Cinema

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The Merchant of Venice

Shakespeare on film always presents difficulties, and it may come as no surprise to learn that this is the first appearance on film of one of Shakespeare’s most ‘difficult’ plays. Officially classed as a comedy, The Merchant of Venice has so many dark undercurrents, not least,

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War of the Worlds

Lightning never strikes in the same place twice. Or does it? H.G. Wells’ visionary 1898 sci-fi novel has had many incarnations – famously on radio by Orson Welles, on film in 1953, on TV and in comics - and now in Steven Spielberg’s contemporary American version

Lifestyle

War of the Worlds

Lightning never strikes in the same place twice. Or does it? George Orwells visionary 1898 sci-fi novel has had many incarnation famously on radio by Orson Welles, on film in 1953, and on TV and in comics- and now in Steven Spielbergs contemporary American version with man of the

Lifestyle

War of the Worlds

Lightning never strikes in the same place twice. Or does it? George Orwells visionary 1898 sci-fi novel has had many incarnation famously on radio by Orson Welles, on film in 1953, and on TV and in comics- and now in Steven Spielbergs contemporary American version with man of the

Lifestyle

Modigliani

How do you make love to a cube? is the question at the centre of the rivalry between the Italian painter (he of the long necks) Amedeo Modigliani, and Pablo Picasso, reigning divo of the Parisian avant-garde circa 1919, and the question is one about style as well as

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Last Days

Smells like teen spirit? Maybe not. In the same way that Gus va Sants movie Elephant was and was not about Columbine, so his Last Days is and is not about late Nirvana frontman and rock icon Kurt Cobain. With his now characteristic doubling-back on itself spiral narrative, van

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Million Dollar Baby

Famous winner of four Oscars (including Best Picture) Clint Eastwoods latest film is already established as an American classic. Set in the world of womens boxing, but hardly just about that, this is a masterpiece, pure and simple, deep and true (Roger Ebert). Another chance to see probably the best

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Million Dollar Baby

Famous winner of four Oscars (including Best Picture) Clint Eastwoods latest film is already established as an American classic. Set in the world of womens boxing, but hardly just about that, this is a masterpiece, pure and simple, deep and true (Roger Ebert). Another chance to see probably the best

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Sin City

Retro-futuristic comic book urban decadence makes a brilliant reappearance in Robert Rodriguez and Frank Millers own Sin City graphic novels. Using almost literally Millers story board for the film, and retaining the graphic imagery and colouration of the original, as well as the narrative style and sentimental characterization, the

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Batman Begins

A guy who dresses up like a bat clearly has issues. Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer and George Clooney have all had the privilege, but Christian Bale has more issues than most hes less camp, more convincing in this earnest Batman prequel, as possibly the best Bruce Wayne since

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Sideways

Do you remember fun? One of the best American movies in years, and already assured of classic status alongside the likes of Woody Allens trenchant comedies of manners, Alexander Paynes Sideways as garnered widespread acclaim. A bittersweet journey of self discovery in the Californian winelands and homage to the culture

Lifestyle

Sideways

Do you remember fun? One of the best American movies in years, and already assured of classic status alongside the likes of Woody Allens trenchant comedies of manners, Alexander Paynes Sideways as garnered widespread acclaim. A bittersweet journey of self discovery in the Californian winelands and homage to the culture

Lifestyle

Bend It Like Beckham

A big hit in 2002, Gurinder Chadhas feel-good comedy reworks in a sports environment, and with less seriousness, some of the ethnic differences that are the particular concern of Non Resident Indian directors like Chadha herself (Bhaji on the Beach; Bride and Prejudice), and Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding) and

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Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith

How and why did Anakin Skywalker desert the Jedi and go over to the dark side to become Darth Vader? This is the issue central to the third prequel in the Star Wars saga, the one that links to George Lucas original mid-sequence space opera from 1977. And while

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Kingdom of Heaven

Sir Ridley Scott is no stranger to the period epic genre (most successfully with Gladiator) and in this, his latest Crusader blockbuster, his peculiar skill at choreographing violence and brutality, and graphically depicting Hell on earth, is unleashed to dramatic effect (its amazing what slow motion can do!). A material

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Kingdom of Heaven

Sir Ridley Scott is no stranger to the period epic genre (most successfully with Gladiator) and in this, his latest Crusader blockbuster, his peculiar skill at choreographing violence and brutality, and graphically depicting Hell on earth, is unleashed to dramatic effect (its amazing what slow motion can do!). A material

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The Warrior

The penultimate feature in the British Institutes Talking Pictures programme of Indian Diaspora films and never the twain shall meet? This is a remarkable film debut for British born Asif Kapadia. An ambitious epic undertaking, spectacularly filmed in the deserts and mountains of Rajasthan, The Warrior is set in Indias

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Touching the Void

This is a breath-takingly thrilling drama documentary (Oscar-winning Director Kevin MacDonalds description) that brings a true story of a devastating moral dilemma alive on the big screen. Retracing the ascent of Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes by two young British climbers in 1985, MacDonalds film slopes with

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Head in the Cloud

World War II melodrama of epic silliness and supreme vapidity (Rolling Stone) is perhaps not the best recommendation for this Chalize Theron and Penelope Cruz coupling. And coupling in various guises is what its all about. Theron plays Gilda (yes!),a 30s throwback (would-be) femme fatale fatally seducing all

Lifestyle

Modigliani

How do you make love to a cube? is the question at the centre of the rivalry between the Italian painter (he of the long necks) Amedeo Modigliani, and Pablo Picasso, reigning divo of the Parisian avant-garde circa 1919, and the question is one about style as well as

Lifestyle

Monsoon Wedding

The British Institutes Talking Pictures Indian Diaspora season, And never the twain shall meet? a series of celebrated films made by Indian Subcontinentals and others, exploring the burning issues of East-West migration and adjustment, this week features Misa Nairs award winning (Golden Lion, Venice 2001 ) MONSOON WEDDING, a romantic

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Spanglish

Bilingual Anglo-Latino romantic comedy, with an amazing star turn from Tea Leoni as an uptight Los Angeles housewife and mother who welcomes inter her household Mexican economic immigrants Flor (Paz Vega) and her daughter Cristina (Shelbie Bruce), while trying to cope with stark-raving calm super chef husband (Adam

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The Jacket

Adrien Brody and Keira Knightley star in this horror-thriller about an amnesiac war veteran and his out-of-body time travel experience in an institution for the criminally insane, under the care of a sadistic morgue-infatuated psychiatrist (Kris Kristofferson). Generally regarded as a bit of a disappointment after

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Super Size Me

Hard-hitting documentaries have been making a comeback in cinemas around the world, and there seems to be no end in sight to military-industrial-complex-bashing. The latest target is the fast food corporation (the one with the big yellow M in particular), held to account, in this refreshingly

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