Film Diary: February 2018

What a month. Not only did I, Tonya prove The Skeleton Twins’ Craig Gillespie to be more than a one hit wonder, but Black Panther delivered – and then went on to make a billion for Disney and set tongues wagging about a potential Best Picture nomination come February next year. But first, let’s rewind to the start.

The fourth entry in the Insidious franchise, The Last Key, rested solely on Lin Shaye’s shoulders, while attempting to tie the backstory of her life with the sinister events that impacted the Lambert family from the first two films. I love Shaye and her role as parapsychologist Elise, but this series has run its course by a long mile. Continue reading “Film Diary: February 2018”

Film Diary: January 2018

The month kicked off as any year usually does, with a handful of potential Oscar nominees finally hitting UK cinemas after their festival debuts the year before. Darkest Hour featured a blistering performance from Gary Oldman, though little else. Joe Wright’s drama about Churchill in the lead up to Dunkirk rested on the talents of its lead, who mostly kept things afloat even when the script faltered. As someone who disliked Pan, but loved Atonement, I’m also searching for a Wright film to match up to that. This isn’t it, though it can still be admired for what it is. Continue reading “Film Diary: January 2018”

Review: Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015)

Insidious Chapter 3

Insidious: Chapter 3 takes the successful, micro-budget horror franchise back to its beginnings with a lacklustre and extraneous prequel. 17-year-old Quinn (Stefanie Scott) is desperate to contact her dead mother, but when psychic Elise (Lin Shaye) refuses to help, she unleashes a nasty supernatural entity that can only be vanquished by a trip into The Further. Continue reading “Review: Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015)”

Review: Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013)

Insidious Chapter 2

Compelled to capitalise on the success of what many labelled the best supernatural thriller in decades, director James Wan and screenwriter Leigh Whannell reunite for its sequel, Insidious: Chapter 2. Picking up directly after the events depicted in the first film, Insidious: Chapter 2 frustratingly succumbs to many of the same problems – a convoluted narrative and an overt reliance on quick shocks rather than deep-rooted terror – that caused the first film to lose merit during its latter half. Continue reading “Review: Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013)”

2012 Jameson Empire Awards: Winners

The winners of the 2012 Jameson Empire Awards were announced this evening at a lavish ceremony held within London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.

Now in their seventeenth year, the awards recognise the the excellence of professionals in the local and global film industry, and were voted for by readers of Britain’s biggest film magazine.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy emerged the night’s biggest winner, bagging a total of Continue reading “2012 Jameson Empire Awards: Winners”

Jameson Empire Awards 2012: Nominations

The nominees for the 2012 Jameson Empire Awards were revealed earlier today on Empire’s official website.

The awards, now in their seventeenth year, aim to recognize excellence of professionals in the local and global film industry, and are voted for by readers of Britain’s biggest film magazine (vote here).

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Attack The Block, Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy lead the way with four nominations apiece Continue reading “Jameson Empire Awards 2012: Nominations”

DVD Releases: September 12, 2011

Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (Review)

Director: Rob Marshall

Starring: Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz and Geoffrey Rush Continue reading “DVD Releases: September 12, 2011”

UK Box Office – May 13 – 15, 2011

1. Thor – £1,360,418

2. Fast Five – £1,155,540

3. Attack The Block – £1,133,859

4. Insidious – £963,963

5. Hanna – £821,081

6. Water for Elephants – £695,631

7. Rio – £592,142

8. Something Borrowed – £489,848

9. Priest – £202,483

10. Arthur – £151,755

UK Box Office: May 6 – 8, 2011

1. Thor – £1,946,695

2. Fast Five – £1,608,463

3. Insidious – £1,315,358

4. Water for Elephants – £1,270,483

5. Hanna – £1,135,782

6. Something Borrowed – £707,863

7. Rio – £702,493

8. Priest – £396,038

9. Arthur – £309,683

10. Hop – £214,364

UK Box Office: April 29 – May 1, 2011

1. Thor – £5,449,300

2. Fast Five – £2,609,244

3. Insidious – £1,441,292

4. Rio – £801,102

5. Arthur – £682,187

6. Scream 4 – £396,190

7. Hop – £314,829

8. Beastly – £210,974

9. Source Code – £196,978

10. Red Riding Hood – £169,325