Review by Katie Lynch Mank (David Fincher, 2020) is a story of political disillusionment framed by Herman Mankiewicz’s experiences and perspectives. It emulates the non-linear timeline of Citizen Kane (Orson Welles, 1941) showing Mank writing the screenplay for Kane, and is punctuated by significant events from his past which we are led to believe inspiredContinue reading “Mank”
Tag Archives: review
The Princess Switch 2: Switched Again
Review by Markéta Ní Eithir With the days getting shorter and the Christmas season well in sight, Netflix has started releasing its annual festive romantic comedies. While these films, such as the Christmas Prince (Alex Zamm and John Schultz, 2017-2019) trilogy or last year’s The Knight Before Christmas (Monika Mitchell, 2019), may not go downContinue reading “The Princess Switch 2: Switched Again”
Uncle Frank
Review by Gillian Doyle The most frustrating moment in Uncle Frank (Alan Ball, 2020) occurs in the opening scene, when we get our first interaction between the title character (Paul Bettany) and his niece, Beth (Sophia Lillis). Instead of showing us how and why they connect, Beth’s love for her uncle is told to usContinue reading “Uncle Frank”
Hillbilly Elegy
Review by Kate L. Ryan Hillbilly Elegy is an adaptation of J.D. Vance’s memoir of the same name in which he tells the story of escaping his impoverished and dysfunctional family in working-class Appalachia to become a student at Harvard Law. His book became wildly successful in 2016, with many believing it to be anContinue reading “Hillbilly Elegy”
IFI French Film Festival 2020
Reviews by Saoirse Mulvihill This year’s pandemic has taken a lot away from many people, and so seeing endeavours put into preserving some ounce of normality is as encouraging as it is heart-warming. For the past few weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to virtually attend screenings from this year’s French Film Festival with the IFI,Continue reading “IFI French Film Festival 2020”
Another Round
Review by Cathal Eustace Another Round (2020) is director Thomas Vinterberg’s latest film, a filmmaker credited with being one of the most important figures in Danish cinema and one of the founding members of the Dogme95 movement. Another Round tells the story of a group of middle-aged Danish school teachers who decide to raise theirContinue reading “Another Round”
The Crown Season 4
Review by Niamh Muldowney With the days growing shorter and winter well and truly arriving soon, the Netflix original historical drama The Crown once again graces our screens. Now in its fourth season, The Crown follows the British Royal Family through the 1980s, while struggling to live up to the heights it reached in itsContinue reading “The Crown Season 4”
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
Review by Dearbhla Shirt I am a sucker for a Christmas film – and no, I don’t think November is too early to start watching them. As a festive movie connoisseur, I know what it takes to make a film suitable for the holidays. Jingle Jangle (David E. Talbert, 2020) has it all: a grumpy oldContinue reading “Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey”
Rebecca
Review by Jane Loughman “He’s only marrying you because he doesn’t want to go on living in that big old house with her ghost!” Mrs. Van Hopper (Ann Dowd) screams at Lily James’ nameless heroine of Rebecca (Ben Wheatley, 2020). “I don’t believe in ghosts!” James’ character retaliates before she elopes with the dashing widowerContinue reading “Rebecca”
Debuts
To conclude our Beginnings series, two contributors discuss their favourite ‘firsts’ from an actor or director. Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner Written by Katie Lynch TW: Racial Violence Sidney Poitier was the first Black man to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in The Defiant Ones (Stanley Kramer, 1958),Continue reading “Debuts”
