The fun and energetic garage-pop sound of Du Blonde’s latest album, Solitary Individual (featuring Laura Jane Grace from Against Me!), may seem like a celebration of enjoying your own company, but it also offers a glimpse into the world of its creator, Beth Jeans Houghton from Newcastle. Following in the DIY footsteps of her well-received … Read more
Eight years ago, Denzel Washington delivered a powerful film adaptation of August Wilson’s Fences, showcasing African American history. Now, as a co-producer, Washington brings another Wilson play to the screen – The Piano Lesson. This film, set in 1930s Pittsburgh, follows Boy Willie’s attempt to convince his sister Berniece to sell the family piano. The … Read more
“ This highly depressing and overly sentimental Christmas comedy, released in early November, stars Dwayne Johnson as Santa’s bodyguard on a mission to rescue him from kidnappers and save Christmas. Chris Evans co-stars as a charming professional thief named Jack O’Malley, whose tough exterior hides a heart of gold. Jack’s cynical outlook on life stems … Read more
There are cliffhangers – and then there is the end of the first season of The Old Man. After hours of car chases, gun fights and unlikely fisticuffs as the ex-CIA op Dan Chase (Jeff Bridges) attempted to evade capture by the US authorities, having been in hiding since returning from Afghanistan in the late … Read more
Sneaking in just before the fleet of red Coca-Cola trucks comes barreling into town, it’s the arrival of Netflix’s made-for-pittance festive lineup, a holiday tradition that’s similarly bad for your teeth. In 2023, it was kicked off by the deceptively titled Best. Christmas. Ever!, a rotten nadir not just for the genre but for film … Read more
Abbie (Lucy DeVito) and Jacob (Wilmer Valderrama), well-meaning parents, are considering separating. After consulting their therapist, they decide to have grandad Lawrence (Danny DeVito) break the news to their 10-year-old daughter at his beautiful Dolomites resort. However, it becomes apparent to Lawrence that the daughter is already aware of the situation. He asks her if … Read more
The modernists grappled with the contradictions of the society they belonged to. Europe, in their eyes, was a blend of the new and the old, the traditional and the progressive. Their art, too, reflected this duality – innovative and fresh, yet consumed by themes of decay and decline. In the English-speaking world, modernist literature eventually … Read more
By the time Haley Heynderickx finishes her captivating second album, she has already shown us that there is an art to leaving. Drawing on themes of nature and introspection, she invites listeners to escape the stress of daily life and find beauty in the small moments. Heynderickx’s music takes us on a journey of self-discovery … Read more
Just as delightful as the first two movies, Paddington in Peru may not be as hilarious, but it is a heartwarming and colorful family adventure that takes Paddington Bear back to his South American roots: the vast Amazonian wilderness (brought to life with visual effects) where he spent his early years in the care of … Read more
Here is a new version of Juan Rulfo’s 1955 magical realist novel that later inspired Gabriel García Márquez and others. With a non-linear narrative that explores life, death, lost loves, and shattered ideals, this adaptation may have also influenced the fragmented films of the 2000s Mexican new wave written by Guillermo Arriaga. Directed by Rodrigo … Read more