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HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Markus Bixby Film Review average rating is 1 out of 5 Critic: William Hemingway | Posted on: Jan 30, 2024 Directed by: Cory Baxter Written by: Cory Baxter Starring: Javon Simmons, Donald Barre, Junior King Markus Bixby (Simmons) is off to college after the Summer, but for now he is still working at the Catalina Seaview Company, where he takes paying passengers out on tours of the bay in his glass bottomed boat. Markus loves his job and also loves working for Richard Carson (Barre), who has to be the most positive and understanding boss that has ever existed. As Markus will be leaving the company soon, Mr Carson has decided to hire a new employee and it’s going to be Markus’ job to show him around and settle him in along with fellow boatman, Junior (Boma). So far, so normal. One of the perks of the job for Markus is that he gets to take the boat out himself on his downtime, and so he regularly heads off into the surf to relax, read a book and bob about on the waves. One day, whilst doing just that, something strange happens and through the bottom of the boat Markus witnesses a glowing object gliding along beneath him that to all eyes would look like a stingray or some other flat fish. To Markus though, the object definitely has the look of some advanced submersible craft, and while relating this to his (again very understanding) girlfriend he is resolute in knowing what he saw, as well as in his determination to get to the bottom of the situation. So, while Markus goes about his daily life, he also hatches a plan using his keenly honed MacGuyver like skills to see if he can catch another look at the futuristic underwater technology, which he is sure is real. Then the bonkers bit really begins. Until then though we have to sit through Markus’ daily life, watch as he initiates the new guy Dallas (Aragon) into the fold, and bear witness to any number of lengthy interludes where all he does is read a book for no real reason other than that the director seems to think it makes him appear interesting. It doesn’t. In fact the first two acts of this sixty-five minute film don’t introduce any sort of drama into the scenario at all, save for the one sighting of the alleged super-craft, and instead we are forced to sit through a bunch of banal conversations and seriously bizarre scenes where all that happens is that Markus and his work buddies all behave really awkwardly around one another. This obviously has a lot to do with the fact that the script is truly awful, with some scenes very definitely being ad-libbed with no real script at all, and that the acting is just dire. Throughout all of this we are asked to put up with some truly shocking editing, which cuts the ends off some of the scenes, along with the correspondingly bad audio editing that can focus more on the wind and the birds in the background than it does on the dialogue, or can simply cut out altogether. It is fairly obvious that nobody in this debut production is yet accomplished in their craft, save for the drone operator Michael Zullo who captures some genuinely impressive shots which are then overused again and again, and nowhere is this amateurism more apparent than in the so-called ‘acting talent’. Markus and Junior are bad enough interacting on their own but when Dallas is then added into the mix everything becomes super weird and awkward along with some hard to hear dialogue. Then at the other end of the scale, Donald Barre as Mr Carson is uber-zealous and really decides to really show that he’s really acting with some pretty over-the-top hamminess. All of this though, seems to be in keeping with writer/director Cory Baxter’s vision for his project, as things take a seriously odd turn towards the end. What Baxter has created for himself is a film based on his own series of books, complete with page for page 3D modelled illustrations, and yes, these books are a total trip in themselves. Without giving too much of the weirdness away, there really are advanced futurist things swimming around under the water, and only in the last 10-15 mins of the film do things actually get moving and any sort of ‘story’ is revealed. It’s a very short space of time to start introducing brand new concepts and hosts of new characters to an otherwise boringly plodding movie and none of it works. With Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023) still struggling to make any coin at the box office, as well as being a terrifically bad film in and of itself, it should be obvious that anything revolving around superpowered underwater societies is already going to be a really hard sell. Markus Bixby does nothing to challenge that and if anything lowers the commercial marketability of such a premise to near zero. Markus Bixby is a film made for an audience of one and with all of its failings that’s the way it’s likely to stay. It can only be hoped that Cory Baxter got what he wanted out of this project, as he may be one of the very few who gets to spend time inside the fantastical world he has created. About the Film Critic William Hemingway Indie Feature Film, Digital / DVD Release < All Reviews Next Film Review >

HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Creed III Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Brian Penn | Posted on: Mar 4, 2023 Directed by: Michael B. Jordan Written by: Keenan Coogler, Zach Baylin, Ryan Coogler Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Jonathan Majors, Tessa Thompson Mischievous observers might warn us about films with roman numerals in the title. Devoid of inspiration and nothing more than a cash-in; the predictable rehash of a story that used all its best ideas in the first film. You probably know where this is going. Of course, it's a money making exercise to keep the bean counters happy. But film makers can justifiably say they're giving people what they want. All of the above would be true of Creed III. But the bottom line hits home as sharply as a Creed right hook; this is great entertainment because of the template set by Rocky. Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) is now retired and living a comfortable life as the face of Ralph Lauren. But old habits die hard as he guides protégé Felix Chavez (Jose Benavidez) to the World Heavyweight title. However, Creed's world is rocked when childhood friend and former boxer Damian Anderson (Jonathan Majors) turns up. They both share a secret that still haunts Creed. He takes Anderson under his wing who starts to box again. Emboldened by his new profile Anderson baits Creed, who realises he must once again face his demons in the ring. The film tries hard to shed the association with Rocky who is strangely airbrushed from the narrative. Perhaps it was deliberate to give the franchise some independence. But it never really strays from an honest pugilist doing the right thing. The fanfare in the final sequence also bears a striking resemblance to Bill Conte's memorable Rocky score. The exhortations of a warrior in combat are all comfortably familiar. Michael B. Jordan applies himself admirably to the role of star and director. The plot is brisk and engrossing but it's the action sequences that really stand out. Although exciting to watch they stretch credulity to the limit. Boxers can only dream of having such fast hands and the power to land the heaviest of punches. Where heavyweights regularly tip the scales at 16 stone, Creed and Anderson look nowhere near big enough to compete at that weight. However, picking holes is too easy and detracts from what is a very good film. The Creed franchise has the advantage of strong characters and visuals free of blinding special effects. So it feels a welcome antidote to the current dominance of the Marvel and DC equivalents. About the Film Critic Brian Penn Theatrical Release < All Reviews Next Film Review >

HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Prisoners of the Ghostland Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Hope Madden | Posted on: Sep 16, 2021 Directed by: Sion Sono Written by: Aaron Hendry, Reza Sizo Safai Starring: Nicolas Cage, Sofia Boutella, Bill Moseley Nicolas Cage referred to Sion Sono’s Prisoners of the Ghostland as possibly the wildest film he’s ever been in. Wilder than Wild at Heart? Wilder than Mandy? Wilder than – I mean, it’s a long list. We’re talking about Nicolas Cage here. But Sono (Suicide Club, Antiporno, Tokyo Vampire Hotel, Why Don’t You Play in Hell, among others) is no slouch in the wild department. So, it would seem that he and Cage make a suitable match. Sono’s tale pits dastardly bank thief and all around nogoodnik Hero (Cage) against the clock, testicular bombs, and marauding trucker ghosts. Why? To return The Mayor’s (Bill Moseley) beloved granddaughter Bernice (Sofia Boutella) back to him. If that sounds simple enough —and it probably does not— the film’s even more unusual than the synopsis suggests. Prisoners of the Ghostland delivers a samurai cyberpunk musical Western dystopian neo-noir with flourishes reminiscent of Mad Max and Mulan Rouge . I wish that mashup worked better. The Mayor rules Samurai Town, a garish din of debauchery, color and indulgence. Here Sono delivers bold and bizarre visuals. He runs with the idea that the samurai and the cowboy are essentially, cinematically, the same beast. Bernice is held in Ghostland, all ash and cinder populated as much by mannequins as humans. Haunting imagery here as well, though less of it unique, marrying Western to dystopic fantasy. Plus the Greek chorus. Compared to Sono’s madcap antics, Cage is almost subdued. Does he ride naked on a child’s bike? Grapple with toxic mutant monsters? Sing? He does! It’s just that Sono’s vision is wilder still. The filmmaker’s aesthetic is jarring, disjointed, overwhelming, frenetic, sometimes stupid, other times glorious, and never less than mad. The fact that he tries to tie it all together neatly at the end may be Prisoners of the Ghostland ’s biggest drawback. The underlying story is of trafficked women taking control of their lives and bodies, though the fact that Boutella is essentially voiceless and in need of saving speaks louder about the film’s themes. She does a solid job in a thankless role, as does everyone in the densely populated ensemble. It’s bananas It doesn’t entirely work – sometimes it doesn’t work at all — but it is a bold mess that commands attention. About the Film Critic Hope Madden Theatrical Release, Digital / DVD Release < All Reviews Next Film Review >

HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Fields Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Joe Beck | Posted on: Apr 15, 2022 Directed by: Charlene Wango Written by: Charlene Wango Starring: Kemi Lofinmakin, Stephen Odubola, Malcolm Kamulete, Hope Ikpotu Jnr Pastor Mimi Asher is a legend. She selflessly brings gang members into their home and rehabilitates them, steering them away from a life of violence. Operating on the Myatts Housing Estate in 2000s, Pastor Mimi transformed the lives of many young, black men in Lambeth, where the crime rate continues to be 10% higher than London’s average. Using her Christian faith and spreading the word of God, Pastor Mimi’s impact cannot be understated, and therefore ‘Fields’, a short biopic of sorts is a must-watch. One night, Mimi wakes up at 1AM, having a premonition that her son will suffer a terrible tragedy. In these first ten seconds the directorial skill of Charlene Wango is apparent - creating an unsettling and deeply disturbing atmosphere immediately. The first ten seconds also demonstrate Kemi Lofinmakin’s astonishing acting ability - immediately connecting Pastor Mimi with us through the steady assured tone of voice, which breaks into cries of passion whenever she sense danger for any of the troubled youths in her neighbourhood. Although Lofinmakin doesn’t particularly resemble Pastor Mimi in terms of appearance, that is instantly forgotten as you become taken in by this force of a performance, which oozes class every moment she’s on screen. The supporting cast of Stephen Odubola, Malcolm Kamulete and Hope Ikpoku Jnr are all impressive too, each playing their characters well. Fans of ‘Blue Story’ and ‘Top Boy’ will be intrigued to see a raft of actors in the two appear here, with all of the cast having been involved in either of the aforementioned projects in some way. With Malcolm Kamulete and Hope Ikpoku Jnr we get the Ra’Nell - Aaron link up we never knew we needed. At times the film does suffer from some extremely forced and unrealistic dialogue - one conversation in particular between Pastor Mimi and a young woman is almost unbearable, thankfully it doesn’t last too long. However, that is by and large the films only drawback, an incredibly impressive feat from a directorial short debut. The film focuses on that glimmer of light in the darkness, the one beacon of hope in an otherwise bleak environment of poverty and violence. Wango’s camera knows this, and guides us towards that light, so that by the end we are gravitating towards Pastor Mimi in a manner not entirely of our own doing. The message is simple - many of London’s young, black men are forced into a life of crime which leads them to an early grave, what are you doing to stop it? How can it be right that the onus is on one woman to carry out what she calls ‘God’s promise’ to save them all? Surely we can all do better. It would be hard for Charlene Wango to do much better with ‘Fields’, a short which undoubtedly deserves a feature length adaptation. A few torrid pieces of dialogue aside, this is a staggering piece of work from the director and cast alike - in particular Kemi Lofinmakin who is outstanding as the enigmatic Pastor Mimi. Most importantly, it’s a short which does Pastor Mimi justice and tells the story of a true hero that doesn’t get the recognition from the wider world that she deserves. About the Film Critic Joe Beck Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Holestepper (Pisahueco) Listen to our review on the film podcast What our film review said: READ FULL REVIEW Salas’ performance is exceptional. He perfectly balances both apprehension and eloquence in a short so full of contrasts (drum and bass collated with classical, articulated cinematography juxtaposed with an iPhone, sensory overloaded farce followed by a timid classroom). Proudly supporting MediCinema for our 2022 film festival.

HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Sing 2 Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Hope Madden | Posted on: Dec 20, 2021 Directed by: Garth Jennings Written by: Garth Jennings Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson Are you ever absolutely slain by the voice talent in a cartoon? I find this especially true of a middling animation like Sing , or more to the point, writer/director Garth Jennings’s sequel, Sing 2. Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Taron Edgerton, Bono, Nick Kroll, Bobby Cannavale, Pharrell Williams, Halsey, Letitia Wright, Eric Andre and Chelsea Paretti round out the set of vocal stylists bringing this animated animal talent show to the big screen. Was there any budget left for animators? Well, sure. This is an Illumination animation—the good people behind the Minions and all that—and its visual style is bright, colorful and well suited to the animal antics afoot. What antics, you ask? Well, big dreamer Buster Moon (a koala voiced by McConaughey) wants to take his enormously popular smalltown song and dance troupe to the big time! But are they ready? Will the man in charge of their destiny (a nasty wolf named Jimmy Crystal voiced by Cannavale) choose to murder Buster? And can they find the famous singer Clay Calloway (Bono) in time for the big show? Who’s to say? What they won’t do is sing originals. Unlike your typical Disney musical, Sing 2 puts recognizable pop songs into characters’ mouths, so it plays a bit like one of those TV talent shows, except less annoying. Halsey is memorable as spoiled Porsha, and Jennings himself shines voicing the character of theater assistant Miss Crawly. Still, there’s not a lot new to see here—I think we’re all familiar with “the show must go on” stories. There’s even less new to hear. Characters are likable enough (aside from that wolf), and very solid lessons are learned and themes encouraged. Plus, some fun song choices keep scenes lively and it is very hard to go wrong with this talent pool. Not one memorable thing happens. Not one. But Sing 2 is light-hearted, good-natured fun while it lasts. About the Film Critic Hope Madden Theatrical Release, Animation < All Reviews Next Film Review >

HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Waiting for the Light to Change Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Rachel Willis | Posted on: Oct 20, 2023 Directed by: Linh Tran Written by: Jewells Santos, Linh Tran, Delia Van Praag Starring: Joyca Ha, Jin Park, Qun Chi The quarter-life crisis. From the hindsight of middle-age, it seems an enviable position to be in. Yet, the memory is fresh enough to recognize the anxiety, loneliness, and a certain longing for direction. Director Linh Tran captures the feeling with heartfelt tenderness in her film Waiting for the Light to Change. Falling between the ages of 23 and 25, several friends, including Amy (Jin Park) and Kim (Joyce Ha), have gathered at a beach house. Kim has a boyfriend, a career, and enough money to allow Amy to join the group. Amy, on the other hand, is single and back in school because she couldn’t find a job. Kim’s cousin Lin (Qun Chi) has recently broken up with a beloved boyfriend because the distance between the United States and China was too great. Tran mines the tumultuous years after college to examine characters on the verge of their adult lives. Amy’s loneliness pushes her to do things she might not otherwise do. The aimlessness Jay (Sam Straley) feels leads him to make decisions he later regrets. And though they have the connection of a lengthy friendship, Amy and Kim’s conversations are often fraught with tension. The early- to-mid 20s is a period when many start to realize a friendship made in youth may be toxic. The film loses its momentum as it moves toward its climax. The group’s apathy starts to manifest in more solid ways, which detracts from the affecting dialogue. As images take the place of realistic and uncomfortable moments between characters, the movie flounders. A few moments try too hard for profundity and instead stumble over stereotypical conversation. It’s disappointing that these unnatural moments shoulder their way into a film more notable for its naturalism. However, Waiting for the Light to Change rights itself as it progresses. As relationships rupture, we’re drawn into the turmoil that often plagues adolescents as they struggle to find their way into adulthood. About the Film Critic Rachel Willis Digital / DVD Release, Indie Feature Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Promising Young Woman PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN - UK Release Date Starring Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman gets its UK release date on April 16th via Sky. The film will be available on their movie platform for UK viewers. What did we make of the film? You can read our Promising Young Woman review here. But here's a little snippet: "Carey Mulligan is flawless—when is she not?—as Cassandra. By day the one-time med student ignores customers from behind a coffee house counter. By night, she pretends to be obliterated in local clubs and dive bars." Hope Madden, UK Film Review CHECK OUT MORE FILM TRAILERS BELOW The Bezonians Official Trailer Greeks take on geezers in The Bezonians, a satirical Brit gangster thriller that gets its UK debut on DVD and digital this May from 101 Films. Streamline Dive into Streamline, an emotionally rich coming-of-age-film, and a supremely impressive directorial debut from Tyson Wade Johnston, who also penned the piece. This gritty and gripping feature is produced by Australian swimming legend Ian Thorpe and stars Hollywood favourite Brit actor Jason Isaacs (The Harry Potter Franchise, Mass) is now set to wow UK audiences with its digital release on 11 April from 101 Films. Spears Watch the trailer for the indie film Spears, by filmmaker Gerard Lough. For more of the latest film trailers visit UK Film Review. First Date Check out the trailer for 101 Films' First Date. Help Official Trailer Help from filmmaker Blake Ridder releases official trailer. Watch the trailer for Help from filmmaker Blake Ridder. The Bad Guys Official Trailer DreamWorks launch official trailer for The Bad Guys. Nobody has ever failed so hard at trying to be good as The Bad Guys. Across the Spider-Verse Part One Trailer Following the huge success of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, this trailer for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse - Part One comes as no surprise but is certainly welcome. A Christmas Number One Official Trailer A Sky Original, A Christmas Number One is produced by Sky, Genesius Pictures, Lupus Films and Space Age Films. It will be available on Sky Cinema and streaming service NOW from 10 December. Spider-Man: No Way Home Official Trailer Currently slated for a UK release of December 15th, Spider-Man fans across the world were rocked with this official trailer for Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). Eternals Final Trailer Directed by Chloé Zhao, the saga of the Eternals, a race of immortal beings who lived on Earth and shaped its history and civilizations. Moonfall Official Trailer Directed by Roland Emmerich and starring Halle Berry, Patrick Wilson, and John Bradley, Moonfall is currently scheduled for a cinematic release in the UK in February 2022. Uncharted Official Trailer From Sony Pictures UK, check out the official first trailer for the highly-anticipated UNCHARTED, based on the hugely popular video game franchise of the same name. The Real Charlie Chaplin Official Trailer The Real Charlie Chaplin is an Archer’s Mark, Passion Pictures and Smaller Biggie production, in association with Ventureland and Fee Fie Foe. Belfast Official Trailer 2 From lauded director Kenneth Branagh, and starring an acclaimed ensemble cast, Belfast is a personal and joyful story about the power of memory, set in late 1960s Northern Ireland. The Batman Main Trailer Currently expected for a March 2022 release, The Batman (2022) starring Robert Pattinson is one of the most anticipated films of next year. Warner Bros dropped The Batman Main Trailer and DC fans have gone crazy with excitement. Resident Evil - Welcome to Raccoon City - Official Trailer The official first trailer and poster for RESIDENT EVIL: WELCOME TO RACCOON CITY, the much-anticipated action horror based on the iconic videogame franchise, coming to cinemas 3 December. The Turn of the Screw Official Teaser Trailer Danny Arthur attacks in a prison officer in the hope to get moved off the wing, he has just joined Ambrose Cook in his cell, a black inmate who is waiting for his parole in a couple of months. The Beatles and India Trailer Now a new, award-winning feature documentary The Beatles and India from Silva Screen Productions and Renoir Pictures explores the lasting legacy from their ground-breaking visit to Rishikesh. Britney Vs Spears Trailer The world knows Britney Spears: performer, artist, icon. But in the last few years, her name has been publicly tied to another, more mysterious term: conservatorship. Britney vs Spears tells the explosive story of Britney’s life and her public and private search for freedom. A Boy Called Christmas Trailer In A Boy Called Christmas, an ordinary young boy called Nikolas sets out on an extraordinary adventure into the snowy north in search of his father who is on a quest to discover the fabled village of the elves, Elfhelm.

HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Amends of the Father Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Nov 9, 2023 Directed by: Stephen Sorrentino Written by: Stephen Sorrentino Starring: Stephen Sorrentino, Christopher Quartuccio, Josh Philip Weinstein, Josh M Ventura An over the hill singer tries to rebuild his career and reconnect with his estranged son. Tony (Sorrentino) is a former musician whose glory days seem to be behind him. Separated from his wife and never seeing his son, he lives by himself in New York City, reminiscing about his proud past as a talented up-and-coming rock singer who failed to reach stardom. Finally, he decides that the time has come to resurrect his career and announces it on a podcast interview, before heading to a bar to meet an old acquaintance, with whom he is hoping to kick-start his comeback. Things will not go well, leaving Tony to consider that getting back together with his boy might be a way of improving his life. Hunger for fame is arguably the main theme in this short drama. Tony longs to become famous again and appears to envy the success of his son, Branden (Quartuccio), who has become an international superstar as an actor and singer. He is torn apart by his past actions that cost him his career and his family and he carries around an old portable CD player on which he plays songs that he developed during his heyday. The dramatic ending is clearly a commentary about how the desire to be famous influences people and how rapidly one can achieve fame these days (and in disturbing ways) thanks to social media. Other significant subjects that are explored include fatherhood, regrets and reconciliation, all of which are related to Tony. He sees himself are a failed parent, as a person who constantly disappoints and fails those around him and is torn apart by regrets. Hoping to make amends, he travels to Florida and visits Branden in his mansion, where he is working with a film crew. What about Tony as a person? He comes across as an unlikeable character, he swears a lot and even seems to be a narcissist. He spends his time at home, watching videos of his days performing on stage, attends group therapy sessions where he shows that he has anger management issues and his inner thoughts indicate self-loathing. These traits may not be positive, however they do make him an intriguing protagonist. The film gains from a rich soundtrack that includes numerous tracks by Sorrentino himself and the dramatic score by Robbie Elfman. This story is a character study about an aging individual who wants the joys of fame and fortune and is willing to go to extremes in order to get his wish. It is a film that reveals the dark side of seeking popularity and the ending is probably the most memorable part. About the Film Critic Jason Knight Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Born of Water Film Review average rating is 2 out of 5 Critic: Joe Beck | Posted on: Jun 14, 2023 Directed by: Alex Bates Written by: Alex Bates Starring: Olivia Ephgrave, Dave Hyett. Andrew T Hislop, Ethan Hitchon When a film is titled ‘Born of Water’ and opens with an excerpt from Johns 3:5, you expect it to be heavily guided by faith, perhaps offering some profound spiritual message. ‘Born of Water’, the title itself drawn from that same Bible passage, is not that film, and lacks holiness in the moving pictures that it depicts using those biblical references only as a lazy way to impose faux-spirituality to enhance a painfully mediocre film. Though the film begins with a prayer, it quickly tires of such religious threads, maintaining them for all of one minute, as Alex Bates’ takes us on a gruelling ordeal more worthy of Chad Stahelski’s ‘John Wick’ quadrilogy or Robert Eggers’ magnificent ‘The Northman’, though those wonderful films are more fulfilling in terms of plot, action and violence, not to mention religious allegories. This is particularly disappointing, and reflective of many films in the current cinematic landscape, given that with such a story as ‘Born of Water’ it doesn’t seem much of a stretch to further embed a sense of spirituality to the story, which would make the film as a whole far more encompassing in spite of its many other flaws. ‘The Invasion of the Fairies’ is a commonly known folk tale on the island of Guernsey, yet even fewer know of the events that inspired the story, and which ‘Born of Water’, in a haphazard manner, aims to show. The island was invaded in 1572 by Owain Lawgoch, crushing the island’s hastily prepared militia, and forcing islanders to live in hiding and flee to remote areas of refuge until peace could be negotiated. ‘Born of Water’ focuses on one woman, separated from her sick baby daughter, and her attempts, in the midst of the raid, to return to her daughter’s side. The female protagonist of the film, titled only as ‘The Mother’ is played by Olivia Ephgrave to disappointing effect, lacking both charm and believability as a woman turned from meekness and righteousness to vengeance. Ephgrave lacks chemistry with Ethan Hitchon, her on-screen husband, and when isolated fails to command the screen even when committing acts of glorified violence and undergoing immense pain in order to survive, and find her daughter. Her line delivery feels contrived and fails to convince, whilst her general lack of screen presence makes it difficult to root for the character, despite her obvious morality and motives. As such ‘Born of Water’ lacks a heart, not helped by a screenplay which is abject at best, with too much emphasis on certain lines and movements, and a bizarre illogicality about it, with the sudden announcement of the husband’s departure to fight for the militia lacking any pretext. Bates’ directing is slightly better, improving as the film progresses from remarkably average to above competent towards the end, aided with some gorgeous cinematography by Matthew Stockreiter. Nevertheless, ‘Born of Water’ is a disappointing film, doubly so as it is filled with promise. The core issue is that it lacks a heart, reflected in both performances and script and demonstrated by its faux-spirituality. Any passion that does exist for this story amongst the cast and crew hasn’t translated through, and it is instead a rather cold, passionless ordeal of a film. About the Film Critic Joe Beck Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Trigger Listen to our review on the film podcast What our film review said: READ FULL REVIEW London is wonderfully realised – even from the back of a cab – by high-quality production and inventive visual storytelling. The lights of the city giving way to the unlit suburbs marks for a telling tonal shift, as the story literally and figuratively gets darker. The positioning of the camera in the early scenes gives the impression that the viewers are sat opposite the women in the cab, bringing the audience into their situation effectively. Proudly supporting MediCinema for our 2022 film festival.

HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Fingernails Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Hope Madden | Posted on: Nov 2, 2023 Directed by: Christos Nikou Written by: Christos Nikou, Sam Steiner, Stavros Raptis Starring: Jessie Buckley, Riz Ahmed, Jeremy Allen White Nearly a decade ago, Yorgos Lanthimos delivered the most scathingly, cynically hilarious look at the human desire to quantify love, test it, find safety in it. And if not, be turned into a delicious crustacean. Cristos Nikou’s delivery is more romantic, but his central theme is similar. Love is unquantifiable. In a non-specifically retro time period with wall phones and a lot of 80s and some 90s jams but computers that look to be from the time of the dinosaur, one company has perfected a test to determine whether two people are in love. This test, it was hoped, would end divorce, end loneliness, end unhappiness. But most couples test negative, so it’s actually only created a loneliness crisis. Anna (Jessie Buckley) and Ryan (Jeremy Allen White) are among the lucky ones. They tested positive some time back, and have fallen into a safe and predictable routine. And yet… Anna takes a job at the very institute where the test is conducted, working alongside Amir (Riz Ahmed). That right there is the reason to see Fingernails . Buckley’s a tremendous talent. Few actors so accurately, achingly portray yearning quite as she does. That conflict plays across Anna’s face in a raw performance matched by Ahmed’s. The Oscar winner shares electric chemistry with Buckley, which compels interest in a story that, while delightfully told, lacks a bit of depth. White, in a smaller role, delivers as well. You can’t root for him, but neither can you root against him. He feels human, and complicating the emotion within a romantic film is never a bad idea. Nikou’s elegant direction slides and dances from scene to scene, evoking melancholy one moment then swooning the next. It’s so beautifully shot that the occasional obvious moment – lingering on one toothbrush, holding on a reaction shot – stands out. The trajectory is rarely in doubt and the film leaves much to mine when it comes to its premise. But whatever the weaknesses of Fingernails , Ahmed and Buckley and their thrilling rapport more than overcome. About the Film Critic Hope Madden Digital / DVD Release < All Reviews Next Film Review >