Grand Theft Hamlet
GRAND THEFT HAMLET is a relic of a strange time made with love, ingenuity, and originality, a testament to the enduring, almost addictive appeal of live theatre and human connection no matter what obstacles arise.
All posts by Carmen Paddock
Emilia Pérez
EMILIA PÉREZ is heavily inspired by the shocking twists and family secrets of telenovelas. Unfortunately, the film is aurally and visually ugly, and the way in which it uses Mexican drug violence and cartels as scenery without engaging with the social reality leaves a bad taste.
Since Yesterday
SINCE YESTERDAY joyously celebrates the work of groups that, by all rights, should be better known today, and paints a vibrant picture of their artistry but also a damning picture of sexism, classism, and London-centrism that still plagues the UK’s arts scene today.
The Critic
THE CRITIC approaches a dynamic historical era whose high stakes parallel today’s with a dearth of imagination and humanity. It looks handsome, but its heart is hollow.
Jericho Ridge
JERICHO RIDGE understands the pure thrill of a well-executed standoff, and never once lets the pace drop.
The Dead Don’t Hurt
THE DEAD DON’T HURT is a clear labour of love and a throwback to an earlier era of Western, for better and worse. Carmen Paddock reviews.
The Beast
Audacious in the extreme, THE BEAST delivers nothing new on each of its premises, but its combination is bold and stylish. The film does not rise above its shock value in commenting on society, but Seydoux and Mackay are in magnificent form.
The Teacher’s Lounge
A frog-in-a-kettle study of a societal microcosm under pressure, THE TEACHER’S LOUNGE leaves audiences turning over possible truths and futures for its characters long after the credits roll.
Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World
Despite its title and the in-your-face delivery of some of its most fevered sections, DO NOT EXPECT TOO MUCH FROM THE END OF THE WORLD is not all apathy and ironic resignation. There may not be hope, as such, at its heart, but there is an unending belief in human ingenuity and creativity.
Disco Boy
Carmen Paddock’s review of Disco Boy directed by Giacomo Abbruzzese: “While there might not be especially new ground covered in a narrative capturing the fragmenting psyches of the colonisers and the colonised […] DISCO BOY is a stunning new entry into the canon.”