It takes a strong script to navigate this difficult territory and, where it deals with mundane matters, The Waster's is only average.

~ Jennie Kermode -

It takes a strong script to navigate this difficult territory and, where it deals with mundane matters, The Waster's is only average.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Its lean condition means we can see the bones but its straightforwardness and lack of pretension give it a certain charm.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Its lean condition means we can see the bones but its straightforwardness and lack of pretension give it a certain charm.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Behind it all lies the mundanity of the situation; even when the story shifts, the lighting and props and system-centred plotting retain that grim suburban comprehensive ethos.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Behind it all lies the mundanity of the situation; even when the story shifts, the lighting and props and system-centred plotting retain that grim suburban comprehensive ethos.

~ Jennie Kermode -

There's little imagination in the story but the characters are well drawn and convincingly portrayed, whilst the overall look of the film is stunning given that it was shot on a budget of just £500.

~ Jennie Kermode -

There's little imagination in the story but the characters are well drawn and convincingly portrayed, whilst the overall look of the film is stunning given that it was shot on a budget of just £500.

~ Jennie Kermode -

It's a nice idea but, at four minutes, this film is just a little too long to sustain itself with one joke and not much else.

~ Jennie Kermode -

It's a nice idea but, at four minutes, this film is just a little too long to sustain itself with one joke and not much else.

~ Jennie Kermode -

There's a lack of focus that lets the film down badly.

~ Jennie Kermode -

There's a lack of focus that lets the film down badly.

~ Jennie Kermode -

What ought to be familiar is transformed into unknown, unknowable territory, the domain of some other.

~ Jennie Kermode -

What ought to be familiar is transformed into unknown, unknowable territory, the domain of some other.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The use of ballet and ice dance in this film give it a distinctive Russian sensibility but will make it a firm favourite with little girls of a certain kind no matter where they might be.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The use of ballet and ice dance in this film give it a distinctive Russian sensibility but will make it a firm favourite with little girls of a certain kind no matter where they might be.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The Last Human stands shoulder to shoulder with the greats of science fiction cinema when it comes to style, emotional impact and moral weight.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The Last Human stands shoulder to shoulder with the greats of science fiction cinema when it comes to style, emotional impact and moral weight.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The first thing that needs to be said about Judge Minty is that it looks stunning.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The first thing that needs to be said about Judge Minty is that it looks stunning.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Unfortunately these fascinating interviews are presented in a disorganised manner that detracts from their impact, and the sound quality is so bad than in places it makes the film unwatchable.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Unfortunately these fascinating interviews are presented in a disorganised manner that detracts from their impact, and the sound quality is so bad than in places it makes the film unwatchable.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The film's main problem is that it's a good 25 minute short padded out to an hour and a half.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The film's main problem is that it's a good 25 minute short padded out to an hour and a half.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The film is beautifully photographed, spare but evocative.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The film is beautifully photographed, spare but evocative.

~ Jennie Kermode -

There isn't much to this wee film, but that doesn't mean it doesn't shine.

~ Andrew Robertson -

There isn't much to this wee film, but that doesn't mean it doesn't shine.

~ Andrew Robertson -

Jed Berry delivers an assured performance that belies his age.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Jed Berry delivers an assured performance that belies his age.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Bethmann understands the situation well, but her closeness to the teenager and the personal character that the film takes on as a result is something else.

~ Jennie Kermode -

So carefully balanced is this that the film could almost have emerged as a romcom, and it’s that possibility, that clash between the absurdity that cinema has taught us to expect and the bitterness of real life, that makes it so effective.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Through the lens of the men’s romance, Onir takes in a good deal more, exploring the complex realities behind assumptions of prejudice and the myriad factors that go into making each of us who we are.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Throughout the film there is a sense of play, and even as the story evolves to take on darker material, something of that lightness, that happy-go-lucky quality remains.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The film hinges on amazing vocal work by Lalama.

~ Jennie Kermode -

There’s a genuine unpredictability to Honey Bunch, both structurally and thematically.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Where the episodes work is when they have a driving, kinetic energy about them. When they don't it's repetitious loop.

~ Donald Munro -

The film, directed by feature debutant Shaun Dozier, retains the density of dialogue you might expect from a stage play but, by leaning into the theatrical nature of the proceedings, Dozier is in some ways able to make this into a virtue.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

A very effective piece of low budget storytelling.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Coogan is well cast in this tricky role, moving easily from humour to heartbreak..

~ Jennie Kermode -

Manizha Bakhtari may not be a household name but after watching Natalie Halla’s documentary you’re likely to think she ought to be.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Sung’s own camera plays tricks, placing objects too close in the foreground so that parts of an image are out of focus, like an incomplete memory.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The concept, narrative, dialogue, cinematography and action sequences are elements of Scanners that can't be faulted.

~ Donald Munro -

The film hangs on Pemberton’s performance, and he imbues Doug with a sweetness that makes us feel for him despite his deeply misguided actions.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The screenplay written by the filmmaker and Andrea Piva is a proper masterwork, from the basic plotting to the intelligent, insightful dialogue.

~ Marko Stojiljkovic -

From the start, there is something different about this film.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Despite the anger at the unfairness of what has gone before, this is ultimately a warm-hearted, life-affirming film.

~ Jennie Kermode -

It is a ride, okay, and it is a bit nauseating and therefore not sterile.

~ Marko Stojiljkovic -

It’s also striking to think that when Leila is looking forward into the future, she is already, in some senses, looking at our recent past, which only reinforces the sense of the cyclical and ongoing nature of her themes.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Thorne still comes across as being at the stage where many aspects of her work are experimental. She’s yet to settle into her style.

~ Jennie Kermode -

A very effective piece of low budget storytelling.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Once again, Guiraudie proves himself the master of setting up a mystery by the means of perfect script economy that functions strictly on “need to know” basis.

~ Marko Stojiljkovic -

The director shows how it’s not just Julie’s tennis skills that have been groomed by the coach but large aspects of her life.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

It’s ironic that a film about a family who have built a perfect facsimile of a life for themselves should feel so overly constructed itself

~ Amber Wilkinson -