My cheers for Lamine Yamal’s goal did not go down well in this London pub.
Philip Bagnall
@cynicalfilm.bsky.social
Film critic. Contributor to Scannain, Loud and Clear Reviews, HeadStuff, Next Best Picture, FILMHOUNDS, The 250 Podcast. Mutes without hesitation. Not always right, but never wrong. Contact: cynicalfilm@gmail.com Portfolio: https://www.cynicalfilm.com/
In Alex GIbney’s respectful & admiring documentary, the dignity of its subject in the face of violence shines bright. Read @cynicalfilm.bsky.social's review of KNIFE: THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF SALMAN RUSHDIE, out October 2 in UK & Irish cinemas, with one-night-only previews on September 30! 🔥
Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie Review
In Alex GIbney’s documentary Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie, the dignity of its subject in the face of violence shines bright.
loudandclearreviews.com
In KNIFE: THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF SALMAN RUSHDIE, director Alex Gibney captures the author's indomitable spirit, resulting in a supremely uplifting (but not exactly revelatory) journey of recovery. Previews 30th Sept., in UK/Irl cinemas 2nd Oct. My review: loudandclearreviews.com/knife-murder...
Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie Review
In Alex GIbney’s documentary Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie, the dignity of its subject in the face of violence shines bright.
loudandclearreviews.com
LA BOLA NEGRA is the People's Choice at the Toronto International Film Festival, which has always been a better marker of awards likelihood than true quality. For all its ambition and skill, Los Javis' epic feels emotionally distant. My review from Cannes: loudandclearreviews.com/the-black-ba...
The Black Ball (La Bola Negra) Film Review
The Black Ball (La Bola Negra) is brilliantly made and heartfelt, even if it can’t convey its characters’ passion as well as their suffering.
loudandclearreviews.com
I talked to QUEEN AT SEA writer/director Lance Hammer about how to research a difficult subject, what an outsider view brings to a local story, and Juliette Binoche being an 'art beast'. My interview for @filmhounds.co.uk: filmhounds.co.uk/2026/09/16/d...
Director Lance Hammer Talks Queen At Sea - “It’s the most rewarding experience when you’re working with somebody that’s so committed to the art”
Almost two decades on from his directorial debut, director Lance Hammer sits down with FILMHOUNDS to discuss his second feature, Queen At Sea.
filmhounds.co.uk
Philip Bagnall@cynicalfilm.bsky.social · 2w agoThorougly shaken by Lance Hammer's QUEEN AT SEA, a drama that explores degenerative illness, consent & the roles we occupy in the lives of those for whom we care. Juliette Binoche astounds yet again. In U.K. cinemas 18th September. My review for @filmhounds.co.uk: filmhounds.co.uk/2026/09/15/q...
I talked to QUEEN AT SEA writer/director Lance Hammer about how to research a difficult subject, what an outsider view brings to a local story, and Juliette Binoche being an 'art beast'. My interview for @filmhounds.co.uk: filmhounds.co.uk/2026/09/16/d...
Director Lance Hammer Talks Queen At Sea - “It’s the most rewarding experience when you’re working with somebody that’s so committed to the art”
Almost two decades on from his directorial debut, director Lance Hammer sits down with FILMHOUNDS to discuss his second feature, Queen At Sea.
filmhounds.co.uk
Philip Bagnall@cynicalfilm.bsky.social · 2w agoThorougly shaken by Lance Hammer's QUEEN AT SEA, a drama that explores degenerative illness, consent & the roles we occupy in the lives of those for whom we care. Juliette Binoche astounds yet again. In U.K. cinemas 18th September. My review for @filmhounds.co.uk: filmhounds.co.uk/2026/09/15/q...
I am here to join in the reclamation of this beauty from accusations of being dry and boring (Those accusations are true of the book, though). Bloody love THE ENGLISH PATIENT, me.
Disc-Connected: Your trusted news source in physical media@disc-connected.bsky.social · 2w ago***ANNOUNCEMENT*** Coming on December 8th on #4K and Blu-ray releases in the US from @criterion.bsky.social: #TheEnglishPatient (1996)! Anthony Minghella transforms Michael Ondaatje’s prizewinning novel into one of the most breathtaking romances ever put on-screen, a film that captured both
Thorougly shaken by Lance Hammer's QUEEN AT SEA, a drama that explores degenerative illness, consent & the roles we occupy in the lives of those for whom we care. Juliette Binoche astounds yet again. In U.K. cinemas 18th September. My review for @filmhounds.co.uk: filmhounds.co.uk/2026/09/15/q...
Queen at Sea (Film Review) - Love And Care Separated
After an eighteen year absence following his debut, Lance Hammer returns with Queen At Sea, a complex look at life, love, death and care.
filmhounds.co.uk
For €211, I’d expect to be close enough to punch Liam in the face. Quietly hoping that they pull a Neil Young and only play the newest shite they can be bothered to pull out of their arses.
Gavan Reilly@gavreilly.com · 2w agoGeneral admission tickets €181.25 Front standing tickets €211.25 ‘Reserved seats for outdoor compound’, including reserved stand seat, separate bar and food area, and “premium toilet” €501.25
Mixed up my anti-perspirant with my hairspray. I trust your morning is going better.
25TH HOUR and UNITED 93 would both beg to differ with this ragebait.
The Hollywood Reporter@thr.com · 2w agoThere has never been a great film about September 11, 2001. There should be. For 25 years, artists and audiences have been processing the attacks onscreen. But something is still missing.
Saw Nicolas Winding Refn with a stack of 4Ks in his hand at the till at Fopp. My opinion on HER PRIVATE HELL wouldn’t have been worth me interrupting his purchase.
Gutted to hear this news. Any man to saw fit to take a punt on the wildest visions from the likes of Cronenberg, Bertolucci, Glazer and Roeg was a gift to cinema. R.I.P. to the great Jeremy Thomas.
Mark Cousins@markcousinsfilm.bsky.social · 2w agoOne of the greatest film producers, Jeremy Thomas, died last night. Bad Timing, Eureka, The Hit, Sexy Beast, The Last Emperor, The Sheltering Sky, Crash, Naked Lunch. I made it back from America to be with him at the end. We drank red wine and cried. Truly loved him.
EVERYBODY DIGS BILL EVANS (in U.K./Irish cinemas now) is a showcase for the cast and DoP Piers McGrail, but offers little explanation as to the piano virtuoso's appeal, drowning us in his grief after the death of a key collaborator. My review for @filmhounds.co.uk: filmhounds.co.uk/2026/09/10/e...
Everybody Digs Bill Evans (Film Review) — FILMHOUNDS
Everybody Digs Bill Evans is named after the pianist’s 1959 album, his second as the head of a trio. However, the film’s emphasis lies two years later.
filmhounds.co.uk
HOPE is in North American theaters today. Na Hong-jin goes for broke with breakneck pacing and crunchy action to overcome its iffy CGI and bloated runtime. Bring beer & friends, and enjoy. My review from Cannes for @loudandclearrvs.bsky.social: loudandclearreviews.com/hope-2026-fi...
Hope (2026) Film Review: A Wild Ride
Forgive Hope its obvious flaws, and a ridiculously fun time will be had with Na Hong-jin’s creative creature feature.
loudandclearreviews.com
The idea that Russell Crowe was ideal as a ‘blunt instrument’ overlooks a. How good he is in GLADIATOR and b. The sensitivity he can bring to his work (Mandatory rewatches of THE INSIDER for all, post-haste). Also, GLADIATOR II was unnecessary & painfully dumb. Mescal literally jumps a shark in it!
The Guardian@theguardian.com · 4w agoWas Paul Mescal being ‘not masculine enough’ the reason Gladiator II flopped?
1. ... so anyway, I says to Mabel, I says... 2. Oh, for the love of crumbcake! 3. That's a nice-a donut. 4. ... like a couple of Rory Calhouns. 5. Oh, Tuttle's Sunday trousers!
Ben Baker@benbaker.bsky.social · last mo.The 5 Simpsons lines I’ve uttered most off the top of my head 1. He did say "well" a lot. 2. Man Alive...there are men alive in here! 3. ...smiling politely. 4. And you should win things by watching. 5. Endut! Hoch Hech!
Just signed this you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/sa...
Save The Prince Charles Cinema
The future of the iconic Prince Charles Cinema in London’s West End is under serious threat! We are beyond disappointed that our landlords, Zedwell LSQ Ltd and their ultimate parent company Criterion...
you.38degrees.org.uk
After all the kerfuffle of getting released, COYOTE VS. ACME is… fine. Some sharp satirical jabs, but the plot works best when focused on the cartoonish hijinks, and not the underwritten human characters. My review:
Loud and Clear Reviews@loudandclearrvs.bsky.social · last mo."Coyote vs. Acme’s satire works only to a point, but its affection for a poor old prairie wolf is what keeps it memorable." Read @cynicalfilm.bsky.social's review of COYOTE VS ACME, out Friday! 😍🧨📦 #CoyoteVsAcme #WileECoyote loudandclearreviews.com/coyote-vs-ac...
Peak Millennial: Waiting for a coffee, unironically and unashamedly doing a little bop when 'Butterfly' by Crazy Town comes on the radio.
A tragic accident leads Bryan Bruton on a wild experience in the Florida prison system in Vincent Grashaw's BRUTON, which has just premiered at the Locarno Film Festival! Read @cynicalfilm.bsky.social's review! 😍 loudandclearreviews.com/bruton-film-... #LocarnoFilmFestival
Bruton (Locarno) Film Review: Prison Drama 101
Bruton takes a fascinating true crime story and boils it down to the prison clichés we’ve seen in other, better films.
loudandclearreviews.com
Oh, very well. (Editors etc. needing coverage, get in touch!)
Dominic Sessa and Antonio Banderas do what they can to enliven Matt Johnson’s TONY, but even a subject as complex as Anthony Bourdain can be squeezed into the poi ramekin of biopic predictability. My @filmhounds.co.uk review: filmhounds.co.uk/2026/08/10/t...
Tony (Film Review) — Bland But Digestible
As a portrait of the real man, Matt Johnson’s Tony is toothless, but it is remarkably watchable on a moment-to-moment basis.
filmhounds.co.uk
DEAD MAN’S SHOES arrived on special edition Blu-ray from @secondsightfilms.bsky.social today. Shane Meadows’ revenge thriller remains a lean and smart howl of Northern resent and regret, with a never-better Paddy Considine. My @filmhounds.co.uk review: filmhounds.co.uk/2026/08/09/d...
Dead Man’s Shoes (Blu-ray Review) - A Brilliant Revenge Tale
Reading contemporary reviews of Dead Man’s Shoes, it’s baffling to see some critics found it impenetrable, whether due to its violence or its defiantly localised take on the revenge thriller.
filmhounds.co.uk
Thanks to London’s Final Film Festival, just watched Carax’s POLA X in a new 4K restoration. All the polish of this print can’t dim how bitter it is. Carax rejecting the ‘cinéma du look’ tag after LES AMANTS DU PONT NEUF tanked. Angry, full-on, subversive, brilliant. An ur-text needing rediscovery.
I’ll see your George, and raise you this pair of face cards
Dawn@502eire.bsky.social · 2mo agothere is a recurring prompt around what’s the best that anyone has ever looked on camera and I never have an answer but I’m watching right now and I think it’s gotta be George Clooney in Ocean’s 11