Movies

Sir Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk is a modern classic, but did you know there was another British World War II film about the evacuation?Back in 1958, Leslie Norman directed a movie of the same name depicting Operation Dynamo through the experiences of three characters.This recreation of the 1940 turning point in the conflict saw over 338,000 men successfully escape the French beaches as Hitler’s forces advanced through Nazi-occupied Europe.Oscar-winners John Mills and Richard Attenborough, alongside James Bond’s M actor Bernard Lee, star in this adaptation based on the novels The Big Pick-Up by Elleston Trevor and Dunkirk by Lt Col Ewan Butler and Major JS Bradford.Dunkirk would go on to be the third most popular film at the British box office of 1958 after Bridge on the River Kwai and T...

It’s been over 20 years since Stephen Schwartz’s hit musical debuted on Broadway, telling the story of the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good before, during and after the events of the Wizard of Oz.Now the long-awaited big screen adaptation is here from Crazy Rich Asians director Jon M Chu with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, stars with suitably impressive pipes, as the two leads.It’s worth noting that Wicked is actually Wicked: Part 1 and only covers Act 1 of of the stage musical, up to the iconic Defying Gravity number.Despite this, this first movie manages to be 10 minutes longer than the whole theatrical production at 160 minutes. This is great news for the biggest of fans as no songs are cut, but a call to trim the fat for everybody else as it really does drag in places....

Meanwhile, The Gentleman’s Theo James is on 5-2 and Gladiator II star Paul Mescal is at 4-1.Also in the mix are the following: Callum Turner 5-1, James Norton 6-1, Jack Lowden 7-1, Regé-Jean Page, Damson Idris and Henry Cavill on 8-1, Cillian Murphy and Lucien Laviscount on 10-1 and Aaron Pierre on 12-1.It is worth noting that the Bond auditions are secret, invitation-only, and none of these actors have been confirmed to be taking part.

10. The Last Valley (1971)Michael Caine stars as a mercenary leader in this historical drama set during the Thirty Years’ War of the 17th century. Based on the novel of the same name, the acting legend’s Captain and a teacher, played by Omar Sharif, discover a German valley untouched by war as they collaborate to preserve peace and harmony there. (Image: GETTY)

Deadpool and Wolverine was a massive return to form for the MCU after a few wilderness years following Avengers Endgame.The Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds-led blockbuster was a monumental hit, making over $1.3 billion worldwide on a budget of $200 million.The Marvel movie topped Joker as the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time and is currently the 20th biggest film ever, just behind Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2.Both Deadpool and Wolverine are expected to return in Avengers Doomsday and Avengers Secret Wars, but fans are wondering if a sequel with the pair is on the way.The Merc with a Mouth joked in the movie that Disney would make Jackman play Logan until he’s 90 after persuading him to return to the role, and given its success, it sounds like he could be.Accordi...

Netflix has unveiled the first tantalising glimpses of a new action-packed thriller featuring Tom Hardy, set to hit our screens in 2025.The esteemed actor from Venom and Legend is at the helm of what's shaping up to be an adrenaline-fueled ride, portraying a detective embarking on a perilous quest to execute a bold rescue.His journey takes him into the treacherous depths of the criminal underworld, where he stumbles upon a sprawling conspiracy lurking at the heart of his metropolis.The film, titled Havoc, is slated for release in 2025 and is directed by Gareth Evans, the mastermind behind the critically lauded martial arts epics The Raid and The Raid 2.Freshly released stills showcase Hardy's character springing into explosive action, alongside a glimpse of co-star Jessie Mei Li, who ro...

Back in 1950, John Wayne starred in Rio Grande, the third of his Cavalry Trilogy (alongside Fort Apache and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon) with director John Ford.Cast and crew struggled terribly with the extremely hot Utah location, where sets and stages had to be built in challenging conditions.To make matters worse, the actors had to perform in heavy-period costumes of the 19th century.At least Duke was able to wear a smaller toupee to look slightly older than his Lieutenant Colonel Kirby Yorke character.The film would also be his first of five starring roles opposite Maureen O’Hara, who shared a set tragedy from production in her autobiography.In O’Hara’s memoir Tis Herself – which also recounted the bruising left by Wayne spanking her on McLintock! – the leading lady claimed that two st...

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective has been portrayed countless times for Film and TV over the years.One of the most recent popular incarnations has to be Robert Downey Jr’s take in 2009’s Sherlock Holmes with Jude Law as Dr Watson.The Oscar-nominated film was followed up a couple of years later with Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, in which Guy Richie returned once again to the director’s chair.Stephen Fry played Mycroft Holmes and Jared Harris portrayed Professor Moriarty in a storyline that incorporated elements of short stories The Final Problem and The Adventure of the Empty House.A third film has been in development hell for years but now Law has some exciting news on Sherlock Holmes 3.Speaking with The Playlist, the Dr Watson star said: “The plan has been evolving over how man...

Netflix subscribers are in for a treat as a critically lauded modern epic from 2022 is now available to stream at no additional charge.The film, which garnered high praise upon its release, has also been hailed as one of the standout movies of the decade.Featuring an unforgettable performance by Cate Blanchett, which earned her an eighth Oscar nod, the film left audiences spellbound.Cinephiles can now experience the captivating drama Tar on Netflix, where Blanchett delivers a tour-de-force portrayal of Lydia Tar, a celebrated composer whose life unravels amidst controversy.Directed by Todd Field, the movie sees Blanchett's character navigating the pinnacle of her career before a scandal threatens everything she's built, reports the Mirror.Peter Bradshaw from The Guardian awarded Tar a f...

Keanu Reeves' iconic bullet-dodging scene in The Matrix has been voted the greatest movie stunt of all time.In a survey of 2,000 film enthusiasts, Neo's remarkable bending manoeuvre in the 1999 sci-fi blockbuster was ranked higher than Tom Cruise's daring plane-side cling in Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation.Daniel Craig's fight scene as Bond from Skyfall also made it into the top five, with Craig, Reeves, and Cruise all appearing more than once in the top 20.The study was commissioned by Samsung, who partnered with stunt director Tony Christian from Spectrum Stunts to shed light on the meticulous planning behind some of cinema's most memorable scenes, captured in stunning slow-mo, following the release of its Galaxy S24 FE.Tony commented: "We're all captivated by big-movie action stunts...