Hacksaw Ridge (2016) ★★★★★

“Help me get one more.”  Set in World War II, Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield) enlists as a medic in the Army. Unlike the rest of the soldiers, and due to his own religious practices, Desmond refuses to use a weapon in battle, making him a conscientious objector. He faces a lot of opposition to his decision,…

La La Land (2016) ★★★★★

“Someone in the Crowd” could take you where you want to go.  Aspiring actress, Mia (Emma Stone), works as a barista in a coffee shop on the Warner Bros studio lot. She dreams of becoming an actress, but spends too much of her time auditioning for bad roles. Meanwhile, struggling jazz musician, Sebastian (Ryan Gosling), hopes to…

Christine (2016) ★★★★☆

“In keeping with Channel 40’s policy of bringing you the latest in blood and guts, and in living colour…” When News Reporter, Christine Chubbuck, committed suicide live on air, it shocked the world. It is significant that the reporter suffered from severe depression throughout her career. When she decides to change the opening of the…

Top Ten: Worst Films of 2016

A crucial focus of my blog is to celebrate the beauty of film. The masterpieces which make goosebumps appear on our arms, force us to sob into our crumpled up tissues, and grin relentlessly. Admittedly, 2016 has been a truly disappointing year of film. That is, until the industry gradually started to get back on their game during the winter months.…

A Monster Calls (2016) ★★★★☆

Tissues at the ready… 12 year old Conor O’Malley, (Lewis MacDougall) must learn to deal with the deterioration of his mother (Felicity Jones) due to terminal cancer. His only further help comes from his Grandmother (Sigourney Weaver), whom he dislikes. Friendless at school, Conor also has to deal with bullies. He soon confides in the Tree Monster (Liam Neeson) who pays…

The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016) ★★★☆☆

Claustrophobic Corpse Horror.  A corpse of a twenty-something year old woman is discovered half buried in the basement of a home. Taken for autopsy, a father and son examine the mysterious body. There is something odd – not only has her tongue been severed, but her joints are fractured. As the duo look further into…

Nocturnal Animals (2016) ★★★★★

“My Husband used to call me a Nocturnal Animal…”  Art gallery owner, Susan Morrow (Amy Adams) lies in a loveless marriage with husband Hutton (Armie Hammer), but is troubled due to past events with her first husband, Edward Sheffield (Jake Gyllenhaal). When he sends her his unpublished novel, of which he has dedicated to her, Susan…

Arrival (2016) ★★★☆☆

An ambitious arrival to the genre. Expert Linguist in her field, Dr. Louise Banks (Amy Adams) is recruited by the government to communicate with a recently landed ship of aliens. With her linguistic skills, she must piece together whether the aliens have dangerous intentions and serve as a threat, or if they truly come in peace.…

Suicide Squad (2016) ★★☆☆☆

It’s OK to be a hit-man, as long as you love your daughter.  Directed and written by David Ayer, Suicide Squad marks as the third instalment to DC’s expanded universe. Amanda Waller (Viola Davis), assembles a number of imprisoned villains who are chosen to carry out deadly missions, in return for a lowered prison sentence. The squad consists of…

The Secret Life of Pets (2016) ★★☆☆☆

What happens when you have to leave your pet for the day?  A loyal dog, Max (Louis C.K.), is horrified when his owner, Katie, arrives home with another (and much larger) dog named Duke (Eric Stonestreet). The two dogs don’t exactly get along, leading to them being lost in New York City. Along the way, Max and Duke meet several…