In the not-too-distant future, an Artificial Intelligence-led nuclear attack on Los Angeles leaves millions of humans dead. Realising the active threat AI poses to the very fabric of our ongoing existence, the West wages war on all AI, however not everywhere on the planet agrees with this approach. In New Asia, AI lives harmoniously with humankind, and it’s there that a rumoured new ‘weapon’ is being harboured. Joshua (John David Washington), a former military man, is tasked with helping a covert mission to locate and destroy this threat, but when the AI is revealed to be a child (Madeleine Yuna Voyles), Joshua must wrestle will mixed emotions, including a link to his traumatic past.

The ensemble of ‘The Creator’ is impressive, with John David Washington once again spearheading a bold and ambitious science fiction epic with authority and undeniable screen presence (especially after his turn in Christopher Nolan’s polarising ‘Tenet’). Washington’s Joshua shares a believable chemistry with Gemma Chan’s character Maya. Chan gives an effortless grace and poise to every project she’s in. Young Madeleine Yuna Voyles is impressive as Alphie, the AI that could spark the end of the world. It’s nice to see Allison Janney steal her scenes as Colonel Howell, a dogged military officer on the trail of Joshua, and even Finch from ‘The Office’ aka Ralph Ineson pops up as a army general looking for Joshua’s help in defeating AI for good. The legendary Ken Watanabe is also a big highlight as Harun.

‘The Creator’ is truly a labour of love for Gareth Edwards, and you can see that in every frame on the big screen. His vision lends itself perfectly to big-format cinema, with IMAX screens certainly the best way to fully immerse yourself in this fantastical world. The film is gorgeously rendered and offers a beautiful study into the marriage of man and machine in the not-too-distant future. In a world where we are used to seeing impressive visions of futuristic existences from the likes of ‘Blade Runner’, ‘Terminator 2’, ‘Robocop’, ‘Avatar’ and ‘Minority Report’, ‘The Creator’ manages to deliver that awe-factor to its visuals, keeping the viewer utterly enchanted by the feast laid out in front of their eyes.

The story of ‘The Creator’ isn’t as fresh or ground-breaking as it would like itself to be though, with audiences having already seen this type of narrative played out many times before, most recently in ‘Avatar’ – essentially a hero infiltrates a native species, but soon learns to love them and their plight before rampant corporatism and military action come knocking. ‘The Creator’ basically follows along similar lines, but it does so with its own panache.

A tad too long, and with a second act that loses the impressive momentum built from the film’s brilliant opening sequences, ‘The Creator’ is still a rewarding watch. It’s nice that big subjects like AI taking over our world are explored, and even better that the machinations of a potential AI treat is weighed up against human error and our own insecurities. ‘The Creator’ offers up a lot of interesting questions about where we, as a civilisation, are heading in the future, and the role technology has to play in not only our day-to-day lives, but on the bigger subjects of existence and purpose. ‘The Creator’ is an engaging sci-fi with an impressive visual style and lots of emotional weight, that holds your attention throughout.

Cast: John David Washington, Madeleine Yuna Voyles, Gemma Chan, Allison Janney, Ken Watanabe, Ralph Ineson, Sturgill Simpson, Veronica Ngo Director: Gareth Edwards Writer: Gareth Edwards, Chris Weitz Certificate: 12A Duration: 133 mins Released by: Disney Release date: 28th September 2023

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The plot involves two First World War veterans – Dr. Burt Berendsen (Christian Bale) and Harold Woodsman (John David Washington), a lawyer. They both met as younger men during the war and formed a strong friendship that has endured over the years. During a particularly bloody battle, both men were sent to recuperate in hospital, where they met Nurse Valerie Voze (Margot Robbie). A bond develops into an unbreakable friendship for the trio, as they spend some of the happiest times of their lives in Amsterdam. But life soon gets in the way.

Years pass, and having now relocated back to America, Burt and Harold find themselves reunited once again to investigate the untimely death of their commanding officer General Bill Meekins (Ed Begley Jr.). Foul play is definitely on the cards, and as they uncover the truth behind his murder, it unravels a far bigger conspiracy that not only threatens their lives but could also bring an end to the very fabric of the nation.

‘Amsterdam’ is full of unbelievable talent. Its an incredible ensemble that carries you through an over-long middle section, and always keeps you fully entertained. Leading the way is the triple- header leading cast of Margot Robbie, Christian Bale and John David Washington. Washington has firmly followed in his father’s footsteps (Denzel) and has become one of Hollywood’s finest leading men. Robbie continues to amaze with every eclectic step she takes in her stellar career and is simply sensational in ‘Amsterdam’. And what can we say about Christian Bale that hasn’t already been said? ‘Amsterdam’ affords Bale yet another wildly different role to inhabit, which he does a marvellous job with.

The strength of the film comes from its central friendship between the characters of Voze, Berendsen and Woodsman. It seems like a rare thing these days to revel in a well-written and engaging friendship between three people onscreen, but ‘Amsterdam’ does a great job in making this a relationship that you can easily champion and fully engage with. Their chemistry is brilliant and makes you wish that there were more stories to tell with all three characters involved.

On that subject, the ensemble is full of quirky and well-rounded characters that you feel could hold a movie by themselves too. This is certainly the case with Michael Shannon and Mike Myers. As Henry Norcross and Paul Canterbury respectively, they play a highly entertaining cameo as a pair of secret service agents who help with the case at hand. Myers, in particular, is a joy to watch – reminding us that he’s been absent from the big screen for far too long. Elsewhere, there are noticeable strong supporting turns from the likes of Chris Rock, Ed Begley Jr., Alessandro Nivola, Andrea Riseborough, Anya Taylor-Joy, Matthias Schoenaerts, Timothy Olyphant, Zoe Saldana, Rami Malek and Robert De Niro. Taylor Swift is great in her small cameo too, and shares a good scene with Bale and Washington.

‘Amsterdam’ is a joy to watch. It starts off strongly, but despite dragging slightly in the middle third, it more than makes up for this with a barnstorming finale that utilises all of the talent at its disposal. The trailer suggests that Robert De Niro only has a small part to play, but he’s in the film a lot more than I expected and holds a very pivotal role. It’s his best work for some time and helps make ‘Amsterdam’ a thoroughly engaging cinema experience. It’s also very refreshing to get a dramatic story told on the big screen that isn’t tied to a franchise or a sequel – just a good, old-fashioned movie’s movie. ‘Amsterdam’ is a wonderful caper packed full of star-power, fantastic performances and a compelling story with timely themes that still resonate, even in today’s world. This is well worth your time and money.

Cast: Margot Robbie, Christian Bale, John David Washington, Mike Myers, Michael Shannon, Chris Rock, Ed Begley Jr., Alessandro Nivola, Andrea Riseborough, Anya Taylor-Joy, Matthias Schoenaerts, Taylor Swift, Timothy Olyphant, Zoe Saldana, Rami Malek, Robert De Niro Director: David O. Russell Writer: David O. Russell Certificate: 15 Duration: 134 mins Released by: 20^th Century Fox Release date: 7^th October 2022

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Given that this is the biggest release of the year, I will keep things spoiler-free but you are in for an unforgettable journey that’s full of spectacle and intrigue. John David Washington and Robert Pattinson must foil a terrorist whose actions have repercussions in the past and the future, to avoid World War 3 and the end of our very existence. You’ll leave the cinema with many questions and I’ll tell you now, you won’t understand everything you see – but isn’t it great to get a blockbuster that talks up to its audience and challenges you to look a little deeper?

John David Washington and Robert Pattinson are as excellent as you would expect. Washington is fast becoming one of the finest actors working today and he does an exceptional job leading a very complex and demanding film with style and verve. He has a wonderful screen presence that keeps you hooked. We only ever know him as ‘The Protagonist’ in this film, but he makes you champion his cause right from the offset. The establishing scenes of him as a character really set the tone well (and it has to do this quickly) because the film moves at a brisk and blistering pace. A scene involving the Protagonist being attacked by some thugs in a kitchen is superbly balanced.

Robert Pattison steals the film as Neil, the Protagonists right-hand man. Channelling Christopher Nolan himself, Pattison delivers a performance full of nuance. He is always on-hand to walk us through some of the more complex set-ups and situations the film presents us with. This looks like a dry run for his upcoming role as Batman/Bruce Wayne in Matt Reeves’ The Batman, and he passes with flying colours. Pattinson is one of the most under-appreciated talents working in film today.

There’s brilliant support in the form of Elizabeth Debicki, who plays Kat, a very pivotal character who is at the centre of the narrative. She captivates whenever she’s onscreen, giving the film a humanising element amongst the carnage. The ensemble also includes Aaron Taylor-Johnson, reminding us that we really should be seeing more of him on the big screen. Clémence Poésy, Himesh Patel, Dimple Kapadia and Denzil Smith all hand-in noteworthy support, and Michael Caine is on hand for his obligatory Nolan appearance in a very entertaining (but too brief) cameo scene alongside Washington.

A scenery-chewing Kenneth Branagh plays the film’s villain Andrei Sator. In a lot of ways he is the compass that centres the viewer when things start to get really complex. Yes, his accent is a bit hammy but Branagh always brings a very real sense of threat and menace to his roles. He shares a great, testing chemistry alongside Debicki and the two conjure up some memorable exchanges together.

IMAX 70mm is the absolute perfect way to enjoy Tenet. There’s only one print of it in Europe at the moment… at the world-famous BFI IMAX in London’s Waterloo. I have often spoken about how incredible that cinema experience is and how IMAX and 70mm combine to create an unparalleled atmosphere to the viewer. Tenet has been shot with this in mind and some of the scenes are truly breath-taking in the format. The larger than life screen transports you right into the action with a clarity and scope that fully immerses the viewer. The action sequences are simply stunning on the largest screen possible too. In these troubled times, a trip to the cinema may seem like a step too far for some at the moment, and that’s fine. But if you do decide to see the film and it’s in your means, then the BFI IMAX is the best way to enjoy Tenet as the director intended.

Tenet is a spectacle like no other, which will leave you in awe and wonder. You will need to see it a couple of times to take everything in too, as this is a cerebral masterclass in entertainment from Christopher Nolan that challenges the audience to keep up with a frantic and energetic race against time. As a result, this will not be to everyone’s taste but it’s a testament to the film. As intricate as it all is, you can still get taken away aesthetically even if you haven’t picked up on every plot point. This is a film that will age very well, especially with repeat viewings and it marks yet another win for Christopher Nolan and his endless desire to deliver big screen wonder on the grandest scale of all. It was always going to be a big film, but after the year we have just had, Tenet is not only here to reignite our love of film… it’s here to save the medium too.

Cast: John David Washington, Robert Pattison, Elizabeth Debicki, Kenneth Branagh, Clémence Poésy, Himesh Patel, Dimple Kapadia, Denzil Smith, Michael Caine Director: Christopher Nolan Writer: Christopher Nolan Released By: Warner Bros Certificate: 12A Duration: 150 mins Release Date: 26th August 2020

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The post Tenet review appeared first on Entertainment Focus.

Tenet opens in UK cinemas on 17th July 2020 and is sure to be one of the best movies of the year.

Tenet stars John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Dimple Kapadia, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Clémence Poésy, Michael Caine and Kenneth Branagh.

The trailer opens with an unmistakable Christopher Nolan shot and gives us a quick glimpse of some of the set-pieces in the film, but it does this by not giving away any plot-points. Hardly anything is known about Tenet’s synopsis which adds great anticipation to any footage released.

For anyone looking to see Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in IMAX this holiday season, you’ll likely be greeted with a extra special Tenet prologue sequence too, which is exclusive to cinemas.

Christopher Nolan is no stranger to these IMAX teaser prologues, having delivered them before for his big movies. Most recently he had extended footage played of Dunkirk, but his most memorable prologues were the opening sequences of his seminal movies The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises.

The Dark Knight prologue famously featured the bank heist sequence from the film that introduces us to Heath Ledger’s Oscar-winning Joker performance. Inspired by the bank robbery scene in Michael Mann’s classic crime-thriller Heat starring Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, The Dark Knight’s IMAX prologue co-starred William Fichtner as the bank manager who gets ripped off.

The Dark Knight Rises did a great job with its IMAX prologue too, showcases the first ever scene of Tom Hardy’s Bane – complete with ear-straining audio dialogue and that funny accent. Game of Thrones favourite Aidan Gillen featured as the FBI agent who is tasked with bringing Bane in, but who becomes the victim of a daring mid-air heist sequence.

The Tenet IMAX prologue follows in similar fashion, as we meet the principal characters as a daring rescue attempt is mounted. The best thing about this prologue is that it shows you a full 7min scene and then some clips from the trailer which hooks you in and keeps you on the edge of your seat, but that crucially doesn’t reveal any plot points.

It’s rare to get such secrecy for a forthcoming movie but the ad campaign alone sees to it that Tenet will be a fantastic cinema-going experience that will keep its cards close to its chest for as long as possible. For now you can only catch the Tenet IMAX prologue in cinemas.

Check out the new Tenet poster below;

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Manny (Anthony Ramos) is with a group of friends when they get stopped and harassed by the police. As the situation quickly escalates, he pulls out his phone and films the incident, which ends up with one of his friends being shot. Black police officer Dennis (John David Washington) knows that his white colleagues are corrupt but is hesitant to say anything as a promotion is looming over him. Meanwhile Zyrick (Kelvin Harrison Jr) is a high school athlete with a promising future in baseball but he’s not sure he wants to ignore the racism that surrounds him.

Monsters and Men is a timely film from writer/director Reinaldo Marcus Green that looks unflinchingly at the ongoing problem of police brutality against black people in America. The scenario that the film depicts is one that is all too common and barely a week goes by without reading about another case like it. The interweaving storylines complement each other while showing completely different sides of the same story. The viewer begins by seeing things from Manny’s perspective but once you see things through Dennis’ eyes, you start to truly appreciate just how difficult a situation this really is.

What Monsters and Men spends its time unpacking is that in cases like this, it’s often a lose-lose situation for any black person. That idea is really evident in the stories of both Dennis and Zyrick. Dennis has a white female partner in his job as a police officer and he knows that if he starts trying to expose the corruption he witnesses within his department, he will likely end or at the very least stunt his own career. On the one hand you could say that attitude is selfish but on the other if Dennis rises to a more powerful position, he has the ability to affect real change.

Similarly Zyrick wants to pursue a career in baseball but is put off by the stereotypical questions posed to him by the talent scout. He’s asked about any trouble he’s had with the police, despite having had none, and his father willingly pushes him to present himself as something different to who he really is. His passion for baseball is called into question when he starts to feel he needs to campaign for justice over the murder of Manny’s friend.

As well as having strong writing and direction, Monsters and Men is buoyed by three very strong central performances. Anthony Ramos is a rising star thanks to his recent turn opposite Lady Gaga in A Star is Born and he’s believable and impressive here. Kelvin Harrison Jr makes an impact despite his character seemingly being disconnected to the other two stories. His performance is sensitive and thoughtful. The standout though it John David Washington as Dennis, who really brings the personal and professional conflict of the career to the fore.

Monsters and Men shines a light on a very real problem that’s shockingly rife in America. The film is engaging, emotive and will get you thinking about the injustice that black people face due to the colour of their skin. With strong performances and powerful direction, the film is worthy of the praise that’s been heaped upon it. The ending may be a little more open ended than some viewers will like but that only serves to drive home the point that this issue isn’t one that’s going to be solved quickly or easily.

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Cast: John David Washington, Anthony Ramos, Kelvin Harrison Jr, Chanté Adams, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Nicole Beharie Director: Reinaldo Marcus Green Writer: Reinaldo Marcus Green Certificate: 15 Duration: 96 mins Released by: Altitude Films Release date: 4th February 2019 Buy Monsters and Men

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Lee and the film’s writers have achieved no mean feat, BlacKkKlansman is a flawless portrayal of a true story, which undermines aggression with comedy. From a plot synopsis, it’s hard to imagine that the film could contain as much humour as it does, but much of the impact is delivered through biting, take-down punchlines.

Throughout the film we see the Grand Wizard’s attempts to normalize the image off the KKK as he tries to put a positive gloss over abhorrent views, rebranding them as ‘The Organization’ and spinning core values not as hate, but as just wanting everyone ‘to stay with their own kind’. Inside the KKK Chapter meeting there’s the jarring juxtaposition of tea and cake with murderous intent and the KKK answerphone message is comedic in its breezy tone. The film later shows real life contemporary footage of Duke quoting Donald Trump to justify his ideology and the rhetoric of the last Presidential election is woven throughout.

BlacKkKlansman also poignantly depicts the internal conflict of the protagonists. Zimmerman is Jewish but ‘wasn’t raised to be’, he’s accused of ‘passing’ as a WASP and Stallworth tries to push him to realise that he has ‘skin in the game’. Stallworth is a black policeman, seemingly fitting in nowhere: labelled a pig by his radical student union president love interest Patrice (Laura Harrier), whilst also being violently and verbally attacked by his own police colleagues. In spite of the ultimate success of Stallworth’s undercover operation, there’s no justice, triumph is swept under the rug and crosses still burn.

BlacKkKlansman is flawless, important and timely: an essential watch and gripping throughout. Washington portrays delivers the razor-sharp script with perfect deadpan timing and finesse. The final montage of real news footage taken from 2017 contains no humour, just bleak, present-day reality, sledgehammering home the fact that this is still America and little has changed.

Cast: John David Washington, Adam Driver, Topher Grace, Laura Harrier Director: Spike Lee Writers: Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, Kevin Willmott, Spike Lee Based on the Novel by: Ron Stallworth Certificate: 15 Duration: 135 mins Released by: Universal Release date: 24th August 2018. Special nationwide screenings + Live Satellite Q&A with Spike Lee on August 20th. Find out more at www.BlackkklansmanScreening.co.uk.

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The one-sheet features John David Washington and Adam Driver with the tagline ‘infiltrate hate’ featured in between them. You can take a look at the full poster below:

BlacKkKlansman stars John David Washington, Adam Driver, Topher Grace and Laura Harrier. Directed by Spike Lee, the film is based on the novel by Ron Stallworth and it’s written by Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, Kevin Willmott and Spike Lee.

It’s the early 1970s, a time of great social upheaval as the struggle for civil rights rages on. Ron Stallworth (John David Washington) becomes the first African-American detective on the Colorado Springs Police Department, but his arrival is greeted with skepticism and open hostility by the department’s rank and file. Undaunted, Stallworth resolves to make a name for himself and a difference in his community. He bravely sets out on a dangerous mission: infiltrate and expose the Ku Klux Klan.

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Posing as a racist extremist, Stallworth contacts the group and soon finds himself invited into its inner circle. He even cultivates a relationship with the Klan’s Grand Wizard, David Duke (Topher Grace), who praises Ron’s commitment to the advancement of White America. With the undercover investigation growing ever more complex, Stallworth’s colleague, Flip Zimmerman (Adam Driver), poses as Ron in face-to-face meetings with members of hate group, gaining insider’s knowledge of a deadly plot. Together, Stallworth and Zimmerman team up to take down the organization whose real aim is to sanitize its violent rhetoric to appeal to the mainstream.

BlacKkKlansman is released in UK cinemas on 24th August 2018.

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Visionary filmmaker Spike Lee is no stranger to remarkable stories and with BlacKkKlansman he brings the incredible true story of an American hero to light.

Lee directs and co-wrote the story along with fellow writers Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz and Kevin Willmott, based on the novel by Ron Stallworth.

Joining John David Washington and Adam Driver are Topher Grace, Laura Harrier, Ryan Eggold, Robert John Burke, Harry Belafonte, Ashlie Atkinson, Craig muMs Grant, Elise Hudson and Faron Salisbury.

BlacKkKlansman is released in UK cinemas on 24th August 2018.

[brid video=”226303″ player=”531″ title=”BLACKkKLANSMAN Trailer 1 (Universal Pictures) HD”]

It’s the early 1970s, a time of great social upheaval as the struggle for civil rights rages on. Ron Stallworth (John David Washington) becomes the first African-American detective on the Colorado Springs Police Department, but his arrival is greeted with skepticism and open hostility by the department’s rank and file.

Undaunted, Stallworth resolves to make a name for himself and a difference in his community. He bravely sets out on a dangerous mission: infiltrate and expose the Ku Klux Klan.

Posing as a racist extremist, Stallworth contacts the group and soon finds himself invited into its inner circle. He even cultivates a relationship with the Klan’s Grand Wizard, David Duke (Topher Grace), who praises Ron’s commitment to the advancement of White America.

With the undercover investigation growing ever more complex, Stallworth’s colleague, Flip Zimmerman (Adam Driver), poses as Ron in face-to-face meetings with members of hate group, gaining insider’s knowledge of a deadly plot. Together, Stallworth and Zimmerman team up to take down the organization whose real aim is to sanitize its violent rhetoric to appeal to the mainstream.

Produced by the team behind the Academy-Award winning Get Out, BlacKkKlansman offers an unflinching, true-life examination of race relations in 1970s America that is just as bracingly relevant in today’s tumultuous world.

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