The Instigators (2024) - Review

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The Instigators (2024) - Review

Directed by: Doug Liman

Written by: Chuck Maclean, Casey Affleck

Starring: Casey Affleck, Matt Damon, Hong Chau, Michael Stuhlbarg, Paul Walter Hauser, Ving Rhames, Alfred Molina, Toby Jones, Jack Harlow, Ron Perlman

Runtime: 101 min

Synopsis: Rory (Matt Damon) and Cobby (Casey Affleck) are reluctant partners: a desperate father and an ex-con thrown together to rob a corrupt politician's ill-gained earnings. But when the heist goes wrong, the two find themselves engulfed in a whirlwind of chaos, pursued not only by police but also by backward bureaucrats and vengeful crime bosses. Completely out of their depth, they convince Rory's therapist (Hong Chau) to join their riotous getaway through the city, where they must put aside their differences and work together to evade capture - or worse.

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Tetris (2023) - Review

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Tetris (2023) - Review

Directed by: Jon S. Baird

Written by: Noah Pink

Starring: Taron Egerton, Toby Jones

Runtime: 118 min

Synopsis: The unbelievable true story of how one of the world's most popular video games found its way to avid players around the globe. Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton) discovers TETRIS in 1988, and then risks everything by traveling to the Soviet Union, where he joins forces with inventor Alexey Pazhitnov (Nikita Efremov) to bring the game to the masses.

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Empire of Light - SPOILER-FREE Review | LFF 2022

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Empire of Light - SPOILER-FREE Review | LFF 2022

Directed by: Sam Mendes

Written by: Sam Mendes

Starring: Olivia Colman, Monica Dolan, Micheal Ward, Tom Brooke, Tanya Moodie, Hannah Onslow, Crystal Clarke, Toby Jones, Colin Firth

Runtime: 115 min

Synopsis: Hilary (Olivia Colman) manages a seafront picture palace. Once an opulent multiscreen cinema with a dance hall overlooking the sea, now only one screen remains open, albeit a grand one. In preparation for a regional premiere of Chariots of Fire, Hilary and her colleagues spruce up the venue. Outside, the town itself is crumbling, with a rising far-right presence and Stephen (Micheal Ward) regularly harassed by skinheads. A story about human connection and the magic of cinema.

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First Cow (2020) - SPOILER-FREE Review

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First Cow (2020) - SPOILER-FREE Review

Directed by: Kelly Reichardt

Written by: Jon Raymond, Kelly Reichardt

Starring: John Magaro, Orion Lee, Toby Jones, Ewen Bremner, Alia Shawkat, René Auberjonois

Runtime: 122 min

Synopsis: A taciturn loner and skilled cook, Cookie (John Magaro), has traveled west and joined a group of fur trappers in Oregon Territory, though he only finds true connection with a Chinese immigrant, King-Lu (Orion Lee), also seeking his fortune. Soon the two collaborate on a successful business, although its longevity is reliant upon the clandestine participation of a nearby wealthy landowner’s prized milking cow.

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