Year In Review: FADED GLAMOUR Top Films Of 2019

Words: Saam Das

The 2020 Oscars have been and gone so it seems appropriate for us to drop a list of our top films of 2019. Before we get to our best of, a hat-tip to some honourable mentions that might have made the list on another day, in another mood. Not forgetting all those films we missed, including Oscar-winning doc 'For Sama' and Eddie Murphy's comeback in 'Dolemite Is My Name'.

Review: Catch Design Museum's Stanley Kubrick: The Exhibition While You Can

Stanley Kubrick: The Exhibition (Design Museum, London) // Words: Saam Das // Photos: Ed Reeve

Twenty years on from his passing, a touring exhibition celebrating visionary filmmaker Stanley Kubrick has finally arrived in the UK, his adopted home. Raised in New York, Kubrick moved to Hertfordshire in the 1970s, living there until his death in 1999. The UK would become not just a base for his family but also for his work, and Stanley Kubrick: The Exhibition at London’s Design Museum appropriately delves into his particularly close relationship with the city.

Watch: Kate Nash Documentary 'Underestimate The Girl' On BBC iPlayer For Free

Words: Saam Das

Somewhat unexpectedly, a Kate Nash documentary recently dropped on BBC iPlayer. Kate Nash: Underestimate The Girl joins the likes of must-see Oscar-nominated doc 'Minding The Gap' as part of 2019's BBC Storyville brand. A chronicle of Kate Nash, and not just Kate Nash: The Popstar, or Kate Nash: The Rockstar, as she prefers. Or perhaps even now, having starred in Netflix's excellent 'GLOW' series, Kate Nash: The Actress.

Report: We Saw Paul Thomas Anderson And Thom Yorke's New Short Film 'Anima' In IMAX

Words: Saam Das

We're in the queue for 'Anima', the new one-reeler from acclaimed writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson, at Cineworld Leicester Square in central London. 'Anima' is the new short film (historically contained on one reel of film hence the 'one-reeler' moniker) in support of Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke's latest solo record of the same name.

Watch: Donald Glover + Rihanna In 'Guava Island' (2019)

Words: Saam Das

It seems that every week, a new shake-up emerges in terms of cinematic release mechanisms and 'Guava Island' is this week's pioneering film. Conceived by creative polymath Donald Glover (aka Childish Gambino) and his 'Atlanta'-directing collaborator Hiro Murai, musical drama 'Guava Island' premiered at this weekend's Coachella Festival in the States before landing on Amazon Prime - and better yet, is available to watch for free for all users for a (very) limited time.

Ten Choice Picks For Record Store Day 2019

Words: Saam Das

Yes, every day is record store day but today is the official 2019 Record Store Day - the twelfth annual iteration of a day that is a celebration of independent record stores across the world, driven by new and special releases. We've collated a list of ten choice picks from Record Store Day 2019, and in a change to our regular programming, you can view the list in reverse alphabetical order below.

Watch: CHVRCHES + BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra - Miracle [New Video]

Words: Saam Das

We didn't quite take the opportunity to write about CHVRCHES' storming 2018 hit 'Miracle' but this rather unexpected new rendition has presented the perfect chance for redemption, as the band teamed up with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra for a specially commissioned film launching the new BBC Scotland channel. Watch the short (entitled 'Beginning') below, alongside the original version of 'Miracle'.

Year In Review: Ten Of The Best Films Of 2018

Words: Saam Das

As ever, the recent Oscar nominations lead to discussion of what is and isn't worthy of celebration across the last year or so of film. This list of our favourite films of 2018 may evoke a similar response from some readers. Alas, a number of 2018's acclaimed films have escaped our attention ranging from Alex Garland's Netflix Original 'Annihilation' to Bollywood comedy-drama 'Pad Man', and there's plenty of honourable mentions to address first.

Exhibition Review: Censored! Stage, Screen, Society At 50 @ V & A Museum

Censored! Stage, Screen, Society At 50 at Victoria and Albert Museum (10 July 2018-27 January 2019) // Words: Saam Das

The Lord Chamberlain's Theatres Act of 1968 brought an end to censorship for British theatre - or did it? The Victoria and Albert Museum (more specifically, curators Anna Landreth Strong and Simon Sladen) are on hand to investigate. The free Censored! Stage, Screen, Society At 50 display reflects on the history of regulation in the theatre setting from the 17th century through to more recent censorship issues across film and music, as well as on stage.

Festival Review: London Film Week 2018

London Film Week (4-10 December 2018) // Words: Saam Das

Regent Street Cinema in the heart of London's West End was one of the first cinemas in the UK to show moving pictures, back in the late 1890s. Following a restoration by the University of Westminster in 2015, it seems appropriate that this year's London Film Week was held there - a carefully selected celebration of moving pictures, both feature-length and shorts, from across the world.

LFF 2018: Fourteen Of The Best Films We Caught At The 2018 BFI London Film Festival

Words: Lauren Johnson-Ginn & Saam Das

The 62nd BFI London Film Festival came to a close last month, concluding with well-received Laurel & Hardy biopic 'Stan & Ollie', starring Steve Coogan and John C Reilly. The 2018 LFF was similarly well received, with record audience numbers, including almost 150,000 attendees for its London screenings and over 30,000 more at satellite screenings across the UK. We've rounded up a selection of our top films from the 200+ features on offer at this year's LFF below.

Watch: Troye Sivan And Jonsi - Revelation [From New Drama 'Boy Erased']

Words: Saam Das

There is beauty in simplicity. From the opening bars of understated piano melody and its opening lyrical salvo of "you're a revelation", it's a challenge not to be moved by the emotion-fuelled 'Revelation'. The team up between South African pop sensation Troye Sivan and Sigur Ros frontman Jonsi is for new film 'Boy Erased', which features an incredible cast including Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, and indeed, Sivan himself.

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.

On Camera #35: The Festival / BlacKkKlansman / WOS Wrestling / Doctor Who

Words: Saam Das

In Cinemas: 'The Festival' (2018) + 'BlacKkKlansman' (2018)

Listen: Adam Brock - Fred Astaire [As Featured In Lady Bird]

Words: Saam Das

I recently compiled my top films of 2017, and I'm fairly confident that Greta Gerwig's 'Lady Bird' will feature near the top of a similar list of 2018 films. The film has deservedly picked up a clutch of Oscar nominations and has plenty of brilliant moments - a favourite of mine being the brief Thanksgiving scene featuring an in-film band, whose song you can listen to in full below.

Year In Review: Saam Das' Top Ten Films Of 2017

Words: Saam Das

The Oscars will be arriving shortly, celebrating the best in film over the last year or so, and with that in mind, it seems there's still time to reflect on my top films of 2017. Check out the list below, alongside some honourable mentions: