By Anne Brodie Steve Coogan has written a fact-based, non-tongue-in-cheek film. If you can imagine. Director Stephen Frears’ The Lost King stars Sally Hawkins as amateur historian Philippa Langley whose instincts and apparently ghostly bond with “son of York, last Plantagenet King of England Richard III” who reigned until his death in 1485, inspired a monumental discovery. Richard has been… View Post
The most famous hacker in history, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange resides in isolation in London’s tough Belmarsh prison awaiting possible extradition to the US to face trial for espionage. His crime? Publishing videos of US military war crimes against Iraqis, provided to him by Chelsea Manning. If convicted, Assange faces a 175-year sentence, despite American constitutional values of free speech… View Post
Kiana Madeira’s Sienna is an elite boxing coach fighting not just in the ring but in her life, against male toxicity, love gone wrong, and a family betrayal. But she’s a warrior inside and out and determines to get everything together and in the process, find what she needs. Prime Video’s Perfect Addiction, shot in Poland, takes us inside a… View Post
Season two of the hit series Bel-Air, inspired by producer Will Smith’s 90’s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air takes the dramatic “re-imagination” further, with its timely, dramatic storylines, character development and the evolution of the Banks family, centred on Will’s continued growth. He’s living a lavish new life after escaping the snares of his Philly hometown, and he’s adjusting,… View Post
By Anne Brodie Because Clement Virgo’s family drama Brother is so beautifully made, and the performers give their all, it is an exquisitely painful, provocative experience and cuts deep. Marsha (Marsha Stephanie Blake) and her sons Michael (Lamar Johnson) and Francis (Aaron Pierre) live in a housing project in Scarborough where mistrust and violence are common. Hostile white, armed police… View Post
Bel-Air S2, the continuation of Will Smith’s “reimagination” of his hit 90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Airis strongly feminist, as the women lead rich and varied lives and face timely issues. For instance, his aunt, ferocious mama bear Vivian (Cassandra Freeman) confronts racism in young Ashley’s (Akira Akbar) school, while her elder daughter social media influencer Hilary (Coco Jones)… View Post