Coriolanus review.

The most well known example of Shakespeare’s works being adapted into a modern setting, but with his older form of the English language intact, is Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet (1996) which had all the aspects of the modern age (cars, guns, etc) but kept the Shakespearian dialogue. It was an attempt to get younger people more interested in Shakespeare, it worked to an extent that Leonardo Di Caprio became a teenage heart throb and starred in that little known film Titanic. The film is also more popular among audiences then many Shakespeare adaptations. Ralph Fiennes also adapts Shakespeare’s Coriolanus in a modern setting (with Belgrade standing in for Rome), and this is also a play with some relevant political undertones when considering the political climate of today. 

War Horse review

Steven Spielberg is a master at tugging the heartstrings; films like E.T, Saving Private Ryan and Schindler’s List are a perfect example of this. Spielberg has gotten some criticism for being too overly sentimental, while there is a foundation to build an argument upon it is unfair to use that one critique to discredit the amazing body of work Spielberg has done. War Horse is another one of those tear jerking Spielberg movies, while it is poignant, War Horse is not in the same league as ET.

The Iron Lady

Margret Thatcher is a woman who invites a great deal of strong opinions, her ruthless taxes and cost-cutting policies spilt the nation, undoubtedly she has become one of the most hated Prime Ministers in British history. The Iron Lady (Thatcher was given that nickname by communist Russia) concerns Margret Thatcher (Meryl Streep) in her elderly years and in declining health as she is suffering from dementia which causes her to have hallucinations of her late husband Denis (Jim Broadbent). The main focus of the story is Thatcher’s old age, but the film revisits the major moments of Thatcher’s life, and political career such as the Falkland’s War, her controversial policies and how she became the most powerful person in the country in an area dominated by men.

The Artist

Alfred Hitchcock once said ‘If it's a good movie, the sound could go off and the audience would still have a perfectly clear idea of what was going on’ The Artist is one of those films. Without dialogue for 99.9% of its running time The Artist is quite a niche product for Harvey Weinstein Production Company and it has turned out to be an absolute critical hit and a favourite for Best Picture Oscar (which would be company’s second Best Picture in a row).

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Steig Larsson’s Millennium trilogy is undoubtedly very popular his first book, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (originally entitled Women Who Hate Men), sold over 65 million copies and around 9 million people have seen the Swedish thriller, so an opportunity for an American production company to pointlessly remake the film is an opportunity not to be missed.

Another Earth review.

In a year of sequels, reboots, remakes and prequels it is refreshing to get something that is quite unique, original and different, and even though parallel worlds have been on Dr Who for years, Another Earth is all three of those attributes previously mentioned.  Another Earth is an American independently produced film with a very intriguing premise but does the premise match the execution?