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The Film Buff

The Latest Movie Reviews by Hassan Ilahi- a Passionate Film Buff

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“Black Panther” (2018) – Andy Serkis’ Captivating Comic-Book Blockbuster

Writer/Director: Ryan Coogler Co-writer: Joe Robert Cole Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan and Lupita Nyong’o ‘A Marvelous Blockbuster’ Over … More

film, horror, movies, ryan-coogler, sinners

“War for the Planet of the Apes” (2017) – Andy Serkis’ Fantastic Planet of the Apes Finale

Writer/Director: Matt Reeves Co-writer: Mark Bomback Starring: Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson and Steve Zahn ‘Fantastic Apes Finale’ Ever since it … More

film, kevin-durand, movies, owen-teague, wes-ball

“Rise of the Planet of the Apes” (2011) – Andy Serkis’ Powerful Planet of the Apes Reboot

Director: Rupert Wyatt Starring: James Franco, Frieda Pinto and Andy Serkis ‘A Captivating Apes Classic’ Not many actors that achieved … More

movie-reviews, movies, owen-teague, science-fiction, wes-ball

“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” (2012) – Andy Serkis’ Unexpectedly Great Hobbit Adaptation

Writer/Director: Peter Jackson Co-Writers: Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Guillermo del Toro (based off book by J.R.R. Tolkien) Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian … More

books, fantasy, movies, the-hobbit, tolkien

“King Kong” (2005) – Andy Serkis’ Captivating Disaster Classic About an Ape

Writer/Director: Peter Jackson Starring: Naomi Watts, Kyle Chandler and Jack Black ‘A Captivating Classic’ Not many actors in Hollywood have … More

film, godzilla, horror, movies, reviews

“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” (2003) – Andy Serkis’ Fantastic Lord of the Rings Finale

Writer/Director: Peter Jackson Starring: Elijah Wood, Andy Serkis and Sean Astin ‘A Fantastic Finale’ When it comes to the greatest … More

books, fantasy, movies, reviews, tolkien

“The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” (2002) – Andy Serkis’ Towering Lord of the Rings Sequel

Writer/Director: Peter Jackson Starring: Elijah Wood, Andy Serkis and Viggo Mortensen ‘A Towering Sequel’ Few books ever written about precious … More

books, fantasy, middle-earth, movies, tolkien

“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” (2001) – Andy Serkis’ Fantastic Lord of the Rings Introduction

Writer/Director: Peter Jackson Starring: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen and Viggo Mortensen ‘A Fantasy Masterpiece’ When it comes to the greatest … More

books, fantasy, middle-earth, movies, tolkien

My Favourite Chris Evans Movies of All-Time

Few actors in Hollywood have earned appreciation of Chris Evans. Since the 1990’s, Evans has become a heroic icon. Whether … More

Captain America, film, marvel, mcu, movies

“Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” (2014) – Andy Serkis’ Spectacular Planet of the Apes Sequel

Director: Matt Reeves Writers: Mark Bomback, Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver Starring: Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke and Gary Oldman ‘Spectacular … More

kevin-durand, movies, owen-teague, reviews, wes-ball

“Knives Out” (2019) – Chris Evans’ Magnificent Murder Mystery

Writer/Director: Rian Johnson Starring: Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas and Chris Pine ‘A Magnificent Murder Mystery’ Murder mysteries are a … More

Book Review, books, film, movies, mystery

“Avengers: Endgame” (2019) – Chris Evans’ Fantastic Avengers Farewell

Directors: Anthony and Joe Russo Writers: Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth … More

avengers, marvel, mcu, movies, review

“Avengers: Infinity War” (2018) – Chris Evans’ Amazing Avengers Sequel

Directors: Anthony and Joe Russo Writers: Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Holland … More

avengers, Captain America, marvel, mcu, movies

“Captain America: Civil War” (2016) – Chris Evans’ Captivating Captain America Masterpiece

Directors: The Russo Brothers Starring: Christ Evans, Robert Downey Jr. and Scarlett Johansson ‘A Captivating Comic-Book Sequel’ Not many actors … More

anthony-mackie, Captain America, marvel, mcu, movies

“The Avengers” (2012) – Chris Evans’ Amazing Avengers Introduction

Writer/Director: Joss Whedon Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans and Mark Ruffalo ‘Marvel-ous Entertainment’ “The Avengers” is written and directed … More

Captain America, disney, marvel, mcu, movies

“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” (2014) – Chris Evans’ Captivating Captain America Sequel

Directors: Anthony and Joe Russo Writers: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely and Ed Brubaker Starring: Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson and Samuel … More

anthony-mackie, Captain America, marvel, mcu, movies

“Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna” (2006) – Rani Mukherji’s Heartbreaking Bollywood Masterpiece About Broken Marriages

Writer/Director: Karan Johar Starring: Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukherji and Abishek Bachchan ‘A Captivating Indian Classic’ It’s challenging to come … More

bollywood, entertainment, film, movies, writing

“Sinners” (2025) – Michael B. Jordan’s Meaningful Masterpiece About Bonds Between Twin Brothers

Writer/Director: Ryan Coogler Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfield and Jack O’ Connell ‘A Meaningful Period Piece’ Brothers are powerful … More

film, horror, movies, ryan-coogler, sinners

“The White Tiger” (2021) – Ramin Bahrani’s Spectacular Satire about Housekeepers in India

Writer/Director: Ramin Bahrani Starring: Adarsh Gourav, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Rajkummar Rao ‘Captivating Class Satire’ Few countries across the world … More

art, books, entertainment, food

“Judas and the Black Messiah” (2021) – Shaka King’s Brilliant Biopic About a Black Leader

Writer/Director: Shaka King Co-writer: Will Berson Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, LaKeith Stanfield and Jesse Plemons ‘Breathtaking Historical Biopic’ Racism has always … More

books, movies, reviews, writing

“The Personal History of David Copperfield” (2019) – Armando Iannucci’s Delightful Dickens Adaptation

Writer/Director: Armando Iannucci Co-writer: Simon Blackwell (based on book by Charles Dickens) Starring: Dev Patel, Hugh Laurie and Tilda Swinton … More

books, fiction, film, literature, reading

“Just Mercy” (2019) – Destin Daniel Cretton’s Captivating Courtroom Classic

Writer/Director: Destin Daniel Cretton Co-writer: Andrew Lanham (based on book) Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx and Brie Larson ‘Captivating … More

diversity, education, history, politics, reviews

“Darkest Hour” (2017) – Joe Wright’s Magnificent Masterpiece About Churchill

Director: Joe Wright Starring: Gary Oldman, Lily James and Ben Mendehlson ‘A Captivating Period Piece’ Not many actresses in Hollywood … More

books, history, movies, reviews, wwii

“Beasts of No Nation” (2015) – Cary Joji Fukunaga’s Heartfelt Masterpiece About African Orphans

Writer/Director: Cary Joji Fukunaga Starring: Idris Elba, Abraham Attah and Emmanuel Affadzi ‘A Meaningful Masterpiece’ Not many actors possess the … More

“Short Term 12” (2013) – Destin Daniel Cretton’s Moving Masterpiece About Mental Hospitals

Writer/Director: Destin Daniel Cretton Starring: Brie Larson, Rami Malek and LaKeith Steilfeld ‘A Captivating Classic’ Not many actresses in Hollywood … More

film, mental-health, movies, reviews

“The Great Gatsby” (2013) – Baz Luhrmann’s Great Adaptation of a Celebrated Book About Doomed Love

Writer/Director: Baz Luhrmann Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ Few books ever written about millionaires … More

Book Review, book-reviews, books, fiction, literature

“My Week With Marilyn” (2011) – Simon Curtis’ Marvellous Marilyn Monroe Biopic

Director: Simon Curtis Starring Michelle Williams, Eddie Redmayne, Kenneth Branagh ‘Magnificent Monroe Biopic’ “My Week with Marilyn” is directed by … More

“The King’s Speech” (2010) – Tom Hooper’s Magnificent Masterpiece About a Troubled King

Director: Tom Hooper Starring: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter ‘A Magnificent Historical Masterpiece’ Not many actors in … More

england, film, history, horror-movies, movies

“Inglorious Basterds” (2009) – Quentin Tarantino’s Glorious Masterpiece About Nazi Germany

Writer/Director: Quentin Tarantino Starring: Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz and Michael Fassbender ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ Few filmmakers which achieved fame several … More

film, history, holocaust, movies, reviews

“Slumdog Millionaire” (2008) – Danny Boyle’s Meaningful Masterpiece About Poverty in India

Director: Danny Boyle Starring: Dev Patel, Frieda Pinto and Irrfan Khan ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ Few countries across the world are … More

film, india, movies

“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” (2005) – Andrew Adamson’s Fantastic Fantasy Adaptation

Writer/Director: Andrew Adamson Starring: William Moseley, Georgie Henley and Tilda Swinton ‘A Captivating Classic’ Not many actresses in Hollywood have … More

Book Review, books, fantasy, film, movies

“Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” (2004) – Alfonso Cauron’s Spellbinding Harry Potter Masterpiece

Director: Alfonso Cauron Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ Few books ever written about magical … More

Book Review, books, fantasy, harry-potter, movies

“A Beautiful Mind” (2001) – Ron Howard’s Beautiful Biopic About a Genius

Writer/Director: Ron Howard Starring: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany ‘Beautiful Biopic’ When it comes to the greatest mathematicians … More

fitness, food, health, writing

“Matilda” (1996) – Danny DeVito’s Beautiful Adaptation of a Beloved Children’s Book

Director: Danny DeVito Starring: Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman and Mara Wilson ‘A Beautiful Adaptation’ Not many actors that achieved fame … More

books, fantasy, film, movies, roald-dahl

“Jerry Maguire” (1996) – Cameron Crowe’s Captivating Romantic Classic

Writer/Director: Cameron Crowe Starring: Renee Zellweger, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Tom Cruise ‘A Meaningful Masterpiece’ Not many actresses in Hollywood … More

blogger, film, horror, movies, reviews

“Kramer vs. Kramer” (1979) – Robert Benton’s Captivating Classic About Broken Marriages

Writer/Director: Robert Benton Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep and Justin Henry ‘A Timeless Classic’ Divorce is a devastating process causing … More

art, books, food, movies

“The Breakfast Club” (1985) – John Hughes’ Captivating Coming-of-Age Classic About Teens

Writer/Director: John Hughes Starring: Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson and Molly Ringwald ‘A Captivating Classic’ Do you remember the time … More

film, john-hughes, movies, music, reviews

My Favourite Films About the Writing Process of All-Time

Not many genres have built a legacy as strong as writing. Since the 1990’s, movies about writers have earned a … More

author, Book Review, books, fiction, writing

“The Shining” (1980) – Stanley Kubrick’s Shining Horror Classic About Isolated Writers

Writer/Director: Stanley Kubrick Starring: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall and Danny Lloyd ‘A Shining Horror Masterpiece’ Before I begin this review, … More

film, horror, movies, stanley-kubrick, the-shining

“Mank” (2020) – David Fincher’s Great Period Piece About Screenwriters

Director: David Fincher Writer: Jack Fincher  Starring: Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried and Lily Collins ‘Filmmaking at its Finest’ When discussing … More

cinema, film, horror, movies, reviews

“Misery” (1991) – Rob Reiner’s Captivating Horror Classic About Miserable Writers

Director: Rob Reiner Starring: Kathy Bates, James Caan and Frances Sternhagen ‘A Haunting Masterpiece’ Not many actresses in Hollywood have … More

film, horror, movie-review, movies, reviews

“Becoming Jane” (2007) – Julian Jarrold’s Beautiful Period Piece About a Legendary English Writer

Director: Julian Jarrold Starring: Anne Hathaway, Helen McCrory and James McAvoy ‘A Beautiful Period Piece’ Not many actresses in Britain … More

Book Review, books, film, movies, reviews

“American Fiction” (2023) – Cord Jefferson’s Spectacular Satire About Black Writers

Writer/Director: Cord Jefferson Starring: Jeffrey Wright, Issa Rae, Sterling K. Brown                   … More

american-fiction, books, fiction, jeffrey-wright, writing

“The Personal History of David Copperfield” (2019) – Armando Iannucci’s Delightful Charles Dickens Adaptation

Writer/Director: Armando Iannucci Co-writer: Simon Blackwell (based on book by Charles Dickens) Starring: Dev Patel, Hugh Laurie and Tilda Swinton … More

books, fiction, film, literature, reading

“Little Women” (2019) – Greta Gerwig’s Meaningful Masterpiece about Strong Feminist Writers

Writer/Director: Greta Gerwig Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh and Laura Dern ‘An Astonishing Adaptation’ When it comes to the most … More

Book Review, book-reviews, books, little-women, movies

“Dead Poets Society” (1989) – Peter Weir’s Captivating Classic About Inspirational Poetry Societies

Director: Peter Weir Starring: Robin Williams, Ethan Hawke and Josh Charles ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ Few actors in Hollywood have had … More

film, literature, poetry, robin-williams, writing

“Bright Star” (2008) – Jane Campion’s Captivating Romantic Classic About Poetry Writers

Writer/Director: Jane Campion Starring: Ben Whishaw, Abbie Cornish and Paul Schneider ‘A Captivating Classic’ Not many actors in Hollywood have … More

film, john-keats, literature, movies, poetry

“Adaptation” (2002) – My Favourite Film About the Writing Process of All-Time

Director: Spike Jonze Starring: Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep and Chris Cooper ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ Have you ever found yourself staring … More

Book Review, books, fiction, movies, writing

My Favourite Ving Rhames Movies of All-Time

Not many actors have made movies earning acclaims of Ving Rhames. Since the 1990’s, Rhames has become an African-American icon. … More

action, film, movies, simon-pegg, tom-cruise

“Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1” (2023) – Ving Rhames’ Magnificent Mission Impossible Finale

Writer/Director: Christopher McQuarrie Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg                     … More

action, film, mission-impossible, movies, tom-cruise

“Mission: Impossible – Fallout” (2018) – Ving Rhames’ Best Mission Without a Doubt

Writer/Director: Christopher McQuarrie Starring: Tom Cruise, Henry Cavill and Rebecca Ferguson ‘A Mission Accomplished’ When it comes to the most … More

action, film, mission-impossible, movies, tom-cruise

“Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation” (2015) – Ving Rhames’ Most Action-Packed Mission

Writer/Director: Christopher McQuarrie Co-Writers: Drew Pearce and Bruce Geller Starring: Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg and Rebecca Ferguson ‘A Mission Accomplished’ … More

action, film, mission-impossible, movies, tom-cruise

“Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” (2011) – Ving Rhames’ Most Entertaining Mission

Director: Brad Bird Starring: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner and Simon Pegg ‘A Marvellous Masterpiece’ Not many actors in Hollywood have … More

action, film, mission-impossible, movies, tom-cruise

“Mission: Impossible 3” (2006) – Ving Rhames’ Most Exciting Mission

Writer/Director: J.J. Abrams Starring: Tom Cruise, Michelle Monaghan and Ving Rhames ‘A Marvellous Mission Accomplished’ Not many actresses in Hollywood … More

action, film, mission-impossible, movies, tom-cruise

“Out of Sight” (1998) – Ving Rhames’ Captivating Crime Classic About Con-Artists

Director: Steven Soderbergh Starring: Ving Rhames, George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez ‘A Captivating Crime Classic’ Not many filmmakers in Hollywood … More

film, horror, movies, reviews, steven-soderbergh

“Mission: Impossible” (1996) – Ving Rhames’ Magnificent Mission Impossible Introduction

Director: Brian De Palma Starring: Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames and Kristin Scott Thomas ‘A Captivating Classic’ Not many actors in … More

action, film, mission-impossible, movies, tom-cruise

“Pulp Fiction” (1994) – Ving Rhames’ Powerful Pulp Crime Classic

Writer/Director: Quentin Tarantino Co-writer: Roger Avary Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, John Travolta, and Tim Roth        ‘Masterful Storytelling’ … More

film, movies, pulp-fiction, quentin-tarantino, reviews

My Favourite Jane Austen Movies of All-Time

Not many authors in English literature have earned the recognition of Jane Austen. Since the 1990’s, the author’s stories have … More

Book Review, books, jane-austen, literature, romance

“Becoming Jane” (2007) – James Cromwell’s Beautiful Jane Austen Period Piece

Director: Julian Jarrold Starring: Anne Hathaway, Helen McCrory and James McAvoy ‘A Beautiful Period Piece’ Not many actresses in Britain … More

Book Review, books, film, jane-austen, movies

My Favourite Naomie Harris Films of All-Time

Not many actresses have made movies audiences cherish like Naomie Harris. Since her rise to fame in the 1990’s, Harris … More

blogging, emma-watson, inspiration, movies, writing

“Black Bag” (2025) – Naomie Harris’ Spectacular Crime Thriller About Suspicious Spies

Director: Steven Soderbergh Starring: Michael Fassbender, Cate Blanchett and Naomie Harris ‘A Spectacular Spy Masterpiece’ Not many actresses in Hollywood … More

black-bag, cate-blanchett, michael-fassbender, movies, steven-soderbergh

“No Time to Die” (2021) – Naomie Harris’ Fantastic Feminist Bond Farewell

Writer/Director: Cary Fukunaga Starring: Daniel Craig, Lashana Lynch and Rami Malek ‘Satisfying Swansong’ Brawny beauties are seldom rewarded licenses to … More

007, film, james-bond, movies

“Moonlight” (2016) – Naomie Harris’ Mesmerizing Masterpiece About Sexual Identity

Writer/Director: Barry Jenkins Based on the play by Tarell Alvin McCraney Starring: Mahershala Ali, Ashton Sanders and Naomi Harris ‘Magnificent … More

film, horror, movie, movie-review, movies

“Southpaw” (2015) – Naomie Harris’ Breathtaking Boxing Drama

Director: Antoine Fuqua Writer: Kurt Sutter Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rachel McAdams and Forest Whitaker ‘Breathtaking Boxing Drama’ Is it just … More

drama, film, movie-review, movies, reviews

“Spectre” (2015) – Naomie Harris’ Most Underrated Bond Movie

Director: Sam Mendes Starring: Daniel Craig, Lea Seydoux and Christoph Waltz ‘A Superb Sequel’ Not many actresses have made movies … More

film, james-bond, movie-review, movies, reviews

“Skyfall” (2012) – Naomie Harris’ Spectacular Bond Sequel

Director: Sam Mendes Writers: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and John Logan Starring Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes ‘Brilliant Bond … More

daniel-craig, film, james-bond, movie-review, movies

“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” (2006) – Naomie Harris’ Superb Pirates Adventure Sequel

Director: Gore Verbinski Starring: Tom Hollander, Johnny Depp and Kiera Knightley ‘A Captivating Adventure Classic’ Not many actors in British … More

books, fantasy, movies, pirates, writing

My Favourite Films About Teachers of All-Time

Not many characters attract audiences to theatres like teachers. Since the 1980’s, teachers have played a crucial role in movies. … More

education, film, horror, movies, reviews

My Favourite Ethan Hawke Films of All-Time

Not many actors have made movies audiences talk about like Ethan Hawke. Since the 1990’s, Hawke has become an icon. … More

ethan-hawke, film, movie-review, movies, reviews

“Maudie” (2017) – Ethan Hawke’s Captivating Portrait of a Famous Canadian Painter

Director: Aisling Walsh Writer: Sherry White Starring: Sally Hawkins, Ethan Hawke and Kari Matchett ‘Deeply Moving Biopic’ Maud Lewis is … More

film, movie-review, movie-reviews, movies, reviews

“Training Day” (2001) – Ethan Hawke’s Captivating Crime Classic About Cops

Director: Antoine Fuqua Starring: Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke and Scott Glenn ‘A Captivating Crime Classic’ Few movie-stars in Hollywood have … More

denzel-washington, film, movie-review, movies, reviews

“Before Sunrise” (1995) – Ethan Hawke’s Captivating Romantic Classic

Writer/Director: Richard Linklater Starring: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy and John Sloss ‘A Captivating Classic’ Few actors in Hollywood are as … More

film, movie, movie-review, movies, romance

“Dead Poets Society” (1989) – Ethan Hawke’s Captivating Classic About Inspiring Poetry Professors

Director: Peter Weir Starring: Robin Williams, Ethan Hawke and Josh Charles ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ Few actors in Hollywood have had … More

film, literature, poetry, robin-williams, writing

“Boyhood” (2014) – Ethan Hawke’s Captivating Coming-of-Age Classic About Childhood

Writer/Director: Richard Linklater Starring: Ellar Coltrane, Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ About halfway through Richard Linklater’s “Boyhood”, … More

adria-arjona, film, glen-powell, movies, richard-linklater

My Favourite Chris Cooper Films of All-Time

Not many actors have made movies audiences treasure like Chris Cooper. Since the 1990’s, Cooper has become an American icon. … More

“Little Women” (2019) – Chris Cooper’s Meaningful Masterpiece About Strong Women

Writer/Director: Greta Gerwig Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh and Laura Dern ‘An Astonishing Adaptation’ When it comes to the most … More

Book Review, book-reviews, books, little-women, movies

“Seabiscuit” (2003) – Chris Cooper’s Inspiring Sports Masterpiece About Strong Race Horses

Writer/Director: Gary Ross Starring: Elizabeth Banks, Chris Cooper and Tobey Maguire ‘A Captivating Classic’ Not many actors have made movies … More

film, movie-review, movie-reviews, movies, reviews

“Adaptation” (2002) – Chris Cooper’s Captivating Classic About Anxious Screenwriters

Director: Spike Jonze Starring: Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep and Chris Cooper ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ Have you ever found yourself staring … More

Book Review, books, fiction, film, movies

“American Beauty” (1999) – Chris Cooper’s Beautiful Masterpiece About Broken American Families

Writer/Director: Sam Mendes Starring: Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening and Wes Bentley ‘A Beautiful Masterpiece’ Few celebrities in Hollywood have faced … More

film, horror, movie-reviews, movies, reviews

“The Amazing Spider-Man 2” (2014) – Chris Cooper’s Worst Movie

Director: Marc Webb Writers: Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Jeff Pinkner Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone and Jamie Foxx ‘A … More

film, marvel, mcu, movies, spider-man

My Favourite Rosamund Pike Movies of All-Time

Not many actresses have made movies that audiences like as much as Rosamund Pike. Since the 1990’s, Pike has become … More

Book Review, books, film, movies, reviews

My Favourite Period Piece Films of All-Time

Not many genres attract audiences to the Cinema like the period drama. Since the 1970’s, the period genre has produced … More

Book Review, books, film, jane-austen, movies

“Saltburn” (2023) – Rosamund Pike’s Spectacular Social Class Satire

Writer/Director: Emerald Fennell Starring: Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elrodi, Rosamund Pike                      … More

art, film, films, saltburn

“I Care A Lot” (2020) – Rosamund Pike’s Captivating Con-Artist Comedy

Writer/Director: J. Blakeson Starring: Rosamund Pike, Peter Dinklage and Chris Messina ‘A Captivating Thriller’ Few actresses in Hollywood have made … More

film, horror, movie-reviews, movies, reviews

“Gone Girl” (2014) – Rosamund Pike’s Magnificent Masterpiece About Broken Marriages

Director: David Fincher Starring: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike and Neil Patrick Harris ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ Few actors in Hollywood are … More

books, film, horror, movies, reviews

“Pride & Prejudice” (2005) – Rosamund Pike’s Magnificent Jane Austen Masterpiece

Director: Joe Wright Starring: Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfayden and Judi Dench ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ When it comes to the world’s … More

Book Review, books, jane-austen, literature, romance

“The World’s End” (2013) – Rosamund Pike’s Captivating Doomsday Comedy

Writer/Director: Edgar Wright Co-writer: Simon Pegg Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Martin Freeman ‘Captivating Comedy’ Halfway through Edgar Wright’s … More

comedy, film, horror, movie-review, movies

“Veer-Zaara” (2004) – Shah Rukh Khan’s Captivating Bollywood Classic About Doomed Love

Writer/Director: Yash Chopra Starring: Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta and Rani Mukherji ‘A Mesmerizing Masterpiece’ Few directors in Bollywood are … More

bollywood, entertainment, film, india, movies

“Anora” (2024) – Mikey Madison’s Great Oscar-Winning Masterpiece About Bold Prostitutes

Writer/Director: Sean Baker Starring: Mikey Madison, Mark Eidelstein and Yuriy Borisov ‘A Meaningful Masterpiece’ Prostitution is a sensitive subject that’s … More

anora, film, mikey-madison, reviews, sean-baker

“The White Tiger” (2021) – Ramin Bahrani’s Spectacular Satire About Housekeepers in India

Writer/Director: Ramin Bahrani Starring: Adarsh Gourav, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Rajkummar Rao ‘Captivating Class Satire’ Few countries across the world … More

“The Personal History of David Copperfield” (2019) – Benedict Wong’s Delightful Dickens Adaptation

Writer/Director: Armando Iannucci Co-writer: Simon Blackwell (based on book by Charles Dickens) Starring: Dev Patel, Hugh Laurie and Tilda Swinton … More

books, fiction, film, literature, reading

“Just Mercy” (2019) – Rafe Spall’s Compelling Courtroom Drama

Writer/Director: Destin Daniel Cretton Co-writer: Andrew Lanham (based on book) Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx and Brie Larson ‘Captivating … More

diversity, education, history, politics, reviews

“Darkest Hour” (2017) – Stephen Dillane’s Magnificent Masterpiece About Winston Churchill

Director: Joe Wright Starring: Gary Oldman, Lily James and Ben Mendehlson ‘A Captivating Period Piece’ Not many actresses in Hollywood … More

books, history, movies, reviews, wwii

“Beasts of No Nation” (2015) – Cary Joji Fukunaga’s Heartbreaking Masterpiece About African Orphans

Writer/Director: Cary Joji Fukunaga Starring: Idris Elba, Abraham Attah and Emmanuel Affadzi ‘A Meaningful Masterpiece’ Not many actors possess the … More

“Short Term 12” (2013) – Destin Daniel Cretton’s Moving Masterpiece About Mental Hospitals

Writer/Director: Destin Daniel Cretton Starring: Brie Larson, Rami Malek and LaKeith Steilfeld ‘A Captivating Classic’ Not many actresses in Hollywood … More

film, mental-health, movies, reviews

“The Great Gatsby” (2013) – Jason Clarke’s Great Adaptation of a Beloved Book About Doomed Love

Writer/Director: Baz Luhrmann Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ Few books ever written about millionaires … More

Book Review, book-reviews, books, fiction, literature

“My Week With Marilyn” (2011) – Toby Jones’ Magnificent Marilyn Monroe Biopic

Director: Simon Curtis Starring Michelle Williams, Eddie Redmayne, Kenneth Branagh ‘Magnificent Monroe Biopic’ “My Week with Marilyn” is directed by … More

“The King’s Speech” (2010) – Michael Gambon’s Magnificent Historical Masterpiece About a King

Director: Tom Hooper Starring: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter ‘A Magnificent Historical Masterpiece’ Not many actors in … More

england, fiction, film, history, movies

“Inglorious Basterds” (2009) – Lea Seydoux’s Glorious Masterpiece about Nazi Germany

Writer/Director: Quentin Tarantino Starring: Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz and Michael Fassbender ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ Few filmmakers which achieved fame several … More

film, history, holocaust, movies, reviews

“Slumdog Millionaire” (2008) – Danny Boyle’s Incredible Masterpiece About Indian Millionaires

Director: Danny Boyle Starring: Dev Patel, Frieda Pinto and Irrfan Khan ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ Few countries across the world are … More

food, india, photography, travel

“Bright Star” (2008) – Jane Campion’s Meaningful Romantic Masterpiece About Terminally Ill Writers

Writer/Director: Jane Campion Starring: Ben Whishaw, Abbie Cornish and Paul Schneider ‘A Captivating Classic’ Not many actors in Hollywood have … More

film, john-keats, literature, movies, poetry

“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” (2005) – Ray Winstone’s Fantastic Fantasy Adaptation

Writer/Director: Andrew Adamson Starring: William Moseley, Georgie Henley and Tilda Swinton ‘A Captivating Classic’ Not many actresses in Hollywood have … More

Book Review, books, fantasy, film, movies

“Adaptation” (2002) – Brian Cox’s Captivating Classic About Anxious Screenwriters

Director: Spike Jonze Starring: Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep and Chris Cooper ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ Have you ever found yourself staring … More

Book Review, books, fiction, film, movies

“A Beautiful Mind” (2001) – Christopher Plummer’s Beautiful Biopic About a Misunderstood Genius

Writer/Director: Ron Howard Starring: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany ‘Beautiful Biopic’ When it comes to the greatest mathematicians … More

fitness, food, health, writing

“Emma” (2020) – Autumn de Wilde’s Amazing Austen Adaptation

Director: Autumn de Wilde Writer: Eleanor Catton (based on book by Jane Austen) Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn and Bill … More

emma, film, jane-austen, movies, reviews

“Pride & Prejudice” (2005) – Joe Wright’s Magnificent Jane Austen Masterpiece

Director: Joe Wright Starring: Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfayden and Judi Dench ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ When it comes to the world’s … More

Book Review, books, jane-austen, literature, romance

“Sense & Sensibility” (1995) – Ang Lee’s Awe-Inspiring Austen Adaptation

Director: Ang Lee Starring: Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant and Kate Winslet ‘A Captivating Classic’ Few authors in English literature have … More

Book Review, books, jane-austen, literature, romance

“Dead Poets Society” (1989) – Gale Hansen’s Captivating Classic About Inspiring Poetry Professors

Director: Peter Weir Starring: Robin Williams, Ethan Hawke and Josh Charles ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ Few actors in Hollywood have had … More

film, literature, poetry, robin-williams, writing

“The Breakfast Club” (1985) – Ally Sheedy’s Captivating Coming-of-Age Classic

Writer/Director: John Hughes Starring: Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson and Molly Ringwald ‘A Captivating Classic’ Do you remember the time … More

film, john-hughes, movies, music, reviews

My Favourite Films About Writers of All-Time

Not many figures attract audiences to theatres like writers. Since the 1990’s, movies about writers have earned a huge audience. … More

books, film, horror, movies, writing

“Mank” (2023) – David Fincher’s Great Period Piece About Screenwriters

Director: David Fincher Writer: Jack Fincher  Starring: Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried and Lily Collins ‘Filmmaking at its Finest’ When discussing … More

cinema, film, horror, movies, reviews

“The Hours” (2002) – Stephen Daldry’s Moving Drama About Depressed Writers

Director: Stephen Daldry Starring: Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore and Meryl Streep ‘Deeply Moving Drama’ “The Hours” is directed by Stephen … More

awards, cinema, film, movies, oscars

“Her” (2013) – Spike Jonze’s Meaningful Masterpiece about Technology Writers

Writer/Director: Spike Jonze Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson and Amy Adams ‘A Mesmerizing Masterpiece’ You rarely ever see movies that … More

film, films, movie, movie-review, movies

“Almost Famous” (2000) – Cameron Crowe’s Captivating Classic About Famous Music Writers

Writer/Director: Cameron Crowe Starring: Frances McDormand, Billy Crudup and Kate Hudson ‘A Famous Classic’ Few actresses in Hollywood have achieved … More

movies, music, review, reviews, rock

“American Fiction” (2023) – Cord Jefferson’s Captivating Satire About Black Writers

Writer/Director: Cord Jefferson Starring: Jeffrey Wright, Issa Rae, Sterling K. Brown                   … More

american-fiction, books, fiction, jeffrey-wright, writing

“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” (2012) – Stephen Chbosky’s Beautiful Masterpiece About Teen Writers

Writer/Director: Stephen Chbosky Starring: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller ‘Meaningful Masterpiece’ “Why do nice people choose the wrong people … More

film, horror, movie, movies, reviews

“Little Women” (2019) – Greta Gerwig’s Meaningful Masterpiece About Strong Feminist Writers

Writer/Director: Greta Gerwig Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh and Laura Dern ‘An Astonishing Adaptation’ When it comes to the most … More

Book Review, book-reviews, books, little-women, movies

“Dead Poets Society” (1989) – Peter Weir’s Captivating Classic About Inspirational Poetry Professors

Director: Peter Weir Starring: Robin Williams, Ethan Hawke and Josh Charles ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ Few actors in Hollywood have had … More

film, literature, poetry, robin-williams, writing

“Adaptation” (2002) – Spike Jonze’s Captivating Classic about Anxious Screenwriters

Director: Spike Jonze Starring: Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep and Chris Cooper ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ Have you ever found yourself staring … More

Book Review, books, fiction, film, movies

“The Shining” (1980) – My Favourite Film About Writers of All-Time

Writer/Director: Stanley Kubrick Starring: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall and Danny Lloyd ‘A Shining Horror Masterpiece’ Before I begin this review, … More

film, horror, movies, stanley-kubrick, the-shining

My Favourite Jennifer Lawrence Films of All-Time

Not many actresses have earned experience of Jennifer Lawrence. Since the 2000’s, Lawrence has become a feminist icon. Whether it’s … More

books, film, hollywood, movies, reviews

“X-Men: Days of Future Past” (2014) – Jennifer Lawrence’s Extraordinary X-Men Sequel

Director: Bryan Singer Starring: Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Lawrence and James McAvoy ‘Extraordinary Entertainment’ Few characters in comic-book history are as … More

marvel, marvel-comics, movies, wolverine, x-men

“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” (2013) – Jennifer Lawrence’s Superb Hunger Games Sequel

Director: Francis Lawrence Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth ‘A Captivating Classic’ Few actresses in Hollywood have achieved … More

Book Review, books, Hunger Games, movies, Suzanne Collins

“American Hustle” (2013) – Jennifer Lawrence’s Captivating Con-Artist Period Piece

Writer/Director: David O. Russell Co-writer: Eric Warren Singer Starring: Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Bradley Cooper ‘Powerful Period Piece’ In … More

film, horror, movie-review, movies, reviews

“Silver Linings Playbook” (2012) – Jennifer Lawrence’s Meaningful Masterpiece About Bipolar

Writer/Director: David O. Russell Based on novel by Matthew Quick Starring: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro ‘Magnificent Masterpiece’ It’s … More

cinema, film, movie-reviews, movies, reviews

“The Hunger Games” (2012) – Jennifer Lawrence’s Amazing Literary Adaptation

Director: Gary Ross Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth ‘Astonishing Adaptation’ “The Hunger Games” is directed by Gary Ross. … More

books, haymitch-abernathy, Hunger Games, movies, Suzanne Collins

My Favourite Nicholas Hoult Films of All-Time

Not many actors in Hollywood have earned recognition of Nicholas Hoult. Since the 2000’s, Hoult has become an icon. Whether … More

clint-eastwood, film, horror, movies, nicholas-hoult

“Juror #2” (2024) – Nicholas Hoult’s Captivating Courtroom Classic About Guilty Jurors

Director: Clint Eastwood Starring: Nicholas Hoult, J.K. Simmons and Toni Collette ‘A Captivating Courtroom Classic’ Few filmmakers in Hollywood are … More

clint-eastwood, juror-2, movies, nicholas-hoult, toni-collette

“The Menu” (2022) – Nicholas Hoult’s Captivating Cooking Satire

Director: Mark Mylod Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult ‘A Captivating Satire’ Not many actors in Hollywood are … More

film, food, movies, reviews, travel

“The Favourite” (2018) – Nicholas Hoult’s Fantastic Period Piece About Lesbian Queens

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos Starring: Rachel Weisz, Olivia Colman and Emma Stone ‘A Captivating Classic’ Few actresses in Hollywood are as … More

cinema, film, film-review, movies, reviews

“Mad Max: Fury Road” (2015) – Nicholas Hoult’s Magnificent Mad Max Reboot

Writer/Director: George Miller Co-writers: Brendan McCarthy and Nick Lathouris Starring: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron and Nicholas Hoult ‘Madly Entertaining’ Is … More

chris-hemsworth, furiosa, george-miller, mad-max, movies

“X-Men: Days of Future Past” (2014) – Nicholas Hoult’s Extraordinary X-Men Sequel

Director: Bryan Singer Starring: Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Lawrence and James McAvoy ‘Extraordinary Entertainment’ Few characters in comic-book history are as … More

marvel, marvel-comics, movies, wolverine, x-men

“Jack the Giant Slayer” (2013) – Nicholas Hoult’s Gigantic Giant Disappointment

Director: Bryan Singer Writers: Darren Lemke and Christopher McQuarrie Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Stanley Tucci and Ewan McGregor ‘A Giant Disappointment’ … More

film, horror, movie-review, movies, reviews

“Warm Bodies” (2013) – Nicholas Hoult’s Captivating Zombie Romantic Comedy

Writer/Director: Jonathan Levine Based on novel by Isaac Marion Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, and John Malkovich ‘Captivating Zombie Comedy’ … More

comedy, film, horror, movies, reviews

Kal Ho Naa Ho” (2003) – Shah Rukh Khan’s Captivating Bollywood Classic About Heartbreaking Illness

Director: Nikkhil Advani Starring: Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta and Saif Ali Khan ‘A Captivating Classic’ Few actors in Bollywood … More

bollywood, entertainment, film, movies, news

“The Brutalist” (2024) – Adrien Brody’s Powerful Oscar-Winning Period Piece About WWII

Writer/Director: Brady Corbet Starring: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones and Guy Pearce ‘A Marvellous Period Piece’ The Holocaust is a sensitive … More

adrien-brody, brady-corbet, felicity-jones, guy-pearce, the-brutalist

“The White Tiger” (2021) – Rajkummar Rao’s Captivating Satire about Housekeepers in India

Writer/Director: Ramin Bahrani Starring: Adarsh Gourav, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Rajkummar Rao ‘Captivating Class Satire’ Few countries across the world … More

art, books, entertainment, food

“Judas and the Black Messiah” (2021) – Ashton Sanders’ Brilliant Biopic About a Black Leader

Writer/Director: Shaka King Co-writer: Will Berson Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, LaKeith Stanfield and Jesse Plemons ‘Breathtaking Historical Biopic’ Racism has always … More

books, movies, reviews, writing

“The Personal History of David Copperfield” (2019) – Ben Whishaw’s Delightful Dickens Adaptation

Writer/Director: Armando Iannucci Co-writer: Simon Blackwell (based on book by Charles Dickens) Starring: Dev Patel, Hugh Laurie and Tilda Swinton … More

books, fiction, film, literature, movies

“Just Mercy” (2019) – Tim Blake Nelson’s Captivating Courtroom Drama

Writer/Director: Destin Daniel Cretton Co-writer: Andrew Lanham (based on book) Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx and Brie Larson ‘Captivating … More

diversity, education, history, politics, reviews

“Darkest Hour” (2017) – Ben Mendehlson’s Magnificent Masterpiece About Winston Churchill

Director: Joe Wright Starring: Gary Oldman, Lily James and Ben Mendehlson ‘A Captivating Period Piece’ Not many actresses in Hollywood … More

books, history, movies, reviews, wwii

“Beasts of No Nation” (2015) – Cary Joji Fukunaga’s Heartfelt Masterpiece About African Genocides

Writer/Director: Cary Joji Fukunaga Starring: Idris Elba, Abraham Attah and Emmanuel Affadzi ‘A Meaningful Masterpiece’ Not many actors possess the … More

“Short Term 12” (2013) – John Gallagher Jr.’s Meaningful Masterpiece About Mental Hospitals

Writer/Director: Destin Daniel Cretton Starring: Brie Larson, Rami Malek and LaKeith Steilfeld ‘A Captivating Classic’ Not many actresses in Hollywood … More

film, mental-health, movies, reviews

“The Great Gatsby” (2013) – Amitabh Bachchan’s Great Adaptation of a Celebrated Book About Doomed Love

Writer/Director: Baz Luhrmann Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ Few books ever written about millionaires … More

Book Review, book-reviews, books, fiction, literature

“My Week With Marilyn” (2011) – Derek Jacobi’s Magnificent Marilyn Monroe Biopic

Director: Simon Curtis Starring Michelle Williams, Eddie Redmayne, Kenneth Branagh ‘Magnificent Monroe Biopic’ “My Week with Marilyn” is directed by … More

“The King’s Speech” (2010) – Timothy Spall’s Magnificent Masterpiece About a King

Director: Tom Hooper Starring: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter ‘A Magnificent Historical Masterpiece’ Not many actors in … More

england, fiction, film, history, movies

“Inglorious Basterds” (2009) – Eli Roth’s Magnificent Masterpiece About Nazi Germany

Writer/Director: Quentin Tarantino Starring: Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz and Michael Fassbender ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ Few filmmakers which achieved fame several … More

film, history, holocaust, movies, reviews

“Slumdog Millionaire” (2008) – Anil Kapoor’s Magnificent Masterpiece About Millionaires in India

Director: Danny Boyle Starring: Dev Patel, Frieda Pinto and Irrfan Khan ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ Few countries across the world are … More

food, india, photography, travel

“Bright Star” (2008) – Jane Campion’s Meaningful Romantic Masterpiece about Doomed Poets

Writer/Director: Jane Campion Starring: Ben Whishaw, Abbie Cornish and Paul Schneider ‘A Captivating Classic’ Not many actors in Hollywood have … More

film, john-keats, literature, movies, poetry

“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” (2005) – William Moseley’s Fantastic Fantasy Masterpiece

Writer/Director: Andrew Adamson Starring: William Moseley, Georgie Henley and Tilda Swinton ‘A Captivating Classic’ Not many actresses in Hollywood have … More

Book Review, books, fantasy, film, movies

“Adaptation” (2002) – Tilda Swinton’s Captivating Classic About Screenwriters

Director: Spike Jonze Starring: Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep and Chris Cooper ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ Have you ever found yourself staring … More

Book Review, books, fiction, film, movies

“A Beautiful Mind” (2001) – Ed Harris’ Beautiful Biopic About a Misunderstood Genius

Writer/Director: Ron Howard Starring: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany ‘Beautiful Biopic’ When it comes to the greatest mathematicians … More

fitness, food, health, writing

“Emma” (2020) – Callum Turner’s Astonishing Austen Adaptation

Director: Autumn de Wilde Writer: Eleanor Catton (based on book by Jane Austen) Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn and Bill … More

“Pride & Prejudice” (2005) – Donald Sutherland’s Magnificent Jane Austen Masterpiece

Director: Joe Wright Starring: Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfayden and Judi Dench ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ When it comes to the world’s … More

Book Review, books, jane-austen, literature, romance

“Sense & Sensibility” (1995) – Alan Rickman’s Amazing Austen Adaptation

Director: Ang Lee Starring: Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant and Kate Winslet ‘A Captivating Classic’ Few authors in English literature have … More

Book Review, books, jane-austen, literature, romance

“Kramer vs. Kramer” (1979) – Dustin Hoffman’s Captivating Classic About Broken Marriages

Writer/Director: Robert Benton Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep and Justin Henry ‘A Timeless Classic’ Divorce is a devastating process causing … More

art, books, food, movies

“Dead Poets Society” (1989) – Sean Leanord’s Captivating Classic About Inspiring Poetry Professors

Director: Peter Weir Starring: Robin Williams, Ethan Hawke and Josh Charles ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ Few actors in Hollywood have had … More

film, literature, poetry, robin-williams, writing

“The Breakfast Club” (1985) – Emilio Estevez’s Captivating Coming-of-Age Classic

Writer/Director: John Hughes Starring: Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson and Molly Ringwald ‘A Captivating Classic’ Do you remember the time … More

film, john-hughes, movies, music, reviews

“Becoming Jane” (2007) – James Cromwell’s Beautiful Jane Austen Period Piece

Director: Julian Jarrold Starring: Anne Hathaway, Helen McCrory and James McAvoy ‘A Beautiful Period Piece’ Not many actresses in Britain … More

Book Review, books, film, jane-austen, movies

My Favourite Hugh Jackman Movies of All-Time

Few actors have achieved appreciation of Hugh Jackman. Since the 2000’s, Jackman has become an icon. Jackman’s greatest strength as … More

Deadpool, hugh-jackman, marvel, Ryan Reynolds, wolverine

“X2: X-Men United” (2003) – Hugh Jackman’s Exceptional X-Men Sequel

Writer/Director: Bryan Singer Starring: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart and Halle Berry ‘An Excellent Sequel’ Comic-book sequels rarely live up to … More

Deadpool, marvel, movies, wolverine, x-men

“X-Men” (2000) – Hugh Jackman’s Excellent Comic-Book Classic

Director: Bryan Singer Starring: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen ‘An Excellent Blockbuster’ When it comes to the greatest … More

hugh-jackman, marvel, movies, wolverine, x-men

“The Wolverine” (2013) – Hugh Jackman’s Wonderful Wolverine Comic-Book Classic

 Director: James Mangold                                   … More

Deadpool, hugh-jackman, marvel, Ryan Reynolds, wolverine

“Jerry Maguire” (1996) – Renee Zellweger’s Captivating Romantic Classic About Sports Agents

Writer/Director: Cameron Crowe Starring: Renee Zellweger, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Tom Cruise ‘A Meaningful Masterpiece’ Not many actresses in Hollywood … More

blogger, film, horror, movies, reviews

“Matilda” (1996) – Rhea Perlman’s Beautiful Adaptation of a Beloved Children’s Book

Director: Danny DeVito Starring: Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman and Mara Wilson ‘A Beautiful Adaptation’ Not many actors that achieved fame … More

books, fantasy, film, movies, roald-dahl

“Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham” (2001) – Shah Rukh Khan’s Captivating Bollywood Classic about Broken Families

Writer/Director: Karan Johar Starring: Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol ‘A Captivating Classic’ Few movie-stars in Bollywood have achieved … More

bollywood, cinema, entertainment, film, movies

“Conclave” (2024) – Ralph Fiennes’ Riveting Oscar-Winning Drama About Religion

Director: Edward Berger Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci and John Lithgow ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ Religion is a sensitive subject that’s … More

conclave, edward-berger, movies, ralph-fiennes, reviews

“The White Tiger” (2021) – Priyanka Chopra’s Spectacular Satire About Housekeepers in India

Writer/Director: Ramin Bahrani Starring: Adarsh Gourav, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Rajkummar Rao ‘Captivating Class Satire’ Few countries across the world … More

adarsh-gourav, books, reema-kagti, writing

“Judas and the Black Messiah” (2021) – Jesse Plemons’ Brilliant Biopic About a Black Leader

Writer/Director: Shaka King Co-writer: Will Berson Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, LaKeith Stanfield and Jesse Plemons ‘Breathtaking Historical Biopic’ Racism has always … More

books, movies, reviews, writing

“The Personal History of David Copperfield” (2019) – Peter Capaldi’s Delightful Dickens Adaptation

Writer/Director: Armando Iannucci Co-writer: Simon Blackwell (based on book by Charles Dickens) Starring: Dev Patel, Hugh Laurie and Tilda Swinton … More

books, fiction, film, literature, reading

“Just Mercy” (2019) – Rob Morgan’s Captivating Courtroom Drama

Writer/Director: Destin Daniel Cretton Co-writer: Andrew Lanham (based on book) Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx and Brie Larson ‘Captivating … More

diversity, education, history, politics, reviews

“Darkest Hour” (2017) – Kristin Scott Thomas’ Magnificent Masterpiece About Churchill

Director: Joe Wright Starring: Gary Oldman, Lily James and Ben Mendehlson ‘A Captivating Period Piece’ Not many actresses in Hollywood … More

books, history, movies, reviews, wwii

“Beasts of No Nation” (2015) – Cary Joji Fukunaga’s Heartfelt Masterpiece About African Orphan Soldiers

Writer/Director: Cary Joji Fukunaga Starring: Idris Elba, Abraham Attah and Emmanuel Affadzi ‘A Meaningful Masterpiece’ Not many actors possess the … More

“Short Term 12” (2013) – Kevin Hernandez’s Meaningful Masterpiece About Mental Disorders

Writer/Director: Destin Daniel Cretton Starring: Brie Larson, Rami Malek and LaKeith Steilfeld ‘A Captivating Classic’ Not many actresses in Hollywood … More

film, mental-health, movies, reviews

“The Great Gatsby” (2013) – Joel Edgerton’s Great Adaptation of a Celebrated Book About Doomed Love

Writer/Director: Baz Luhrmann Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ Few books ever written about millionaires … More

Book Review, book-reviews, books, fiction, literature

“My Week With Marilyn” (2011) – Emma Watson’s Magnificent Marilyn Monroe Biopic

Director: Simon Curtis Starring Michelle Williams, Eddie Redmayne, Kenneth Branagh ‘Magnificent Monroe Biopic’ “My Week with Marilyn” is directed by … More

“The King’s Speech” (2010) – Helena Bonham Carter’s Magnificent Masterpiece About a King

Director: Tom Hooper Starring: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter ‘A Magnificent Historical Masterpiece’ Not many actors in … More

best-picture, film, history, movies, oscars

“Inglorious Basterds” (2009) – Diane Kruger’s Glorious Masterpiece About Nazi Germany

Writer/Director: Quentin Tarantino Starring: Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz and Michael Fassbender ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ Few filmmakers which achieved fame several … More

film, history, holocaust, movies, reviews

“Slumdog Millionaire” (2008) – Anil Kapoor’s Magnificent Masterpiece about Indian Millionaires

Director: Danny Boyle Starring: Dev Patel, Frieda Pinto and Irrfan Khan ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ Few countries across the world are … More

food, india, photography, travel

“Bright Star” (2008) – Paul Schneider’s Captivating Romantic Classic About Terminally Ill Poets

Writer/Director: Jane Campion Starring: Ben Whishaw, Abbie Cornish and Paul Schneider ‘A Captivating Classic’ Not many actors in Hollywood have … More

film, john-keats, literature, movies, poetry

“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” (2005) – Liam Neeson’s Fantastic Fantasy Adaptation

Writer/Director: Andrew Adamson Starring: William Moseley, Georgie Henley and Tilda Swinton ‘A Captivating Classic’ Not many actresses in Hollywood have … More

Book Review, books, fantasy, film, movies

“Adaptation” (2002) – Chris Cooper’s Captivating Classic About Frustrated Screenwriters

Director: Spike Jonze Starring: Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep and Chris Cooper ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ Have you ever found yourself staring … More

Book Review, books, fiction, movies, writing

“A Beautiful Mind” (2001) – Paul Bettany’s Beautiful Biopic About a Genius

Writer/Director: Ron Howard Starring: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany ‘Beautiful Biopic’ When it comes to the greatest mathematicians … More

fitness, food, health, writing

“Emma” (2020) – Bill Nighy’s Beautiful Jane Austen Adaptation

Director: Autumn de Wilde Writer: Eleanor Catton (based on book by Jane Austen) Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn and Bill … More

“Pride & Prejudice” (2005) – Judi Dench’s Magnificent Jane Austen Masterpiece

Director: Joe Wright Starring: Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfayden and Judi Dench ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ When it comes to the world’s … More

Book Review, books, jane-austen, literature, romance

“Sense & Sensibility” (1995) – Kate Winslet’s Astonishing Jane Austen Adaptation

Director: Ang Lee Starring: Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant and Kate Winslet ‘A Captivating Classic’ Few authors in English literature have … More

Book Review, books, jane-austen, literature, romance

“Dead Poets Society” (1989) – Josh Charles’ Captivating Classic about Inspirational Poetry Professors

Director: Peter Weir Starring: Robin Williams, Ethan Hawke and Josh Charles ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ Few actors in Hollywood have had … More

film, literature, poetry, robin-williams, writing

“The Breakfast Club” (1985) – Molly Ringwald’s Captivating Coming-of-Age Classic

Writer/Director: John Hughes Starring: Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson and Molly Ringwald ‘A Captivating Classic’ Do you remember the time … More

film, john-hughes, movies, music, reviews

“Becoming Jane” (2007) – Julie Walters’ Brilliant Jane Austen Period Piece

Director: Julian Jarrold Starring: Anne Hathaway, Helen McCrory and James McAvoy ‘A Beautiful Period Piece’ Not many actresses in Britain … More

Book Review, books, film, jane-austen, movies

My Favourite Brad Pitt Movies of All-Time

Few actors in Hollywood have lit a bright spark into movies like Brad Pitt. Following his stardom during the 1990’s, … More

brad-pitt, film, movie, movie-review, movies

“12 Years a Slave” (2013) – Brad Pitt’s Spectacular Slavery Masterpiece

Director: Steve McQueen Writer: John Ridley (based on true story of Solomon Northup) Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Paul Dano … More

film, movie, movie-review, movies, steve-mcqueen

“The Counselor” (2013) – Brad Pitt’s Worst Movie

Director: Ridley Scott Writer: Cormac McCarthy Starring: Michael Fassbender, Javier Bardem and Cameron Diaz ‘Waste of Talent’ Glamorous style overrides … More

film, movie-reviews, movies, paul-mescal, ridley-scott

“Inglorious Basterds” (2009) – Brad Pitt’s Glorious Masterpiece About Nazi Germany

Writer/Director: Quentin Tarantino Starring: Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz and Michael Fassbender ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ Few filmmakers which achieved fame several … More

film, history, holocaust, movies, reviews

“Ocean’s Eleven” (2001) – Brad Pitt’s Captivating Casino Classic

Director: Steven Soderbergh Starring: Brad Pitt, George Clooney and Matt Damon ‘A Captivating Classic’ Not many actors in Hollywood have … More

brad-pitt, film, films, george-clooney, movies

“Fight Club” (1999) – Brad Pitt’s Captivating Cult Classic

Director: David Fincher Written by Jim Uhls (based off screenplay by Chuck Palahniuk) Starring: Edward Norton, Brad Pitt and Helena … More

brad-pitt, david-fincher, film, movie-review, movies

“Se7en” (1995) – Brad Pitt’s Spectacular Serial Killer Masterpiece

Director: David Fincher Starring: Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Spacey ‘A Mesmerizing Masterpiece’ Few filmmakers in the world have … More

brad-pitt, david-fincher, film, horror, movies

“World War Z” (2013) – Brad Pitt’s Boring Zombie Invasion Blockbuster

Director: Marc Forster Writers: Drew Goddard, Matthew Carnahan and Damon Lindelof Starring: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos and Fana Mokoena ‘Bland … More

cinema, film, horror, movie-review, movies

My Favourite Toni Collette Movies of All-Time

Not many actresses are as hard as to forget as Toni Collette. Since the 1990’s, Collette has become an icon. … More

entertainment, film, movies, reviews, toni-collette

“Juror #2” (2024) – Toni Collette’s Captivating Courtroom Classic

Director: Clint Eastwood Starring: Nicholas Hoult, J.K. Simmons and Toni Collette ‘A Captivating Courtroom Classic’ Few filmmakers in Hollywood are … More

clint-eastwood, juror-2, movies, nicholas-hoult, toni-collette

“Knives Out” (2019) – Toni Collette’s Magnificent Murder Mystery

Writer/Director: Rian Johnson Starring: Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas and Chris Pine ‘A Magnificent Murder Mystery’ Murder mysteries are a … More

Book Review, books, film, movies, mystery

“Hereditary” (2018) – Toni Collette’s Haunting Horror Classic About Family Trauma

Writer/Director: Ari Aster Starring: Toni Collette, Milly Shapiro and Gabriel Byrne ‘A Terrifying Thriller’ Before I begin this review, I … More

film, horror, horror-movies, movie-review, movies

“Hitchcock” (2012) – Toni Collette’s Brilliant Hitchcock Biopic

Director: Sacha Gervasi Writer: John J. McLaughlin (based off book by Stephen Rebello) Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, Scarlett Johansson … More

alfred-hitchcock, film, horror, movies, reviews

“The Hours” (2002) – Toni Collette’s Moving Drama About Depressed Writers

Director: Stephen Daldry Starring: Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore and Meryl Streep ‘Deeply Moving Drama’ “The Hours” is directed by Stephen … More

awards, cinema, film, movies, oscars

“The Sixth Sense” (1999) – Toni Collette’s Captivating Horror Classic

Writer/Director: M. Night Shyamalan Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette and Haley Joel Osment ‘A Captivating Classic’ Few actresses in Hollywood … More

bruce-willis, film, horror, horror-movies, movies

“The Way Way Back” (2013) – Toni Collette’s Captivating Coming-of-Age Classic

Writers/Directors: Nat Faxon and Jim Rash Starring: Liam James, Steve Carell, Sam Rockwell and Maya Rudolph ‘Captivating Coming-of-Age Drama’ We’re … More

film, movie-review, movie-reviews, movies, reviews

“Matilda” (1996) – Mara Wilson’s Beautiful Adaptation of a Celebrated Children’s Book

Director: Danny DeVito Starring: Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman and Mara Wilson ‘A Beautiful Adaptation’ Not many actors that achieved fame … More

books, fantasy, film, movies, reviews

“Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” (1998) – Shah Rukh Khan’s Captivating Bollywood Classic About College

Writer/Director: Karan Johar Starring: Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and Rani Mukerji ‘A Captivating Classic’ Few actresses in Bollywood pour their … More

bollywood, entertainment, karan-johar, movies, rani-mukerji

“The Substance” (2024) – Demi Moore’s Amazing Oscar-Winning Masterpiece About Aging

Writer/Director: Coralie Fargeat Starring: Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley and Dennis Quaid ‘A Captivating Horror Classic’ Few actresses in Hollywood have … More

coralie-fargeat, demi-moore, horror, margaret-qualley, the-substance

“Judas and the Black Messiah” (2021) – Jesse Plemons’ Brilliant Biopic About a Black Leader

Writer/Director: Shaka King Co-writer: Will Berson Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, LaKeith Stanfield and Jesse Plemons ‘Breathtaking Historical Biopic’ Racism has always … More

books, movies, reviews, writing

“The Personal History of David Copperfield” (2019) – Tilda Swinton’s Delightful Dickens Adaptation

Writer/Director: Armando Iannucci Co-writer: Simon Blackwell (based on book by Charles Dickens) Starring: Dev Patel, Hugh Laurie and Tilda Swinton … More

books, fiction, film, literature, reading

“Just Mercy” (2019) – Jamie Foxx’s Compelling Courtroom Drama

Writer/Director: Destin Daniel Cretton Co-writer: Andrew Lanham (based on book) Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx and Brie Larson ‘Captivating … More

diversity, education, history, politics, reviews

“Darkest Hour” (2017) – Lily James’ Great Period Piece About Churchill

Director: Joe Wright Starring: Gary Oldman, Lily James and Ben Mendehlson ‘A Captivating Period Piece’ Not many actresses in Hollywood … More

“Beasts of No Nation” (2015) – Abraham Attah’s Heartbreaking Masterpiece About African Orphans

Writer/Director: Cary Joji Fukunaga Starring: Idris Elba, Abraham Attah and Emmanuel Affadzi ‘A Meaningful Masterpiece’ Not many actors possess the … More

“Short Term 12” (2013) – Kaitlyn Dever’s Meaningful Masterpiece About Mental Hospitals

Writer/Director: Destin Daniel Cretton Starring: Brie Larson, Rami Malek and LaKeith Steilfeld ‘A Captivating Classic’ Not many actresses in Hollywood … More

film, mental-health, movies, reviews

“The Great Gatsby” (2013) – Tobey Maguire’s Great Adaptation of a Celebrated Book About Doomed Love

Writer/Director: Baz Luhrmann Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ Few books ever written about millionaires … More

Book Review, book-reviews, books, fiction, literature

“My Week With Marilyn” (2011) – Eddie Redmayne’s Magnificent Marilyn Monroe Biopic

Director: Simon Curtis Starring Michelle Williams, Eddie Redmayne, Kenneth Branagh ‘Magnificent Monroe Biopic’ “My Week with Marilyn” is directed by … More

“The King’s Speech” (2010) – Geoffrey Rush’s Magnificent Historical Masterpiece

Director: Tom Hooper Starring: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter ‘A Magnificent Historical Masterpiece’ Not many actors in … More

best-picture, film, history, movies, oscars

“Inglorious Basterds” (2009) – Christoph Waltz’s Glorious Masterpiece About Nazi Germany

Writer/Director: Quentin Tarantino Starring: Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz and Michael Fassbender ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ Few filmmakers which achieved fame several … More

film, history, holocaust, movies, reviews

“Slumdog Millionaire” (2008) – Irrfan Khan’s Incredible Masterpiece About Indian Millionaires

Director: Danny Boyle Starring: Dev Patel, Frieda Pinto and Irrfan Khan ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ Few countries across the world are … More

food, india, photography, travel

“Bright Star” (2008) – Abbie Cornish’s Captivating Romantic Classic About Doomed Lovers

Writer/Director: Jane Campion Starring: Ben Whishaw, Abbie Cornish and Paul Schneider ‘A Captivating Classic’ Not many actors in Hollywood have … More

film, john-keats, literature, movies, poetry

“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” (2005) – Jim Broadbent’s Fantastic Fantasy Adaptation

Writer/Director: Andrew Adamson Starring: William Moseley, Georgie Henley and Tilda Swinton ‘A Captivating Classic’ Not many actresses in Hollywood have … More

Book Review, books, fantasy, film, movies

“Adaptation” (2002) – Meryl Streep’s Captivating Classic about Screenwriters

Director: Spike Jonze Starring: Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep and Chris Cooper ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ Have you ever found yourself staring … More

adaptation, books, fiction, film, movies

“A Beautiful Mind” (2001) – Jennifer Connelly’s Beautiful Biopic About a Misunderstood Genius

Writer/Director: Ron Howard Starring: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany ‘Beautiful Biopic’ When it comes to the greatest mathematicians … More

fitness, food, health, writing

“Emma” (2020) – Johnny Flynn’s Beautiful Jane Austen Adaptation

Director: Autumn de Wilde Writer: Eleanor Catton (based on book by Jane Austen) Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn and Bill … More

books, film, jane-austen, movies, reviews

“Pride & Prejudice” (2005) – Matthew Macfayden’s Magnificent Jane Austen Masterpiece

Director: Joe Wright Starring: Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfayden and Judi Dench ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ When it comes to the world’s … More

Book Review, books, jane-austen, literature, romance

“Sense & Sensibility” (1995) – Hugh Grant’s Amazing Jane Austen Adaptation

Director: Ang Lee Starring: Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant and Kate Winslet ‘A Captivating Classic’ Few authors in English literature have … More

Book Review, books, jane-austen, literature, romance

“Becoming Jane” (2007) – Helen McCrory’s Beautiful Period Piece About Jane Austen

Director: Julian Jarrold Starring: Anne Hathaway, Helen McCrory and James McAvoy ‘A Beautiful Period Piece’ Not many actresses in Britain … More

Book Review, books, jane-austen, movies, romance

“Dead Poets Society” (1989) – Ethan Hawke’s Captivating Classic About Inspiring Poetry Professors

Director: Peter Weir Starring: Robin Williams, Ethan Hawke and Josh Charles ‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’ Few actors in Hollywood have had … More

film, literature, poetry, robin-williams, writing

“The Breakfast Club” (1985) – Judd Nelson’s Captivating Coming-of-Age Classic

Writer/Director: John Hughes Starring: Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson and Molly Ringwald ‘A Captivating Classic’ Do you remember the time … More

film, john-hughes, movies, music, reviews

My Favourite LaKeith Stanfield Movies of All-Time

Not many actors have built a legacy as strong as LaKeith Stanfield. Since the 1990’s, Stanfield has become a beloved … More

comedy, film, horror, movies, reviews

“Judas and the Black Messiah” (2021) – LaKeith Stanfield’s Brilliant Biopic About a Black Leader

Writer/Director: Shaka King Co-writer: Will Berson Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, LaKeith Stanfield and Jesse Plemons ‘Breathtaking Historical Biopic’ Racism has always … More

books, movies, reviews, writing

“Knives Out” (2019) – LaKeith Stanfield’s Magnificent Murder Mystery Classic

Writer/Director: Rian Johnson Starring: Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas and Chris Pine ‘A Magnificent Murder Mystery’ Murder mysteries are a … More

Book Review, books, film, movies, mystery

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