• Paddington

    December 4, 2014 - By 

    Like its eponymous Peruvian exile, the cinematic adaptation of Michael Bond’s iconic children’s book series arrives under choppy circumstances. A late-in-the-game change of lead voice talent (from Colin Firth to Ben Whishaw) and a flat teaser trailer were casting doubts on the viability of StudioCanal’s most expensive film to date. They need not have worried: like its marmalade-guzzling, duffle-clad hero, Paddington is a sweet, immensely likable creation that is sure to find a hearty welcome on adopted shores. Writer-director Paul King and co-plotter Hamish McColl have delivered a lovey, lovely live action/animation film which doubles as a great Christmas watch.…

  • Nebraska @ QFT

    December 6, 2013 - By 

    From Friday December 6 right up until Sunday December 22, Queen’s Film Theatre Belfast will be screening Alexander Payne’s latest film, Nebraska. Having established his filmmaking style on the likes of Sideways, About Schmidt and the The Descendants, Payne’s latest film sets a very odd couple off on a journey – this time across the plains of the small-town Midwest. Boasting a cast including Bruce Dern (pictured), Will Forte and June Squibb, the move is, according to the QFT website, “an affectionate but refreshingly unsentimental portrait of small-town America, and the complex, often troubled, relationships we have with our parents,…

  • This Is The End

    July 6, 2013 - By 

    From the outset, This Is The End sets its stall out for all to see. It’s crass, self referential, and controversial. All to be expected “from the guys who brought you Pineapple Express and Superbad“. The real question is – is it funny? The answer, unequivocally, is yes. Presented with just enough of a wink and a nod to how obviously self-indulgent it is (“Dear God, it’s me, Jonah Hill… from Moneyball“), This Is The End manages to contort its few staple jokes (swearing, and booze/drug/sex references) into 107 minutes of laugh out loud absurdity. This Is The End breaks…

  • Man of Steel – Triumph or Washout?

    June 18, 2013 - By 

    There are mixed reports circulating the blogosphere with many flat out flunking Zack Snyder’s attempt to shape the controversial Superman franchise. Man of Steel has a dream team of Hollywood’s elite behind it but could it be a case of too many cooks? It’s easy to see where this film fails and the problem seems to lie almost solely with the direction. The pace of the film is completely off; a labored and awkward introduction eats into the film’s running time creating a knock on affect on the overall development of the plot. Throughout the film, time is allocated to…