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jamesmccafferty

jamesmccafferty


Minari: Strong performances propel a thoughtful drama

Minari: Strong performances propel a thoughtful drama

Thanks in part to to a collection of great performances, Minari is an original film in a crowded genre
MANIFF 2021: The Battle of Shangri-la

MANIFF 2021: The Battle of Shangri-la

Dealing with poignant, contemporary themes, Brazilian drama The Battle of Shangri-la features a strong central performance and adept filmmaking
Pelé: A sports documentary that interrogates its subject

Pelé: A sports documentary that interrogates its subject

Pelé avoids being too deferential to its subject and engages with his political legacy
News of the World: Respectable Western that lacks an emotional core

News of the World: Respectable Western that lacks an emotional core

Despite a pair of solid performances and strong direction, News of the World falls short of being a great Western
Mank – Fincher’s take on creating Citizen Kane

Mank – Fincher’s take on creating Citizen Kane

After a period away from the big screen, Fincher returns with a rich and thoughtful account of the career of Citizen Kane writer Herman J. Mankiewicz in Mank
Review: Hillbilly Elegy

Review: Hillbilly Elegy

Even though it has two iconic actresses at the centre, Hillbilly Elegy is unable to engage with the big ideas at its centre due to dull writing and bad characterisation
Sharp dialogue and a killer cast – The Trial of the Chicago 7 reviewed

Sharp dialogue and a killer cast – The Trial of the Chicago 7 reviewed

Aaron Sorkin’s latest film, The Trial of the Chicago 7, returns to a familiar period of US history through a well-constructed courtroom drama
MANIFF 2020: Up From the Streets

MANIFF 2020: Up From the Streets

Up From the Streets has a broad focus, but succeeds in creating a thoroughly enjoyable introduction to the musical history of New Orleans
Recommended: Feel-good films to lift your spirits

Recommended: Feel-good films to lift your spirits

If you’ve exhausted your usual movie collection already this lockdown, look no further as The Mancunion selects a collection of uplifting films to escape with
MANIFF 2020: Requiem for a Dream

MANIFF 2020: Requiem for a Dream

In his 2000 adaptation of Hubert Selby Jr.’s novel, Darren Aronofsky creates a disturbing vision of isolation and addiction that remains just as today, writes James McCafferty
Review: Richard Jewell

Review: Richard Jewell

With a trio of brilliant central performances, Richard Jewell is a well-crafted character study that continues Eastwood’s exploration of the American hero
Review: Bombshell

Review: Bombshell

Due to a combination of unlikeable protagonists and questionable toning, Bombshell is unable to realise the potential that its cast and subject matter deserves, writes James McCafferty
Review: Motherless Brooklyn

Review: Motherless Brooklyn

Motherless Brooklyn uses stunning cinematography and a great soundtrack to craft a compelling and relevant story
In this year’s Golden Globe nominations, women are the losers

In this year’s Golden Globe nominations, women are the losers

The snubbing female artists and stories cannot be blamed on a lack of talent but reflects serious problems within awards bodies
Review: Luce

Review: Luce

Balancing thought-provoking questions about expectations with a consistently thrilling story, Luce is a well-acted, engaging and beautifully scored watch, writes James McCafferty
Review: The Last Black Man in San Francisco

Review: The Last Black Man in San Francisco

Through its deliberate composition and nuanced characters, The Last Black Man in San Francisco works beautifully as an exploration of what makes us who we are
Déjà-Review: Singin’ in the Rain

Déjà-Review: Singin’ in the Rain

Singin’ in the Rain has an unparalleled ability to capture pure glee and is well deserving of its status as one of Hollywood’s most iconic films, writes James McCafferty
Review: Gemini Man

Review: Gemini Man

The technology behind Ang Lee’s latest film Gemini Man is impressive, but the the script, acting and direction are certainly not, writes James McCafferty
Review: The Irishman

Review: The Irishman

Every aspect of Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman works perfectly together to create one of the decade’s seminal films, writes James McCafferty
Review: The Laundromat

Review: The Laundromat

Steven Soderbergh’s stylish direction combines with a characteristic standout performance from Meryl Streep in Netflix’s The Laundromat