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Reviews of movies and TV shows available to watch online on Netflix UK, Amazon Prime Instant Video, NOW TV, BBC iPlayer, iTunes, BFI Player and more.

VOD film review: In a World…

January 21, 2014 | Ian Loring

Director: Lake Bell Cast: Lake Bell, Fred Melamed, Nick Offerman, Demetri Martin Certificate: 15

Lake Bell has been a solid presence in what are usually lighter weight Hollywood comedies for the last few years, but lately she’s been stretching out … Read More

Netflix UK TV

Netflix UK TV review: The League (Season 5)

January 21, 2014 | Andrew Jones

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The League is framed around an eight-person NFL Fantasy Football League, but while that would almost seem impenetrable for the average UK viewer, the craft of good comedy is about making everyone laugh, even those confused over the more technical … Read More

Reviews TV

VOD TV review: The Musketeers (BBC) – Episode 1

January 20, 2014 | David Farnor

BBC The Musketeers review TV watch online

Photo: BBC/Dusan Martincek

There’s no getting round it. BBC’s new sword-slashing drama The Musketeers is rather pants. In fact, pants feature rather heavily; there’s barely a scene where our heroic quartet aren’t slipping in or out of their trousers after … Read More

Movies Netflix UK Reviews

Rush: Adrenaline-fuelled thrills

January 20, 2014 | David Farnor

irector: Ron Howard Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Bruhl, Olivia Wilde Certificate: 15 "25 people start and each year, two die." That's James Hunt (Hemsworth) explaining Formula One. It sounds exciting but in real life, it's far from it. Cars going around in circles for hours on end? It's repetitive. Boring, even. You'd expect Rush, then, a film about exactly that, to be just as dull. It isn't. On the big screen, it's far from it. "What kind of person does a job like this?" continues Hunt. Rush finds out. And the answer is thrilling. Reuniting after Frost/Nixon, director Ron Howard and writer Peter Morgan cook up the same heated rivalry between two very different men: hunky Brit playboy Hunt and the ruthlessly logical Niki Lauda (Bruhl). Brushing up against each other in Formula Three, they both buy their way into the big league - polar opposites destined to attract trouble. As with their last collaboration, there are contrivances. Changing details for dramatic convenience, what could have been a biopic has been streamlined with machine-tooled precision. Morgan hasn't just written a film: he's crafted a collision course. Fortunately, it's one between two fantastic actors. Lining up to crash, the two leads flesh out their roles, giving the on-rails script real dramatic horsepower. The magnetic Bruhl is cool and driven as Lauda - it's hard to believe this is the same boy who starred in Good Bye Lenin! all those years ago - while Hemsworth is electric as Hunt, a man whose life makes his reckless driving look restrained. All hair and teeth, when he's on screen, it's impossible to look anywhere else. Howard uses these characters to hook us into his broadly familiar tale, giving us a reason to care about the cold machines driving in circles. He doesn't skimp on those, either: expertly cutting together archive footage, new set pieces and CGI work, the race scenes sizzle as though Tony Scott were behind the camera. And when things go wrong (as they inevitably do) and people get caught in the flames, the emotional impact is as powerful as the adrenaline rush beforehand. There are occasional skids - some burn make-up looks straight out of BBC's Casaulty, while, like Formula One, it feels a tad overlong - but Hemsworth and Bruhl are too charismatic for you to care. Supported by immaculate period detail - Hunt's hair, the jumpsuits, Olivia Wilde's model girlfriend and did I mention the hair? - Rush is a finely-tuned clash of egos, which matches sentiment with speed. Formula One may be boring in real life, but Howard's drama is engaging enough to entertain non-fans of the sport - even with its inaccuracies, a mark of success. Hunt strokes his car early on, while seducing his future wife. "It’s a bomb on wheels," he purrs. That's exactly what Rush is. Your heart will be ticking every minute.

Ron Howard’s streamlined story of Formula 1 rivalry delivers a thrilling rush of adrenaline.Read More

Amazon Prime Movies Reviews

VOD film review: A Serious Man

January 19, 2014 | David Farnor

Michael Stuhlbarg delivers a star-making turn in the Coen brothers’ honest, hilarious examination of faith.Read More

Movies MUBI UK Reviews

VOD film review: The Hurt Locker

January 19, 2014 | David Farnor

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Kathryn Bigelow‘s claustrophobic war drama is intense, unflinching and utterly riveting.Read More

Movies Netflix UK

Netflix film review: Chopper

January 18, 2014 | Chris Bryant

Director: Andrew Dominik Cast: Eric Bana Certificate: 18 Watch online: Netflix UK

“I’m just a normal bloody bloke. Who likes a bit of torture.”

Mark Brandon “Chopper” Read was a potentially fascinating Australian criminal turned best-selling author. Catching the eye … Read More

BFI Player+Movies Reviews

VOD film review: Kelly + Victor

January 17, 2014 | David Farnor

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Director: Kieran Evans Cast: Antonia Campbell-Hughes, Julian Morris Certificate: 18 Watch Kelly + Victor online in the UK: BFI Player+ / BFI Player / Apple TV (iTunes) / Prime Video (Buy/Rent) / TalkTalk TV / Google Play

Sex. Drugs. Strangling. … Read More

Movies Straight to VOD

Straight-to-VOD Thursday: Sekaten (a documentary by Matt Dunning)

January 16, 2014 | David Farnor

We introduce a new weekly feature: straight-to-VOD Thursday, which looks at films only available on VOD in the UK.

The words straight-to-DVD conjure up images of dreadful bargain bucket movies and naff sequels. Straight-to-VOD? That doesn’t sound so bad. Indeed, … Read More

Movies Netflix UK Reviews

Netflix UK film review: Riddick

January 16, 2014 | David Farnor

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Vin Diesel and David Twohy reunite for a satisfying slice of B-movie action, but lose what made their antihero worth cheering.Read More

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