well on the TV series circuit, getting some plum roles. But you have aspirations, as writer and director, for the big screen, so want to produce something noticeable.

As you sit there, scrolling through your phone, checking to see how much many likes your most recent post of your pet yawning got, a feat of engineering is circling overhead.

So here it is then, the second part that no one wanted to see, to a first part they really wished they hadn’t. Zack Snyder’s second instalment to his Rebel Moon is now with us, bobbing around on the Netflix.

Relationships can be tricky things. Sometimes they can start off with good intentions, and before you know it, you’re fighting over who gets to keep the cat.

It’s not unusual for directors to take time off between projects, often a year or two, but Victor Erice has taken some sabbatical from making features; his last full length film being 1992’s Dream of Light.

Sometimes it’s easy to despair with Hollywood, with its constant barrage of superhero fodder and constant wave of sequels. It can feel that it’s squeezing any originality that may have existed, and leaving very little room for anything else to surface.

It’s been 25 years since this particular club opened its doors to its male members, and despite its years, its first rule has become legendary. But of course, we’re not allowed to talk about it.

It’s easy to forget sometimes just how important one show can be to an actor’s career. And even if it’s an ensemble cast, it’s often just one role that catches the attention of its audience.

If the term ‘little monsters’ is uttered, it’s usually in reference to a misbehaving child or three, as any weary parent will know.

Having directed the Oscar-winning Selma in 2014, US director Ava DuVernay followed it up with the slightly less well-received fantasy film – and that’s putting it kindly - A Wrinkle in Time in 2018.

There are some actors who always put the work in, and although they may definitely get the plaudits, they may not necessarily get the roles they deserve. And Jessica Chastain is one of them.

After four series of their Flying Circus, with the last ending on the BBC in 1974, The Monty Python comedy troupe decided it was time to create a human ladder and climb up onto the big screen.

Having directed 1979’s Apocalypse Now, Francis Ford Coppola wanted to go in a completely different direction for his next project, a musical.

If there has been one benefit from the recent prolonged strikes in Hollywood, it’s that it has given the opportunity for a number of re-releases, celebrating various anniversaries, to be seen on the big screen once again.

In 1999 a young, 20-year-old Australian actor made his US debut in the teen comedy 10 Things I Hate About You - his name was Heath Ledger.

It’s difficult to think of any other singular UK drama that was responsible for producing so much young talent more than Channel 4’s eighties drama Skins.

There are many things that can contribute to being unhappy; for some it can be forced to listen to any recent Coldplay album, for others it could be discovering that you really aren’t a cat person after all.

The latest trend that appears to be coming out of Hollywood is a worrying one; that of remaking non musical films as musicals.

Over the years, Kevin Hart has played to his strengths by taking on a number of sidekick comedic roles, such as 2013’s Ride Along opposite Ice Cube, 2015’s Get Hard opposite Will Ferrell...

Even though controversy has followed Shia LaBeouf throughout his career, it’s fair to say that he has courted it on more than one occasion. That’s what putting a paper bag on your head with the words “I am not famous anymore,” scrawled on it will do.

It happens in all relationships that, after a while, things can get a little stale. There a few things you can attempt to do in order to address this: you could possibly go away on a relaxing break...

There are certain actors who you just know what to expect from them. And Jason Statham is one such actor.

Americans are notorious for doing things bigger - although not necessarily better. The perfect example would be that of the world of wrestling...

Although not fashionable these days with artists, there was a time when they were known as much for being a famous couple, such as John and Yoko, Sonny and Cher, Ike and Tina, than their music.

Although they may have been usurped in popularity of late by superheroes, audiences have always had a fascination for all things alien.

Looking back at some of his films, such as 2010’s The A-Team, The Hangover franchise, and voicing Rocket for the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, you kind of got an impression of the measure of Bradley Cooper as an artist...

In the UK, there aren’t many topics that are more divisive than immigration, with a seemingly massive split between those for it and those against.

Arrivals and departures. That’s mostly what airports are all about, for the most part, except perhaps a cheeky bit of duty free shopping if it’s available; who can resist a giant sized Toblerone?

So far, the various streaming sites are carving out fairly specific types of films. For instance, Disney, as you would expect, churns out wholesome family fare, whilst Netflix is happy to produce populist material across the board, and yes, even Adam Sandler films.

Although he’s only early on in his career, Andrea Pallaoro is already focused on a trilogy of themed films, around femininity.

Eddie Murphy is one of those actors that made so much money during the eighties and nineties, he never has to work again. Which, to be fair, he doesn’t do a lot of lately, coming out of seemingly semi-retirement for the odd role here and there.

Some might think that releasing older films onto the high-def spec is just another way of getting film lovers to dip ever deeper into their pockets.

It’s inevitable at this time of year, as the festive period approaches, that discussions about what does and what doesn’t constitute a Christmas film arises.

It’s easy to take animated films for granted, aimed mostly at a younger audience as they are, but the amount of work that goes into them is impressive, taking anywhere between four and seven years to complete one 90-minute feature.

By now everyone is aware of the potential threat that comes from Artificial Intelligence, with it receiving a lot of media scrutiny of late.

With his 2020 film Mank doing pretty well, picking up two Oscars as it did, director David Fincher sticks with Netflix for his latest project.

It’s surprising how certain genres catch the imagination of an audience. For example, It feels like ever since the success of Netflix’s Tiger King, the true crime documentary has just exploded.

Nobody wants to see a film about ‘old farts’ falling in love. That’s what Hollywood would have us believe, as it aims the majority of its output squarely at a younger demographic.

If ever there was a tortured, talented soul it would be Pete Doherty. Since the limelight clung tight to him and his fellow band mates The Libertines since their inception in 1997, it's been trained on him ever since.

Pain is money. Just ask the pharmaceutical industry which made 1.48 trillion dollars last year. Now that’s a lot of pills.

The backpacker’s dream, to take off for far flung destinations and have yourself some Insta memories that will stay with you a lifetime.

Liam Neeson recently passed a significant milestone in his career, having passed the 100 credits mark on his CV. It does feel like the majority of those have been in the latter stages of his professional life, since becoming the action hero that he has.

It’s been a statement of fact for some time now that films based on video games are complete and utter pants. And anyone who has seen any of the Resident Evil franchise, Assassin’s Creed or, god forbid, Pixels will testify to that.

Although you may not know the name John Cornwell, his pen name is synonymous with the spy thriller genre – John le Carré.

There’s nothing strange in thinking that the world of wrestling is a little on the camp side, after all it’s a ‘sport’ that finds grown men in skimpy shiny outfits, constantly grappling with one another as much as they can in front of an audience. Talk about kinky.

It’s been a long running gag now, fuelled by numerous examples it has to be said, that black characters in horror films are the first to die. So much so that they even made a film about it, with the recently released The Blackening.

If ever there was a case for not believing everything you read on the internet, Jamie Foxx is it. After all, he is not dead, despite rumours that were circulating stating the contrary not so long ago.

Within the world of boxing, there’s one weight division in particular that always captures the imagination of the public, and that is the heavyweights. And for so many one man has become synonymous with not only that division, but boxing itself: Muhammad Ali.

When it comes to positions of power, 65% of leadership roles are taken up by men. And when it comes to presidents and prime ministers throughout the world, only 7% are female.

With the success of CODA in 2021, which won all three Oscars it was nominated for, AppleTV+ original films went up in everyone’s estimation. But although it has since produced some interesting projects, such as The Greatest Beer Run Ever, Causeway and Spirited, that level of success has alluded them since.

In late December, 1973, Warner Bros. Released the horror film The Exorcist. It was directed by relative newcomer William Friedkin, coming off of the incredible success he had helming 1971’s Oscar-winning The French Connection...

Hong Kong has had a very chequered history, that saw it become a British colony in 1841, have it fall under Imperial Japanese occupation a hundred years later, then re-designated as a British Dependent territory in 1981, before its handover to China in 1997.

Having made an impact with his first few films, El Mariachi, Desperado and From Dusk Till Dawn, all of which were very much aimed at adult audiences, US director Robert Rodriguez...

To follow up his 2002 romantic comedy Once Upon a Time in the Midlands, British filmmaker Shane Meadows went in a very different direction with this dark, unflinching drama in 2004.

There’s a certain irony that comes into play regarding the world of animation. One of the top themes we often see on screen is that of the underdog competing against a mighty foe.

The curve ball. A term to denote something unexpected in the grand scheme of things. American director Richard Linklater has built a career on having a distinct style of film-making as well as recurring themes, such as coming of age, in his films...

It’s amazing how locations for films have stood in for other places. Take Scotland, for example, with parts of it surprisingly doubling for war-torn London, Gotham City and Philadelphia during a zombie attack in the past.

Although film is obviously a form of entertainment, there’s no denying that it is an industry, one where making profit is king.

Although film is obviously a form of entertainment, there’s no denying that it is an industry, one where making profit is king.

Sandwiched between the releases of 1972’s The Godfather and its sequel in 1974, Al Pacino starred in this police drama, based on the real life of New York cop Frank Serpico.

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. It’s unlikely that companies such as Louis Vuitton and Saint Laurent would agree however with cheaper knock-offs of their products widely available in the market place.

People buy new homes for all sorts of reasons: sometimes it’s a great view, or a superb location, or a modern kitchen etc. But what if it came with an ability to change your life drastically?

American audiences have a fairly myopic attitude when it comes to their films, supporting predominately white male casts, produced by white male men. And to be fair, it’s not just American audiences, as these films are successful all around the world.

Although he was a mostly despicable chap, Jon Hamm owes quite a lot to Don Draper, the character he played for seven seasons on the critically- acclaimed, award-winning Mad Men.

It hasn’t taken long for Christopher Nolan to become an event director. It probably began when he took charge of his Batman trilogy that begin in 2005 with Batman Begins, that saw him broaden his cinematic horizons, quite literally.

For many studios, the first thought when it comes to films aimed specifically at families is to make an animated feature; let’s face it, the likes of Pixar have built an empire on it.

If you’ve got that life skill of swimming under your belt, then you probably remember where you learnt it. It could have been a public pool close to your home, or perhaps even a sea on holiday, either being taught at school or by family members. One thing is for sure, that one of the activities that came with it was holding your breath.

The origin story is most often associated with that of superheroes, as it reveals their coming to being. But it’s not exclusive to the worlds of marvel and DC, as this classic tale illustrates.

There is a growing concern over the sophistication of AI and the impact it could have on mankind. Although far less sophisticated, a more pressing concern is the attempt by British comedian Jack Whitehall to make it in Hollywood.

There’s no denying that the French are a very patriotic people, but there’s a sense from their national disposition that they’re not the type to put much stock into having national treasures like the British do.

If you’re out shopping, there’s a tendency to go in, purchase what you want or need, and get out again. Not so the humble book shop.

There are very few things worse in life than having to sit down and feign interest in viewing someone else’s holiday pictures.

As a debut writer and director, the fear is always that no one will see the project that you’ve slaved over bringing to life.

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. That’s the very first line from the most popular book of all time, the Bible, which could be considered the first ever fantasy book, even with its own kind of wizard hero, without glasses.

There are a handful of directors who can get away with the egotistical move of putting their own name in the title of a film, and Guy Ritchie isn’t one of them.

Nestled snugly on the western side of the tip of South America is where you will find Chile. It’s a country that is home to outstanding wines, the world’s largest swimming pool and of course ex-Arsenal player Alexis Sanchez.

Having had huge success with having a woman as his main protagonist in his second film, 1979’s Alien, British director Ridley Scott decided to double down with having two female leads in his 1991 release Thelma and Louise.

If you look into the history of the word ‘family’, you will discover that its definition comes from the Latin for ‘drama’. Actually it doesn’t - it actually comes from the Latin word ‘famulus’ – but it may as well be drama.

One of the most fascinating and intriguing US directors of his generation has to be David Lynch. It’s a surprise to think then that he has to date only released ten films, with this one, released in 2006, his last.

Once in a while an actor comes along whom audiences just respond to in such a positive fashion, that it just manifests itself into an almost overpowering sense of adoration. One such actor is Michael J. Fox.

Due to the impressive advances in medicine and technology, the vast population of our planet can now live longer. But in doing so that creates a bit of a dilemma: what to do with all these old fogies?

Cinema has often been a good barometer of public opinion over the years, as it reflects the good and the bad throughout the decades.

Having parents can be hard work; sometimes it’s difficult to see eye to eye on certain things, and the generational gap often feels that it’s getting even wider. But you have that family bond, no matter what.

There’s an estimated 20,000 different species that live in the sea, and we’ve probably seen a fair few of them courtesy of the likes of Jacques Cousteau and David Attenborough.

There was a time when nobody liked an attention seeker. It was the kind of behaviour that if presented with by a child would be met with a response of disdain and a fair amount of eye rolling.

For thousands of years the worlds of religion and politics have often collided. There are very few societies where one isn’t influenced by the other to some degree, and certainly more so in particular countries.

You know you’ve got somewhat of an edge as a writer when none other than Alfred Hitchcock, decides to adapt one of your novels.

There’s something terribly French about Léa Seydoux. Of course there’s the glaring fact that she is French, which can’t be denied, but it’s more than that.

They say as one door closes, another door opens, but that doesn’t mean you should necessarily go through it. After all, what if something ominous is lurking on the other side of it, waiting for you with intent on doing you harm?

Priests are very keen on spreading the word of their god. So much so that throughout history they have sent missionaries to all corners of the globe, in what is essentially a glorified recruitment drive. Because as everyone knows, God loves a follower.

Although there have been examples of it before (with Italian director Ruggero Deodato’s 1980 film Cannibal Holocaust considered by many to be the first), it wasn’t until 1999’s The Blair Witch Project that found footage films became a thing in the mainstream.

One of the biggest attributes that video game developers are keen to subscribe to is a game's pick up and play playability. A game that needs little by way of explanation, which gamers just instinctively get.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has a lot to answer for. Not by inundating us with superhero after superhero, although that is starting to show signs of fatigue, but by introducing the concept of the multiverse to the masses.

There was a recent hoo-ha with this year’s Oscars when British actress Andrea Riseborough found herself nominated in the Best Actress category for her excellent performance in the low budget indie film To Leslie.

If anyone could be said to be following in their father’s footsteps it’s Brandon Cronenberg. Not only has he become a director much like his celebrated dad David, but he has also chosen to produce films of a similar nature, involving sci-fi and horror.

We probably take all our senses for granted, going about our days, touching, seeing, smelling, hearing and tasting like there’s no tomorrow. But if you stop and think about it for a second, they’re really impressive super powers.

With the undoubted popularity of sport around the world, it’s no surprise that many of them have featured in film over the years, with the likes of baseball (Field of Dreams), athletics (Chariots of Fire), and of course boxing (Rocky), to name just a few, all being represented on the big screen.

After debuting in 2010, the critically acclaimed BBC drama Luther, starring Idris Elba, came to an end with its fifth series in 2019. It felt as if that might be the last we saw of the grizzled London detective, but he’s thankfully been resurrected on Netflix, given a full length feature film to flex his considerable detective-ing muscle.

There are periods when a number of bands seemingly appear at the same time in a certain locale, creating something known as a bit of ‘scene’.

With the phenomenal success Netflix have had with Stranger Things, it’s no wonder they bought into this ghost story.

As every parent will tell you, having children is the biggest responsibility you’ll ever have. There are many of course, due to various circumstances, who just can’t handle that kind of responsibility, and make the decision to give that child up.

The art of the con has fascinated filmmakers over the years, as it can make for a strong and compelling story. Everything from the three-card trick to more elaborate flights of fancy, often involving a crew, all in the attempt to get one over on their ‘mark’.

There is no guide to be the perfect parent. Sure there are loads of guides, such as Parenting for Dummies, but none of these come with guarantees that if you follow all their advice, you’ll nail the whole parenting thing, which is a bit disappointing, and a waste of money quite frankly.

We live in very turbulent times, with so much unpleasantness happening all around us. It’s no surprise then that we turn to cinema for some distraction, for some light relief.

It’s said one of the safest forms of travel is flying. It doesn’t help however, when Hollywood insists, on a regular basis, of having all manner of things happen on aeroplanes to put us off using them; you can find yourself sitting next to murderers, psychopaths, or even worse, bridesmaids.

The unstoppable juggernaut that is the South Korean film industry continues to gather pace with this extremely watchable sci-fi flick.

Meeting the parents for the first time is a daunting task; it’s the first indication to them that your relationship is serious, and depending on how it all goes could have a bearing on your relationship with them going forward. So no pressure then.

In 1976 The Eagles released their classic track ‘Hotel California’, which included the immortal line “You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave’.

Considering Nicolas Cage has starred in over a hundred films now, of varying quality, and played a diverse number of characters, it’s surprising that he has never ventured into the old west. Until now.

A film director is similar to a conductor of an orchestra in that they can only work with what they have in front of them.

Spain is a country famous for its love of meats. You’ve got your Iberico and Serrano hams, Chorizo sausage and Galician beef to name but a few. Even Spanish director Bigas Luna served up his Jamon Jamon to the world in 1992, starring dishes Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem.

The first ever Christmas flick was called, appropriately enough, Santa Claus, released in 1898 with a pleasingly brief running time of two minutes long.

When Italian writer Carlo Collodi wrote The Adventures of Pinocchio in 1883, even he probably couldn’t foresee what an enduring legacy he created.

So then, this is the first feature release starring Will Smith since that incident. You remembered the one, where the actor bitch slapped Oscar host Chris Rock on stage in March 2022, that was witnessed live by over 16 million Americans on the night, and no doubt countless millions more worldwide when it was reported globally.

Although it probably didn’t feel like it at the time, those many years of schooling were a big part in making you the person you now are. And yes, that includes all that hands on heads business, pointless assemblies, and ironically enough in this instance, attempting to learn German.

There are a vast number of advantages to being rich. You can do your big shop at Waitrose, for instance. Or you can pay an extraordinary amount for tiny portions of posh food. Or drive cars big enough to park in four parking spaces.

When it comes to monster flicks, no one does them quite like Hollywood. Probably the one that put monsters on the map was 1933’s classic King Kong, with its iconic scene of the beast atop the Empire State building in New York, with Ann, played by Fay Wray, in his hand.

There have been many films that have explored how the mind works during sleep, often resulting in the stuff of nightmares, literally. Freddy Kruger has built an entire franchise out of it.

Out of all the many film genres, the Christmas film is the most curious. It’s one that often causes a fair bit of debate, as to which is the best one of all time – which is It’s a Wonderful Life, naturally.

In the fantasy world of Disney, it’s all about the happy ending. Although their 2007 hit Enchanted reached a satisfying conclusion, when there’s a chance of a sequel in the offing, things can always be happier.

Although an original member, it didn’t take Chevy Chase long to leave the weekly US comedy Saturday Night Live, leaving after only one and half seasons on the show, where he was replaced by a certain Bill Murray.

There seems to be a worrying trend for all things true crime of late; it was prevalent with the release of the Netflix documentary The Tiger King, and hasn’t really let up since. If anything the appetite for such morbid material has only increased with the rise in true crime podcasts.

It was only recently we were describing how influential a TV show can be to the careers of its stars. The case in point was the BBC drama Normal People and the impressive trajectory it’s taken Daisy Edgar-Jones on, which has sent her Hollywood bound with the release of Where the Crawdads Sing.

You may have noticed in your social media feeds of late posts featuring an image, with a sentiment roughly saying that you’re really old if you know what this is, with a picture of an audio cassette, or a phone box, roll of film etc.

With the advent of CCTV, and everyone carrying around cameras on their phones, it’s no wonder that you could have the distinct feeling that you’re being watched. Chances are these days, you are.

The story goes that when George Lucas was prepping a certain space saga, he was unable to find a special effects company that could handle his vision for his galaxy far, far away. So he decided to make it himself, and so Industrial Light and Magic was born.

It’s difficult to imagine what the folk of Haddonfield, Illinois, see in living in their town, although we have a troubling neighbour who believes it’s ok to play music loudly in their garden – the horror of jazz of all things – so maybe Michael Myers isn’t so bad.

It’s not unheard of for a TV show to have a breakout star who goes on to better things, but it’s rare for one show to produce a number of stars, just as the US version of The Office did.

Who is Mila Kunis? It’s a name that is instantly recognisable, and yet hasn’t been one to headline any memorable films to date. That’s not a criticism; not every actor can be an A-lister after all, but Kunis always ends up seemingly the bridesmaid, and never the bride whose name is on everyone’s lips.

It was the release of High School Musical on the Disney channel in 2006, playing Troy Bolton, that made then 19-year-old Zac Efron a star. His pretty boy looks were undeniable, so much so that he quickly found that he was getting type cast in such roles.

For most actors, their biggest concern is to concentrate on giving a great performance. But for Sidney Poitier it was more than that, as this new documentary on his life shows, as he also had the weight of a race on his shoulders too.

In recent years there appears to have been a push in certain quarters to make food more attractive, not just on the plate but also the palette. Some chefs see their food as art, which might explain some of the seemingly small portions they get away with serving, at exorbitant prices.

We’ve reached that point in history where it may actually be necessary to describe to a generation what videotapes were. For those at the time, it was an almost magical technology, which allowed you to record shows from your TV on a machine, to watch again later. Mind. Blowing.

Here’s a little known fact for you, Swiss teacher Rodolphe Töpffler is credited with creating the world’s first comic strip published in 1837. And the term the ‘funnies’, referring to illustrations of amusing drawings found in newspapers was probably born from a US weekly comic book called The Funnies that was first published in 1929.

Big things are on the horizon for the highly talented Will Poulter. Big, Marvel-ous things. Since his impressive debut in the superb 2007 Son of Rambow, at the age of sixteen, he’s managed to make that leap into the US market, appearing in films like The Maze Runner franchise, The Revenant and Detroit.

After the release of his very first full length animated feature in 1937 with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Walt Disney chose to follow up with another timeless story, this time based on Carlo Collodi’s 1883 children’s novel The Adventures of Pinocchio.

There are some actors who are immediately recognised for being one character. It can be a blessing or a curse, depending on their personal point of view, although for any actor, being recognised for anything at all must do wonders for the ego.

Despite not hitting it out of the park in terms of a monster movie hit, Kevin Hart is carving out quite the lucrative career in Hollywood. Currently his net worth is estimated to be around $450 million, which isn’t shabby at all.

If there’s one type of film that us Brits can produce it’s a period feature. Not only are we damn good at making them, but they do bloody well globally too; no doubt it’s born from a fascination at how peculiar our social structure was, and how utterly ridiculous it all looks.

It’s safe to say that the majority of European cinema is not produced to compete with big-budgeted Hollywood titles with their need for box office success.

At the tender age of twelve, Isabelle Fuhrman took the starring role in 2009’s Orphan. Unfortunately for her, it was a woeful attempt at a horror flick, the likes of which we could only hope we’d never see the likes of again. Until now.

In 1969, the final season of Star Trek aired in the US. Gene Roddenberry’s sci-fi show based around the exploration of the universe, surprisingly only lasted three seasons. And that should have been it, if it wasn’t for it being picked up for syndication, whereby local TV affiliates buy the episodes to air whenever they want in their local area. It’s a lucrative process, that can be hugely rewarding even to this day, as the cast of Friends, who no longer have to work a day in their lives because of it, can tell you.

Just as the first vampire who will come to mind when asked will be Dracula, when quizzed to name a vampire hunter, it’s likely to be Van Helsing; they’ve had a symbiotic relationship ever since the pair appeared together on the pages of Bram Stoker’s seminal Dracula, first published in 1897.

Two of the biggest reasons for war, sadly, are religion and land. One of the most prominent examples concerning both is between the Palestinians and the Israelis, with one of the oldest cities in the world at the heart of the conflict – Jerusalem.

Usually what ends up determining a great documentary is the filmmaker’s relationship with their subject matter, in some shape or form. Here though, is a possible example of a filmmaker’s relationship with his subject getting in the way of the film about them.

The horror genre is sadly predominantly produced by the male of the species, with men more often than not featuring heavily behind and in front of the camera.

Hollywood, much like the US immigration policy, isn’t all that welcoming to foreigners. There are always caveats of course, the main one being if US audiences liked what they saw on screen. This has made superstars of everyone from Ingrid Bergman to Arnold Swarzenegger.

It’s easy to think that gun crime is essentially a US problem, with the horrific frequency of individuals choosing to go on shooting sprees there.

There’s a lot of value in nostalgia in gaming these days, with many old favourites getting make-overs to satiate an appetite for them.

There are times in life when you feel invincible; that everything thrown at you, bounces off of you like bullets from Superman’s chest.

Just when you thought you knew a person. You might think that’s in reference to the two-time Oscar winning Dame, Emma Thompson, who reveals all in her latest role. But no.

There’s a particular style of humour that seems specific to us Brits, and that’s cringe comedy. It all revolves embarrassment, for both the characters and audience involved. You know the thing, especially if you’ve watched the likes of Fawlty Towers or The Office.

It’s easy to sometimes think of Michael Caine as a parody of himself: you have the often cited quote of course, from the 1969 classic The Italian Job, where only some doors were to come away from the vehicle...

If you’re in the mood for a feel good film, you should probably skip the work of Ingmar Bergman. The Swedish auteur wasn’t exactly known for having a light touch when it came to his work, instead choosing to examine darker, emotional themes.

If there’s one thing that current events in the world have firmly re-established, it’s that there’s nothing glamorous about war. Certainly Hollywood in the past has been guilty of producing features that do just that, but in more recent years have, for the most part, been more accurate in its portrayal of wars.

If there was one director who knew how to make a stir in the late eighties and nineties it’s Paul Verhoeven. With films like RoboCop, Total Recall, Basic Instinct, Showgirls and Starship Troopers, the Dutch director courted controversy and debate, often concerning the use of violence and sex.

Even at the top of their game, many actors end up revering others in their field, known as actors’ actors. These types often come from a theatrical background, with most notable examples being Laurence Olivier and more recent examples such as Ian McKellen and Judi Dench.

Having done such a swell job with their first gig, with a budget of $75 million and making a standing ovation worthy box office return of over $630 million, no wonder Buster Moon and the rest of the cast were eager to tread the boards again for this musical sequel.

If there’s one director who has become synonymous with Spanish cinema in recent years, it’s Pedro Almodóvar. Where other directors may have been seduced by the likes of Hollywood, the 72-year-old director has stayed true to his roots, with all of his films being produced in his homeland.

Someone whose fascination in history has paid off is British author Robert Harris. His first novel, 1992’s Fatherland, presented an alternative version of history, that saw the Nazis win the Second World War. It’s certainly a story that when down well with readers as the book became a bestseller.

Despite being the James Patterson of his time, William Shakespeare’s body of work has lost its entertainment value over the years in favour of being more educational.

Cats. Love them or loathe them, they’ve been around for thousands of years, displaying their obvious indignant attitude towards mankind with a flick of a paw, or an expression of sheer boredom on their cute furry faces.

If ever there was a staple gift to give which requires little to no thought, it’s the humble candle. If you’re given one as a present you’re fully aware of the lack of effort made by the giver, but a scented candle always comes in handy.

One of the most stressful parts of life is the job interview; sitting opposite one or more people who have no other purpose than to judge you. You also have to present the best version of you, which let’s face it, is never easy under any circumstances, as you attempt to sell yourself to a bunch of strangers.

Someone clearly happy with his Amazon Prime service is Riz Ahmed; this feature is the second the British actor has done for Amazon Studio’s, after 2019’s Sound of Metal, which he picked up an Oscar nomination for.

It’s undeniable how cute puppy dogs are. And although yes, kittens are cute too, there have been more films featuring dogs and puppies over the years than ones featuring cats and kittens. This is due to the fact that cats have far more interesting things to do with their lives, and being told to sit on one position, then move to another, in front of cameras, just isn’t for them.

What does it take to make you feel that you belong somewhere? For instance, what is it that makes you American? Is it that you swear allegiance to the flag every day? Or that you support the armed services no matter what. Or is it as simple as embracing the American dream, with all that that entails.

Over the years, gypsies and travellers have had a bad press, often cited as being trouble wherever they settle.

Fighting isn’t for everyone, understandably. After all, no one enjoys a fist to the face, even if there’s the lure of a lucrative pay out for doing so. It takes a certain mentality to be a professional fighter. True grit.

There are very few Hollywood actors around that can be truly described as a screen icon and legend, but there is one man that most certainly fits the bill, and that’s Clint Eastwood.

There seem to have been a number of film musicals released in the last year or so, probably in response to the global pandemic. The thinking possibly being that audiences need uplifting at home and musicals have the power to do it. Which is true enough, just not this one sadly.

When it comes to the action flick, it’s all too easy to be led into thinking that Hollywood does it best. Any discerning film fan will know this is simply not the case, as Asian cinema for one has proved over the years. And if one man took on Hollywood and brutally beat it with a plank at their own game, it was John Woo.

1977 was a pretty big year for the sci-fi flick, seeing the release of Capricorn One and Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The real heavy hitter at the box office however was a film that took place a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...

If you’re a lover of music, there’s always a fascination for the rockumentary; the behind-the-scenes look at your favourite band or performer on the road, warts and all.

There is a phenomenon that a number of women can go through during pregnancy called ‘baby brain’: it can cause a general mushiness of the brain, resulting in a cerebral fogginess that’s hard to shake.

The coming of age genre often implies the transition from childhood to adulthood in some way, usually leaving both the character and audience feeling uplifted.

One of the go to stories in cinema history over the years has been that of Arthurian legend. No wonder as it’s rich with characters and spectacle, as well as highlighting some pleasing round furniture.

When it comes to the Olympic Games we all have our favourite disciplines, but as we have seen recently, it doesn’t guarantee their inclusion in the games. Fans of Tug of War for instance are still waiting for its comeback into the games since it was dropped in 1920.

According to Oscar Wilde, all art is quite useless. That may well be the case, but it doesn’t stop some of it from being truly expensive. Take Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi that sold for the record-breaking amount of $475 million at auction in 2017. And to be honest, it’s not even all that, looking much like a passport photo of its time.

Just because a sport isn’t necessarily popular in one country, doesn’t mean that a film about that sport will suffer. An example being 1989’s classic Field of Dreams; although it was heavily baseball themed, its magical story transcended the sport, making it a global hit, even in countries that don’t play baseball – which is the majority of them.

One of the most challenging roles for any actor must be playing a real life person. The actor must consider the balance of putting their own stamp on the performance, as well as staying true to the person they’re bringing to life on screen.

There are always trends where naming children are concerned; the most popular names for boys in the UK currently are George, Theo, Oliver, Noah, and taking the top spot, Muhammad. For the girls they are Ava, Olivia, Sophia, Amelia, and the most popular being Lily.

It’s often cited that that for film stars, TV was a dirty word. Of course that’s no longer true. But for a large number of actors, it was their early roles on TV that laid the ground work for them to become household names.

It’s highly unusual for a director making his debut to achieve both critical and commercial success, but that’s exactly what happened to Neill Blomkamp. In 2009 he released District 9, his first film that cost $30 million to make. Not only was it loved by critics, but audiences flocked to it to, to the tune of $210 million.

It’s incredible how much happens to an individual during adolescence. It’s a time of immense growth both physically and emotionally; that awkward transition from childhood to adulthood, that ultimately shapes you for the rest of your life.

The world of animation can be a hit or miss affair, even for such giants of the industry such as Disney and Pixar. A recent example of being way off the mark is DreamWorks’ Spirit Untamed, which was lame in every way possible.

For many large companies, profit is all they care about, whatever the cost. And unbelievably, that cost can be human life. There’s even a term for it – industrial pollution – where companies just dump their toxic waste into areas that humans have access to, like a water source.

The internet is a marvellous thing. Never has it been easier to stay in touch with people you vaguely care about. Or troll those you have absolutely no interest in, but get off making their lives hell. What a time to be alive.

When the news was first released that Disney was going to release a film based on one of its theme park rides, it was met with universal derision. But when 2003’s Pirates of the Caribbean: the Curse of the Black Pearl ended up with box offices takings surpassing $650 million dollars, Disney most certainly had the last laugh. And considering the franchise of five films has taken in over $4.5 billion, that’s some impressive ride.

The music industry is outrageously cutthroat; even if you’ve managed to score yourself a big number one hit, there’s no guarantee that major success will follow – just ask all those one hit wonders out there.

You need patience to be an Avenger; it is a collective rich with characters, with more than one or two egos at play. But if you bide your time as a team player, helping to save the world along the way, then chances are you will be rewarded, as Natasha Romanoff has been here.

Michelle Pfeiffer has never won an Oscar. To put that in some kind of context, Cher has won a golden statuette, and although it was a fine performance (in 1987’s Moonstruck), it feels somewhat disturbing that Cher has managed to win won, but Pfeiffer hasn’t.

Musicals, not only are they unquestionably the worst film genre but they are the devil’s work. Under no circumstance should a character ever feel compelled to express how they’re feeling in song. None whatsoever.

If there’s one director’s body of work that leaves us with the Marmite effect, it’s Ben Wheatley; some of it is agreeable on the cinematic palate, while the rest leaves a rather disappointing taste behind. What there is no doubting however is that all of it has the distinct flavour of Wheatley.

The Mission, Husbands and Wives, Love Actually, Kinsey: all these titles have two things in common, they are all Liam Neeson films, and they are just a handful of them he made, seeing him in a wide variety of roles, before his re-invention as an action hero in 2008’s Taken.

Last year saw a twist on the usual reality TV show with BBC2’s Win the Wilderness: Alaska, that saw couples competing to win a truly isolated cabin in the Alaskan outback. It’s just one example of a growing fascination for going off grid and living a life without all the modern trappings.

The fun bit of any relationship is its start; the flirting, the butterflies, the saucy texts, the growing sense of intimacy. After a year or two however, these are nothing but a fading memory, as routine inevitably sets in.

What do fire and Hollywood have in common? Well, if you don’t know how to manage either, it’s easy to get burnt.

After a short-lived yet highly memorable career in pop, Billie Piper cemented her position as a household name when she joined the cast of Doctor Who in 2005 as his assistant Rose, a role she played for eight years.

If you were unwell and visited your GP at the surgery, you may well have reservations regarding their medical training if they prescribed a paste of dead mice to treat your cough. But although it’s unlikely you would be able to pick it up over the counter at Boots, it was actually a remedy used by the ancient Egyptians.

There are some actors who just deserve better. Take Amanda Seyfried for example; she has proven herself time and again as versatile and talented, and yet has ended up in some truly turgid tripe.

Here’s a little science fact for you: the International Space Station launched in 1998 and since then it has been occupied continuously for over 20 years.

There’s nothing like a couple having a row in public to bring out the voyeur in someone. In some part there’s a fascination for what’s happened in their relationship to reach this point of dirty laundry being aired so publicly, coupled with a sense of relief that it isn’t you.

Babies. The world is full of them, and if you consider the very real issue of over-population and the rapidly diminishing resources of the planet, there’s probably more than there should be. But that doesn’t stop people making them, despite the fact that according to the United Nations, there is likely to be nearly 10 billion people globally by 2050.

If ever there was a period in history where the notion of living the same day over and over could be relatable all over the globe, it’s now. For many, living with a pandemic has created a routine that, certainly for the least year or so, has been difficult to deviate from.

It’s difficult to imagine the audience's reaction to seeing King Kong for the very first time on the big screen, in RKO’s 1933 classic, particularly the iconic Empire State Building scene, but it must have been a true sense of wonder.

If ever there were a casting announcement to make a nerd’s mind melt to mush, it would be this one; not only does it star Tom Holland, the most recent incarnation of Spider-Man, but it also features Daisy Ridley, who played Rey in the most recent Star Wars trilogy.

Stand-up comedian Eddie Izzard is a bit of a dabbler. The comic, who has been outspoken regarding gender fluidity, and who currently prefers the pronoun ‘she’, is a keen activist with a sharp eye on the world of politics, having run twice to be a member of Labour’s National Executive Committee.

There’s enough physical evidence to suggest that prehistoric creatures loved a day out at Lyme Regis. The Dorset coastal town has been a hotspot for fossil finding over the years, so much so that it was listed as a World Heritage site in 2001 and has been dubbed the Jurassic Coast.

On the surface, the internet looks an incredible resource at our fingertips. Want to buy a Breville toaster for delivery the next day? You can. Always wondered what the capital of Zambia is, you can Google it (it’s Lusaka). Or you simply want to troll someone on social media and make their life a misery, you’re just a click or two away.

With Daniel Craig ready to hang up his Walther PPK for the last time with the eventual release of No Time to Die, rumours are rife as to who will be his successor to play the iconic James Bond.

Possibly one of the hardest tasks given any actor is that of the biography; it’s not just a case of developing a role, but getting to the nitty gritty of playing a real human being, who is often attached to an impressive legacy of some kind.

There was a time when you could look forward to old age, relax those aching bones on board a cruise around the world, visit family in faraway places, and just enjoy your twilight years. A global pandemic can soon put a stop to all that, unfortunately, and pretty much make an elderly member of the community a prisoner in their own home.

One of the most drastic changes that have come from living in the future is the way news is delivered. Not so long ago, it could involve a small child prodding a newspaper through your letterbox. And no, that’s not a euphemism.

It only seems appropriate that if anyone was going to do a documentary on musician extraordinaire Frank Zappa, it should be one half of musical saviours Wyld Stallyns.

Thanks to his blockbusting antics, one name has become synonymous with that of archaeology and that is Indiana Jones. His adventures have managed to sex up finding old buried stuff no end, and has no doubt encouraged many to follow in his dust-covered footsteps.

Considering the global mess we all currently find ourselves in, the future looks worryingly uncertain. There are sadly no assurances of a brighter future, and along with it no economic recovery, no political buoyancy, or necessarily a medical solution that will kill off COVID.

There was probably a time in history, not so long ago, where attempting to contact the dead was seen as macabre. These days, less so, as using a Ouija board is now a form of entertainment; in the States for instance, Hasbro, the company that owns the likes of Monopoly, Cluedo and Operation, not only produce Ouija boards, they actually own the trademark to the name.

It’s a testament to the physical and mental strength of all womankind that they have the ability to endure all aspects of giving birth, an act that the male of the species would almost certainly struggle with every aspect of, if given the internal mechanics to cope with.

With a career that spans from the early eighties to present day, Kevin Costner could be considered one of a dying breed – the archetypal Hollywood leading man.

Ever since the late seventies, Marvel have a produced a line of comics under the title of ‘What If...?, which explore unusual storylines that wouldn’t normally appear in the pages of the regular comics, such as What if Spider-Man married Ben Grimm? Or What if DareDevil took part in Strictly Come Dancing?, that sort of thing.

The human brain: the most remarkable organ capable of processing powerful and complicated calculations. And to think, we only use 10% of its capacity.

With over sixty acting credits to his name, with his big screen debut coming by way of playing an Amish farmer in Peter Weir’s 1985 classic Witness, Viggo Mortensen is trying his hand behind the camera for the very first time.

The American Film Institute are very keen on compiling lists. Over the years they have compiled various lists, from the 25 best scores, 100 best movie quotes, and 25 best musicals.

There are some unspeakable horrors in the world, but one of the worst that can affect anyone is living with your parents. It’s bad enough putting up with them when they’re ‘raising’ you, spouting out their know-it-all attitude as they do, and getting on your case about how its isn’t socially acceptable to stick your finger in there, either publically or in private.

For some, the incredible success that South Korean director Bong Joon-ho with his film Parasite attained, which not only won four Oscars, but became the first foreign language film to win Best Picture, may well be disappointing.

It’s not that difficult to understand why people join cults. They appear to be places where you don’t have to think for yourself too much, with everyone given specific roles. Someone is charged with cooking, someone else with cleaning duties, and maybe another staying on top of the strength of the Wi-Fi and guarding the password. There’s also no hassle with parcels being left elsewhere as there’s always someone knocking about, as well as enough people to volunteer for babysitting duties when you need a break from the whole cult thing.

When it comes to the vampiric legend, one iconic character springs to mind, and it isn’t Count Duckula. But although Bram Stoker’s classic Dracula, written in 1897 has become the standard as far as representation on the big screen is concerned, he was by no means the first vampire on the block.

Starring in what would become the highest grossing romantic comedy of the last ten years, in your debut acting feature no less, is quite the achievement.

In 2001, the original Cats & Dogs film was released, with an impressive cast of both physical and voice talent, that included Jeff Goldblum, Elizabeth Perkins, Tobey Maguire, Susan Sarandon and Charlton Heston.

It may well be far too consumed by its ego to notice, but the Hollywood star system is under attack. If it were a film, it would probably be called Invasion of the Jobby Snatchers.

For some, the incredible success that South Korean director Bong Joon-ho with his film Parasite attained, which not only won four Oscars, but became the first foreign language film to win Best Picture, may well be disappointing.

Imagine if a year ago Disney announced that instead of releasing its $200 million live action version of Mulan in cinemas, it was going to pop it on its own streaming service, you might well think that the house of mouse had a few tiles loose. How times change.

The Hollywood old guard is dwindling. Every decade has its own, with the most recent probably including the likes of George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts, having careers that are quietly winding down a tad, with an eager bunch of self-absorbed narcissists ready to pick up the baton.

Temptation is everywhere. What’s worse, due to the wonders of modern tech, it’s now available to fit in your pocket, and is accessible 24/7 thanks to the three W’s.

It’s difficult not to associate the name Pinocchio with the classic 1940 Disney animation of the same name. The character has of course been around longer than that, created as he was in 1883, where he made his debut in the children’s novel The Adventures of Pinocchio, written by Italian Carlo Collodi.

A lot can be said for being an only child. For example, if there’s any attention to be gotten, you’re likely to get it. The same can be said for presents at birthdays and Christmas.

In 1963, Valentina Tereshkova made history by becoming the first woman in space. Since then, over sixty women have matched her achievement and have left our atmosphere as astronauts.

It’s often cited that prostitution is the oldest profession in the world, but many would dispute that as fact, with others trying to get in on the action over the years, including farming, hairdressing, teaching as well as religion.

The federal government, military and 28 states currently have capital punishment as a legal penalty in the United States. The most current figures to date also suggest that there are 2,620 inmates presently on death row.

Everyone loves Tom Hanks. That’s just a given. If he were British, he would already be a national treasure. Of course he is known for is countless memorable performances in classic films. What’s less known however is that he dabbles in writing occasionally. He wrote the 1998 mini-series From Here to the Moon, an episode of 2001’s Band of Brothers, as well as three screenplays: 1996’s That Thing You Do!, 2011’s Larry Crowne and now this WWII drama.

In 1994, Heather Small, lead singer of the poppy M People, sang the lyric “You’ve got to search for the hero inside yourself” in their hit song ‘Search for the Hero’. What she was actually singing about, whether she knew it or not, is what actor Ben Affleck has been doing all of his professional life.

Although not a familiar name in the UK, Jon Stewart has been a stalwart of the US late night talk show scene for some time, including his long-running stint on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart that ran for 16 years, that finally came to an end in 2015.

There’s a saying that goes that sarcasm is the lowest form of wit. By the same token it could be said that mime is the lowest form of entertainment. It is so low down on the entertainment chain, that if one were trapped in a well, the only way to save them would be to mime lowering down a rope to them.

Nestled in the Caribbean sea, not far off the coast of the US, is Cuba. Despite its proximity to its North American neighbours, the atmosphere between the two has been anything but friendly. The reason? Cuba became a communist country in 1959, and since then has been a red thorn in the side of the States ever since.

It’s such a warm, fuzzy feeling seeing them grow-up, developing into proper adults. Not your own children of course, as you probably gave up on them years ago, but those TV ‘teen’ stars of yester year.

It’s difficult to fully understand why, but there appears to be a general consensus that Kumail Nanjiani is perfect buddy movie fodder. Maybe they feel that he can’t be trusted on his own, and needs supervision, or, worse than that, he simply can’t carry a film by himself. He recently teamed up with last year’s Stuber opposite Dave Bautista, and then he coupled up in 2017’s The Big Sick.

Relationships can be such fickle things. You meet someone special, who lights up your life – literally. But things get complicated and they have a massive meltdown and you can never go near them again.

Romanian film director Corneliu Porumboiu has two obvious loves in his life: football and film. His passion for both has even seen him combine the pair not once but twice with his documentaries, 2014’s The Second Game and 2018’s Infinite Football.

It’s easy to think that films based on toys started with the LEGO films (with the first being released in 2014), or even with the first Toy Story entry, released in 1995, but toy producers and filmmakers have been savvy for way longer. There’s the Transformers franchise for instance, that’s been transforming on our screens since 1986’s animated feature (and the TV series two years earlier than that), 1985’s The Care Bear Movie, with even those cute hatchable creatures getting a look in with Tamagotchi: the Movie in 2007.

You don’t full realise the enormous impact of a global pandemic until you’re smack in the middle of one. Not only are many of us struggling with the concept of self isolation (although, if you think of it more as quality alone time, it certainly takes the edge off), but the global economy is taking a huge hit.

During the eighties, you could pretty much walk down the street and trip over an action star every hundred metres, they were that plentiful. The likes of Norris, Seagal and Van Damme were churning out titles at a cracking pace, most of which were guilty pleasures to watch.

To all intents and purposes, Daniel Radcliffe’s career should be over. Being a child star should be known as suffering from LRS - Logan’s Run Syndrome; as soon as a young actor hits puberty, their career dies.

Kangaroos. Vegemite. Kylie Minogue. These are probably the first few things when asked that someone will associate Australia with. You may sadly have the recent horrific fires that the country has suffered from added to that list.

After directing 1990’s cult classic Hardware, director Richard Stanley looked as if he had a bright future ahead of him. And then The Island of Dr. Moreau happened. The 1996 film, starring none other than Marlon Brando and Val Kilmer was to be his ticket to the big time, but when the studio lost faith they fired him and replaced him with John Frankenheimer.

Have a portrait painted, it lasts longer. That’s what was never uttered by someone in the eighteenth century when stared at for a substantial time.

Films about weddings can be much like the real thing: you often have to be dragged against your will to them and they can be difficult to tolerate. And having paid so much to be there, it’s no easy feat to simply walk away.

Tolerance is a wonderful thing. There are many types of people in this world, that despite holding different attitudes or beliefs, doesn’t necessarily make them bad people. There is one exception of course – people who don’t like subtitles. They are diseased beyond redemption, because reading dialogue and watching a film simultaneously is so darn challenging.

Legend is a word that’s so easily bandied about, it can lose its meaning. If ever you needed a reference, a true north star, then you only have to look at Clint Eastwood.

You almost have to feel sorry for Americans. Not for the Twitter twat running their country, that goes without saying. No, simply for the fact that their home grown acting talent are constantly getting nailed by Brits stealing plump roles.

A change is in the air regarding the current unacceptable attitude towards sexual harassment in the workplace (which appears to have been to simply ignore its existence), if the current media hype is to be believed, that is.

Italy may have lost its place somewhat in world cinema of late, but that wasn’t always the case. Over the years, prominent Italian directors have risen up and proven themselves as auteurs of the highest order in film, with none so more than Federico Fellini.

Having carved out a career as an actress down under, Jennifer Kent has decided to make the move to behind the camera. She made her directorial debut with the curiously titled horror The Babadook in 2014.

The older one gets, the more one tends to hear the phrase ‘well, they were different times’, to excuse the poor behaviour that took place in the past, and to somehow justify something that was really never OK. Falling into this category is a children’s puppet show that’s USP was literally domestic abuse, all in the name of family entertainment. Different times indeed.

With the South Korean film industry currently not only booming, but producing some terrific features, It’s great to throw another name into the mix - Lee Won-tae.

Ahead of its time - that’s the perfect description for the DMC DeLorean car. It became a screen icon in 1985’s Back to the Future, but by which time, it had failed commercially upon its release in 1981.

Race has always been a contentious issue and will no doubt continue to be so, sadly. Nigerian-born director Julius Onah however, comes at it from a very different perspective with his latest film.

In 2008, the Indian city of Mumbai came under a brutal sustained terrorist attack, pinpointing several locations across the city to bring it to its knees in terror.

Scandinavian countries have a reputation for producing quite glum and gloomy dramas, which is often attributed to their isolated locales and chilly climes. As sweeping generalisations go, the countries that make up Scandinavia don’t exactly go out of their way to prove it wrong.

Whenever you went on a school day trip, the best part of it was invariably time spent in the gift shop. These places were undoubtedly to blame for the countless collections of stationery tat purchased, including various rubbers, pencils and pens that subliminally created hordes of collectors-to-be, who would upgrade their desire to collect objects of more expensive tat.

Driving at ridiculous speeds around a racing track can be fatal, regardless of how good a driver you are, as the recent tragedy in Belgium, with the death of French Formula 2 driver Anthoine Hubert, proves all too well.

God, if you’re to believe the hype, is everywhere. Of course God is like the Ben & Jerry’s of the world of religion, in that he/she/it comes in many different flavours around the globe. Christianity’s version is seen as the most popular, with around 70% of the world’s population subscribing to those particular religious leanings.

When a popular toy comes out, you invariably get a cheaper, less attractive Chinese knock-off that soon follows. It’s nowhere near as good in terms of quality mind, but when they’re that young, they won’t even notice. And if it’s a little on the toxic side, it’ll probably make their immune systems stronger.

As debuts go, Deniz-Gamze Ergüven did pretty well with hers. For her first feature, The Turkish-French director helmed 2015’s Mustang, which was Oscar-nominated for Best Foreign Film for that year.

In such a crowded market as animation, dominated by the House of Mouse and other players, it takes a certain bravery to take on these behemoths at their own drawing game. Or stupidity.

There must be an unwritten law somewhere stating that if you’re going to make a film set on a submarine, it has to be dramatic. Think about it, submarine comedies are very few and far between, and even fewer musicals.

The Scandinavian city of Stockholm is famous for many things: Sweden’s capital is home to three World heritage sites; it hosts the annual Nobel prizes; and it’s where you will, of course, find the Abba museum. But you’ll know all this, as you probably saw Richard Ayoade sulk his way around the city in a recent Travel Man.

Time is precious. Which is why there’s this almost crazed mentality to make things quicker. Everything from making your kettle boil ASAP, to your plane journey taking that bit less to get to its destination.

Over the years, the sport of tennis has suffered with an image problem, in that it doesn’t really have one. Many of its finest exponents, who have gone on to win the biggest trophies in the game, have often had the personality of a dud Slazenger ball.

Nobody likes weddings. They’re a money pit event that guests feel obliged to attend in a vain attempt by the couple-to-be to look popular. Oh and don’t forget to bring an expensive gift with you.

It’s very rare for a child actor continue to have a bone fide career in acting, rarer still to also pick up an Oscar along the way, but that’s just what Natalie Portman has done.

Music – you love it right? Sure you do, and you pride yourself on your eclectic tastes in different genres that make up your playlists. A little bit of this, a sprinkling of that. Chances are however, that there are some musical styles that just don’t float your rockin’ boat.

Never the bride. A fairly accurate description of Irish actor Andrew Scott’s career to date. Although to be fair, he did recently play the priest in the BBC Three comedy Fleabag, who got to conduct the marriage between two characters in the show, so he’s clearly getting close.

You have to feel sorry for clowns. For years they have been held responsible for creating a fear in those who encounter them, when all they really want to do is throw cream pies and wear silly clothes. If you want to talk seriously about real evil, then you have to talk puppets.

Up until now, director Jacques Audiard has helmed projects in his native French, including such titles as 2009’s A Prophet and 2012’s Rust and Bone. For his latest, he heads west – way out west – for his first film in English, with some Hollywood hotshots along for the ride.

Some artists are known to be prolific in producing work, but the same can’t be said for painter Julian Schnabel, or at least as far as his side job of directing is concerned.

Before the release of 2017’s Get Out, not many held out much hope for it; after all, it was written and directed by Jordan Peele, who, only a year before, was mostly responsible for the dire effort Keanu, a comedy that was about as funny as having your face ripped off by a horde of ravenous feral cats.

During the seventies, there were a number of directors pushing the boundaries of film, with much of their output considered avant-garde. Sadly, that kind of mentality has been replaced by big budget commercialism, seeking a high return for their explosive buck.

There’s nothing more important than family, apparently. That’s certainly a recurring theme that cinema likes to bang on about a lot of the time. And the film industry should know, considering how nepotistic it is.

We live in uncertain, divisive times, sadly. The last thing we need is a film that highlights the problems that can arise with borders. But despite the name, this is not a politically motivated feature, thank God.

It’s unclear if any other country than the UK has national treasures, but if Spain does, you can bet your bottom Euro that Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem are most definitely at the top of that list.

Actor Michael Shannon has been plying his trade on screen – big and small - since 1992. Slowly but very surely he has become one of the most impressive talents of his generation. And although he has made significant impacts in various roles – as Nelson in the TV show Boardwalk Empire, for instance – and notching up a couple of Oscar noms along the way, he has yet to become the AAA star he deserves to be.

It happens all too rarely these days, but once in a while, a director produces something both quirky and stimulating. With this his second feature, Nicolas Pesce has done just that with his weird and darkly wonderful adaption of the 1994 novel by Ryū Murakami.

So you manage to make a film (2008’s Medicine for Melancholy), which you write and direct. It’s critically acclaimed, but doesn’t find a wider audience. So you go again, write and direct and send your baby out into the world. Knock knock. Who’s that at the door? It’s the 2017 Academy Awards calling with eight nominations to deliver. Oh by the way, we’ve got three Oscars for you too. Don’t mind if we do, thank you very much.

If Peter Pan had a twin, and both ended up working in film, you’d have the Farrelly brothers. For much of their adult lives, the pair have helmed some of the silliest films in modern history, including There‘s Something About Mary, Shallow Hal and both Dumb and Dumber flicks.

Before 2011, Melissa McCarthy was carving out a credible career as a comic actor on US TV in shows such as Gilmore Girls, the short-lived Samantha Who?, and Mike & Molly.

Up. That’s the current direction of young American actor Timothée Chalamet’s career. After honing his craft on TV, in the second season of Homeland, Chalamet made positive waves in his breakout role on the big screen, opposite Armie Hammer in 2017’s acclaimed Call Me by Your name.

You would think that even though WW2 ended 74 years ago, all the stories worth telling related to it, would have been told by now. Apparently not, as this gripping story set in Norway illustrates.

It’s been five long years since Danish director Lars von Trier released his Nymphomaniac on the world, in two hefty volumes. For some reason, controversy always tends to follow Trier’s career like a bad, wafty smell. For his latest feature, that’s unlikely, as it follows Jack, an engineer with OCD, over a period of time. Oh wait, he also happens to be a serial killer. Oops.

With the passing with everyday, we move away from traditional methods of payment in notes and coins. Nowadays, it’s just a matter of tapping plastic, or even your phone, and off you pops. And as everyone in the UK knows, as soon as Brexit happens, the only legal tender will be blocks of pure lard.

There is only one job that is literally soul-destroying for both parties involved, and that is telesales. There’s a tangible sense of dread when you pick up the phone and are greeted by someone eerily chirpy attempting to sell you double glazing.

Sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that all actors, regardless of their fame, are jobbing actors. Take Bruce Willis; at one point the biggest star on the planet. Now, starring in such straight-to-DVD efforts such as Precious Cargo, Acts of Violence and Reprisal. And no, they aren’t made up titles.

Hollywood likes to keep it in the family. The only caveat being of course, as long as they’re male. It seems to be almost a trend now that a large number of brothers direct projects together.

It’s actually been 23 years since Joaquin Phoenix and director Gus Van Sant worked together, when Phoenix appeared in Van Sant’s 1995 To Die For. Of course Van Sant was already familiar with the Phoenix clan by then, having paired his brother River with fellow heartthrob Keanu Reeves for his 1991 film My Private Idaho.

Horses are dangerous creatures, apparently more so than snakes, spiders, sharks and several Pokémon. Without doubt the most evil are the panto variety; approach one of them at your peril.

Having helmed both Independence Day films and 1998’s Godzilla, Team Devlin and Emmerich have proved they know their way around a disaster flick. Unfortunately writer and producer Dean Devlin decided to go behind the camera for last year’s Geostorm, and proved us wrong.

Families can be hard work at the best of times. Your own that is, not others. For instance, everyone has a weird uncle; you know the one, who, at family gatherings, can be heard saying things that weren’t appropriate ten years ago, never mind now. He also sits at the table and uses his grubby hands for cutlery, raking food off of the table

For many, being single can be seen as a curse. Society demands that we all couple up, because obviously we’re all happier that way, and if we have the required bits and pieces, we should procreate, because as Whitney sang, the children are our future. And sure, that can work, for some. But as this film portrays, living the suburban dream can easily turn into a nightmare.

More often than not, rick folk get a hard time on film. If they’re not the victims of hideous crimes (including house break ins, kidnapping, murders, etc), then they’re being portrayed as snobs who have no feelings and care about nothing more than moolah, and how to make more of it.

If anyone knows his way around a sequel it’s Sly Stallone. In fact one of the biggest surprises to date, in regards to his extensive career, is that his 1986 flick Cobra never got a follow up. Already on there way are Creed II, Rambo 5 and The Expendables 4. So don’t discard a Cobra sequel just yet.

It’s not unusual to see a crime flick that involves some daring driving. A bank heist takes place, that’s gone either good or bad, is often swiftly followed by frantic car chases through the city streets, showing flagrant disregard for road safety. Well it appears that Belgian director Michaël R. Roskam has given the whole crime driving sub genre a whole new spin, that doesn’t involve 360’s or fresh tyre marks.

If anyone knows his way around a sequel it’s Sly Stallone. In fact one of the biggest surprises to date, in regards to his extensive career, is that his 1986 flick Cobra never got a follow up.

The name Diane Kruger is a familiar one; not only did she make an impact in Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds, but also starred in the US remake of Nordic noir series The Bridge, amongst other screen credits.

Ever since the dawn of time – in cinema at least – films have often dabbled with the concept of the doppelganger; either characters who look eerily alike (played by the same actor), or characters who are actually twins (played by the same actor). And then you have Twins, starring big Arnie and wee Danny DeVito, as long lost identical bros, for double the hilarity.

Kiwi writer and director Andrew Niccol likes his sci-fi and tech themes; he made his directorial debut with 1997’s Gattica, and then went on to direct 2002’s S1m0ne, 2011’s In Time and 2013’s The Host. He also got nominated for an Oscar for writing The Truman Show in 1998, so he does occasionally get it right.

There’s been a strange fascination for hirsute wolf-like characters in cinema over the years, with the first featuring a werewolf in 1935’s Werewolf of London. Since then, there have been a number of them scampering onto our screens, but the majority of them have been of the male persuasion.

Someone in Hollywood must really hate Sam Worthington. Initially at least, starring in James Cameron’s Avatar must have seemed a dream job. However, Not only did he end up looking like a human Smurf, he has to do so again at least four more times for the subsequent sequels that are sadly on their way.

When you start to play around with mixing up genres, like the crossing of streams in Ghostbusters, bad things can happen. For the most part, it’s best to keep them apart, after all no-one wants to see a horror high school musical, or an animated screwball comedy war film. Come to think of it, maybe we would like to see that last one, but you get the point.

Let’s face it, the problem with history is, there’s just so much of it. Thank God for films then, without which, many of us would have the brain of a certain US president.

Taraji P. Henson is an actress who has really grafted, particularly on TV. She’s appeared in a number of shows, including Boston Legal, Person of Interest and currently stars as the formidable Cookie in the drama Empire.

Despite Huey Lewis stating some time ago to the contrary, it’s never been hip to be square. As shapes go, the square has to be in the top three for being the worst. The best? Undisputedly the triangle; put something in a triangle, and you’ve already got intrigue right there.

It’s amazing to think how much hard work and dedication goes into making an animated feature these days. Years of your life poured into bringing characters to life onto the big screen. It must be hugely disappointing then, when the end result is so poor that it’s been a complete waste of your time. And ours too, if you have the misfortune to sit through it.

What is it with mankind, huh? Whenever it comes across someone/thing a little different that turns up on our radar, it feels the need to send in the white coat brigade with their probes, to prod here, there and did you really have to put it there?!. At least that’s how it comes across in films.

After appearing in a couple of dozen films, as well as co-writing a few, Greta Gerwig has decided to take the plunge getting behind the camera for her directorial debut with Lady Bird, at the ripe old age of 34. And if that wasn’t pressure enough, she also wrote it too.

With Valentine’s just around the corner this Russian drama comes along with just the right romantic message: some people just aren’t supposed to be together. This revelation can sometimes be reached rather too late into proceedings, particularly when children are involved.

To quote a certain Private Frazer, we’re all doomed. Over the years, we’ve not-so-slowly been destroying the planet. It’s great that those with a social conscience do their best to be responsible by cycling, recycling and turning tech off instead of leaving it on standby. But realistically, the damage has already been done and we’re truly buggered. So, so long, and thanks for the fish.

When Steve Carell first burst onto our screens as the awkwardly inept Michael Scott in the US version of The Office, you could tell that a career in comedy was pretty much guaranteed. And, for the most part, that’s true. But no-one could have predicted either his willingness to avoid being typecast in nothing but comic roles, or indeed that he had such ability to do straight roles.

It must be really frustrating working for Martin McDonagh. On the one hand, he is extremely loyal, with many of his actors appearing in a number of his features. The downside is however, the talented British director has only made three in the last ten years – 2008’s In Bruges, 2012’s Seven Psychopaths and now this.

Considering the bickering that can take place between brothers, it's surprising how many can end up working together, especially in film. The most well known include the Coens, the Wachowskis (who are now possibly sisters), the Marvel-lous Russos, the Duffers and the Duplass bros.

For those expecting a spin-off featuring the fem-bot behind the man-bot known as Optimus Prime, heading up a fighting team of fem-bots defending the universe and that, then be prepared to be disappointed. It may have futuristic themes, but this isn't that type of film, for better or not. This adaption of Jordan Harrison's 2014 play of the same name, is set around a family who introduce technology in a bid to keep an elderly member engaged with life.