Movie of the Week

• Speak No Evil

Cinemas

• Lee
• The Critic
• Kill
• My Favourite Cake
• The Queen of My Dreams
• In Camera
• Reawakening

Streaming/On-Demand

• Uglies
• Subservience

Re-Releases

• Spider-Man: Far from Home

CAST: James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, Aisling Franciosi, Scoot McNairy, Alix West Lefler, Dan Hough

CREW: James Watkins (director, writer), Jason Blum (producer), Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans (composers), Tim Maurice-Jones (cinematographer), Jon Harris (editor)

PLOT: Whilst on holiday, American couple Louise (David) and Ben (McNairy, along with their daughter Agnes (Lefler), meet and befriend another couple, Paddy (McAvoy) and Ciara (Franciosi), and their mute son Ant (Hough). The other family invites them for an idyllic weekend at their isolated home in the British countryside, but soon the idyllic trip takes a dark and disturbing turn…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• This English-language remake of the acclaimed Danish horror translates the shocking twists for newer audiences
• James McAvoy puts in an exceptionally intimidating turn as the patriarch of a family with sinister intentions
• Writer-director James Watkins focuses heavily on the psychological nature of its terrifying characters, in a slightly different approach to the 2022 original film
• Those who know that previous version will fondly (or not so fondly) remember the jaw-dropping turns that are repurposed, or perhaps even recrafted entirely, in this new edition
• It makes the most of its increasingly terrifying situation, with results that should make it one of the year’s most memorable horrors

Speak No Evil is showing in cinemas from Thursday 12 September 2024

CAST: Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard, Andrea Riseborough, Andy Samberg, Noémie Merlant, Josh O’Connor, Alexander Skarsgård, Arinzé Kene, Vincent Colombe, Patrick Mille, Samuel Barnett, Zita Hanrot, James Murray

CREW: Ellen Kuras (director), John Collee, Liz Hannah and Marion Hume (writers), Lauren Hantz, Troy Lum, Andrew Mason, Erika Milutin, Marie Savare, Kate Solomon and Kate Winslet (producers), Alexandre Desplat (composer), Pawel Edelman (cinematographer), Mikkel E.G. Nielsen (editor)

PLOT: During the Second World War, Lee Miller (Winslet) – a former model turned photographer – is hired by Vogue magazine to document the combat in Europe…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• “Prestige” doesn’t even begin to describe this powerful and timely historical biopic
• Oscar-winner Kate Winslet stars as the titular photojournalist who became a pioneer in her field, and has a stacked supporting cast including Marion Cotillard, Josh O’Connor, Andrea Riseborough and even Andy Samberg by her side
• Cinematographer Ellen Kuras, who previously shot Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, makes her directorial debut on a project which has been almost a decade in the making
• Winslet, also a producer on the film, was such a champion for the film that she personally paid the partial salaries of her co-stars and crew members when funding was temporarily halted
• With its striking story, moving set pieces, and a fierce portrayal of the central figure, this is a war story that deserves to be told to anyone willing to listen

Lee is showing in cinemas from Friday 13 September 2024

CAST: Ian McKellen, Gemma Arterton, Mark Strong, Lesley Manville, Romola Garai, Ben Barnes, Alfred Enoch, Nikesh Patel, Jay Simpson, Claire Skinner, Rebecca Gethings

CREW: Anand Tucker (director), Patrick Marber (writer), David Gilbery, Bill Kenwright and Jolyon Symonds (producers), Craig Armstrong (composer), David Higgs (cinematographer), John Gilbert and Beverley Mills (editors)

PLOT: In 1930s London, Jimmy Erskine (McKellen) is a ruthless theatre critic whose harsh write-ups have the power to make or break careers, including that of aspiring actor Nina Land (Arterton). When Jimmy finds himself in the crosshairs of David Brooke (Strong), the new owner of the newspaper he writes for, both he and Nina find themselves caught in a web of blackmail, ambition and deceit…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The harsh words of the theatre critic may turn out to be a vital tool in this deceptive and neatly layered mystery thriller
• Ian McKellen shows no signs of slowing down as he fully embodies the cutthroat nature of his hard-to-impress critic of the title
• It is adapted from the 2015 novel Curtain Call, which similar to the film explores the depraved world of 1930s journalism
• Some unexpected turns help create an aura of suspense in the narrative, which will leave you guessing right up to the very end
• Hopefully, with its balanced portrayal of a critic with unmitigated influence, it’s solid enough to land a decent review from our own critic!

The Critic is showing in cinemas from Friday 13 September 2024

CAST: Paul Higgins, Brian Vernel, Daniel Portman, Calum Ross, Anita Vettesse, James Harkness, Joanne Thomson

CREW: Rodger Griffiths (director, writer), Robert Drummond (writer), Lee Brazier and Claire Mundell (producers), Max Aruj and Steffen Thum (composers), Alasdair Boyce (cinematographer), Rachel Erskine (editor)

PLOT: During a hunting trip, Don (Higgins) is shot and seemingly killed by his three sons – Henry (Vernel), John (Portman) and Vince (Ross) – who seek revenge for the violent abuse he inflicted on them and their late mother Kate (Vettesse). However, upon realising that they inadvertently buried with his body the key to their father’s life savings, the brothers head back to his resting spot, only to find the grave empty…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Filmmaker Rodger Griffiths makes a striking feature debut with this taut and unnerving psychological thriller
• Adapted from his short film Take the Shot, Griffiths expands on the terrifying paranoia-fuelled mayhem in plenty of unexpected ways
• Paul Higgins gives a menacing turn as an abusive father, as do the three actors playing his murderous offspring, among them Game of Thrones veteran Daniel Portman
• Griffiths applies some tense cinematography to create a ferocious forest-set landscape where any kind of violence could pop out at any moment
• Both a terrifying revenge thriller and a harsh study of toxic masculinity, this is a movie that should keep you on edge all throughout

Kill is showing in cinemas from Friday 13 September 2024

CAST: Lily Farhadpour, Esmail Mehrabi

CREW: Behtash Sanaeeha (director, writer, producer), Maryam Moqadam (director), Etienne de Ricaud, Peter Krupenin, Gholamreza Moosavi and Christopher Zitterbart (producers), Mohamad Hadadi (cinematographer), Ata Mehrad (editor)

PLOT: In Tehran, 70-year-old Mahin (Farhadpour) lives a solitary life in the wake of a close tragedy. One day, she decides to rekindle her love life, and eventually forms a close connection with a man named Faramarz (Mehrabi)…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• This charming Iranian romantic drama shows how love can find its way into all of us, no matter what our age may be
• It is the third film from writers/directors Maryam Moqadam and Behtash Sanaeeha, who received funding from several European bodies to help promote diversity in film
• The filmmakers faced scrutiny during post-production from Iranian forces, who confiscated their passports and threatened criminal charges in relation to their critical past work, prompting international condemnation from festivals and government organisations
• In the UK, it is the first film in distributor Curzon’s relaunching of the dormant Artificial Eye brand, which is being brought back as a champion for arthouse and independent films from around the world
• Those looking for something sweet and plentiful in their digestion of world cinema will find themselves falling head over heels for this film’s tender nature

My Favourite Cake is showing in cinemas from Friday 13 September 2024

CAST: Amrit Kaur, Nimra Bucha, Hamza Haq, Uzma Beg, Charlie Boyle, Emerson MacNeil, Trina Corkum, Adnan Jaffar, Zara Usman, Josh MacDonald, Ali A. Kazmi, Meher Jaffri, Kya Mosey, Gul-e-Rana, Bakhtawar Mazhar, Ayana Manji

CREW: Fawzia Mirza (director, writer), Jason Levangie, Marc Tetreault and Andria Wilson (producers), Alysha Brilla (composer), Matt Irwin (cinematographer), Simone Smith (editor)

PLOT: In 1999, Azra (Kaur) is a Toronto-based Pakistani woman who learns that her father Hassan (Haq) has suddenly died whilst on a trip home to Karachi. Azra travels there, where she confronts her conservative mother Mariam (Bucha), and learns more about the complex relationship between her parents during their own youth…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Intergenerational drama is afoot in this bright and heartfelt look at the very different people that our parents – and, by extension, ourselves – once were
• It is the feature directorial debut of actor and filmmaker Fawzia Mirza, who previously co-wrote and starred in the 2017 wrestling drama Signature Move
• Mirza adapts her stage play and elements of her short film debut (both of the same name) into a multi-decade story of culture, family and self-discovery
• The filmmaker also injects plenty of Bollywood-inspired flair into some tender moments of drama and comedy
• It’d make a nice double-feature with the Iranian-American family romp The Persian Version, which deals with similar but no less engaging themes

The Queen of My Dreams is showing in cinemas from Friday 13 September 2024

CAST: Nabhaan Rizwan, Amir El-Masry, Rory Fleck Byrne, Antonio Aakeel, Wilson Benedito, Josie Walker, Naomi Radcliffe

CREW: Naqqash Khalid (director, writer), Mary Burke and Juliette Larthe (producers), Clark (composer), Tasha Back (cinematographer), Ricardo Saraiva (editor)

PLOT: Aden (Rizwan) is an aspiring actor who is stuck in a never-ending cycle of auditions and rejections, and he soon decides to take on a new role in his life…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Filmmaker Naqqash Khalid’s striking feature debut is an unusual but strangely life-affirming drama about taking control in our own lives
• Khalid takes abstract aim at the cyclic nature of the acting profession, with sharp satirical jabs that the likes of Ruben Östlund might approve of
• Central to the film’s emotional power is a quietly stunning lead turn by Nabhaan Rizwan, while there’s also a substantial supporting role for Limbo star Amir El-Masry
• The film takes some surprising and even surreal turns that create an unexpectedly thrilling pace that might leave you a bit breathless
• With its sardonic humour and heartfelt messages, this is a strong calling card for Khalid and his unique filmmaking vision

In Camera is showing in cinemas from Friday 13 September 2024

CAST: Jared Harris, Juliet Stevenson, Erin Doherty, Niamh Cusack, Nicholas Pinnock

CREW: Virginia Gilbert (director, writer, producer), Barry Castagnola (producer), Torquil Munro (composer), Giles Harvey (cinematographer), Derek Ryan (editor)

PLOT: John (Harris) and Mary (Stevenson) are a couple whose 14-year-old daughter Clare ran away ten years prior, leaving them in a permanent state of grief and regret. However, when a 24-year-old woman who claims to be Clare (Doherty) suddenly shows up in their lives, John is instantly sceptical that she is who she says she is…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• A serious family dilemma is at the core of this emotional psychological drama
• The second feature from BAFTA-nominated filmmaker Virginia Gilbert dives into parental grief and unearths some shocking revelations
• Jared Harris and Juliet Stevenson do great as the grieving parents, while The Crown breakout Erin Doherty impresses in a truly mysterious role
• There are some tense confrontations that pierce right through to the film’s tender soul, as well as its slightly sinister undertones
• You won’t be able to guess where this particular narrative ends up, and that’s exactly why you’ll be completely hooked!

Reawakening is showing in cinemas from Friday 13 September 2024

CAST: Joey King, Keith Powers, Chase Stokes, Brianne Tju, Laverne Cox

CREW: McG (director, producer), Whit Anderson, Jacob Forman and Vanessa Taylor (writers), John Davis, Jordan Davis, Robyn Meisinger, Dan Spilo and Mary Viola (producers), Edward Shearmur (composer), Xiaolong Liu (cinematographer), Martin Bernfeld and Brad Besser (editors)

PLOT: In the distant future, a mandatory government procedure turns anyone from the age of 16 into a more beautiful version of themselves. Tally (King) is one teen who is initially looking forward to joining the rest of society, but soon she discovers a resistance of people who have refused the surgery, which changes her entire outlook on life…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The 2010s trend of YA adaptations makes an unexpected comeback with the film version of Scott Westerfeld’s popular book series
• In addition to executive producing the film, Joey King also plays the story’s heroic young lead Tally
• McG continues his recent hot streak over at Netflix by directing and producing this timely take on unrealistic beauty standards and self-acceptance
• There’s plenty of intense sci-fi futuristic action that will satisfy anyone who misses the likes of the Hunger Games and Divergent franchises
• For teens, it’s a much-needed cautionary tale of relying too much on what they look like, when the real beauty can be found from within

Uglies is streaming exclusively on Netflix from Friday 13 September 2024

CAST: Megan Fox, Michele Morrone, Madeline Zima, Matilda Firth, Andrew Whipp, Jude Allen Greenstein,

CREW: S.K. Dale (director), Will Honley and April Maguire (writers), Jon Berg, Jeffrey Greenstein, Yariv Lerner, Tanner Mobley, Greg Silverman, Robert Van Norden, Les Weldon and Jonathan Yunger (producers), Jed Palmer (composer), Daniel Lindholm (cinematographer), Sean Lahiff (editor)

PLOT: In the near-future, struggling father Nick (Morrone) purchases a lifelike AI android named Alice (Fox) to help look after his family while his wife Maggie (Zima) is in hospital. However, Alice soon gains sentience and grows obsessively attached to Nick, causing her to become increasingly hostile towards her new family…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• Megan Fox goes full M3GAN in a creepy sci-fi thriller that shows the growing dangers of artificial intelligence
• The Jennifer’s Body actor adopts a wide range of robotic mannerisms to perfectly replicate an unhinged humanoid robot
• Some racy scenes between co-star Michele Morrone showcase Fox’s alluring screen presence in all senses
• It isn’t long before the film takes some wild turns that have you fearing every single appliance in existence, especially those equipped with AI capabilities
• Let’s be honest, it was a missed opportunity by not calling this film M3GAN Fox, which we guarantee would immediately put it at the top of all our lists!

Subservience is available to rent/buy on digital platforms from Friday 13 September 2024

CAST: Tom Holland, Samuel L. Jackson, Zendaya, Cobie Smulders, Jon Favreau, J.B. Smoove, Jacob Batalon, Martin Starr, Tony Revolori, Marisa Tomei, Jake Gyllenhaal, Angourie Rice, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Peter Billingsley, Numan Acar, Remy Hii, Claire Rushbrook, Zach Barack, Zoha Rahman

CREW: Jon Watts (director), Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers (writers), Kevin Feige and Amy Pascal (producers), Michael Giacchino (composer), Matthew J. Lloyd (cinematographer), Leigh Folsom Boyd         and Dan Lebental (editors)

PLOT: Peter Parker (Holland) goes on a class trip to Europe, where he plans to admit to classmate MJ (Zendaya) his true feelings. His plans are scuppered, though, when Nick Fury (Jackson) recruits him, as his superhero alter-ego Spider-Man, to fight a new wave of element-based foes, alongside multiversal hero Quentin Beck (Gyllenhaal)…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

• The second MCU Spider-Man film, being re-released along with all the others, takes the famed Marvel web-slinger out of his native New York for a European trip unlike any other
• Tom Holland’s second solo outing as the character came as a more light-hearted palette-cleanser after the emotional heights of Avengers: Endgame
• It saw the hero face off against the mind-bending supervillain Mysterio, a figure who undoubtedly does more damage to this version of Spider-Man than any other foe
• There are fun parts for other MCU characters like Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury to play during the wacky international escapades
• Given how this movie ends, you’ll definitely need to at least see this movie before the return of next week’s big team-up, No Way Home…

Spider-Man: Far from Home is showing in cinemas from Friday 13 September 2024