Joseph Walsh

★★★☆☆ The BFI reissue of Jack Hazan’s fascinating 1974 docudrama A Bigger Splash exploring David Hockney’s life between 1971-3 – after he separated from partner Peter Schlesinger – could not be more timely as it coincides with the opening of his new show at the Royal Academy of Arts, entitled A Bigger Picture. A Bigger…

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★★☆☆☆ Whilst there is much to be enjoyed in Johnny Daukes’ debut feature Acts of Godfrey (2012), including the poetic musings of Simon Callow and a suitably dark and comedic performance by comedian Harry Enfield, the film ultimately fails to deliver on its substantial promise due to a distinct lack of humour and a detectable…

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★★★★☆ Betrand Bonello’s latest film House of Tolerance (2011), which was nominated for the Palme d’Or at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, is sumptuous cinema devoid of the typical clichés that plague costume dramas. Instead, it offers a bold and intelligent representation of the lives of turn-of-the-century prostitutes in a rapidly changing Paris. The film’s…

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★★★☆☆ If you know the track record of French animator Bibo Bergeron – responsible for 2004’s Shark Tale and 2000’s The Road To El Dorado– you may assume that it would be best to stay clear of his latest directorial effort A Monster in Paris (2011) – but you would be wrong.Set during the Paris floods of…

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★★★★☆ About Schmidt (2002) and Sideways (2004) director Alexander Payne returns triumphantly after a seven-year hiatus with the wonderfully poignant, Hawaii-based comic-drama The Descendants (2011), starring Hollywood megastar George Clooney in what is arguably his most impressive role to date.Matt King (Clooney) is a Honolulu-based lawyer struggling to come to terms with a boat accident…

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★★★☆☆ Directed by John Madden, The Debt (2010) is not only a highly entertaining, gripping thriller but also boasts a very impressive cast including Helen Mirren, Tom Wilkinson, Ciarán Hinds, actress of the moment Jessica Chastain and Sam Worthington.In 1965, three MOSAD agents, Stephen, David and Rachel, are given the mission of capturing Nazi war criminal and…

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★★★★★ When critics talk about L’Atalante it usually doesn’t take long for them to start discussing the legendary short life of its director Jean Vigo, who died of tuberculosis shortly after the film’s release in 1934. Whilst the production history of the film is fascinating, it can lead many to overlook the exquisite beauty of a feature…

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★☆☆☆☆ Where have all the action heroines gone? Outside of the cinema of Luc Besson, there seems to be a distinct absence of strong female leads in mainstream action films. With the forthcoming release of Gary Ross’ The Hunger Games (2012) (adapted from the first entry in Suzanne Collins’ dystopian teen trilogy), appetites may soon…

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★★★★☆ Love him or hate him, legendary American filmmaker Steven Spielberg certainly knows how to make a blockbuster, and that is exactly what you’ll get with his latest endeavour War Horse (2011), complete with an impressive British cast including Jeremy Irvine, Peter Mullan, Emily Watson, Tom Hiddleston and Benedict Cumberbatch. Adapted from  Michael Morpurgo’s successful children’s…

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