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Review: Detroit (2017)

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Released on the 50th Anniversary of the event, Kathryn Bigelow’s Detroit is a powerful and upsetting American period crime drama that puts into light the horrors of the 1967 Detroit riots that occurred as well as having an important contemporary relevance to it.

July 23rd, 1967 and we open on a police raid on an unlicensed club, an angry mob begin to form, throwing rocks at the police, looting stores and starting fires creating the start of the 12th Street Riot. With growing riots unable to be controlled the National Guard and paratroopers are sent in. Meanwhile, The Dramatics are set to perform at a music hall, however this is halted due to the rioting, crushing the dreams of the band and especially their lead singer Larry Reed (Algee Smith). After their bus is attacked, Larry and his friend Fred end up at the Algiers Motel, renting a room for the night. They meet two girls Julie Ann and Karen who introduce them to their friends Carl Cooper and Aubrey Pollard. Melvin Dismukes (John Boyega) is a private security guard protecting a grocery store where he meets some guardsmen, Carl decides to fire several blanks in the direction of the troops who think it is a sniper, they fire back and eventually go to the motel. Dismukes, the troops and a detachment of police led by Krauss (Will Poulter) arrive at the motel, rounding up everybody in the motel and lining them up against the wall where Krauss continuously asks with aggression and brutality, where is the weapon?

We’ve seen in The Hurt Locker that Bigelow is an incredible director, who can bring a huge amount of tension to the screen that not many others can do, we are given a grand picture of the start of the riots and the effects it has from the beginning of the film, slowly we are drawn from multiple stories down to this one event at the Algiers motel, a significant and dark moment in the riots and America that now, 50 years later is revised onto the big screen.

This film is garnered with incredible performances, highlighting Poulter who plays a racist, horrible and sickening officer, brutally humiliating, toying and beating the men and women, creating a horror for the characters and the situation they are in, forcing them to pray, forcing them to look at dead bodies and forcing them to deny the truth. Algee Smith excellently captures the loss he goes through and the traumatism he encounters at the hands of the three police. Boyega is brilliant as he is caught up in a situation he has no control over, due to the calamitous event neither the police nor the suspects have confidence him, seeming like a lost man we question what he can do and what he will do.

Vigorously edited and shot handheld documentary style, we get a full idea of the race-hate setting, and strain the suspects and officers are feeling, we are put right in the middle of beatings and we know everything that is going on. Bigelow makes the film feel like a time bomb that is about to go off, ticking and waiting for the police or the suspects to do something.

As the film breathes in the 3rd act we are somewhat able to relax and take in the aftermath in a courtroom drama that is sure to shock you and send chills down your spine. In current times where police brutality is constant and spoken about on social media this movie speaks volume to it, 50 years on and we could question has anything changed? Although unsure if this is what Bigelow was aiming for, the film regardless has existing themes that matter today.

Detroit features great performances, script, editing and direction that creates a terrifying dramatic film which hops from starting out as a documentary to a horror to a courtroom drama concluding into a gripping and effective film that could well possibly be in for award season.

 

Review: American Made (2017)

American Made is a humorous and fast-moving film that tells the crazy true-life story of Barry Seal, the man who worked for the CIA, DEA and the Medellín Cartel.

Set in the late 70’s Barry Seal (Tom Cruise) works for the commercial airline TWA, wanting a more exciting life he is coincidentally approached by CIA agent Monty Schafer (Domhnall Gleeson) who asks him to fly reconnaissance missions for the CIA to take pictures all over South American using a plane with cameras installed. Seal impresses Monty and the CIA so much they send him on another mission, to courier between the CIA and General Noriega in Panama; during the mission, Seal is picked up by the Medellín Cartel who offers him a job he cannot refuse. Seal has to begin to mix working for the CIA and the Cartel while being tracked by the DEA and taking care of his family.

Tom Cruise lets loose in this high octane and fun film that is packed with fast paced scenes and great performances. The film does not waste any time in throwing us right into Barry Seals life, we know what Seal has to do and the threat that comes with it. This puts Seal in a chaotic world; one that he wants though; the adrenaline of flying fast and being shot at gives him the rush he needs in life, however it is the money that he craves most, that is what drives him, that is why he doesn’t quit when it all gets too hectic.

Tom Cruise was the highlight of the film, although he shares no resemblance, facial and weight wise, to the real Barry Seal he seems to be just right for this role. We’ve seen Cruise do comedy in a number of films but here seems to be his best (apart from Les Grossman which was his greatest performance ever). He brings just the right amount of madness to keep it realistic and to make sure his character never bores you.

With hilarious moments to it, including Cruise crashing a plane into the suburbs and escaping with a bag full of money covered in head-to-toe in cocaine, this pretty much sums up what the film is. Cruise continuously narrates the film as he keeps feeding us facts about the complex missions he goes on and who is working for who.

With the handheld shaky cam and fast-paced editing keeping the film alive, it is a shame that this film does not have much depth to it, all the characters apart from Seal are not explored, they feel 2D as well as the subplot with his family which is explored enough. One in particular is the Sheriff Downing and his wife who seem to be interested in how Seal is obtaining such wealth however the interest isn’t investigated and leads to nothing, and so the previous scenes feel meaningless.

Overall, American Made is a seriously entertaining film, apart from the multiple unexplored characters and subplots this film is carried well by Cruise’s performance. Whilst Doug Liman’s direction and the rapid editing help with elevating the film too. It is not an instant classic but is worth a watch anyway.

 

Netflix releases an intriguing trailer for ‘Long Shot’

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New and intriguing documentary ‘Long Shot’ just got a fantastic trailer.

Directed by Jacob LaMendola, the documentary follows an innocent man who is accused of murder, which leads his attorney to a wild chase to confirm his alibi among thousands of people in a filled out stadium at LA Dodgers game. To add to the intrigue, on the night in question television cameras happened to be positioned throughout the stadium which captured the remarkable story.

The film was part of the official selection for the Telluride Film Festival.

‘Long Shot’ will be released on the 29th of September, only on Netflix.

Incredible felt sculptures by Paolo del Toro

Paolo del Toro a US based artist creates incredible sculptures made with felt.

Paolo Del Toro’s work stands out for its highly expressive characters. Which combined with his use of scale makes his art that much more captivating and impressive.

Felt sculptures

 

 

 

BFI London Film Festival Announces Full 2017 Programme

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The annual BFI London Film Festival will be running for the 61st time from the 4th to the 15th of October.

Long awaited BFI London Film Festival is back, once again with a great line-up of films.

Amongst the selection are 242 films including 28 World Premieres, 9 International Premieres and 34 European Premieres.

Colin Farrell and Nicole Kidman star in Yorgos Lanthimos’ slightly twisted ‘The Killing of a Sacred Deer’ which will be screened in the Headline Gala.

Whilst Noah Baumbach’s ‘The Meyerowitz Stories’, starring Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller and Dustin Hoffmann will be screened in the Laugh Gala which is in association with Empire.


Films that are in Official Competition are:

– Robin Campillo, 120 BPM (BEATS PER MINUTE)
– Vivian Qu, ANGELS WEAR WHITE
– Majid Majidi, BEYOND THE CLOUDS (World Premiere)
– Nora Twomey, THE BREADWINNER (European Premiere)
– Juliana Rojas, Marco Dutra, GOOD MANNERS
– Xavier Beauvois, THE GUARDIANS (European Premiere)
– Andrew Haigh, LEAN ON PETE
– Andrey Zvyagintsev, LOVELESS
– Azazel Jacobs, THE LOVERS (European Premiere)
– Warwick Thornton, SWEET COUNTRY
– Cory Finley, THOROUGHBRED (International Premiere)
– Annemarie Jacir, WAJIB


First Features that are in competition for the Sutherland Award are:

– Daniel Kokotajlo, APOSTASY
– Léa Mysius, AVA
– Michael Pearce, BEAST (European Premiere)
– Ofir Raul Graizer, THE CAKEMAKER
– Gilles Coulier, CARGO
– Kogonada, COLUMBUS
– Rungano Nyoni, I AM NOT A WITCH
– Léonor Serraille, JEUNE FEMME
– Ana Asensio, MOST BEAUTIFUL ISLAND
– Carla Simón, SUMMER 1993
– Hlynur Pálmason, WINTER BROTHERS
– John Trengove, THE WOUND


Documentaries competing for The Grierson Award are:

– Maryam Goormaghtigh, BEFORE SUMMER ENDS
– Elvira Lind, BOBBI JENE
– Arash Kamali Sarvestani, Behrouz Boochani, CHAUKA, PLEASE TELL US THE TIME (International
Premiere)
– Radu Jude, THE DEAD NATION
– Shevaun Mizrahi, DISTANT CONSTELLATION
– Frederick Wiseman, EX LIBRIS – THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
– Agnès Varda, JR, FACES PLACES
– Austin Lynch, Matthew Booth, GRAY HOUSE
– Brett Morgen, JANE (European Premiere)
– Lucy Cohen, KINGDOM OF US (World Premiere)
– Emmanuel Gras, MAKALA
– Sonia Kronlund, THE PRINCE OF NOTHINGWOOD


Short Films competing for The Short Film Award are:

– Gabriel Abrantes, THE ARTIFICIAL HUMORS
– Phil Collins, DELETE BEACH
– Billie Pleffer, FYSH (International Premiere)
– Anna Cazenave Cambet, GABBER LOVER
– Karishma Dube, GODDESS
– Aegina Brahim, LAWS OF THE GAME
– Jonathan Vinel, MARTIN CRIES
– Patrick Bresnan THE RABBIT HUNT
– Moin Hussain, REAL GODS REQUIRE BLOOD
– Kibwe Tavares, ROBOT & SCARECROW
– Kazik Radwanski, SCAFFOLD
– Harry Lighton, WREN BOYS (World Premiere)

This year’s Film Festival programme is organised in sections to encourage discovery and to open up the Festival to new audiences. The strands are: Love, Debate, Laugh, Dare, Thrill, Cult, Journey, Create, Family, Treasures and Experimenta.

 

Netflix shares a fun ‘Stranger Things’ video game-like video

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The acclaimed series ‘Stranger Things’ has been given an 80’s video game-like video.

The 80’s vibe is back once again with the exciting ‘Stranger Things’ series who have engraved it into their identity. This time bringing it back with a new two-minute short video that is made in the style of retro video games.

The video features more of the Demogorgon or as known in the video as the final boss, who will feature more frequently and consistently in Season 2 of ‘Stranger Things’. According to several other trailers and Netflix, the character of Will Byers will be rescued in Season 2 but a bigger entity will challenge the citizens of Hawkins – most likely the Demogorgon.

Furthermore, the video has been named ‘Level Up’ which suggests that Season 2 of ‘Stranger Things’ will increase in intensity and action that the audience will see.

The series will restart with Season 2 on the 27th of October, 2017.

Here is the clip that has people talking about the series, once again.

Husky Loops announce new EP entitled ‘EP2’

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The beloved London-based trio Husky Loops return with news of their second EP, suitably entitled ‘EP2’.

The first single from the EP named ‘Girl Who Wants To Travel The World’ is already streaming online, whilst the band is set to support Placebo on tour this October.

Additionally, alongside supporting Placebo the band has played massively successful support slots for bands such as The Kills, Sunflower Bean and Yak & Estrons.

‘EP2’is set to be released on the 6th of October.


‘EP2’ track list:
1. Girl Who Wants To Travel The World
2. Re-collect
3. Fading Out
4. Secret Matilda
5. Jam (Bonus Track on vinyl)

Husky Loops live:
01/09 Purple Turtle, Reading, UK
08/09 Sebright Arms, London, UK
09/09 West End Centre, Aldershot UK
23/09 Reeperbahn Festival, DE
07/10 Usher Hall, Edinburgh, UK*
08/10 Caird Hall, Dundee, UK*
10/10 Dome, Doncaster, UK*
11/10 Empress Ballroom, UK*
13/10 Rivermead, Reading, UK*
14/10 Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, UK*
16/10 Guildhall, Portsmouth, UK*
17/10 Oasis, Swindon, UK*
20/10 Plymouth Pavilions, UK*
21/10 Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, UK*
23/10 02 Academy Brixton, London, UK*
24/10 02 Academy Brixton, London, UK*
26/10 Star & Garter, Manchester UK**
27/10 – The Waterfront Studio, Norwich UK**
* – supporting Placebo
** – supporting Tigerclub

Coats & Jackets Men Should Own

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It’s that time again where we start to bring out our autumn and winter clothes. Buying new outfits for the colder months and why not add coats and jackets on your list. Here are some coats and jackets you should have in your wardrobe.

Duffel Coat

This is a great coat to own. Not only is it easy to put on and take off but it’s great if you’re in your office clothes. This suits a more formal outfit as well as something as a turtleneck jumper like the outfit in the image below. This is due to the fastenings because of the design it may not keep you completely warm.

Duffle Coats UK – £195.00

Quilted Coat

Quilted coats are on trend this upcoming season so why not get yourself one and be stylish. If I was to chose a quilted coat I would go for one which has a corduroy fabric on the collar. I find the design interesting that way. Since this has some padding it’s sure to keep you warm.

Joules – £129.00

Suede Jacket

I love this suede jacket by Ralph Lauren, click here to check it out. Having a brown suede jacket is something every guy should own, not only does it work with most styles but it’s also on trend. It creates an effortless look and if you wanted to accessorise go for aviator sunglasses or a gold watch with brown straps.

Ralph Lauren – £2,550.00

“There is one other reason for dressing well, namely that dogs respect it, and will not attack you in good clothes.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Padded Jacket

This is an alternative to quilted coats. This is much more padded as you can see. This is great for a much colder day as you’ll be kept warmer. This is best with casual clothing. If you wanted to wear it for work then maybe go for a shorter length. This will give the look a neat and clean appearance. This is because it makes you look like you pay attention to details and lengths.

Rick Owens – £1,391.00

Overcoat

This is a must for the cold you can layer up and keep extra warm with this type of coat. Even without layering you would still be warm because of the heavy fabric. This is great for casual wear and semi formal wear. This would e great worn with boots like Chelsea boots or combat boots.

Tom Ford – £4,290.00

Denim Jacket

When it’s autumn you may want something light and less bulky as a coat so you may want to think about denim jackets. For the colder season I would prefer a denim jacket that had shearling on the inside and the collar for warmth and aesthetic reasons.

Levis – £99.00

Netflix has released a teaser trailer for ‘Wormwood’

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Forthcoming six-part series ‘Wormwood’ has been given a teaser trailer.

Exciting new six-part series ‘Wormwood’ directed by boundary-breaking filmmaker Errol Morris has just been given a minute teaser video via social media.

Wormwood is a series that explores the untold true story of the CIA, LSD experiments, mind control, and the death of a family man. It follows one man’s sixty-year path to find out the odd circumstances of his father’s unique and mysterious death.

The six-part series Wormwood will be available from the 15th of December only on Netflix.

You can watch the teaser trailer for ‘Wormwood’ here:

YouTube introduces a new logo

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The number one video streaming website YouTube has introduced a redeveloped logo on their platform

After twelve years of running with the same logo, Google owned YouTube has redeveloped the look of their logo by making several changes in the way it is laid out.

Some of the main changes are the way YouTube is now joined up instead of being separated by white and black text colour. Furthermore, the ‘Tube’ has been moved from the rounded rectangle and put together with ‘You’, whilst also the red rounded rectangle has been transformed into a play button. It could be said that this new logo has a clearer meaning to what YouTube is and the old even though nice is a tad too basic to really dig into the meaning of YouTube.

Before and After of the YouTube logo change 2017
Before and After of the YouTube logo change 2017

The changes whilst minimal in some ways, really showcase that YouTube is being rebranded, some even saying that this could be due to the new rules YouTube have been introducing about monetisation.

Here are some responses from YouTube users online.