Film news - Minari gets UK & Irish release date. Find out more at UK Film Review. Minari gets UK & Irish release date Chris Olson Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 10:10:02 AM GMT Nominated for Best Director, Film Film Not in the English Language, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Score and Best Casting at the BAFTAs WINNER of Best Foreign Language Film at Golden Globes WINNER of Best Foreign Language Film and Best Young Performer at Critics’ Choice Awards WINNER of the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at 2020 Sundance Film Festival Nominated for Best Ensemble, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actress at SAG Awards Nominated for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film at DGA Awards Altitude will release Lee Isaac Chung’s award-winning film MINARI starring Steven Yeun (Burning, Sorry To Bother You, The Walking Dead) on-demand and virtual cinemas in the UK and Ireland from 2 April, in drive-in cinemas from 12 April and cinemas as they reopen. The film has been nominated for six BAFTA Awards, including Best Director, Best Film in a Foreign Language, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Supporting Actor, following its recent wins at the Golden Globes and Critics’ Choice Awards. The film had its World Premiere at 2020 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award and has garnered critical acclaim and praise from audiences for its vivid and transformative storytelling. A tender and sweeping story about what roots us, MINARI follows a Korean-American family that moves to a tiny Arkansas farm in search of their own American Dream. The family home changes completely with the arrival of their sly, foul-mouthed, but incredibly loving grandmother. Amidst the instability and challenges of this new life in the rugged Ozarks, MINARI shows the undeniable resilience of family and what really makes a home. With arresting performances from Steven Yeun, BAFTA-nominee Yuh-jung Youn (Sense8), Han Ye-ri (My Unfamiliar Family), and now BAFTA-nominated newcomer Alan S Kim, MINARI is intimate, beautifully composed and empathetic cinema of the highest order. WATCH MINARI AT HOME FROM 2 APRIL. TO LEARN MORE VISIT MINARI.FILM The King's Man UK Home Release Date Announced The Latest King’s Man Film Will be Available on Digital February 9 and 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™ and DVD on February 21. Read Now BFI Future Film Festival announces 2022 Awards Jury and full programme Find out who the jury is for the 2022 BFI Future Film Festival. Read Now The Wonderful: Stories From The Space Station UK Release Date The Wonderful: Stories from the Space Station is a Dog Star Films production in association with Fisheye Films. Directed by Clare Lewins (I Am Ali, Kareem: Minority of One, The Lost Tapes of Memphis.). Read Now Redemption of a Rogue UK Cinema Release Date Read Now Cryptozoo Coming to Mubi This October Having made a splash at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, filmmaker Dash Shaw's upcoming fantasy animation Cryptozoo is a highly anticipated film coming to Mubi later this year. Read Now Another Round UK DVD And Blu-Ray Release Date Announced Following its acclaimed cinema release, STUDIOCANAL are excited to announce the release of Thomas Vinterberg’s intoxicating Oscar winner, ANOTHER ROUND, starring Mads Mikkelsen, on early EST 24th September 2021 and DVD, Blu-ray and Digital on 27th September 2021. Read Now Marvel Studios Announces Black Widow DVD and Blu-Ray UK Release Date Marvel Studios Announces Black Widow To Land Early On Digital (August 10th) and 4K, Blu-Ray and DVD September 13th. Read Now My Little Sister Gets October UK Release Date My Little Sister is due for a cinema release in the UK, on Friday 8th October 2021. Read Now Grimmfest Reveals Line-Up for 2021 Film Festival After a year of “home invasions” in the form of virtual screenings and online events, this October sees Grimmfest returning to the cinema at last. Read Now Helen Mirren Narrates Powerful Documentary Escape From Extinction Kaleidoscope Entertainment presents Escape From Extinction, a powerful feature documentary narrated by Academy Award winner Dame Helen Mirren, coming to selected cinemas from 17th September celebrating ‘Great Big Green Week’ (18-26 September). Read Now Supernova UK DVD and Blu-Ray Release Date Following critical acclaim and standout performances, STUDIOCANAL are excited to announce the release of the heartbreaking British love story SUPERNOVA, arriving on EST 24th September 2021 and DVD and Blu-ray on 27th September 2021. Read Now The Djinn UK Release Date The story follows a mute twelve-year-old, Dylan Jacobs, as he discovers a mysterious book of spells inside his new apartment. Read Now Come Play UK Digital Release Date Jacob Chase’s directorial debut feature COME PLAY tells the story of Oliver, a solitary autistic boy who comes across a creepy children’s story on his new tablet. Read Now 15m Giant Starfish in Leicester Square Ahead of UK Release of The Suicide Squad British actor Peter Capaldi (BBC’s Doctor Who, World War Z) ‒ who stars in THE SUICIDE SQUAD alongside Margot Robbie, Idris Elba and John Cena as genius scientist ‘Thinker’, was bravely photographed with the imposing creature Starro in London’s Leicester Square earlier today in celebration of the film’s UK release this coming Friday. Read Now West Side Story In Cinemas December 2021 From acclaimed director Steven Spielberg, the 2021 remake of West Side Story will be coming to cinemas in December 2021. Read Now The Last Job UK Digital and DVD Release Date Screen icon Richard Dreyfuss takes on The Last Job in a brand new, all-action thriller, that stars Modern Family’s Mira Sorvino as his daughter. This rip-roaring gangster movie hits the UK on DVD and digital this August from 101 Films. Read Now Rise of the Footsoldier Origins UK Cinema Release The eagerly-awaited RISE OF THE FOOTSOLDIER: ORIGINS, starring legendary leading man Vinnie Jones, is showing exclusively in cinemas from September 3, courtesy of Signature Entertainment. Read Now Random Acts of Violence UK DVD and Blu-ray Release Date Jay Baruchel writes, directs and stars in his horror debut Random Acts of Violence, which makes its UK Blu-ray debut from Acorn Media International in conjunction with Shudder, following its success on the streaming service. Read Now Spirited Away 20th Anniversary Special Edition SPIRITED AWAY COLLECTOR’S BOXSET WITH DVD & BLU-RAY DOUBLEPLAY AVAILABLE 27 SEPTEMBER 2021 Read Now A New World Order Premieres in UK 23 August Black Mirror meets A Quiet Place in gripping sci-fi thriller A New World Order from director Daniel Raboldt in his feature debut, which gets its UK premiere on DVD and digital 23 August 2021 from Reel 2 Reel Films. Read Now

Pronouns in Bio film review by UK film critic Joe Beck . Starring Frankie Shaftain-Fenner directed by Frankie Shaftain-Fenner. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Pronouns in Bio Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Joe Beck | Posted on: Feb 23, 2022 Directed by: Frankie Shaftain-Fenner Written by: Frankie Shaftain-Fenner Starring: Frankie Shaftain-Fenner In today’s world few things are as essential to people as social media. Be it Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Facebook; whatever. Last May, Instagram introduced a feature which gave people the option to put their pronouns in their bio. He/Him, She/Her, They/Them - chances are you’ll have seen them. ‘Pronouns in Bio’ stresses the importance of these, and tells the story of transgender woman Frankie Shaftain-Fenner. Firstly, there are very few transgender filmmakers in Hollywood - the Wachowskis are the only two which spring to mind - so it is excellent to see more trans filmmakers such as Shaftain-Fenner emerging in the business. What’s also important is that her story is told through her own eyes - early on Frankie touches on the idea of male gaze in film and television, no doubt this a story which needed to be told by a transgender woman. ‘Pronouns of Bio’ is a biographical documentary, which documents Frankie over a six month period, as she details her journey, from coming to terms with the fact that she was transgender to the struggles of getting hormones from the NHS. The strength of ‘Pronouns of Bio’ is Frankie herself, who brings so much empathy and humanity to herself, whilst never shying away from the rough parts of her past. The manner in which she tells her story is so empowering and it truly feels as though you’re going on that journey with her. More than that, it is incredibly informative - there are so many things about the process of transition which I never about until watching ‘Pronouns in Bio’. The film tackles issues with Frankie’s mental health, her isolation from friends and loved ones and her experiences of transphobia. Whilst most of the detailing takes place in her own home, with journal video logs - there are also some extremely well-shot montages and sequences. In particular, there’s a sequence in which Frankie is walking through a forest and picks up some oestrogen gel. In addition to being impeccably shot, it is a fun, inventive way of telling us that she’s started taking oestrogen. There’s a strong influence from the likes of Bo Burnham in the film, with frequent musical interludes and throwaway dark humour. The songs never fail to hit a beat, and further demonstrate Shaftain-Fenner’s talents, telling their own story whilst also moving the overarching story forward. The song ‘6 Weeks’ is especially relatable and rings true even for myself as a heterosexual man. On the other hand, the humour doesn’t always land - some of the jokes are funny, yes, but a lot of them don’t work and even come across as trying too hard. Overall, ‘Pronouns in Bio’ is a wonderfully informative film from Frankie Shaftain-Fenner, one that tells an important story of what it is like to be a transgender person in the UK. The camerawork is at times impressive, though the video journal pieces are more educational and heartfelt, and the use of songs are excellent. Despite many jokes not hitting the mark, that doesn’t take away from the intimate and deeply pers Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Joe Beck Documentary, Indie Feature Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Secrets of the Krays will premiere on BritBox on 13th May, 2021.. Brand new film trailers. Secrets of the Krays Trailer SECRETS OF THE KRAYS Launching this Thursday on Britbox An in-depth look at the most famous gangsters in British history; Secrets of the Krays will feature revelatory interviews with those who knew the Krays best, including former gang members, relatives and family friends, as well as celebrity photographer and friend David Bailey, the Krays’ lawyers, and police officers involved in bringing them to justice. Many have never spoken before – including Micky Fawcett who was a key member of “The Firm” from its early days. The documentary will also unveil never-before-seen artefacts, including Reggie’s personal scrapbook documenting the brothers’ crimes, Reggie’s personal photographs, audio recordings from prison, a poem from Ronnie to Reggie, and two unpublished manuscripts from former gang members – as well MI5 files on the Krays. Secrets of the Krays, Britbox UK’s first original factual commission, is being produced as a three part documentary series by ITN Productions. It is being Executive Produced by Ian Rumsey and Nathaniel Lippiett. Secrets of the Krays will premiere on BritBox on 13th May, 2021 Paper Tiger The Paper Tiger trailer suggests a searing, deeply moving examination of ambition, guilt, and the toxic pursuit of the American Dream. Ink The newly dropped trailer for Ink confirms those expectations, delivering a relentless, kinetic glimpse into Fleet Street's most disruptive era. The Social Reckoning Seeing the first teaser trailer drop for its spiritual companion piece, The Social Reckoning, sent an absolute chill down my spine. Focker-in-Law If the film can sustain the frantic, competitive energy displayed in this preview, Focker-In-Law might just be the rarest of cinematic beasts: a comedy sequel that actually manages to justify its own existence. We are officially on high alert. Heart of the Beast Heart of the Beast looks like a gripping, tear-jerking cinematic triumph that will resonate with action fans and animal lovers alike. We will definitely be front and centre with our popcorn when this one hits the big screen! Klara and the Sun Klara and the Sun looks like a heart-wrenching, beautifully acted triumph that will linger in the mind long after the curtains close. Power Ballad What has us incredibly excited about Power Ballad is the dynamic friction between its two leads. Paul Rudd seems perfectly cast as the rugged, everyday musician who just wanted a shot at the big time, acknowledging with a heavy heart that having his name on a song of that magnitude would have completely changed his life. The Debut UK Film Review hasn't yet seen the final curtain rise on this one, but if the film matches the sheer dramatic potency of its trailer, The Debut is set to be a staggering, must-see cinematic triumph. One Night Only One Night Only looks to be a sharp, subversively funny, and emotionally resonant look at how we connect when time is running out. It takes a wild, satirical premise and uses it to explore a timeless question: Who would you choose if you only had one night? Supergirl As we look toward the 2026 release, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow stands as a testament to the new direction of DC Studios. Masters of the Universe With the arrival of the first trailer for the 2026 reboot of Masters of the Universe, the cinematic landscape prepares for a collision of sword, sorcery, and surprisingly, suburban Earth. Wild Foxes Dune: Part Three Picking up roughly seventeen years after the seismic events of Part Two, the trailer immediately signals a shift in tone. While the first film was an act of world-building and the second a visceral war epic, Dune: Part Three—an adaptation of Frank Herbert’s Dune Messiah—looks to be a far more claustrophobic and tense affair. In The Grey Scary Movie 6 The horror-comedy world is officially being turned upside down as the first trailer for Scary Movie 6 has finally arrived, marking a monumental return for the franchise that defined a generation of parody cinema. Empire of Lies Empire of Lies arrives in UK cinemas and on digital platforms on 27th March. Undertone Undertone is scheduled to arrive in cinemas on Friday, March 13th, 2025. If the trailer is anything to go by, we suggest you keep the lights on and perhaps think twice before pressing play on your next favourite podcast. The Moment The Land of Sometimes Twins Alfie and Elise find a magical Wish Watch on Christmas Eve and are swept by the Wish Collector into the musical Land of Sometimes, where they learn that wishes have consequences. Avengers: Doomsday Fans are elated at the release of the first teaser trailer for Avengers: Doomsday. Set for a theatrical release on 18th December 2026, find out more here.

Watch Another Day at the 2022 UK Film Review Festival. See the UKFRF 2022 lineup and buy your festival pass. Another Day Listen to our review on the film podcast What our film review said: READ FULL REVIEW The film is bookended by a second montage. During the finale, there is a heart-fluttering visual expression that is a little clunky in execution but expresses the sentiment of the short as succinctly as the opening. This kind of experimentation is what makes watching short films exciting. The kind of risks that pay off. Proudly supporting MediCinema for our 2022 film festival.

Film news - New UK Release Date for The Courier. Find out more at UK Film Review. New UK Release Date for The Courier Chris Olson Friday, June 25, 2021 at 6:09:59 PM GMT+1 IN UK CINEMAS 13th August 2021 THE COURIER is a true-life spy thriller, the story of an unassuming British businessman Greville Wynne (Benedict Cumberbatch) recruited into one of the greatest international conflicts in history. At the behest of the UK's MI6 and a CIA operative (Rachel Brosnahan), he forms a covert, dangerous partnership with Soviet officer Oleg Penkovsky (Merab Ninidze) in an effort to provide crucial intelligence needed to prevent a nuclear confrontation and defuse the Cuban Missile Crisis. Only in Cinemas August 13 The King's Man UK Home Release Date Announced The Latest King’s Man Film Will be Available on Digital February 9 and 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™ and DVD on February 21. Read Now BFI Future Film Festival announces 2022 Awards Jury and full programme Find out who the jury is for the 2022 BFI Future Film Festival. Read Now The Wonderful: Stories From The Space Station UK Release Date The Wonderful: Stories from the Space Station is a Dog Star Films production in association with Fisheye Films. Directed by Clare Lewins (I Am Ali, Kareem: Minority of One, The Lost Tapes of Memphis.). Read Now Redemption of a Rogue UK Cinema Release Date Read Now Cryptozoo Coming to Mubi This October Having made a splash at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, filmmaker Dash Shaw's upcoming fantasy animation Cryptozoo is a highly anticipated film coming to Mubi later this year. Read Now Another Round UK DVD And Blu-Ray Release Date Announced Following its acclaimed cinema release, STUDIOCANAL are excited to announce the release of Thomas Vinterberg’s intoxicating Oscar winner, ANOTHER ROUND, starring Mads Mikkelsen, on early EST 24th September 2021 and DVD, Blu-ray and Digital on 27th September 2021. Read Now Marvel Studios Announces Black Widow DVD and Blu-Ray UK Release Date Marvel Studios Announces Black Widow To Land Early On Digital (August 10th) and 4K, Blu-Ray and DVD September 13th. Read Now My Little Sister Gets October UK Release Date My Little Sister is due for a cinema release in the UK, on Friday 8th October 2021. Read Now Grimmfest Reveals Line-Up for 2021 Film Festival After a year of “home invasions” in the form of virtual screenings and online events, this October sees Grimmfest returning to the cinema at last. Read Now Helen Mirren Narrates Powerful Documentary Escape From Extinction Kaleidoscope Entertainment presents Escape From Extinction, a powerful feature documentary narrated by Academy Award winner Dame Helen Mirren, coming to selected cinemas from 17th September celebrating ‘Great Big Green Week’ (18-26 September). Read Now Supernova UK DVD and Blu-Ray Release Date Following critical acclaim and standout performances, STUDIOCANAL are excited to announce the release of the heartbreaking British love story SUPERNOVA, arriving on EST 24th September 2021 and DVD and Blu-ray on 27th September 2021. Read Now The Djinn UK Release Date The story follows a mute twelve-year-old, Dylan Jacobs, as he discovers a mysterious book of spells inside his new apartment. Read Now Come Play UK Digital Release Date Jacob Chase’s directorial debut feature COME PLAY tells the story of Oliver, a solitary autistic boy who comes across a creepy children’s story on his new tablet. Read Now 15m Giant Starfish in Leicester Square Ahead of UK Release of The Suicide Squad British actor Peter Capaldi (BBC’s Doctor Who, World War Z) ‒ who stars in THE SUICIDE SQUAD alongside Margot Robbie, Idris Elba and John Cena as genius scientist ‘Thinker’, was bravely photographed with the imposing creature Starro in London’s Leicester Square earlier today in celebration of the film’s UK release this coming Friday. Read Now West Side Story In Cinemas December 2021 From acclaimed director Steven Spielberg, the 2021 remake of West Side Story will be coming to cinemas in December 2021. Read Now The Last Job UK Digital and DVD Release Date Screen icon Richard Dreyfuss takes on The Last Job in a brand new, all-action thriller, that stars Modern Family’s Mira Sorvino as his daughter. This rip-roaring gangster movie hits the UK on DVD and digital this August from 101 Films. Read Now Rise of the Footsoldier Origins UK Cinema Release The eagerly-awaited RISE OF THE FOOTSOLDIER: ORIGINS, starring legendary leading man Vinnie Jones, is showing exclusively in cinemas from September 3, courtesy of Signature Entertainment. Read Now Random Acts of Violence UK DVD and Blu-ray Release Date Jay Baruchel writes, directs and stars in his horror debut Random Acts of Violence, which makes its UK Blu-ray debut from Acorn Media International in conjunction with Shudder, following its success on the streaming service. Read Now Spirited Away 20th Anniversary Special Edition SPIRITED AWAY COLLECTOR’S BOXSET WITH DVD & BLU-RAY DOUBLEPLAY AVAILABLE 27 SEPTEMBER 2021 Read Now A New World Order Premieres in UK 23 August Black Mirror meets A Quiet Place in gripping sci-fi thriller A New World Order from director Daniel Raboldt in his feature debut, which gets its UK premiere on DVD and digital 23 August 2021 from Reel 2 Reel Films. Read Now

Lazy Guy film review by UK film critic William Hemingway. Starring Savo Scepanovic, Milica Scepanovic, Tatijana Marinovic directed by Aleksa Stefan Radunovic. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Lazy Guy Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: William Hemingway | Posted on: Sep 20, 2022 Directed by: Aleksa Stefan Radunovic Written by: Aleksa Stefan Radunovic Starring: Savo Scepanovic, Milica Scepanovic, Tatijana Marinovic Lazy Guy by writer/director Aleksa Stefan Radunovic takes us to the streets of Podgorica in Montenegro where, like most of the rest of the world, the cost of living is making things extremely difficult for a lot of people. Prices keep going up but jobs are becoming increasingly more difficult to find and people are being pushed into ever more extreme circumstances. Here we follow Milos (Savo Scepanovic), who is our eponymous Lazy Guy , labelled such by his estranged wife Jelena (Milica Scepanovic) and her family who just see him as a good-for-nothing layabout who only likes to drink and smoke with his friends instead of being a responsible adult with a proper job and prospects for his future. At a meeting with the social worker, who supervises parental visits between Milos, Jelena and their young son Sasa, Jelena tells him that he won't be allowed to see his son anymore because he hasn't been keeping up with child support payments, due to him being a lazy bum who doesn't have a job. Finally, this pushes Milos to get up off his mother's sofa and start looking for a way to make his own money. However, things aren't as easy as all that for Milos as at every turn he is pipped to the post by tens, dozens or scores of other people who are in the same position as him. Even the job that Milos is most qualified for and for which he interviews brilliantly, is handed to someone else, because as usual it's not what you know, it's who you know that counts. Things tend to go from bad to worse as Milos tries to get a foothold in the job market and the way Jelena keeps badgering him for money as well as other things, while constantly telling him how useless he is, really isn't helping either. Milos just can't seem to get a break. Radunovic paints a pretty bleak picture with this film while trying to get to the heart of just what makes a 'Lazy Guy ' in modern day Montenegro. It's not just Milos who's suffering and it's not just the lack of work that's the problem. Issues relating to smoking, drinking, gambling, ill health and a blame culture all rear their ugly heads and what is striking is that throughout not a single mention is made about state sponsored help. There is a small smattering of Krzysztof Kieslowski that can be determined from the direction and cinematography here, with most things seeming bleak and grey in the concrete jungle of Podgorica. Dekalog (1988) comes most to mind with a window into the soul of people trying to eke out a living in desperate circumstances, but really what Lazy Guy is most reminiscent of is a Montenegrin I, Daniel Blake (2016) – taking a pointed view of one man's struggle to stay afloat on a tide of national indifference. Most things work well in the film with the images and sound being captured and put together really well. The story builds at a good rate and everything seems believable in a world that most of us will have never seen before but which feels familiar nonetheless. The main actors all do a fantastic job, although some of the bit parts seem to have gone to amateurs, and a couple of unresolved threads such as Milos' father and the turnaround in the relationship with Jelena, detract a little from the overall feel of the film but not enough to limit the viewer's enjoyment. Lazy Guy is a well made film which strikes a good balance between hope and despair and which displays all the ugly glory of finding a foundation from which to build. Well worth eighty minutes of your time. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic William Hemingway Indie Feature Film, World Cinema < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Dark Side of Night film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Rene Ashton, Chris Cleveland, Megan McGillicuddy, George Nelson directed by Randal Lee Smith. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Dark Side of Night Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Jul 17, 2026 Directed by: Randal Lee Smith Written by: Randal Lee Smith Starring: Rene Ashton, Chris Cleveland, Megan McGillicuddy, George Nelson Randal Lee Smith writes and directs this tense crime thriller which stars Rene Ashton, Chris Cleveland, Megan McGillicuddy and George Nelson. Richard (Cleveland) is a prosecutor in the United States and after winning his latest case, he decides to celebrate by taking his wife, Dawn (Ashton) and daughter, Iris (McGillicuddy) to a cabin in the mountains for the weekend. However, shortly after their arrival, two armed criminals appear, Porter (Nelson) and Garrett (Russell Rozotabi Prim) and invade the property, imprisoning the family. Iris and her parents fight back and after Richard gets shot. Now, Dawn and her daughter must run for their lives in the vast wilderness and evade their relentless pursuers. This feature could be described as an outdoor chase survival thriller and a family drama. Most of the screenplay follows Iris and Dawn as they navigate on foot through the wooded mountains, desperately trying to reach safety while the two intruders hunt them down. Plenty of life-threatening situations ensue, along with dramatic revelations and people get killed. Among all this, Dawn and her daughter find the opportunity to reconcile their differences. Initially, this appears to be a straightforward story about home invasion and murder, however, plot twists reveal that there is more than meets the eye regarding the outlaws's motives. The general impression is that this film intends to take itsef seriously. However, characters crack jokes during the most inappropriate of times (primarily during situations involving life and death) and that makes one wonder if this feature is also intended to be a dark comedy, which does not seem to be the case. The addition of the humour just makes the atmosphere awkward. Ashton is the one who delivers the most convincing performance, that being a wife and mother with a drinking problem who lives in an unhappy marriage and has disconnected from her daughter. As time passes, she rekindles their relationship and becomes a stronger person. McGillicuddy does a decent job in terms of depicting Iris as a rebellious youngster but fails to do the same when her character finds herself in situations involving mortal danger. Generally, Nelson and Prim do not show good acting, although they both succeed in making their characters interesting, with Porter being a bearded crook with asthma who is the one in charge of the invasion and Garrett being less clever and naive. Finally, Cleveland does well in portraying an ambitious and seasoned prosecutor and a family man. Analysing the themes now, this film has several. Firstly, it is about survival, betrayal, secrets and crime and it also includes the law industry and domestic violence. In terms of things involving family, mother-and-daughter issues are present, along with things about dysfunctional families. A chase thriller that manages to be a decent viewing thanks to the plentiful tension and character development. The weak points are the parts with the poor acting and a final act that feels overlong. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Jason Knight Indie Feature Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Goodbye, Petrushka film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Lizzie Kehoe, Thomas Vieljeux, Casey Landman, Bartek Szymanski, Cat Grey directed by Nicola Rose. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Goodbye, Petrushka Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Mar 3, 2024 Directed by: Nicola Rose Written by: Nicola Rose Starring: Lizzie Kehoe, Thomas Vieljeux, Casey Landman, Bartek Szymanski, Cat Grey An American student goes to Paris in order to pursue a project involving puppets and skating and ends up dealing with numerous complications. Claire (Kehoe) is a film student in New York City and she has a passion for puppetry and is quite fond of Paris. Unfortunately, her ideas are not accepted by her tutor and fellow students and she decides that the time has finally come to go to Paris and work at the Puppetry Arts Institute of Paris. So she does just that, accompanied by Julia (Landman), her awkward best friend. In France, she gets into contact with Thibaut (Vieljeux), a former figure skating champion who she recently met by chance back in the U.S. and convinces him to work on a project she has in mind that will involve combining her puppetry skills and his skating experience and the Petrushka ballet by Russian composer Igor Stravinsky. This comedy drama plot combines chasing dreams, self-discovery and romance. Poor Claire has to deal with quite a lot in Paris: being a foreigner, she struggles to fit in due to language barrier and she works as an au pair for a French family who does not approve of her. In addition to all this, she discovers that Thibaut (who is she quite fond of) has a partner (Grey) and he has lost his passion for skating because he believes that he is now past his prime and now works at a bank. Disappointed, Claire begins a relationship with Rafal (Szymanski), a student at the Institute, while Thibeut reconsiders his life's choices. The screenplay includes awkward moments and the well-written dialogue deserves praise. The rapport that develops between Claire and Thibaut is the main center of the narrative, exploring how these two individuals are affecting each other. Claire is a friendly person who wants to pursue her goals and faces all sorts of problems will trying to do so. Thibaut has abandoned his passion and lives a life that he does not really want. That contradiction creates the main conflict of the story: two people come together and one wants to make their dreams a reality while the other is done with that and the viewer will most likely sympathise with the two main leads. Landman's character is quite intriguing: a childish young woman who is a germophobe, believes in other-worldly beings and is filled with mostly silly advice. The rich soundtrack is one of the best aspects of this feature as it contains wonderful pieces by artists such as Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Frederic Chopin which fit very effectively in the film, creating pleasant experiences. The lovely animation sequences are another big plus, which are based on Stravinsky's ballet mentioned above. Filled with beautiful colours, they take the viewer on a short but magical journey. It is worth mentioning that as puppetry plays a significant part in this film, there are plenty of those to be seen, some of which look good, others not so good. This is a funny and emotional story that significantly focuses on self-discovery and the pursuit of dreams. It is a heart-warming film with two likeable leads, splendid music and it touches on the joys of the worlds of puppetry and ice skating. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Jason Knight Indie Feature Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Life Rendered film review by UK film critic Jason Knight. Starring Owen Teague, Luce Rains, Armen Taylor directed by Emma Needell. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Life Rendered Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: Dec 17, 2022 Directed by: Emma Needell Written by: Emma Needell, Ryan Barton Starring: Owen Teague, Luce Rains, Armen Taylor While living at an isolated location in the countryside, a young man struggles to communicate with his father, who has a disability. Mark (Teague) lives in a farmhouse with his father (Rains), who is a uniped and moves around in a wheelchair. The two of them live a quiet life and work hard. In order to socialise, Mark uses a virtual reality device, through which he enters a digital world, where he has an avatar with which he has formed a romantic relationship with another person's avatar in the 3D environment. As Mark tries to deal with his personal problems, things between him and his dad begin to suffer as a result. This is an emotional short drama with a story that focuses on the relationship between a quiet man and his father. On the surface, things appear to be OK, with father and son quietly living and working together. However, both of them have their own issues and they do not open about them with each other. Mark wants more out of life, he wants to meet other people, while it is also indicated that his father is suffering emotionally, due to his disability. Visually, the film looks great thanks to Anton Fresco's splendid cinematography and terrific lighting techniques. The VR scenes also look great, with human characters and environments that include a snow-covered forest and a large city with tall buildings. The narrative effectively utilises the VR scenes in order to explore the characters and move the story forward. With brilliant directing, Needell contributes significantly in making this a beautiful viewing, by creating wonderful establishing shots of nature. Both Teague and Rains are very dramatic in their roles, effectively portraying a son and his dad, who care deeply for each other and both are facing their own inner issues. They seem to be individuals who are isolated not just from the world but from themselves as well. The music by Alexis Grapsas is dramatic and includes guitar melodies and it is another great feature. This is a father-and-son drama that explores themes involving self-discovery, inner struggles, support and parenthood. Beautifully shot and with a strong script, it tells a moving story. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Jason Knight Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Detective Inspector film review by UK film critic William Hemingway. Starring Toby Haycock, George Everett-Button, Tom Bryer, Matthew Hoad directed by Morgan O'Callaghan. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Detective Inspector Film Review average rating is 2 out of 5 Critic: William Hemingway | Posted on: Dec 5, 2022 Directed by: Morgan O'Callaghan Written by: Morgan O'Callaghan and Jonny Brookes Starring: Toby Haycock, George Everett-Button, Tom Bryer, Matthew Hoad The first thing that you really begin to notice as you settle in to watch Detective Inspector from writer/director Morgan O'Callaghan is just how young everyone in the production seems to be. Said Detective Inspector , Sean Newman (Haycock) is no street hardened, chain smoking, grizzled old alcoholic who's way past his prime and living off the prestige gained during the salad days of his youth, but is himself a skinny drip of a teenager wearing what looks like his Dad's trenchcoat and sporting actual bumfluff on his chin. Similarly, DC Harvey Price (Everett-Button) looks like he's just come straight from finishing his A-levels, nabbing himself a promoted position on the force despite being barely old enough to drive, and the same goes for all the other coppers on the beat. The old saying goes that doctors and policemen seem to keep getting younger and younger but this is getting ridiculous. If we track back a couple of years to 2020 we can find that O'Callaghan helmed an hour long feature called The Arsonist , which was a precursor to today's film but which O'Callaghan prefers to call a cousin to Detective Inspector . The Arsonist was basically put together and filmed by a bunch of seventeen year old friends and so now, two years later, we have another attempt at a similar story with a lot of the same characters, this time presumably made by a bunch of nineteen year olds. Don't worry if you've not seen The Arsonist though as there's a short montage sequence at the start of this film detailing the events of two years ago, filling us in on what we need to know. Thankfully, we don't really need to catch up on much as plotting and narrative are not the production's strong points. The story now is, I think, that Mayor Gibson (Hoad) is bumping off political rivals and strengthening his grip on the power he holds over the island community of Canterstone. There's some other stuff going on at the start involving a stand-off and a shoot-out with a bit of a switcheroo and a surprise reveal jammed in there, too, but to be honest the scripting and acting are so amateurly handled that it's hard to be sure of anything that's going on. Anyway, it's up to DI Newman and his squad to root out the corruption at the top and free the good citizens of Canterstone from its clutches. Over the next hour and a quarter the young coppers do their best to follow the leads, question witnesses and figure out just who's pulling the strings while also trying their hardest to remember their lines and not to smile during their delivery. There are some notable pauses in the dialogue and a few sharp, inconsistent turns in the plot which seem to come out of nowhere, but at least everyone seems to be having fun as they run through the story and get their faces on camera. The production itself seems to fit together pretty well with the direction and sound design keeping the story running all the way through without any major hiccups. In saying that though, the film judders along as though its frame rate is a little too low to keep things looking smooth, there are a couple of times when the audio drops out to almost nothing and there's a strange choice of using Clair de Lune during a chase sequence. The interview scene when all the boys fall apart simply because there's a pretty girl on set (the only one in the entire film) is also quite laughable, though not in a good way. In amongst all of this there are a few nice shots to be found, especially from the aerial photography, and the charisma and sheer drive of the young film-makers comes through on screen. There are a couple of nice moments with incidental characters and the plot might well actually work in the round, if only it could be tidied up, expressed clearly and introduced with some kind of lead in or background to shore it up. It's obvious that everyone is having a blast while creating this film, and even though it's real jumpers for goalposts film-making, hopefully the cast and crew will use what they've learned on this project to carry forward and improve upon in the (inevitable) next instalment in the Detective Inspector series. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic William Hemingway Indie Feature Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

Return to Elenore film review by UK film critic Matt Trapp. Starring Jay Jay Jegathesan, Steve Kio, Justine Renzullo directed by Peter Renzullo. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Return to Elenore Film Review average rating is 2 out of 5 Critic: Matt Trapp | Posted on: Jun 28, 2026 Directed by: Peter Renzullo Written by: Peter Renzullo Starring: Jay Jay Jegathesan, Steve Kio, Justine Renzullo Directed by Peter Renzullo, Return to Elenore is a short film inspired by and featuring the original song ‘The King of Always Wanting More’ by Ammify. The film is a gothic tale of ghosts and vengeance, interspersed with the group’s track. While the film is ambitious, particularly in its use of visual effects, costuming, and make up, it fails to capture the emotion that the song promises. Return to Elenore opens with two men in cloaks, known as the Leader (Jay Jay Jegathesan) and the Pastor (Steve Kio), approaching an abandoned home in the middle of the woods. The audience come to learn that the spirit of a woman named Elenore (Justine Renzullo) still resides there, and these men are here to exorcise her. They speak enigmatically, and after entering the home, the Leader comes face to face with the spirit. As the music swells, the full fury of the apparition is revealed. The narrative of Return to Elenore is somewhat difficult to follow as much of the exposition and setup is delivered through vague dialogue. The film relies much more on its atmosphere to tell its gothic story. Combining simple digital vfx and an alternative metal soundtrack, reminiscent of Evanescence, Return to Elenore looks and sounds like a rediscovered artifact from 2000. Unfortunately, the dialogue therefore feels disposable and largely meaningless. The language is poetic and flowery, and worst of all, delivered unconvincingly. The stretches of the film that are more dialogue focused are the weakest, especially when compounded by the flat cinematography. Since the film is mostly shot against digital backgrounds, the camera doesn’t exist in a physical space, which is noticeable. Actors are either shot in a close up face on or in profile throughout the short which doesn’t make for interesting or varied shots. As a consequence of shooting everything in one of two directions, the environment feels flat. Additionally, the compositing of the performers isn’t seamless, which further adds to the sense of artifice and disconnect. To mask the fact that the film wasn’t actually shot in a dark environment, the saturation has been turned way down on the footage of each of the actors, which makes them look like all the colour and life has been sucked out of them; of course this may be appropriate for a gothic story of ghosts and haunted houses, but it only makes them look murky. There’s not much in the way of colour contrast, so Return to Elenore ends up looking various shades of grey. It’s a shame, since the effects and make up on Elenore work well to make her ghostly visage come to life, so to speak. Justine Renzullo’s performance as the titular spirit is convincingly creepy, and she channels the energy of a heavy metal monster very appropriately. She could have been more frightening were she filmed in shadow more, but for the tone that the short exists within, her performance is measured, and she doesn’t overstay her welcome. Return to Elenore is an enigmatic curio that doesn’t reach the lofty ambitions that it aspires to. The filmmakers clearly had a goal in mind, but the short’s murky dialogue and cinematography make this artifact difficult to follow, with many of the larger themes and ideas too indistinct to pick up on. It’s a respectable effort, but perhaps too unwieldy for this team at the present moment. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Matt Trapp Music Video, Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

The Solitude of the Tennis Ball film review by UK film critic Chris Buick. Starring Mariana Millapan, Maurizio Atzori, Alessandro Ariu directed by mebitek, Jele Raus. HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS The Solitude of the Tennis Ball Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Chris Buick | Posted on: Oct 5, 2025 Directed by: mebitek, Jele Raus Written by: mebitek, Jele Raus Starring: Mariana Millapan, Maurizio Atzori, Alessandro Ariu The Solitude of the Tennis Ball , a collaborative effort from filmmakers mebitek and Jele Raus, offers a profound and unique portrayal of a downward spiral from severe depression towards total despair. We start with Liza (Millapan) and her companion Lancelot (Atzori) together at home, sharing a couch and a quiet evening together, yet the clear disconnect between them places them virtually worlds apart. Liza’s mind is more keenly focused on her next almost-full glass of wine, or perhaps one or more of the copious amounts of pills laid out in front of her. Lancelot, on the other hand, simply yearns internally for her just to touch him, to see him, desperate to be able to somehow save her from her widening self-destruction. At first glance, one might categorise their relationship under that of a failing love affair, but we soon begin to realise it is rather one between a lonely woman and the purest, most devoted projection of man's, or in this case, woman’s, best friend. While both Millapan and Atzori are more than up to their respective, very different tasks, Lancelot's role calls for a particularly unique physicality. Atzori’s writhing, canine-like movements really help sell this unique narrative spin. While by the end Lancelot’s internal musings do begin to feel more like nonsensical ramblings, this dynamic is a genuinely captivating and interesting idea, yet there are a couple of unnecessary shifts away from that, whereas having the entirety of the film’s narrative told exclusively from Lancelot’s point of view might have helped allow the film to feel a bit more cohesive. Millipan, on the other hand, has the contrasting but as difficult job of anchoring the emotion of the piece, the fragility of Liza needing to be apparent but contained, to be allowed to grow naturally, and thankfully, Millapan is more than up to the challenge. The film generally handles its heavy subject matter with seriousness, and while it never delves into the whys of Liza’s circumstances, its focus on the outcome of it all is effectively handled. The film is also technically and creatively strong. Colour choices in particular are employed to great effect, gradually migrating from its initial brighter hues to a much more muted, desaturated palette for its finale, brilliantly visualising Liza’s deeper and deeper descent into insurmountable depression. But perhaps the most inspired creative choice is having Lancelot’s monologues in English, contrasted against Liza’s Spanish (subtitles not provided), further playing with that inability to communicate with each other across species and further highlighting Lisa’s isolation. Additionally, the sound editing contributes to this thematic depth, though it operates at a slightly less consistent standard than the film’s otherwise high technical quality. Overall, The Solitude of the Tennis Ball is still an applaudably unique and creative piece of art that lies heavily on the heart. Buy UKFR Banner Space About the Film Critic Chris Buick Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >