My Talking Pictures podcast this week is an abs-olute scorcher! The Big Interview hot seat is positively sizzling: not surprising as Channing Tatum is talking about his latest movie, Magic Mike XXL.
And two big cinematic figures are back this week – Arnie in Terminator:Genisys and Orson Welles in documentary, Magician.
I’m also casting mycritical eye over…
The holidays may not start for another couple of weeks, but it’s summer already at the cinema and the first of the family blockbusters has arrived. Minions, which is released on Friday, 26 June, certificate U, puts Gru’s little yellow helpers from the Despicable Me series well and truly in the spotlight. But how will they fare without their dastardly master? Banana in hand, London Mums’…
After years in the doldrums, the western is having something of a revival this year. The 2015 versions have been mixing traditional with spaghetti and Slow West, released this Friday, 26 June follows the same path. It also puts a young person at the centre of the story – think True Grit or even the classic Shane – but this time one who’s a stranger to the West. London Mums’ film critic…
The Fighter (2010), Silver Linings Playbook (2012) and American Hustle (2013) – all great modern movies and all from the same director, David O Russell. But he made a movie back in 2008 that he doesn’t want to talk about – and it’s released in cinemas on Friday with a 15 certificate. London Mums’ film critic, Freda Cooper, finds out what’s wrong with Accidental Love.
The…
It may not be official yet, but 2015 is The Year Of The Blockbuster. Think of what we’ve had so far this year: a glut of films from Disney, including Big Hero 6 and Avengers:Age Of Ultron, the latest in the Divergent series, The Insurgent, one for the grown-ups in the shape of Mad Max:Fury Road and Jurassic World is settling in for the long haul in cinemas.
So what’s lined up for this summer?
Remember the original Jurassic Park? When we first saw those incredibly realistic dinosaurs on the big screen? Believe it or not, that was 22 years ago and those prehistoric monsters really started something. They were the forerunners of the special effects we’ve come to expect at the cinema.
The film itself spawned a couple of sequels, the last of which was in 2001. Then the dinosaurs went into…
One of the most instantly recognisable icons in cinema, Marilyn Monroe, is currently the subject of special season at the BFI on Southbank. Running until the end of the month, the line-up includes comedies such as Some Like It Hot and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Her more serious work is represented by what turned out to be her last completed film, The Misfits (1961), which is also re-released in…
One of the most popular British rom-coms ever celebrates its 21st birthday this year. Yes, it really is that long since we fell for Hugh Grant’s floppy-haired charm and blubbed as John Hannah read Stop All The Clocks in Four Weddings And A Funeral. It struck a chord in the 90s – and this week sees the arrival of the rom-com for the 2010s.
Man Up, released on Friday, certificate 15…
Jake Gyllenhaal fans must be getting used to his changes in appearances by now. After his dramatic weight loss for the horror/thriller Nightcrawler, he’s beefed himself up for boxing drama Southpaw, which arrives in cinemas in late July. Before then, he sports a nerdy haircut for whacky romantic comedy, Accidental Love, opening on 19 June. And this is definitely one for the…
In between premieres and press conferences for her latest film, Tomorrowland: A World Beyond, rising star Raffey Cassidy chatted with London Mums’ film critic, Freda Cooper, about working with George Clooney – and learning to drive!
Her name might not be instantly recognisable – yet – but, for the squillions of fans of TV’s Mr Selfridge, Raffey Cassidy’s face is very familiar. The…