Projected Film

Runtime: 114mins | Director: Ol Parker | Rating: 1.5 Stars It’s rare that a film comes out that I have zero desire to see. Usually, even if it’s a film that isn’t my cup of tea, I’m willing to go and see it in the hope that it will exceed my expectations. Mamma Mia! Here We Go again was not one of these films. In fact, it’s the closest I’ve ever come to refusing to see a film point blank. Somehow though, I managed to endure seeing it (after a lot of coercion). So, was it worth the suffering I hear you ask? No. No, it was not. It was every bit as terrible as I expected it to be. Now, before I begin slating this movie, I feel it’s important to stress that I can at least understand why people may like this film even if I hated it myself. Both Mamma Mia and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again are films that, if you’re of a certain demographic or disposition, will unfailingly fill you with joy. They’re a spectacle, they pump you full of rainbows and optimism and they’re ...

Runtime: 132mins | Director: Luca Guadagnino | Year: 2017 | Rating: 5 Stars Earlier this year during the Oscars, Call Me By Your Name was the only Best Picture nomination I hadn’t managed to see through no other reason than a lack of time. I was desperate to see it, however, and I am pleased to report that I now have! Based on the 2007 novel by André Aciman, Call Me By Your Name tells the story of 17-year-old Elio (Timothée Chalamet) who lives in rural Italy with his bourgeois parents - one of whom is a respected American professor (Michael Stuhlbarg). Each summer, his father routinely invites a graduate to intern with him and aid him in his research - this year, 24-year-old Oliver (Armie Hammer) stays with Elio and his family. Despite their differences, as the summer goes by and they spend more time together swimming, eating, reading and cycling the pair soon realise they don’t just have a beautiful friendship together, but are also in love. Call Me By Your Name...

Runtime: 127mins | Director: Ari Aster | Rating: 3.5 Stars As I’ve mentioned in past reviews, I’m a huge fan of horror – both classic and modern. Unfortunately, though, the modern horror currently seems to be stuck in a state of decline. Sure, you get the odd success every now and again – The Babadook , The Descent , Rec, etc. But, overwhelmingly, they have become predictable, reliant on jump scares and unoriginal – a prime example of this being the last horror film I reviewed – The Strangers: Prey at Night , which received my first 1 Star review. Hereditary , however, (as with most horror films being marketed) was pegged as ‘the scariest film in decades’. Usually, I’m wildly distrustful of these superlative filled claims as they only lead to disappointment. But when critic reviews started being released which generally were positive, this baited my interest – “Perhaps Hereditary will be one of the rare modern successes?” I thought to myself. So, was it a success,...