Movies

The historical drama Rome, which showcases the height of the Roman Empire, has been hailed as "one of the greatest TV shows of all time".A collaboration between the BBC and HBO, Rome aired for two series from 2005 to 2007, earning widespread acclaim for its outstanding performances, historical accuracy, and gripping storytelling.The series depicts the politically tumultuous and often brutally violent world of the Roman Empire during the first century BC, while also telling fictionalised stories of two real Roman soldiers - Lucius Vorenus, played by Kevin McKidd, and Titus Pullo, portrayed by Ray Stevenson.The first series takes place during Julius Caesar's reign, spanning from 49 BC, when the Roman Empire was embroiled in civil war, to his assassination in 44 BC.The second series delves...

The gangster movie genre is one that will never tire, and this is reflected in the enduring love people have for one film, despite its release being almost 40 years ago. Goodfellas is a biographical gangster film directed by Martin Scorsese, written by Nicholas Pileggi and Scorsese, and produced by Irwin Winkler. It is an adaptation of Pileggi's 1985 nonfiction book Wiseguy.Its cast includes Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco and Paul Sorvino. The film takes you on a wild ride as tensions increase when charismatic gangster fanboy Henry Hill (Liotta) takes cocaine and begins being reckless. Its unique styling, which seamlessly blends one scene into the next, means you can't take your eyes off it.The film was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture and...

A film by an Oscar-winning director with 94% on Rotten Tomatoes will soon be removed from Netflix. Snowpiercer is a 2013 post-apocalyptic action thriller film based on the French climate fiction graphic novel Le Transperceneige by Jacques Lob, Benjamin Legrand and Jean-Marc Rochette.The film was directed by Bong Joon Ho and written by Bong and Kelly Masterson. The recipient of numerous accolades, Bong has won three Oscars, two BAFTAs, and five Asian Film Awards. In 2017, he was included on Metacritic's list of the 25 best film directors of the 21st century.Snowpiercer stars Chris Evans, Song Kang-ho, Tilda Swinton, Jamie Bell, Octavia Spencer, Go Ah-sung, John Hurt, and Ed Harris. It takes place aboard the Snowpiercer train as it travels a globe-encircling track, carrying the last remna...

Securing a spot in the top five on IMDb's list of 'Great Unknown War Movies/Series,' this film, despite being relatively unknown to mainstream audiences, has gained an impressive 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and has been hailed as a 'masterpiece' by many viewers thanks to its unflinching realism, intense storytelling, and unforgettable performances. Directed by Elem Klimov and released in 1985, the Soviet epic follows a young Belarusian teenager, Flyora, as he joins the resistance during the German occupation of what is now known as Belarus in World War II.The narrative is marked by both hyper-realistic depictions of war and surreal, haunting imagery, capturing the psychological and physical horrors inflicted upon civilians. Klimov co-wrote the screenplay with Ales Adamovich, a former partisa...

In years gone by, November and December often see me rack up the most hours in screen time.For me, as the nights draw in, I start to crave a good movie - and I often find I want to match the vibe of a film with my mood and the weather outside.This means there are certain films I return to around this time of year, and I believe these three films in particular are best watched throughout the winter months.Manchester by the SeaManchester by the Sea is a 2016 drama film written and directed by Kenneth Lonergan, starring Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler, and Lucas Hedges. In my eyes, this film is criminally underrated. It is also extremely sad. When I first watched it, I hadn't seen the trailer, so I didn't have any expectations, and I was blown away.It will have you in tears...

Christmas is just over a month away, but the end of November and early December can feel like the final hurdle. Sometimes it’s hard to get excited about the big day when it’s cold, wet and dark outside. And this is where Christmas films come in. Watching something festive is one of the best ways to lift your spirits and get into the Christmas mood.And one film that’s currently streaming for free on BBC iPlayer has been called a “masterpiece” and could be just what you need to feel festive. The romantic comedy stars Game of Thrones actress Emilia Clarke alongside Crazy Rich Asians actor Henry Golding. Set in London, the story follows a young woman who works in a Christmas shop but feels lost and unsure of her future. That changes when she meets a man who seems to be full of optimism and ...

A 2016 film continues to be hailed by fans and critics, nearly ten years after its release, and is now available to stream on Netflix. Manchester by the Sea is a drama film written and directed by Kenneth Lonergan.It stars Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler, and Lucas Hedges. The film follows themes of depression, guilt, grief, responsibility, dysfunctional families and post-traumatic stress disorder. Manchester by the Sea has received critical acclaim and was widely listed among the best films of 2016; the National Board of Review listed it as the top film of 2016.At the 89th Academy Awards, Manchester by the Sea won Academy Awards for Best Actor for Affleck and Best Original Screenplay, and additional nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Hed...

“A very funny piece of Hollywood history” is how one critic describes this 1959 romantic comedy film starring the legendary Doris Day and Rock Hudson.Shot in CinemaScope — a filmmaking technique which uses an anamorphic lens to create widescreen images — the Michael Gordon directorial redefined the rom-coms and sex comedies of the 50s. The film was written by Russell Rouse, Stanley Shapiro, Clarence Greene, and Maurice Richlin.Starring Tony Randall, Lee Patrick, Nick Adams, Marcel Dalio, and Allen Jenkins, alongside Day and Hudson, it was the first of the three romantic comedies in which Day, Hudson, and Randall co-starred.For those hoping to catch the movie, Pillow Talk will air on BBC Two today, November 16, at 2.55pm.The official synopsis reads: “Playboy songwriter Brad Allen's (Rock...

Jim Carrey fans are in for a treat, as the ‘90s favourite comedy star’s ‘best film ever’ is all set to hit the airwaves today.1994’s slapstick superhero comedy — which defined a generation and created a sub-genre within the superhero films category — The Mask is all set to air on the BBC today.The Mask will be broadcast on BBC One today, November 16, at 3.35pm.Based on Doug Mahnke and John Arcudi’s 1991 comic book series, The Mask was directed by Chuck Russell, with a screenplay penned by Mike Werb and a story written by Michael Fallon and Mark Verheiden and was the first film in the Mask franchise. A Carrey-less sequel, Son of the Mask, was released in 2005.Starring Jim Carrey in the lead role as Stanley Ipkiss, The Mask was actress Cameron Diaz’s debut film. Joining the lead pair in t...

If you’re looking for something to watch this November, look no further than this new film.With an impressive score of 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, Frankenstein is a must-watch.The new adaptation, released this autumn, has been a hot topic in the world of film.It’s the latest release by Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro who has adapted Mary Shelley's classic tale of Victor Frankenstein.The story follows a brilliant but egotistical scientist who brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.One person on IMDb said: “Simply a masterpiece. Oscar-caliber writing, directing, acting, costumes, makeup, cinematography, sound, editing, music, VFX and so much more.“Every frame is gorgeous. Even though it's f...