Bill Bailey’s Remarkable Guide To The Orchestra Review: In Tune
November 20, 2009 by admin
Filed under Film Reviews, News
BILL BAILEY’S REMARKABLE GUIDE TO THE ORCHESTRA: On general DVD release across the UK from Monday 23rd November 2009
We’re not sure what Bill Bailey fans had in mind when they sat down in Royal Albert Hall for his “Remarkable Guide to the Orchestra.”
Alongside the BBC Concert Orchestra and Academy Award-winning conductor Anne Dudley, Bailey spends the entire program proffering his melodic wisdom onto us common folk.
The surrealist comedian turns didactic musician over the course of one-and-a-half hours. At least he still manages to make us laugh.
The good news is, this program still retains the essence of Bill Bailey: cocknified classics and pop-inspired parodies backed by piano, guitar, flute, and even that strange electronic theremin take form in a spoof on Chris de Burgh, a song about racial harmony called “Let’s Hear It For The Zebra,” and Read More…
Twilight New Moon Review: Got A Good Fang Going
November 18, 2009 by Danielle Jacoby
Filed under - Home, Film Reviews
TWILIGHT NEW MOON: On General Release across the UK from Friday 20th November 2009
Topless males, sexual tension and special effects.
New Moon has arrived.
In the second installment of Stephenie Meyer’s mortal teen-meets-more-than-century-old vampire, Bella Swan turns 18. On top of a fifth-life crisis as a senior in high school, her vamp Edward Cullen has decided to give their relationship the axe. And just in time for an unexpectedly buff Jacob Black of the Quilete Indian tribe to swoop in for support. Read More…
The Informant! Review: Mole-d Over
November 14, 2009 by Sean Marland
Filed under - Home, Film Reviews
THE INFORMANT: On General Release across the UK from Friday 20th November 2009
In most movies, FBI agents struggle to persuade their moles to ‘wear a wire’, but Mark Whitacre is one snitch who can’t wait to go undercover.
He even provides a running commentary for the listening investigators…
The Informant! is a dark and unconventional comedy which deals with one of the largest white collar crimes in US history, and it all revolves around one affably complicated man who unconsciously leads a bunch of hapless feds on a merry chase. Read More…
A Serious Man Review: Much Curse
November 14, 2009 by Sean Marland
Filed under - Home, Film Reviews
A SERIOUS MAN: On General Release across the UK from Friday 20th November 2009
In the rogues’ gallery of characters created by the Coen brothers, Larry Gopnik would stand out as neither the slickest nor the most entertaining – but in many ways he could be one of their finest.
And it’s fortunate that he is a serious man, because he’s got a list of problems that would make Jay-Z wince.
This latest offering from Joel and Ethan is already being hailed by some critics as their best yet, which is quite a claim considering Read More…
2012 Review: The Age Of Stupid
November 9, 2009 by Sally McIlhone
Filed under - Home, Film Reviews
2012: On General Release across the UK from Friday 13th November 2009
Ah, the Nineties.
It was a simpler time, a time of summer blockbusters, a time when special effects were mind-blowing, not crass and overused, and Roland Emmerich knew how to cast a hero.
With Independence Day he created a classic – what other film sees Will Smith punching an alien in the face, and Randy Quaid saving planet Earth by shouting “UP YOURS!” whilst catapulting himself, kamikaze-style, in the core of a UFO spacecraft? My point exactly. Read More…
Harry Brown Review: OAP Rambo
November 9, 2009 by Sean Marland
Filed under - Home, Film Reviews
HARRY BROWN: On General Release across the UK from Friday 13th November 2009
In a short speech before this screening, Michael Caine climbed to the stage and told everyone: “This is not a violent film – it is a film about violence.”
I wasn’t too sure that there was much of a difference between the two. But after viewing his latest piece, Caine’s words made a little more sense.
Harry Brown is a visceral portrait of urban Britain which tackles just about every issue the Daily Mail has a columnist for: family breakdown, drug abuse, youth violence, gang warfare, police bureaucracy, knife culture and even gun crime – it’s all here, and it’s right in your face from the very first sequence in which two adolescents shoot a young mum. Read More…
The White Ribbon Review: Wholly Divine
November 8, 2009 by Danielle Jacoby
Filed under - Home, Film Reviews
THE WHITE RIBBON: On general release across the UK from Friday 13th November 2009
Disturbing and delicious all at once, arthouse luminary Michael Haneke has done it again.
The White Ribbon, the Austrian director’s latest Palme d’Or-winning masterpiece, astounds us with a monochromatic portrait of a German village on the eve of World War I.
In the agricultural community of Eichwald, power resides in the hands of the Baron, whose estate employs half the population, and the Pastor, the leading light of Protestant values. Read More…
Disney’s A Christmas Carol Review: The Grinch Who Gave Back Christmas
November 4, 2009 by Matt Risley
Filed under - Home, Film Reviews
A CHRISTMAS CAROL: On General Release across the UK from Friday 6th November 2009
When it comes to quintessential Christmas flicks, what do you think of?
It’s A Wonderful Life? Too preachy. Bad Santa? Brilliant, but not really something you can imagine watching with your Nan in the post-turkey blowout veg-out.
Nope, it’s fair to say that The Muppet Christmas Carol truly is the Christmas gift that keeps on giving.
Unless you suffer from Mupaphobia, that is. Read More…
The Men Who Stare At Goats Review: MAAA-gical
November 4, 2009 by Matt Risley
Filed under - Home, Film Reviews
THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS: On General Release across the UK from Friday 6th November 2009
A forthright mass mobilising army, founded on secret experiments that test the boundaries of mental endurance, with death stares capable of neutralising wild, retarded animals at 10 paces.
At first glance, that’s one of two things.
A plot to a long-lost James Bond novel dreamt up during one of Fleming’s occasional experimental saké binges, or you’ve accidentally tuned into yet another episode of X Factor. Read More…
Jennifer’s Body Review: Maneater
October 31, 2009 by Emily Moulder
Filed under - Home, Film Reviews
JENNIFER’S BODY: On General Release From Friday 6th November 2009
We’ve not been shy about the affection, shall we say, that we have for Megan Fox.
But we’ll also be honest and say that it is most definitely not based on her acting.
The ladies of OTB have admired her ballsy attitude in interviews and the gents have enjoyed her
Well now even the ladies are gaga for Fox after seeing the Diablo Cody penned and Karyn Kusama directed Jennifer’s Body. Read More…
