Movies

A film praised as one of the greatest espionage thrillers of the 21st century is about to leave Netflix, giving viewers just a few days to stream this modern masterpiece before it disappears on July 7.Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011), adapted from John le Carré’s classic 1974 novel, is an atmospheric thriller set at the height of the Cold War. Rather than action-packed shootouts, the film delivers an intricate, cerebral tale of betrayal, loyalty, and deception within the British intelligence service.The story follows George Smiley, a retired MI6 agent quietly brought back into service to uncover a mole operating at the highest levels of “the Circus” - the nickname for Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service. Smiley, played by Gary Oldman, must navigate a world of double agents, coded sign...

Netflix has finally answered the calls of eager fans by releasing a sequel to one of its most popular films.The streaming giant recently revealed its most-viewed films of all time, with Red Notice topping the list. The action-packed flick features Ryan Reynolds, The Rock, and Gal Gadot, and has been a hit with the public. Although critics gave it a rather lacklustre 37% on Rotten Tomatoes, public audiences loved it, giving it a near-perfect 92%.Rounding out the top five Netflix hits are Taron Edgerton's Carry-On, Leonardo DiCaprio's Don't Look Up, sci-fi sensation The Adam Project and Sandra Bullock's chilling Bird Box.And there's one thing all these films have in common - they all feature huge A-list stars that help carry them to success.Netflix's strategy of casting A-listers in their...

Wimbledon is officially in full swing, and while it is the most prestigious tennis event in the world and certainly the oldest, people may be shocked to learn there's a film set right there, during the tournament.The 2004 rom-com sharing a name with the world-famous event, Wimbledon, offers a taste of tennis right from your screen at home. With Marvel's very own Paul Bettany starring as a tennis pro alongside Kirsten Dunst, who plays a rising tennis star, there's plenty of chemistry, as well as the sport itself.It shows tennis player Peter Colt, played by Bettany, in a state of frustration after his sporting failures as he decides to retire and bid farewell to tennis for good. Although Colt can't help but enter himself in the tournament, in the hopes his luck will turn around.After earn...

One audience review describes The Children Act as “a thoroughly gripping film, both beautiful and profoundly moving” — a fitting precursor to the 2017 drama.With a screenplay penned by Ian McEwan, The Children Act is based on McEwan’s 2014 novel of the same name. Directed by Richard Eyre, the rousing drama stars Dame Emma Thompson — also famous for her cheeky moment with Prince William — Stanley Tucci, and Fionn Whitehead in the lead, supported by Ben Chaplin, Jason Watkins, Nikki Amuka-Bird, and Anthony Calf. The movie had its world premiere at the 42nd Toronto International Film Festival in September 2017. With a 74 per cent Rotten Tomatoes approval rating on the review aggregator site, The Children Act is a story about High Court Judge Fiona May (Thompson), whose marriage to Jack May...

Tennis is at the centre of this tense and romantic story, starring Hollywood sweetheart Zendaya. The "thrilling" film offers something for tennis lovers and those who are less familiar with the sport.Challengers made waves last year with its 2024 release, with its saucy storyline following a turbulent love triangle between an injured tennis star-turned coach, her world champion husband and her tennis-playing ex-boyfriend. Zendaya plays Tashi Duncan, a rising star who best friends Patrick and Art, played by Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist, become infatuated with.The story begins in 2006 and spans across a 13-year-long stormy relationship between all of the characters as they navigate their individual sporting careers and, of course, romantic lives.Fast forward to 2019 Tashi and her husband ...

Since its release in 2018, viewers have given the  film an impressive 96% overall score on the review site Rotten Tomatoes, claiming it's "perfection" but there are just days left to watch it for free on BBC iPlayer.BlacKkKlansman is an American biographical movie, with both crime and comedy elements, set back in 1970s Colorado. The inspirational film follows the life and work of the first ever African-American detective, Ron Stallworth, to work in the city's police department and his mission to infiltrate and expose its local Ku Klux Klan.Stallworth detailed his real-life journey as an officer throughou his 2014 memoir Black Klansman, which inspired the film, and playing him is John David Washington, the son of Denzel Washington. The film saw him star in his breakthrough role on scree...

Five years after the original, a sequel to a surprise Netflix action film has finally been released.The Old Guard 2 is now available for streaming from today (July 2). Despite the significant gap since the first instalment, the action picks up just a few months later.According to the synopsis, Charlize Theron reprises her role as Andy, leading her team of immortal warriors with a renewed sense of purpose in their mission to protect the world.With Booker (Matthias Schoenaerts) still in exile following his betrayal, and Quynh (Veronica Ngô) seeking revenge after escaping her underwater prison, Andy must confront her newfound mortality as a mysterious threat emerges that could jeopardise everything she's worked towards for thousands of years.Andy, Nile (KiKi Layne), Joe (Marwan Kenzari), ...

Heads of State trailer with Idris Elba and John CenaHeads of State is yet another cobbled together streaming distraction that gets away with the bare minimum.An underused cast, a plot that’s more holes than structure and recycled jokes guarantee it won’t stand the test of time, though there’s just enough sparkle to keep you from switching over to a rival platform.After their infinitely more compelling rivalry in James Gunn’s 2021 antihero flick The Suicide Squad, John Cena trades DC for Washington as A-list actor-turned-President Will Derringer, who’s desperate to please the UK’s stalwart yet dwindling Prime Minister Sam Clarke (played by Idris Elba).When a PR trip on Air Force One is targeted by terrorists, the unlikely duo are forced to put their political aspirations aside and go on ...

A war film that has been branded as "taut, breathtakingly thrilling, and devastatingly intelligent" is currently streaming on Amazon Prime. Das Boot, released in 1981, tells the story of the German submarine U-96 patrolling the Atlantic Ocean during World War 2, and the crew's struggles with managing tense conflicts, intense storms, and periods of confined boredom.The incredible film, which is often labelled as "one of the greatest war films ever made", has an impressive score of 98% on film review website Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising the performance and authenticity.Variety said: "Everything described in the film is authentic."Empire Magazine wrote: "The execution is second to none; taut, claustrophobic and overwhelming."Das Boot was written and directed by Wolfgang Peterson,...

Prime Video has recently added an 'absurd' action thriller that viewers claim has a 'mind-boggling' finale.Hypnotic is now ready to stream on the retail behemoth's streaming platform.The one available on Amazon's premium subscription service stands out as it features Ben Affleck in the main role.Affleck portrays Detective Danny Rourke, who is on a mission to find his missing daughter.He finds himself descending into a rabbit hole while investigating a series of reality-altering crimes.Assisted by Diana Cruz, a talented psychic, Rourke simultaneously chases and is chased by a deadly spectre, the one man he believes holds the key to finding the girl, reports Surrey Live.A number of fans and critics have likened the film to a pared-down Inception. Esteemed film critic Mark Kermode went so ...