cinema · GFF26

Film review: One Last Deal

Garry ArnotLeave a comment

The one-location chamber piece can be a difficult trick to pull off, even more so with just one actor appearing on-screen. This is the challenge presented in the latest feature by Irish director Brendan Muldowney who has garnered acclaim for his ambitious storytelling. Set entirely within a London office suite, psychological drama One Last Deal follows a day in the life of foul-mouthed football agent Jimmy Banks (Danny Dyer), charting his ecstatic highs and lows as he tries to secure a lucrative contract for his top client whilst hoping to salvage his own somewhat disgraced reputation.

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GFF26 · Interviews

The Fall of Sir Douglas Weatherford Interview: Sean Dunn – ‘Peter Mullan was demanding, but in a good way’.

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At what point does entertainment tourism overshadow the real history and legacy of a location? Writer and director Sean Dunn explores this very topical idea through the lens of black comedy in his hotly-anticipated debut feature, The Fall of Sir Douglas Weatherford. Taking place on the outskirts of Edinburgh, the plot sees keen historian and tour guide Kenneth (Peter Mullan) become increasingly frustrated as his local village becomes the setting for a new fantasy television series. Note that I know Dunn personally and was lucky enough to have a conversation with him about the film ahead of its UK premiere at Glasgow Film Festival 2026…

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cinema

Film review: Wasteman

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 In the relatively fresh film career of actor David Jonsson, he’s already impressed in rom-com Rye Lane, sci-fi Alien: Romulus, and horror The Long Walk; he was even recognised as BAFTA’s rising star last year too. His latest role comes in prison thriller Wasteman, the directorial debut of artist-turned-filmmaker Cal McMau. It centres around mild-mannered convict Taylor (Jonsson) who, if he keeps his head down, has the opportunity of an early release. However, when his volatile new cellmate Dee (Tom Blyth) arrives, he becomes embroiled in a vicious feud that threatens his chances of parole.

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cinema

Film review: Is This Thing On?

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 Since his attention turned to directing, actor Bradley Cooper has taken on emotionally weighty productions in adapting the much-loved musical A Star is Born and taking on the biopic of one of America’s great composers with Maestro. His third effort is lightweight in comparison, inspired by comedian John Bishop’s unorthodox introduction to stand-up. Comedy drama Is This Thing On? transports his tale from the clubs of Manchester to Manhattan and centres around middle-aged man, Alex Novak (Will Arnett) as his marriage with Tess (Laura Dern) is on the rocks. Having left the family home to find a small apartment in the city, he finds himself at an open mic night and to avoid paying an entrance fee, he puts his name down to perform.

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cinema

Film review: 100 Nights of Hero

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Maika Monroe cemented herself as the go-to indie ‘scream queen’ over a decade ago with her breakthrough in It Follows, and has furthered this reputation with more recent turns in Watcher and Longlegs. Whilst her leading role in Julia Jackman’s sophomore feature 100 Nights of Hero is a departure from the traditions of this genre, there’s something to be said about the horrors of female oppression in this folk fantasy fairytale.

 Based on Isabel Greenberg’s graphic novel of the same name, it centres around noblewoman Cherry (Monroe) who is given 101 nights to conceive an heir. As her cowardly husband Jerome (Amir El-Masry) abruptly leaves, her friendship with devoted maid Hero (Emma Corrin) develops and hunky houseguest Manfred (Nicholas Galitzine) arrives at their castle.

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cinema

Film review: Twinless

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After premiering at Sundance just over a year ago, psychological black comedy Twinless has been decorated with numerous festival awards. It marks the sophomore feature from filmmaker James Sweeney who not only directs, but produces, writes and acts in the piece as well. The story begins at a funeral where thirty-something Roman (Dylan O’Brien) grieves the tragic death of his identical twin brother Rocky, who O’Brien also portrays in flashback sequences. At an emotional support group for twinless twins, he meets Dennis (Sweeney) and the pair strike up an unlikely bond, united in their shared experience of grief. However, as their friendship develops and the plot thickens, we discover that all is not as it seems.

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cinema

Film review: 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

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 It’s been less than a year since this post-apocalyptic zombie series was revived by Danny Boyle and Alex Garland, and Nia DaCosta has taken on the directorial duties for the latest instalment. Bridging the gap between the beginning and end of this sequel trilogy, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple picks up directly where the last one left off. Reeling from the tragic death of his mother, young Spike (Alfie Williams) has been taken under the wing of cult leader Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell) and his gang of followers. Meanwhile, Dr Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) forms an unlikely friendship with “Samson” (Chi Lewis-Parry) who has been infected by the ‘rage virus’.

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cinema

Film review: Marty Supreme

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 Still in the relatively early days of their filmmaking career with acclaimed indies such as Good Time and Uncut Gems to their names, it was a surprise when the Safdies announced they would go their separate creative ways. While younger sibling Benny took quite a departure in form with his biographical sports movie The Smashing Machine, elder brother Josh has played the hits to a degree with his own solo directorial debut. A biographical sports movie of sorts in itself, comedy drama Marty Supreme is set in 1950s New York City and follows the relentless efforts of shoe salesman Marty Mauser (Timothée Chalamet) to become a table tennis champion. As childhood friend Rachel (Odessa A’zion), businessman Milton Rockwell (Kevin O’Leary) and actress Kay Stone (Gwyneth Paltrow) become embroiled in his schemes, he risks everything he has to get anything he wants.

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cinema

Film review: Oh, Canada

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Self-reflection is almost always on the cards for veteran writer and director Paul Schrader, who has returned with his first feature since his thematically linked ‘Man in a Room’ trilogy; a trio of tales which boldly explored redemption through lost souls living in solitude. In his latest drama Oh, Canada, the room is crowded and the man is Leonard Fife (Richard Gere), a dying documentary filmmaker turned professor who has agreed to sit for an interview about his illustrious life and career. Based on the 2021 novel Foregone by Russell Banks, the plot sees the acclaimed creative revisit his checkered past as his wife Emma (Uma Thurman) and former students Malcolm (Michael Imperioli) and Diana (Victoria Hill) watch on.

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