The success Barry Jenkins earned off the reception of Moonlight is something of a double-edged sword. Whilst that film's (eventual) Best Picture Oscar win no doubt helped his adaption of James Baldwin's If Beale Street Could Talk get off the ground, it also means this film will be viewed under a harsher microscope, given that we know as to what Jenkins is capable of as a … [Read more...] about If Beale Street Could Talk – Film Review
drama
Ben Is Back – Film Review
Julia Roberts and Lucas Hedges Coming off lauded performances in their last respective projects, Julia Roberts (TV's Homecoming) and Lucas Hedges (Boy Erased) continue to ground their work with committed performances in Ben Is Back, a heart-wrenching yet standard drama detailing the demons of addiction. Written and directed by Peter Hedges (star Lucas's own father) Ben Is … [Read more...] about Ben Is Back – Film Review
The Children Act – Film Review
There are moments peppered throughout Richard Eyre's The Children Act that don't feel entirely organic to much of the surrounding story, but such is the strength of Emma Thompson that we can ultimately forgive these out-of-character instances in an otherwise fine, adult-aimed drama. One of the particular moments involves Thompson's no-nonsense judge and a teenager recovering … [Read more...] about The Children Act – Film Review
Beautiful Boy – Film Review
Typically when drug addiction is at the centre of a feature film it's the addict themselves that earn prime focus. In the case of Beautiful Boy, it's the family - specifically Steve Carell's concerned father - that is at the story's core as we witness how addiction affects more than just the abuser. Based on both David Sheff's memoir "Beautiful Boy" and Nic Sheff's "Tweak", … [Read more...] about Beautiful Boy – Film Review
Can You Ever Forgive Me? – Film Review
Generally speaking, biopics tend to centre around an exceptional person (in one form or another) overcoming an adversity of sorts. And whilst Marielle Heller's Can You Ever Forgive Me? adheres to the formula, her subject - author Lee Israel - is far from exceptional and her challenge to overcome is to not get caught for the acts of criminality she has undertaken. In the grand … [Read more...] about Can You Ever Forgive Me? – Film Review