In Defence Of… Jennifer Aniston

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When Friends, formerly titled Insomnia Café, first hit TV screens way back in October 1994, no one imagined the worldwide success it would achieve, let alone that the six actors who played the lead roles would become such international stars. It has not been so rosy since the series ended in 2004, however, as neither David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry, Matt Le Blanc, Lisa Kudrow, nor Jennifer Aniston have made noticeable and befitting transitions to the Continue reading “In Defence Of… Jennifer Aniston” →

Review: The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

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Eight years after the grisly events that resulted in the death of Harvey Dent, Batman is nowhere to be seen and the city of Gotham has become a place of peace and mutual co-operation under the Dent Act. However, when a ruthless madman named Bane (Tom Hardy) rises from the darkest depths of the world and begins to take advantage of the city’s new-found order, Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) is forced to call upon Wayne Enterprises’ virtuoso Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman), Continue reading “Review: The Dark Knight Rises (2012)” →

Review: The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

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Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) is an outsider with a passion for science and a crush on fellow high schooler Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone). When Peter comes across a briefcase left after his father’s death, he’s lead to Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans), his father’s research partner, and to an incident involving genetically modified spiders that leaves him with superhuman abilities. Assuming an alter ego of “Spider-Man”, he uses his powers to the benefit of the citizens of New Continue reading “Review: The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)” →

Review: Romeos (2011)

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Lukas (Rick Okon), a female-to-male transgender, has moved to Cologne to complete his voluntary social service year at a nursing home. After an initial struggle, he soon finds his feet with the help of best friend Ines (Liv Lisa Fries) and the two soon find themselves in the throes of big-city lifestyle. Finding himself more and more comfortable with his identity, Lukas attracts the attention of local stud Fabio (Maximilian Befort), and the two enter into an Continue reading “Review: Romeos (2011)” →

Review: Magic Mike (2012)

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Mike (Channing Tatum) is a thirty-year-old entrepreneur, furniture designer and contractor who, at night, transformers into his stripping persona Magic Mike. When he sees potential in fellow construction worker Adam (Alex Pettyfer) he takes him under his wing and introduces him to a life he never thought possible – one fuelled by eroticised dance numbers, non-stop partying and female adoration. However, Mike’s had enough, but his attempts to move away from Continue reading “Review: Magic Mike (2012)” →

Review: Killer Joe (2011)

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When a debt puts his life in danger, Chris (Emile Hirsch) hatches a plan to kill his unruly mother and claim her life insurance policy. With the backing of his defeated father, Ansel (Thomas Haden Church), narcissistic step-mother, Sharla (Gina Gershon), and impressionable younger sister, Dottie (Juno Temple), Chris hires Killer Joe Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), a detective who moonlights as a contract killer, to carry out the dirty work. But when they can’t afford his Continue reading “Review: Killer Joe (2011)” →

Review: Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012)

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Manny (Ray Romano), Diego (Dennis Leary) and Sid (John Leguizamo) are set adrift on an iceberg after Scrat (Chris Wedge) inadvertently causes the break-up of Pangea. Separated from their oddball family, who rush to escape the forthcoming destruction, they are forced to brave the high seas in the hope of finding a way back home before it’s too late. It’s not all plain sailing, though, as the trio cross paths with a barrage of pirates, lead by the sinister Captain Gutt Continue reading “Review: Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012)” →

How The Edinburgh International Film Festival Got Its Groove Back

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With the Edinburgh International Film Festival over for another year, it’s time to look back over the twelve day event through rose coloured spectacles and assess whether or not the world’s longest continuously running film festival has managed to, under the leadership of a new Artistic Director and a brand new roster of some 121 feature films, make a decent stab at reclaiming its noble place, laying solid foundations for a bright future. Continue reading “How The Edinburgh International Film Festival Got Its Groove Back” →

EIFF 2012 Review: First Position (2012)

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The Youth American Grand Prix (YAGP) is an annual international ballet competition, in which over 5000 dance students aged between 9 and 19 years old compete for elite scholarships with some of the world’s most prestigious companies and schools. First Position tracks six ambitious young dancers – Aran, Gaya, Michaela, Mike, Rebecca and Joan – as they train, travel the world and overcome self-doubt and overwhelming pressure in a bid to secure their place at Continue reading “EIFF 2012 Review: First Position (2012)” →

EIFF 2012 Review: Sun Don’t Shine (2012)

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Crystal (Kate Lyn Sheil) and Leo (Kentucker Audley) are star-crossed lovers on the run to Tampa through desert-like conditions and sweltering heat in a battered car without air conditioning. As their trek becomes more arduous and their already tense relationship more fraught, their backstory filters out: a blurry, yet stirring picture of two emotionally disturbed people pitted together through wretched circumstances is formed. Continue reading “EIFF 2012 Review: Sun Don’t Shine (2012)” →