The search for truth on an astronomical scale, James Gray's space epic is a thought provoking deep dive into expectation and self determination. Gray's last film, The Lost City of Z, followed explorer Percy Fawcett's 1925 expedition into Amazonia in a part originally written with Brad Pitt in mind. In Ad Astra he finally takes Gray's lead…
Illustration by Thomas Durham A Confederacy of Dunces, John Kennedy Toole. An absolutely riotous picaresque comedy whose publication and success were to be in tragic circumstances. One of the biggest issues of an adaptation lies within casting the infamous Ignatius Reilly, protagonist and southern behemoth of a man. Ignatius is a middle aged, over-educated and…
Continue reading ➞ Feature // 5 Great Books Not Yet Made Into Films
A ride in the back of a classic car, soaking up the sun and casual sin of 1969 L.A is the aim for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, but true to form, that particular road is neither straightforward or well travelled in the world of Quentin Tarantino. The hotly anticipated and first Tarantino film…
Mid90s has been something of a polygraph test for its first time director, Jonah Hill. The skateboarding world, ever critical of those who exploit it (particularly on financial grounds) has waited patiently to find out whether Hill is cashing in on a fashionable culture, or a genuine insider. The results would suggest Hill was indeed part…
Illustration by Thomas Durham 1999’s Star Wars: The Phantom Menace once held the title as the most anticipated film of a generation. Sixteen long-awaited years after Return of the Jedi plus leaps and bounds in special effects, yet it was ravaged by critics upon release. But did it ever really stand a chance? The Phantom Menace is one…
Continue reading ➞ Feature // In Defence Of: The Phantom Menace
With a double header of Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor nominations at the upcoming BAFTAs and Oscars, Can You Ever Forgive Me? features a wonderful against-type Melissa McCarthy and a never better Richard E. Grant, thick as thieves in their shady dealings of forged celebrity correspondence. Based on Israel's 2008 memoir, Marielle Heller (Transparent) directs…
For a presidential sure-thing, Gary Hart is not a particularly well or fondly remembered name. In the race for democratic nomination in 1988, Hart spectacularly fell from grace - the true story of Jason Reitman’s new political thriller, The Front Runner. For those that don’t remember, Hart’s presidential run was cut short when The Miami…
When Neil Armstrong passed away in 2012, the entire world mourned the death of its first lunar citizen and paused to reflect on one of the most remarkable human beings to ever live. In that moment, the film industry instinctively began to make moves to remind the world of the story that defined the 20th…
Kogonada’s visual love letter to the architecture of a little known city is a triumph for the first time director and two captivating leads. Having wowed during its preview at Sundance Film Festival last year, Columbus is the debut from South Korean video essayist come filmmaker Kogonada, who has made the often difficult transition from…
Illustration by Thomas Durham As the curtain falls on Incredibles 2's summer dominance, we examine how Pixar has spent a quarter of a century at the top. Everyone has their favourite childhood films, not all of which are necessarily good. While nostalgia may reign supreme for the likes of Pokemon: The Movie and a future…
Continue reading ➞ Feature // 25 Years at the Top: Pixar’s Animated Dynasty
