Writer and director Dan Cadan reminisces about the golden age of British wrestling with his feature debut Walk Like a Panther, a so-called comedy set in Yorkshire. Mark Bolton (Stephen Graham) is the cheeky-chappy landlord of The Half Nelson, the local drinking den frequented by a group of former grapplers known as the Panthers. When the beloved pub’s future is threatened by devilish developer Paul Peterson (Stephen Tompkinson), Mark turns to his dad Trevor (Dave Johns) and the rest of the gang to save the day.
Month: March 2018
DVD review: Lean on Pete
Based on the novel of the same name by Willy Vlautin, coming-of-age drama Lean on Pete is the latest feature from critically acclaimed writer and director Andrew Haigh. Set in Portland, Oregon, the plot centres around teenager Charley (Charlie Plummer) who lives with his down-and-out father Ray (Travis Fimmel) in a broken home. At the local racetrack, he meets wily trainer Del (Steve Buscemi) and lands a job helping out with the horses. However, when tragedy strikes in his family and his favourite nag Lean on Pete suffers a setback, Charley takes drastic action that leads to dangerous consequences.
DVD review: Thoroughbreds
Playwright Cory Finley introduces himself to the cinematic landscape with his directorial debut Thoroughbreds, a Sundance-indie-comedy with a sinister neo-noir streak. Olivia Cooke portrays Amanda, a troubled teen that struggles to convey compassion and empathy. Because her issues keep her out of the public schooling system, she reunites with childhood friend Lily (Anya Taylor-Joy) who reluctantly agrees offer private tutoring. Though their personalities clash initially, they soon strike up an unusual friendship, and together they hatch a murderous plan.
DVD review: Beast
Set against the striking landscapes of Jersey, psychological romance drama Beast is the feature debut by writer and director Michael Pearce. The plot follows lonely island tour guide Moll (Jessie Buckley) who is very much the black sheep within her insular family. When she falls for rugged and mysterious stranger Pascal (Johnny Flynn), she sees a chance to break free from her isolated existence. Meanwhile, there’s a serial killer on the loose and Moll’s dark past comes back to haunt her.
Cinema Perspective 