Tag: Film

Interview: Ira Sachs Discusses Keep The Lights On

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Keep The Lights On, an intense, haunting and gut-wrenchingly honest character drama from American writer-director Ira Sachs, makes its way into select UK cinemas this weekend. The film, which made its UK premiere at the BFI London Film Festival last month, follows the intense relationship between Erik (Thure Lindhardt), an outgoing documentary filmmaker, and Paul (Zachary Booth), a closeted lawyer, as they attempt to battle the highs and lows of addiction. Continue reading “Interview: Ira Sachs Discusses Keep The Lights On” →

Review: Beasts Of The Southern Wild (2012)

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Hushpuppy (Quvenzhané Wallis), a courageous and untamed six-year-old explorer, lives with her father, Wink (Dwight Henry), in a remote community known as the Bathtub. Living in a detached, yet idyllic society, Hushpuppy has, like the other dwellers, been forced to mature quickly and become entirely self-sufficient, spending her days finding food to keep herself alive. Their stark way of life is tested, however, when a fatal storm rears its ugly head, bringing about the Continue reading “Review: Beasts Of The Southern Wild (2012)” →

Review: Sister (2012)

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Simon (Kacey Mottet Klein), an unprosperous, yet headstrong and determined young boy, lives in the shadows of a wealthy and sprawling ski resort with his older sister, Louise (Léa Seydoux). Using his skills as a sprightly child, Simon braces the cold each and every day to travel up to the soaring ski resort and steal food and provisions to ensure him and his sister don’t succumb to extreme poverty. However, as Simon starts to attract some unwanted attention, Louise Continue reading “Review: Sister (2012)” →

Review: Skyfall (2012)

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When a hard drive containing top-secret data is lost in the field, James Bond (Daniel Craig) is sent to recover it. However, when the mission ends badly and the information finds itself in the hands of an intimidating threat with immense skill, M (Judi Dench) must come to terms with her troubled past, reacquaint herself with an old friend and do everything in her power to ensure MI6 – and every single one of its undercover operatives – withholds its position as a Continue reading “Review: Skyfall (2012)” →

LFF 2012 Review: Keep The Lights On (2012)

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When documentary filmmaker Erik Rothman (Thure Lindhardt) first meets Paul Lucy (Zachary Booth), he’s a bright and warm publishing lawyer. However, as the years pass and their relationship develops from one of occasional sex to one supposedly rooted in trust, Paul’s drug usage increases from mild stress relief to ripe addiction. Unwilling to lose hope that Paul’s habit will subside and he’ll return to the person he once was, Erik must find a way to love him regardless of Continue reading “LFF 2012 Review: Keep The Lights On (2012)” →

LFF 2012 Review: Beyond The Hills (2012)

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Alina (Cristina Flutur) returns to the impoverished Romanian community of her childhood in the hope of reuniting with Voichita (Cosmina Stratan) and returning with her to Germany and a new life. Upon arrival though, Alina discovers that Voichita has set up a new life for herself in a remote monastery and replaced her love with that of God. Undeterred, yet at the risk of her own mental wellbeing, Alina desperately tries to undermine the monasteries priest (Valeriu Andriuta) Continue reading “LFF 2012 Review: Beyond The Hills (2012)” →

Review: Hotel Transylvania (2012)

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In a bid to keep his daughter, Mavis (Selena Gomez), from discovering the truths of the real world, and to provide afflicted monsters with an ideal hideaway from the supposedly troublesome humans, Dracula (Adam Sandler) builds a high-end hotel in a secluded part of a dark, trap ridden forrest.  But, on the weekend of Mavis’ 118th birthday, when his attention should be solely on her, a curious backpacker, Jonathan (Andy Samberg), stumbles into the hotel and brings with Continue reading “Review: Hotel Transylvania (2012)” →

Review: Ruby Sparks (2012)

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Having achieved meteoric success at the tender age of eighteen, Calvin (Paul Dano) is now plagued with writer’s block and unable to move past his own self-doubt, relying all too heavily on his therapist, Dr. Rosenthal (Elliot Gould), and assertive brother, Harry (Chris Messina), for direction. In a desperate attempt to kickstart Calvin’s creative flow, Dr. Rosenthal implores him to write about a fantasy scenario as if it were true; and so Ruby Sparks (Zoe Kazan), the lively Continue reading “Review: Ruby Sparks (2012)” →

Review: Margaret (2011)

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Written and directed by filmmaker Kenneth Lonergan (only his second directorial feature after the multi award-winning You Can Count On Me), Margaret is a rambling, overpowered modern drama that bravely taps into people’s post 9/11 fear and hostility. Delayed, re-edited and shrouded in several still unfolding lawsuits, Lonergan’s effort seemed unlikely to see the light of day. But, thankfully Margaret now makes its way to cinema screens, albeit in a limited capacity, bearing the mark of its six year journey.

When tumultuous college student Lisa Cohen (Anna Paquin) is involved in a horrific bus accident that claims the life of a compassionate woman (Allison Continue reading “Review: Margaret (2011)” →

Review: The Angels’ Share (2012)

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Robbie (Paul Brannigan), an untoward young man who, by the skin of his teeth, escapes a prison sentence in favour of a community service ruling. Vowing to do right by – and make a better future for – his girlfriend Leonie (Siobhan Reilly) and their unborn child, Robbie surrenders himself to what could be his last lifeline. With the aid of fatherly-figure and community service supervisor Harry (John Henshaw), he discovers a talent that could bring himself – and fellow Continue reading “Review: The Angels’ Share (2012)” →