The Cynical Cinephiles

Director: Lulu Wang Cast: Awkwafina, Tzi Ma, Diana Lin, Zhao Shuzhen, Lu Hong, Jiang Yongbo Upon learning that her beloved Nai Nai ("paternal grandmother" in Mandarin) only has a short while left to live, Chinese-American writer Billi (Awkwafina) travels to China to say goodbye. However, Billi's family have all agreed not to reveal the terminal diagnosis to Nai Nai (Shuzhen) and they instruct Billi to go along with their plan. The synopsis is at first glance an unbelievable set up but it is in fact inspired by a true story that Wang had previously made the subject of in an episode of  This American Life . With such an outlandish premise, the film could have risked leaning too heavily in one tonal strand i.e. making it a jovial farce or a bleak drama. However, with Wang's sensitive script and powerful direction, The Farewell always strikes the balance between comedy and melancholy. Known predominantly for her rapping career and comedic work in films such as Oc...

Director: Martin Scorsese Cast: Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Al Pacino, Ray Romano, Bobby Cannavale, Anna Paquin, Stephen Graham In the 1950s, truck driver Frank Sheeran (De Niro) meets notorious mobster Russell Bufalino (Pesci) and becomes involved in his crime family. As he ascends the ranks and raises his profile to become a top hitman, Frank also goes to work for Jimmy Hoffa (Pacino), the powerful Teamster. Adapted from Charles Brandt's book I Heard You Paint Houses by screenwriter Steve Zaillian, everything about The Irishman suggests that this is the project that Martin Scorsese has been building up to for his entire career; a mobster film featuring acting royalty, a mammoth budget and an astonishing three and a half hour run time. This lengthy figure may scream excessive, but every scene, every moment, feels crucial and worthy of its inclusion in the story. Whether it be Frank and Russell and their respective wives bickering over the no-smoking in the car rule whilst en...

Director: Taika Waititi Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Roman Griffin Davis, Taika Waititi, Thomasin McKenzie, Sam Rockwell, Rebel Wilson, Stephan Merchant, Alfie Allen Jojo (Davis), a young boy living in Nazi Germany, is committed to joining the Hitler youth and confides all of his ambitions, woes and insecurities in his imaginary best friend - Hitler himself (Waititi). When he discovers that his single mother Rosie (Johansson) has been hiding a Jewish girl in the attic, Jojo is forced to confront his blind nationalism. Perhaps his bravest, and definitely his most audacious, effort to date, writer-director Taika Waititi tackles the most unsympathetic and unhumourous group of people in history - the Nazis. A comedy about their actions seems unfathomable, but the framing of their crimes and mentality is done so in such plain terms that the sheer ridiculousness of it all prevails and successfully satirises the atrocity. Every Nazi defends the cause or espouses their beliefs with such ...

Director: Elizabeth Banks Cast: Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott Ella Balinska, Elizabeth Banks, Patrick Stewart, Sam Claflin, Noah Centino Scientist and engineer Elena (Scott) has invented a revolutionary sustainable energy source called Calisto. However, when she discovers that Calisto has fallen into the wrong hands and will be transformed into a weapon of mass destruction, Elena turns to the Angels - Sabina (Stewart) and Jane (Balinska) - to retrieve the device and save the world. "I think women can do anything," purrs Stewart's Sabina at the very beginning of the film as she lures her target into a false sense of security. She, along with a cohort of Angels, then proceed to disarm and successfully combat the target and his henchmen with remarkable skill and power which is followed by the opening credits consisting of stock footage of young girls and women around the world. It's an unsubtle introduction and this high-spirited theme of empowerment is continued ...