Reviewed by GREG KING Director: Kenneth Branagh Stars: Jamie Dornan, Caitriona Balfe, Jude Hill, Judi Dench, Ciaran Hinds, Colin Morgan, Lewis McAskie, Freya Yates, Olive Tennant. This bittersweet, semi-autobiographical coming of age tale from filmmaker Kenneth Branagh has been filmed in crisp black and white and is evocative of an era. The film is set in Belfast in the summer of 1969, when Branagh himself was nine years old, and depicts the troubles that divided the city with tensions between the Protestants and the Catholics increasing. Belfast is Branagh’s Continue reading
ALL IS TRUE
Reviewed by GREG KING Director: Kenneth Branagh Stars: Kenneth Branagh, Judi Dench, Ian McKellen, Lydia Wilson, Kathryn Wilder, Jack Colgrave Hirst, Phil Dunster. Shakespeare in retirement? In 1613 William Shakespeare (played here by Kenneth Branagh) was the most famous writer in England. But then his beloved Globe Theatre burned to the ground during a performance of his final play Henry VIII after a prop misfired. Shakespeare retired following that disaster and returned home to Stratford-upon-Avon. There he pottered around the house and tried his hand at Continue reading
CINDERELLA
Reviewed by GREG KING Director: Kenneth Branagh Stars: Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden, Holliday Grainger, Sophie McShera, Derek Jacobi, Stellan Skarsgaard, Nonso Anozi, Helena Bonham Carter, Ben Chaplin, Hayley Atwell, Rob Brydon. This is a superb and visually stunning live action retelling of the classic and timeless fairy tale that has become one of Disney's most enduring and beloved animated films. But will this version stand the test of time like Disney's animated classic and still be fondly remembered when it is over 60 years old? There have been Continue reading