The Cynical Cinephiles

Director: Greta Gerwig Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Timothee Chalamet, Laura Dern, Meryl Streep After her sublime directorial debut in 2017 with Lady Bird, a coming-of-age film that explored the complex dynamic of a mother-daughter relationship, Greta Gerwig returns with her sophomore endeavour - Little Women . It's a narrative that we're all acquainted with, but Gerwig's emphasis on sisterhood and womanhood separates her interpretation and gives a fresh voice to a familiar story. In the aftermath of the Civil War, sisters Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy come of age under difficult and uncertain times. Though they each have very different drives and temperaments, the March sisters and their impenetrable bond transcends hardships in both life and love. "Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents" is one of the most famous opening lines of any novel and is the introduction to the March sisters that we have come to expect a

Director: Paul Feig Cast: Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, Emma Thompson Working as an elf in a year-round Christmas shop in Covent Garden, Kate (Clarke) is frustrated with the direction that her life has taken but is reluctant to improve her circumstance. However, when the charming, handsome and relentlessly positive Tom (Golding) enters her life, Kate slowly begins to change her ways and confront what has been holding her back. Kate is a character with many sharp edges; she drinks too much, has countless one-night stands, abuses the kindness and generosity of her friends, shows no interest in her work performance and neglects her family, particularly her concerned (albeit overbearing) mother. However, Emilia Clarke (best known for her iconic role as Daenerys in Game of Thrones ) and her winning performance never allows us to lose sight of Kate's vulnerability and the qualities that make her a heroine to root for. She is funny and affable, and her self-destructiv

Director: Noah Baumbach Cast: Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, Laura Dern, Ray Liotta, Alan Alda, Julie Hegarty, Merritt Weaver Stage director Charlie (Driver) and his actor wife Nicole (Johansson) have recently made the decision to separate. The coast-to-coast divorce process evolves into something much more convoluted and painful than either had ever anticipated, pushing them to their emotional limits. Baumbach begins the film with Nicole and Charlie separately reciting a list of things that they love about one another; Nicole loves that Charlie cries easily at movies and loves being a father to their son, Henry. Charlie loves that Nicole can cut hair and is a great gift giver. Through their admissions, we witness wistful montages of happier times and memories of their marriage which is abruptly clipped by the couple undergoing a divorce counselling session. They sit at opposite ends of the couch, their body language stiff and uncomfortable as they struggle to make eye contact;

Director: Todd Phillips Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz Arthur Fleck (Phoenix) is an aspiring but failing standup comedian living and working in 1980s Gotham City. Continually ostracised by society, Fleck becomes increasingly disillusioned with the cruelty around him, triggering his descent into madness as he is radicalised and transformed into Gotham's notorious criminal mastermind. Known for his work in the comic sphere with films such as The Hangover trilogy   and  Due Date , Todd Phillips has unexpectedly transitioned into gritty drama, touching on many prevalent subjects in the process. Anti-capitalism, protesting against the negligence of the rich and privileged and mental health are just some of the topics that are addressed, but Phillips never convincingly demonstrates his handle on the statements he is making. Intensely serious and visually striking, the film has a grand sense of self-importance and the result is a slick but shallow offering. Phi

Director: Rian Johnson, Cast: Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Don Johnson, Michael Shannon, Toni Collette, Christopher Plummer Having crafted one of the most highly-anticipated films of the decade, exploring a galaxy far far away, and endured the gruelling response from disgruntled  Star Wars fans, Rian Johnson has embraced a story of a much smaller scale Knives Out , a self-penned, original story. The stakes - namely murder - are just as high but Johnson proves that you don't need lightsaber duels to make a relentlessly entertaining film. Acclaimed murder-mystery novelist Harlan Thrombey turns 85, a milestone birthday, and hosts a party at his house where his family are all in attendance. However, the evening is tarnished when Harlan is found slain in his study and notorious detective Benoit Blanc is employed to uncover the truth about the death. None of the Thrombey family are safe from Johnson's scathing and unflinching depictions, with the