FILM REVIEW/ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Wuthering Heights by Charli XCX (February 2026)

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK?: Album ****/film ***

The best thing about Emerald Fennell’s (Cinderella, Gillian Lynne Theatre) reimagining of the Emily Bronte classic is the soundtrack by Charli XCX which adds an appropriate modern gothic haunting gloom.

  • Read on for reasons including how the Wuthering Whites casting detracts from what could have been a more effective film
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FILM REVIEW: 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple starring Jack O’Connell & Ralph Fiennes

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

The arrival of Jack O’Connell (Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Apollo Theatre) as a Jimmy Savile-inspired cult leader at the end of last year’s 28 Years Later and the departure of director Danny Boyle left us concerned about the content of this film.

  • Read on for reasons including how this does enough – and quite brilliantly – to make us super excited for the final chapter
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FILM OF THE MONTH : Becoming Victoria Wood (February 2026)

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK? *****

I was 14 when Victoria Wood: As Seen On TV 1st aired in 1985 and suddenly I had comedy sketches so funny I could delightedly recite with my friends at school.

  • Read on for reasons including how it was Wood’s uniqueness which made her success so hard-fought but her reputation everlasting
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FILM REVIEW: Hamnet starring Jessie Buckley & Paul Mescal

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

WHEN? Friday 9 January 2026 on its UK release date RUNTIME: 126 minutes

Jessie Buckley deserves all the Best Actress Oscar attention she is attracting for this showstopping role as Agnes Hathaway, a woman renowned as a ‘forest witch’ who marries budding author William Shakespeare.

  • Read on for reasons including how Hamnet offers explosive Oscar-worthy performances
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FILM OF THE MONTH: The History Of Sound starring Paul Mescal & Josh O’Connor (January 2026)

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN? Tuesday 6 January, released in the UK Friday 23 January 2026 RUNTIME: 128 minutes

It’s the gift of Paul Mescal’s singer Lionel to ‘see’ sound that compels him to seek out Josh O’Connor’s musician David as the latter sits at a piano playing a rare folk song familiar to both men.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is a melancholic, quietly understated film which will eventually be regarded as a classic
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FILM REVIEW: Pillion starring Alexander Skarsgård & Harry Melling

By Aline Mahrud

WORTH A LOOK? ****

The winner of this year’s British Independent Film Award for best film revels in being both an unflinching look at a BDSM relationship while colliding with a very embarrassed British sense of humour more likely found in fare like Four Weddings And A Funeral.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is funny, thought-provoking and far more warm of heart than you might expect
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FILM REVIEW: Wicked: For Good starring Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande & Jonathan Bailey

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: *****

WHEN? 21 November 2025 on its day of release RUNTIME: 137 minutes

Wicked (Part 1) was a 5-star hit because it built on the beloved Act 1 of a classic musical giving it the visual flair and world-building that only cinema can with a superstar cast.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is the satisfying conclusion to a tale which speaks to our lives now set up beautifully by its magical 1st film
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FILM REVIEW: Plainclothes with intro by its star Russell Tovey

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK? *****

WHERE? BFI Southbank, film released in the UK Friday 10 October 2025

‘Shame is such a wonderful thing to play as an actor,’ says Tovey as he reflects on how his part in Angels In America next door at the National Theatre saw him cast here.

  • Read on for reasons including how we can see why Tovey referred to this as a film he would have loved to have seen when he was younger
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FILM REVIEW: Materialists starring Pedro Pascal, Dakota Johnson & Chris Evans

By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***

Dakota Johnson plays failed actress turned successful matchmaker Lucy who meets the perfect man, a financier played by Pedro Pascal, at the wedding of a client where her ex is working as a waiter.

  • Read on for reasons including how Materialists undoes a lot of the good work that marked out Song after Past Lives
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FILM REVIEW: 28 Years Later starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson & Jodie Comer

WORTH A LOOK?: ****

Danny Boyle (T2 Trainspotting) returns to direct the 3rd film in this series which focuses on the Kes-like training of 12-year-old Spike to defend himself which is intended to kickstart 2 further movies.

  • Read on for reasons including how this is a thrilling reminder of what was so involving about this world
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