Film

Kevin Allen's surreal adaptation of Dylan Thomas' seminal Under Milk Wood features Rhys Ifans and Charlotte Church and focuses on the more visceral elements of this bawdy, filthily fluid and magical dreamscape of a work. Out in cinemas now, released October 30th. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNKuqgIIR88

Set in France in the 70's, By the Sea is Jolie's European inspired, directorial follow-up to last year's debut Unbroken, and also stars beau Brad. Jolie takes on the hybrid role of writer, producer and lead-actor. Revealing featurette below, film out December 11th. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCTHVejhwZM&feature=youtu.be

By Toby Venables @TobyVenables ‘We’d like you to recommend the Top 5 Films for Halloween,’ they said. Great, I said, Top 50 Films for Halloween! I’m all over it! ‘Er, no – that’s top FIVE...’ Ah. That’s more difficult... There are literally thousands of great horror movies out there – so how do you choose your appropriately themed Halloween/Day of the Dead viewing? Do you select according to the style or tone of the piece – terrifying, funny, classic, thought-provoking,...

By Miranda Schiller @mirandadadada With their leather jackets, afros and berets, openly carried guns and raised fists, the Black Panthers have certainly left their mark on the iconography of rebellion and resistance of the 1960s and 1970s. Founded by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale, they were originally a self-defence organisation raising arms against police brutality on the streets. Footage of policemen beating up black people is at the start of Stanley Nelson’s documentary, and with its disturbing similarity to much...

It's causing a frenzy and no wonder, check out the official Star Wars Episode VII trailer below. Released in London December 18th. We know how we'll be spending the Christmas holidays! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGbxmsDFVnE

By Leslie Byron Pitt @Afrofilmviewer Contrary to the beliefs of many militant, western Atheists. The ease of separating one’s self from the durable arms of religion, are not as easy as simply snapping out of it. An estimated 65% of the Chilean population recognise themselves as Catholic creed. It’s been over 90 years the church was separated from state in Chile, yet that is a tear drop in the vast bank that religion runs through. The roots of its legacy...

Reviewed by Miranda Schiller @mirandadadada When writer/director David Thorpe is dumped by his boyfriend and finds himself single and in his forties, he realises something: He hates the way his voice sounds – and the voices of most gay men around him. So he goes on a quest to find out what the stereotypical “gay voice” is, why so many men adopt it, and how to either lose it or accept it. His interviewees range from speech therapists and linguists...

By Stephen Mayne @finalreel  Angry, petulant, charismatic, committed, sulky, lazy, brooding, sexy, raw, difficult, charming, idealistic, thoughtful, devastating, intelligent and difficult again. Millions of words have been written about Marlon Brando and yet he remains an enigma, hidden away beneath moments of flamboyant outrage and unforgettable performances. Attempting to add more words to the picture would likely lead to little in the way of results - unless they come from the man directly. Making use of unguarded recordings mixed in...

Gabe Polsky interviewed by Stephen Mayne. Two tendencies in sports films often prove their undoing. One is a surfeit of game footage that immediately puts off anyone outside committed enthusiasts. The other is a clumsy attempt to equate the sport in question with personal and political problems off the field of play. Red Army does both and is still brilliant. Non-fans will watch clips of the Soviet men’s ice hockey team with awe, while even more remarkably, the film uses...