Review: Be Dazzled By The Bedazzling Chilly Gonzales In 'Shut Up And Play The Piano' (2018)

Words: Saam Das

First-time feature director Philipp Jedicke ambitiously showcases Canadian musician Jason Beck (more popularly known as the enigmatic Chilly Gonzales) in this playful music documentary. Charting the genre-defying history of Gonzales from his childhood in Canada to his more recent Grammy Award-winning work with Daft Punk and his appearances with world famous concert orchestras, by way of an underground rap career in Berlin. An unusual career path to say the least, aptly covered in 'Shut Up And Play The Piano'.

LFF 2018: Why Nicolas Cage's 'Mandy' Reminds Us How Much We'll Miss Composer Johann Johannsson

Words: Saam Das

We caught the Nicolas Cage-led psychedelic horror 'Mandy' (don't fret, no spoilers in this piece) at the 2018 BFI London Film Festival, and we're still reeling from the viewing. Totally bonkers, and already well on its way to being a modern cult classic. Thanks in part to Johann Johannsson's incredible, larger-than-life score, one of his final offerings following his untimely passing in February this year.

LFF 2018: Lose Yourself In The Southend Battle-Rap Scene With 'Vs.' [Review]

'Vs.' (UK Release: 19 October 2018) // Words: Saam Das

It's sixteen years since '8 Mile' brought battle-rap to the big screen in a big way, garnering an Oscar for Best Original Song for its star Eminem and his smash 'Lose Yourself'. British writer-director Ed Lilly's debut directorial feature 'Vs.' brings battle-rap back to the mainstream, albeit via sunny Southend rather than bleak Detroit, with a striking central performance from newcomer Conor Swindells.

Preview: Celebrate Black History Month With These Films At The 2018 BFI London Film Festival

BFI London Film Festival 2018 (10-21 October 2018) // Words: Lauren Johnson-Ginn & Saam Das

The 62nd BFI London Film Festival kicks off today, with 'Widows' as its Opening Night Gala. As mentioned in our recent music-focussed preview of the LFF 2018, Steve McQueen's new effort is a tantalizing prospect, and an appropriate Opening Night Gala as the Oscar winner hails from London. As one of the industry's (sadly rare) successful black directors, it is also appropriate considering October is Black History Month in the UK. We've put together a list of some other appropriate films to help celebrate BHM at this year's LFF.

Preview: A Music Fan's Guide To The 2018 BFI London Film Festival

BFI London Film Festival (10-21 October 2018) // Words: Saam Das

The BFI London Film Festival 2018 is upon us for yet another year - an impressive 62nd edition. We're on hand to guide you through as many of the music-related films at the 2018 LFF as we possibly can. Many of these films sadly won't make an appearance otherwise in UK cinemas, and for those that do, you'll miss out on the oft-interesting introductions and Q&As that characterise these films' appearances at a film festival.

Festival Review: Twelve Of The Best Films We Caught At The 2017 BFI London Film Festival

BFI London Film Festival 2017 (4-15 Oct '17) // Words: Lauren Johnson-Ginn & Saam Das

The 61st BFI London Film Festival was yet another success, with over 180,000 attendees flocking to London cinemas and almost 30,000 more attending satellite screenings across the UK. The 2017 London Film Festival opened with Andy Serkis's directorial debut 'Breathe' before closing, some 240+ feature films later, with Martin McDonagh's Oscar-threatening 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri'. We've collected some of our favourite films from the LFF 2017 below in alphabetical order:

Review: Eleven Of The Best Films We Caught At The 2015 BFI London Film Festival

BFI London Film Festival (7-18 Oct '15) // Words: Lauren Johnson-Ginn & Saam Das

The 59th BFI London Film Festival drew to a close last month, opened by Sarah Gavron's feminist drama 'Suffragette' and closed by Danny Boyle's 'Steve Jobs'. Lauren Johnson-Ginn and Saam Das were on the ground to catch as many films as we could - keep on reading for eleven of our favourite films (in alphabetical order) from the 2015 BFI London Film festival.

London Film Festival 2015 Review: Black Mass (2015)

'Black Mass' (UK Release: 27 Nov '15) // Words: Lauren Johnson-Ginn

Taking a deep dive into Boston’s murky 1980s underworld, 'Black Mass' charts the rise of one of America’s most infamous career criminals - Jimmy ‘Whitey’ Bulger (Johnny Depp). With excellent left-field casting, gripping pace and a clever script, director Scott Cooper has made a film that’s far more engaging than your typical mobster movie.

London Film Festival 2015 Mini-Reviews: 21 Nights With Pattie + Arianna

Words: Lauren Johnson-Ginn

'21 Nights With Pattie' (2015)

Preview: Ten Films To Watch At The BFI London Film Festival 2015

BFI London Film Festival (7-18 Oct '15) // Words: Lauren Johnson-Ginn & Saam Das

The BFI London Film Festival returns to its familiar surroundings this week, and we have ten of our most anticipated films to share with you. Read more of our thoughts and click on the film titles below for further information, and find out about last minute ticket availability via the BFI website.

Review: BFI London Film Festival 2014

58th BFI London Film Festival (8-19 Oct '14) // Words: Saam Das

The 58th BFI London Film Festival came to end recently, with its closing gala of David Ayer's WWII drama 'Fury'. While the festival arguably didn't have the big hitters of last year (although matching the combined might of '12 Years A Slave' and 'Gravity' was always going to be a challenge), there were nonetheless several impressive films on offer amid the 200+ film programme.

Film Review: Austin To Boston [BFI London Film Festival 2014]

Words: Saam Das

Readers of this website are likely to be familiar with London-based Communion Records, the folk-led club night and label that propelled the early careers of the likes of Laura Marling and Daughter. Documentary 'Austin To Boston' follows the journey of four acts from the Communion roster on their unique tour of America, which saw them cover three thousand miles in five vintage VW camper vans.

BFI London Film Festival 2014 Reviews: No Man's Land + Electric Boogaloo

Words: Maxamillian John

'No Man’s Land'

The producers of 'No Man’s Land' openly noise about the film’s Wild West roots and its 'Mad Max' visuals, but thankfully it’s a lot more fun than that. Design aside, Ning Hao’s movie runs more like a French farce, with events of increasing coincidence and physicality bringing a character to their knees.

Film Review: Serena [BFI London Film Festival 2014]

'Serena' (UK Release: 24 Oct '14) // Words: Lauren Johnson-Ginn

Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper team up again in this atmospheric drama from director Susanne Bier, bringing their much-discussed on-screen chemistry to a sombre tale of cutthroat Depression-era industry and turbulent romance. Adapted from Ron Rash’s best-selling 2008 novel of the same name, 'Serena' follows the rise of George Pemberton’s (Bradley Cooper) North Carolina timber empire.

Film Review: Gueros [BFI London Film Festival 2014]

'Güeros' (UK Release: TBC) // Words: Lauren Johnson-Ginn

A pretentious black and white movie with no clear meaning? That’s the gist of an extremely meta comment directed at 'Güeros' by a protagonist in one of the film’s wry fourth-wall-poking moments – but it’s a comment that doesn’t accurately reflect the charm of this clever coming-of-age odyssey.

BFI London Film Festival 2014 Mini-Reviews: Tender + Stray Dog

Words: Saam Das

'Tender' (2013)

The Australian industrial town of Port Kembla isn't one that was likely to make a name outside its homeland, but with Lynette Wallworth's documentary 'Tender', it may well do that - thanks largely to its well-meaning community. Their primary focus becomes the desire to take hold of responsibility for local funeral services, which is sharpened when a member of their active group is diagnosed with a serious illness.

Watch: Bear's Den - Above The Clouds Of Pompeii (With Special Guests) [Live At BFI London Film Festival 2014]

Words: Saam Das

Over the last couple of weeks, I've had the pleasure of attending the BFI London Film Festival 2014, which concluded last night with Brad Pitt-vehicle 'Fury'. Perhaps the best surprise of my festival came with an unannounced live acoustic performance following the UK premiere of Communion Records tour documentary, 'Austin To Boston' - featuring many of the artists involved. Watch Bear's Den combine with The Staves, Gil Landry, and India Bourne on the soaring 'Above The Clouds Of Pompeii' below.

Film Review: Son Of A Gun [BFI London Film Festival 2014]

Words: Saam Das

'Son Of A Gun' writer-director Julius Avery won a Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival for his 2008 'Jerrycan' short, as well as also picking up an AFI Award. Six years on and his feature directorial debut fulfils the promise of his previous efforts, delivering a deliciously entertaining and undoubtedly somewhat ludicrous heist thriller.

Film Review: The 78 Project Movie [BFI London Film Festival 2014]

Words: Saam Das

Initially born as a session-based web series, 'The 78 Project Movie' follows Alex Steyermark and Lavinia Jones Wright as they travel across the US with their vintage Presto recorder, allowing the duo to capture unique sessions from a variety of musicians. At times, the results are magical, and even liberating despite the pressures of recording just a single take. Regardless, witnessing the analogue approach is wonderfully refreshing to both artist and viewer alike.

BFI London Film Festival 2014 Mini-Reviews: In Darkness We Fall + Thou Wast Mild And Lovely

Words: Lauren Johnson-Ginn

'In Darkness We Fall' (2014)

Although found footage horror may now lack the nail-biting fright factor it once had in its 'Blair Witch Project' heyday, director Alfredo Montero brings genuinely unsettling realism back to the genre with 'In Darkness We Fall' ('La Cueva') – a claustrophobic cautionary tale of cave exploration gone wrong.