Category: Film/TV

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Editorial Team, Film/TV, Lifestyle

The Return of Spitting Image

23 years on: “There’s nothing like a puppet punching a puppet”

The political satire Spitting Image, which first launched in Britain in 1984, is returning to our screens this year – and this time, it’s going after the big guys.  

In its heyday, Spitting Image was watched by 15 million people each week on ITV, its caustic puppets featuring the faces of those such as Margaret Thatcher and her cabinet. The show aimed to be as topical as possible throughout its 12-year stint, with puppeteer Roger Law stating that at times puppets were made overnight in order for a quick turnaround on the show. However, journalist Adam Sherwin claimed in an article in I-News that by the end of its run in the early 2000s, the jokes used during Spitting Image’s prime-time slot “had been reduced to the back-of-a-cigarette-packet material”, its ratings following suit. Continue reading The Return of Spitting Image

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Books, Editorial Team, Film/TV, Review

Review: To All The Boys: PS I Still Love You

After the success of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before when it was released in 2018, it was unsurprising that Netflix announced that a sequel would soon be on the cards. However, cut to the 12th February 2020 and I couldn’t help but feel disappointed by To All the Boys: PS I Still Love You. Continue reading Review: To All The Boys: PS I Still Love You

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Columns, Editorial Team, Film/TV, Review

Politics on Screen: Noughts and Crosses

Reading Malorie Blackman’s multi-award winning novel Noughts and Crosses during my last years of primary school was an eye-opening experience about the extent of racism in our society, and my position of privilege in the world. My interest was piqued when I heard that the BBC was creating a TV adaptation. With the current political climate, the open (and horrific) examples of police brutality internationally, and increased instances of racism at our university, now was seemingly the time for this series to be adapted. On a trip home from university I binge-watched the entire series in one day and found myself being shaken again by this story. Continue reading Politics on Screen: Noughts and Crosses

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Columns, Editorial Team, Film/TV, Politics, Review, Visual Arts, What's Happening

Politics on Screen: Parasite

Ever since it debuted at Cannes Film Festival in May 2019 and won its prestigious Palme d’Or, Parasite has been making waves. With two Baftas, four Oscars (including best picture – the first time a foreign film has ever won) and countless other accolades under its belt, it has dominated the awards circuit and catapulted writer-director Bong Joon-Ho to international fame. A much-celebrated director in his native South Korea, Bong’s work often touches upon social issues. Okja, for example, deals with environmental issues, capitalism, animal rights and corporate greed, whilst The Host explores dictatorships, governments and power, amongst other things. Continue reading Politics on Screen: Parasite

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Editorial Team, Film/TV, Review

Review: Emma

Rating: 5 Stars

As a Jane Austen fan, I was thrilled by the prospect of another adaptation of Emma, my favourite of all her novels. The trailer had made Autumn De Wilde’s version look amazing. It did not disappoint. I had been anticipating its release for months, and planning to see it with my mum, another Austen fan, for ages. We planned to go and see it when I came home for reading week.
Continue reading Review: Emma

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Editorial Team, Film/TV, Misc., What's Happening

Resisting Ageism in Hollywood: Stars Coming Into Their Own Later in Their Careers

When you think of actors coming into their own, who comes to mind? Florence Pugh? Timothée Chalamet? Saoirse Ronan? Zendaya? Many people will envision the faces of young Hollywood actors and actresses, at the start of their careers, who seem to be everywhere. They’re in every film and awards show, on the cover of every magazine and talked about across the internet. Hollywood loves them and so does the media, praising them for their early success and writing article upon article about the accolades they’re receiving. But what about the actors who are experiencing huge recognition at a later age and stage in their career? Continue reading Resisting Ageism in Hollywood: Stars Coming Into Their Own Later in Their Careers

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Editorial Team, Film/TV, Review

Frost on Film: The Personal History of David Copperfield

With his latest directorial instalment, Armando Iannucci has attempted to transform Charles Dickens’ masterpiece David Copperfield into a satirical affair which discusses contemporary social issues. The results are mixed as there are moments of genuine warmth throughout, but there are equally numerous occasions when jokes fall flat and twists in the plot fail to create the level of emotional outpouring one would have expected. Iannucci’s unique style is partially to blame for this as his ironic humour, which had elevated The Death of Stalin so brilliantly, in this instance limits the emotional heft of the source material. Continue reading Frost on Film: The Personal History of David Copperfield

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