Reviews by Kyle Ellis

There are some good moments in this comedy sequel, but overall I found it limp and overly-predictable. Steve Martin and Eugene Levy do well as the two dads Tom and Jimmy, in fact the entire cast do well, even Carmen Electra who I can't stand. There is some nice scenery and music, and there are one or two funny parts, like the scene in the cinema and the line about the sweater. But as a sequel to an acceptable first film, it didn't score well with me. I will say it wasn't absolutely dire like I feared, but it is badly flawed. I actually found the gag reels funnier than the overall movie. The story is very predictable, and the jokes are either hits or misses, mostly misses sadly. Another problem was the very weak and clichéd script, not to mention the sluggish direction. Overall, not terrible, but it could have been better with a stronger script and less predictable story. 4/10 Bethany Cox

I did like this movie in general. There are some funny moments and the performances are spirited from the entire cast. Unfortunately, although as a remake it is acceptable it does have its weak spots. I didn't feel as though it had the charm of the original, by that I mean that doesn't quite have the irreverence and likability that made the original so endearing. There are some pacing problems and major discrepancies in the screenplay, plus the direction wasn't as strong as it could have been. On the whole though, it is not too bad. There is some nice scenery and camera work. The performances from the cast are fun; Steve Martin does very well in the title role, and the ensemble of children have strong chemistry. And despite the weak script, there are some funny moments, like the mince-in-the-trousers part. And there are some heart-warming parts like the ending. Overall, flawed but acceptable. 6/10 Bethany Cox

Have a lot of admiration for Paul Thomas Anderson and really like to love all his work, especially 'Boogie Nights' and 'There Will Be Blood', even finding a lot to admire with his weakest film ('Inherent Vice' from personal opinion). Also consider Daniel Day-Lewis a wonderful actor and that his triple Oscar wins are testament to that.

With 'Phantom Thread' being touted as Day-Lewis' swan song (very sad) and with so many award nominations, interest was incredibly high despite not being completely sold by the advertising. Seeing it yesterday when it first came out in my country, found it to be a truly outstanding film in every regard. One of the most beautiful and most interesting films seen recently and the standout so far of the 2017 films released here this year. Also consider it Anderson's best film since 'There Will Be Blood' and one of his very best.

'Phantom Thread' is a visually stunning film. It's beautifully and cleverly photographed (the techniques and types of camera-work being typical Anderson), with the cinematography allowing one to be in awe of the sumptuous production design and jaw droppingly gorgeous costume design (my win for this year's Oscar for its category).

Anderson's distinctive directing style is written all over the film. Meaning visual boldness, the memorable way in how he uses music, how he handles thematic consistency and having characters that are flawed but realistically so while not being necessarily likeable. All present here.

Jonny Greenwood's music score is as ever an interesting and layered in mood, hauntingly beautiful and clever one on its own, one that is not forgotten. Just as remarkable is the sympathetic way it's used while being like its own character in the film. Undoubtedly the reason for its Oscar nomination. The pre-existing music makes every bit as much of an impression, perhaps even more so. Most of it classical, with a mix of solo piano, symphonic and especially chamber music (on top of popular songs from the period). They are either understatedly heard in the background, appropriate for a gentle piece like Faure's Berceuse, or like characters of their own that enhance the intense mood of the scene in question, such as the Schubert and especially the Debussy (made to sound easy by the performance of the quartet, when it's actually a nightmare, Debussy in general is hard having sung many of his songs and he can be unforgiving to vocalists).

Throughout, 'Phantom Thread' is very thoughtfully and even poetically scripted, with remarkable complexity. To make Alma an ambiguous character with vague motivations was an intriguing choice, and while it will no doubt frustrate viewers and will be considered a flaw it came over very well and only added to the realistically complicated dynamic of her relationship with Reynolds.

In terms of the story, 'Phantom Thread' is anchored by this relationship dynamic. It may not be a novel theme, with other films having done it (a recent example being 'Mother!'), but 'Phantom Thread' handles this far better than most of them, what it says about it is illuminating, fresh and surprisingly subtle. Also effective was how the high fashion world is portrayed, on the outside it's glamorous in how it looks and is worn and methodical in how the dresses are made but behind the scenes there is bitterness and cruelness, a very truthful, if again not new, depiction and a relevant one by today's standards.

Acting is throughout extremely good, superb with the three leads. Vicky Krieps is a powerful and subtle presence (very difficult to do with a character with as much ambiguity that Alma does), while Lesley Manville makes a somewhat thankless role terrifyingly formidable. But it's Day-Lewis' film, it's perhaps his most personal role with a little of himself in Reynolds and Day-Lewis gives the performance of his life portraying a man with vulnerable sensitivity and erratic quirks and is simply mesmerising, his swan-song being one of his finest performances and one of the year's overall best too. Am rooting for either him or Gary Oldman for 'Darkest Hour' for the Best Actor Oscar.

It's already been said that Reynolds is not a likeable or relatable character. To me, he is not likeable but he is flawed in a realistic way (as said a trademark of Anderson and one of his strongest examples) and personally could identify with his quirks and sensitivity, being an autistic person prone to sensitivity and erratic moods, a lot of difficulties and obstacles having to be faced all my life and having a few compulsive quirks of my own. Though not as extreme as those of Reynolds, still try to be nice and easy to get on with despite all this.

Overall, a divine film. A long film and a slow one but hugely rewarding. An easy 10/10. Bethany Cox

I know people have complained about the length of this movie. Yeah, it is long, three hours approximately, but there are so many things that compensate. Norman Jewison's direction is very good, and the film is stylishly filmed, with some nice cinematography and there are nice scenery and costumes. The choreography is great, energetic in parts and graceful in others. Next, the music is outstanding. The incidental music largely reminiscent of Russian folk music is a real treat, but the songs are outstanding. The beautiful "Sunrise, Sunset", the fun "Tradition", the idealistic "Match Maker" and the energetic "If I Were A Rich Man", all amazing. Also, Topol, what an absolutely brilliant performance. He put body and soul into Tevye, successfully mixing humour, wisdom and poignancy and the result is one of the most memorable performances in any musical to grace our screens. All the other performances are wonderful, I liked it all five daughters had distinct personalities, and Norma Crane is fantastic as the mother. The story is both tight and poignant, about a milkman of Jewish values, who wishes his five daughters to marry. In conclusion, wonderful and definitely memorable. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Yes, you may be sceptical of the casting if you saw it, but Chicago is a great movie, honestly it is. There is a sharp and witty script, wonderful performances from Catherine Zeta Jones, Renee Zellwegger and Richard Gere and brilliant song and dance routines. The film is stunningly-photographed, and it is not only that the song and dance numbers were great, but also how cleverly they were incorporated into the story, which was a fantastic idea. The costumes are also fabulous, and I thought Catherine Zeta Jones was hot as Velma. Richard Gere is his usual charming self, and Renee Zellwegger lights up the screen even if her character is rather dim-witted. The film is a little long, but I think this is a witty and naughty movie, that is absolutely fantastic in every meaning of the word, and I don't get the negative criticisms. 9.5/10 Bethany Cox

With talented actors such as Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci and Jane Lynch on board, plus Nora Ephron has been responsible for some lovely work, 'Julie & Julia' seemed a recipe made in heaven. Seeing it, it is truly delicious stuff.

Do agree with those saying that the Julia Child portions are much more interesting than the Julie Powell ones. Not that the Julie Powell scenes are unwatchable, certainly not. There are amusing and sweet moments and succeeds just as much as the Julia Child story in making one want to grab a cook-book and start cooking or starting a blog. The film in general with both story lines compels one to want to cook, regardless of how good they are at it or not.

Amy Adams also brings charm to Julie and an amusing angst and Chris Messina is likable support, though the character is underwritten somewhat. Their chemistry is nicely done.

What lets it down however are silly scenes like with the dinner and 65 answer phone messages, pacing that lacked lustre in places and the shallow self-absorbed way Julie particularly is written.

Luckily, the Julia Child portions have much more charm and are easier to relate to, with Julia's obstacles and determinations being easier to root for and Julia being a more endearing character. The scenes have so much warmth and makes one laugh in an uplifting fashion and cry in how delicately and sensitively the subject is portrayed.

Meryl Streep gives yet another masterly performance, that's both hilarious and touching and much more than an impersonation even with the mannerisms, voice and such being spot on. She is not as tall as Child was, who was 6 foot 2 to Streep's 5 foot 6, but 'Julie & Julia' cleverly disguised that by basically casting shorter actors and actresses. Stanley Tucci is equally brilliant as her husband, one really believes that they are in love and Tucci charms the socks out of everybody. Jane Lynch is a welcome presence in a small role as Dorothy.

The only problems with her story are that it occasionally sags in the middle and that the Republican/McCarthyism jibes did come over as mean-spirited and unnecessary.

'Julie & Julia' is beautifully filmed, especially in the Julia story, which also has very evocative and handsomely rendered period detail that feels like late 40s-50s France. The music gives a good taste of the uplifting and the tragic, with brilliant use of "Time After Time". Am not a fan of the very overplayed "Prince of Denmark" march but tolerated it here.

Nora Ephron's directing in the film's best parts is some of the best she ever did in my opinion and in the best parts the script is witty, inspiring, poignant and sharply observant with lots of warmth. Much of the story works really well, with the two stories and time lines intertwined with great skills and never is hard to follow or choppy.

Overall, culinary deliciousness if at times uneven. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Shakespeare in Love was a fantastic film in all departments. You cannot go wrong with the splendid locations and the wondrous costumes. The screenplay was superlative, very witty and moving, and one of the few screenplays out there that completely blew me away. The direction from John Madden was spot on, and I believe it is the same John Madden who directed some of the greatest Inspector Morse episodes, and Inspector Morse in my opinion is the best British detective drama out there. And what a talented cast, with Joseph Fiennes utterly charming and handsome as William Shakespeare, and Gwyneth Paltrow in possibly her best performance was by every means captivating as Lady Viola. Geoffrey Rush, who actually looks like the Barbossa character he created in the Pirates of the Caribbean films, was hilarious, and Colin Firth makes Lord Wessex intentionally insufferable. Simon Callow, Martin Clunes and Ben Affleck are solid in their roles, not to mention the wonderful performance of Judi Dench as Queen Elizabeth I. Her end monologue was beautifully written and Dench's interpretation was flawless. I am 17, and I do hope I am not the only person who doesn't think this movie is overrated- I thought it was a brilliant film, that wholly deserved the accolades it received. 10/10 Bethany Cox

There were a few reasons why I wanted to see Chocolat. I am all for sweet, heart-warming stories and I love Johnny Depp and Judi Dench. Upon viewing, Chocolat doesn't disappoint. The pacing sags slightly in the middle, but Chocolat is overall delightful and quite simply for me a delicious experience. The production values are exquisite- the cinematography is lovely, the scenery is breathtaking and the costumes are gorgeous. The music is also lovingly lyrical, and the script is both funny and touching and thankfully manages not to become too mushy or treacly. And the story is very heart-warming and compelling, with crisp direction from Lasse Hallstrom. Chocolat does also have a fine cast, Juliette Binoche is typically fine and Johnny Depp looking so handsome by the way is charming. Alfred Molina is great too, and while Judi Dench was very good I personally think her performances for Notes on a Scandal, Iris and Mrs Brown were better. In conclusion, excellent film. 9/10 Bethany Cox