The Transfiguration is not about sparkly, human-loving vampires as they were made out to be in modern TV shows and movies. (Yes, Twilight I’m looking at you). In fact, The Transfiguration isn’t really about vampires at all. What it does is use vampirism as a means to explore trauma, grief and depression. The main character is Milo (Eric Ruffin), a […]
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The Florida Project has the precision of a documentary, the grittiness of a kitchen-sink drama, and the feel-good vibes of a coming-of-age flick. It sees the world from a kid’s perspective, which is full of wonder and excitement. I have a lot of praise for this film, but I would like to enforce that The […]
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Do you ever get that fuzzy “after-taste” feeling when you finish watching a captivating movie? That feeling of awe, relief and a sudden craving for fictional characters in your real life. Kicks gives you all these feelings and more. Newbie director Justin Tipping draws emotion from his cast to generate tension and to express his vision. Only […]
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Damn this film is good, so good it has a timeless feeling. Mud is an adventure-drama, with a coming-of-age story at the centre. Matthew McConaughey plays the title character Mud, an edgy desperado in need of some help. Teenagers Ellis (Tye Sheridan) and Neckbone (Jacob Lofland) find Mud hiding on an island in Mississipi. He says he […]
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You’d have to be inhuman not to resonate with Lion in some way. After all, the fear of becoming lost and separated from your family is a universal one. That’s why there’s no way the true story of Saroo Brierley won’t effect you. At 5-years old, he ends up thousands of miles from home after […]
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For the first time in maybe forever, The Edge of Seventeen is a teen comedy that sidesteps cliches. I’ve always had a soft spot for coming-of-age stories and I’m thrilled to say this is a brilliant one. It feels like the defining teen flick of this generation. Hailee Steinfeld plays Nadine, a socially awkward high […]
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What can I say about This Is England after all these years … if you have not seen this, then you really are slacking! Set in 1983, this movie is full of tragedy, redemption and coming-of-age. 12-year-old Shaun (Thomas Turgoose) is a bored and aimless kid, who hasn’t had much happiness in his life. His dad died […]
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The most interesting thing about Larry Clarke’s Kids is that it’s not a super amazing film, but it gets in your head and stays there. It was the summer of 1995 when this cult movie came out. John Major was Prime Minister of the UK, Bill Clinton was president, OJ Simpson was on trial and my […]
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Raw: this is the movie that had audience members fainting when it debuted at the Toronto Film Festival. This is the movie that apparently had LA cinemas handing out sick bags. Have you got what it takes to sit through the grisliest film of 2017 so far? Think Carrie crossed with the films of David […]
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“Wondering if you’re happy is a great shortcut to being depressed,” is a genius line said by Annette Benning’s Dorothea, in 20th Century Women. You can take this quote how you want, but I see it as the perfect anecdote for this film. Set in the 1970s, 20th Century Women isn’t about anything specific. This […]
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Among the many classics of the ’90s and the various gangster films we all know and love, A Bronx Tale stands out for its powerful and thought-provoking story. It just happens to be one of the best gangster films I’ve seen. It’s a simple film, but that’s the beauty of it. Set in the 1960s, Robert DiNero […]
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Let me start by saying this: for a Miami-set film which features drug dealers and rough neighbourhoods, Moonlight isn’t concerned about gang culture and the crime associated with it. Instead, the film is completely committed to showing the troubled life of Chiron, played by three different actors in three chapters, with each part detailing his experiences […]
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