When Liam Neeson’s Taken arrived in 2008, nobody could have predicted that it would go on to earn over $226 million worldwide. The film reinvented Neeson as an action movie star, and 2010’s The A-Team only gave further credence to that fact. It’s no wonder that many are looking forward to Taken 2 later this year, but in the meantime Neeson has reunited with The A-Team director Joe Carnahan for The Grey, a genre transcendent film which benefits much from the realistic environment it plunges its characters into. Read on for my spoiler-free review.
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One definition of power is ‘a measurement of an entity’s ability to control its environment’. Power manifests itself in many forms; for J. Edgar Hoover, secrets were power, and he amassed much of it during his 48-year career. It’s a concept that is at the heart of Clint Eastwood’s latest, a biopic on the infamous founder of the FBI. Eastwood is no stranger to depicting well-known figures on screen, with 2009’s Nelson Mandela biopic Invictus an impressive credit in a bulging filmography. Is J. Edgar another notable notch for Eastwood? Read on for more.
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Addiction has been dealt with in a myriad of styles by many different directors; alcohol, drugs and smoking obsessions have all been depicted numerous times on the big screen. It is noticeable then, that when comparing sex addiction to these obsessions, it has not been shown nearly as much in film. This is arguably a reflection of our modern society, as there is almost a taboo-like trait surrounding sex addiction. And yet, it’s the subject matter of choice that ambitious director Steve McQueen has decided to unabashedly tackle. It’s also McQueen’s second feature, a follow-up to 2008’s Hunger (also starring Michael Fassbender), and it is one which is sure to be unavoidably divisive, particularly in its many graphic scenes. Does Shame penetrate the mind as well as the body? Read on for my review.
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Margaret Thatcher – beloved Prime Minister, or controversial leader? It’s a question that The Iron Lady wisely leaves to the audience to answer themselves. Mamma Mia! director Phyllida Lloyd once again teams up with Meryl Streep for the biopic on Britain’s first female Prime Minister. It’s never easy making a film about an icon that is still alive, and Thatcher’s friends and family have already expressed their concerns about how the former Prime Minister has been depicted. Is The Iron Lady an honest portrayal on one of the most interesting women of the 20th century? Find out after the jump.
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Since his birth in 1887, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes has been re-imagined several times in various forms of media. In recent times, the eccentric detective has been portrayed brilliantly by Benedict Cumberbatch in BBC’s hit TV series Sherlock. However, the definitive version of this generation may perhaps be Robert Downey Jr’s personification of the titular character in 2009’s Sherlock Holmes. That film ended tantalisingly too, with the introduction of Holmes’ greatest foe seemingly imminent. Director Guy Ritchie has teamed up with Downey once again for the follow up, A Game of Shadows. Does Holmes 2.0 improve on the ’09 hit? Check out my spoiler-free review after the cut.
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If you asked me a year or 2 ago about Original Penguin, my response would have been ‘the book publishers?’. I’m deadly serious, my fashion knowledge was abysmal till Y&Y launched. I had no clue of this brand till I was randomly invited to an event. This AW11 season marks a signification progression for Original Penguin’s fast growing and evolving collection of footwear. Ladies and gentleman, I present to you the Clondyke boot. Doesn’t it remind you of Redwing boots? It’s not as heavy duty – it’s a full grain waxed leather boot available in rich Autumnal tones from burgundy to dark chocolate. Certainly comfy and definitely no where near as pricey as the Redwing. You can buy them here for £110. Now hop on after the cut to peep a few photographs I snapped of my colleague wearing them at work.
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The arrival of the fresh and undeniable sounds of Odd Future member, Frank Ocean, has finally hit London Town, and I couldn’t be more hyped. Having finally announced a set of headlining tours via his tumblr, the intimate setting of XOYO was selected for his sold out UK show (which funnily enough is where Jessie J performed for my last review), perfect for housing the soothing vocals of Mr Ocean. Having started at 9pm sharp, he had already impressed me with a feat many artists often take for granted – being ON TIME. But it didn’t stop there, despite performing entirely in solo i.e. no band, backup singer, hypeman or instruments and just a guy pressing play on a laptop, he had us hook line and sinker.
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