Film Pick UK

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Private War  - True story detailing the life and work of Marie Colvin during her time as war correspondent for The Sunday Times. A woman fiercely driven to report the human cost of armed conflict, risking her own physical safety and mental wellbeing. Colvin was killed in 2012 whilst reporting from Syria. A striking film and an arresting performance from Rosamund Pike. Only You  - British Film in the First Feature Competition at the London Film Festival 2018. A chance encounter on New Years Eve brings two people together. The relationship which quickly develops between them, is touching and authentic. A significant age difference is not an issue until they are unable to start a family. This is an honest and fresh portrayal of modern love. An impressive debut by Harry Wootliff, I look forward to seeing more from her. Sometimes Always Never  - The sombre subject of this charming film is lifted by the wit and sensitivity of the script and the sublime per...

Disappointing  ⭐👎👎👎👎 I cannot remember the last time I was so disappointed by a film. Lanthimos steals from here, there, and everywhere to create this hideous parody. In particular, from the work of Peter Greenaway which is a big mistake as no one does Greenaway like Greenaway.  It is visually beautiful, thanks to Fiona Crombie's outstanding sets. Filmed almost entirely within the confines of the royal household  apart from a few external shots.  The use of a fish eye lens in order to warp perspective is a welcome and much needed point of interest in what feels like an overly long and tedious film. About an hour in I found myself wondering 'how much longer'? Another hour to be precise. I am not sure why it was necessary to appropriate real characters from British history in this period pastiche. There is so little fact, that the entire film, characters and all, may as well be fictional. The story leans heavily on the rumour that Queen Anne was...

        ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Mr Happer (Burt Lancaster) snores through a board meeting at Knox Oil & Gas. Plans to build an off shore oil refinery in Scotland are discussed in hushed tones so as not to disturb him.  An employee called Mac chosen for his Scottish name is subsequently sent to Scotland to buy up a remote village and its coastline. The film challenges our perceptions of those who live in small rural communities. The canny villagers in the fictional village of Ferness are all looking forward to becoming millionaires. They play a crafty game of cat and mouse with the American, but who is the cat and who is the mouse?  You may also ask who exactly is the ‘local hero’? Is it the wily Ben who makes a living working the beach? Is it Marina the enigmatic marine biologist who, when told of the plans for the refinery says simply ‘No, I don’t see that happening here’ Is it Mr Urquhart who runs the hotel with his wife and doubles up as the village accoun...