By Ray Bennett
Steve McQueen’s epic “12 Years a Slave”, released in cinemas here on Jan. 10 by eOne, was named best film drama at the Golden Globe Awards and “American Hustle”, which Entertainment released in cinemas on Dec. 20, won as best film comedy. Continue reading
By Ray Bennett
LONDON – Warner Bros.’ space thriller “Gravity” leads the British Academy Film Awards nominations with 11 including best picture, best director for Alfonso Cuaron and best actress for Sandra Bullock. Continue reading
By Ray Bennett
Robert Redford gives a career-best performance as a man alone in peril aboard a sailing craft in the Indian Ocean in J. C. Chandor’s first-class thriller “All Is Lost”. Continue reading
By Ray Bennett
The jazziest American filmmaker since Robert Altman, David O’Russell makes it three top-flight jams in a row with his rambunctious and hugely enjoyable comedy “American Hustle”.
Like Altman, Russell assembles expert side-men and women, provides the key notes and lets everyone riff as he leads them through solos and harmonies to a rousing payoff. Continue reading
British director Steve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave” (pictured), which 20th Century Fox will release in the UK on Jan. 10, has claimed nine London Film Critics’ Circle Awards nominations including best film.
Other films with multiple nominations include “Philomena” with five, and “Blue Jasmine”, “Filth”, “Gravity” and “The Wolf of Wall Street” with four. Continue reading
By Ray Bennett
Alexander Payne’s “Nebraska” is as rich and engaging as its monochrome images of the American northwest are crisp and daunting. A road picture about dashed aspirations and misguided dreams with some kind of redemption, it’s like a walk in brisk winter that ends at the warmest of hearths. Continue reading
By Ray Bennett
American comedian Will Ferrell gives fans what they want in December with a return to his cult alter ego Ron Burgundy in “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” while Ben Stiller fulfils a long held dream to re-make “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”. Continue reading
By Ray Bennett
LONDON – Prince Philip once landed at Heathrow and someone asked him how was his flight. The Prince said, ‘Have you ever been on a plane? It was like that.” Much can be said of movie sequels. If you saw the first “Hunger Games”, the second one is like that.
Not to say that’s a bad thing. Almost two and a half hours of Jennifer Lawrence (pictured) onscreen is no bad way to spend cinema time and “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” has lots of splashy visuals and exciting action. Continue reading
By Ray Bennett
GENT, Belgium – Canadian composer Mychael Danna was named best film composer of the year and won the best original film score award for “Life of Pi” at the World Soundtrack Awards. Continue reading
Top 10 movies of 2013
By Ray Bennett
It’s a very tough call to rank the best movies of 2013 as the top bunch are all so good, but here’s my list: Continue reading →