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  • The First Official Film Chart Number 1 Of 2021

    The First Official Film Chart Number 1 Of 2021

    The First Official Film Chart Number 1 Of 2021 – Tenet holds on at Number 1 on the first Official Film Chart of 2021. The time-bending epic starring David Washington crosses the finish line with more than double the sales of its closest competition, The New Mutants (2).

    The New Mutants enters at Number 2 as the highest brand-new entry of the week on digital downloads only. A dark spin-off of the X Men series, this superhero horror stars Maisie Williams and Anna Taylor-Joy 

    Roald Dahl’s The Witches drops one to Number 3, as festive classic Love Actually holds on for another week at Number 4. Spider-Man: Far From Home swoops in at Number 5, returning to the Top 10 for the first time since October. Bad Boys For Life also returns to the Top 10, flying 19 places to 6, while Little Women climbs 11 to Number 7.

    Last Christmas drops two places to land at Number 8, as two further entries rebound into the Top 10: Jumanji: The Next Levelrockets up 31 places to 9, and Birds of Prey is up 14 spots at Number 10.

    This week’s Official Film Chart features a sneak peak at a reunited Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter in the long-awaited sequel, Bill & Ted Face The Music, which is available to Download & Keep from January 9.

    Now, as well as OfficialCharts.com, the Official Film Chart can also be found on FindAnyFilm.com – the ultimate site for Film and TV fans to discover all the legal ways to buy the entertainment they want on disc and digital formats.

    The Official Film Chart Top 10 – 6th January 2021

    LWPosTitleLabel
    11TENETWARNER HOME VIDEO
    NEW2THE NEW MUTANTSMARVEL FILMS
    23ROALD DAHL’S THE WITCHESWARNER HOME VIDEO
    44LOVE ACTUALLYUNIVERSAL PICTURES
    RE5SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOMESONY PICTURES HE
    256BAD BOYS FOR LIFESONY PICTURES HE
    187LITTLE WOMEN (2019)SONY PICTURES HE
    68LAST CHRISTMASUNIVERSAL PICTURES
    409JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVELSONY PICTURES HE
    2410BIRDS OF PREY AND THE FANTABULOUSWARNER HOME VIDEO

    © Official Charts Company 2021

    VIEW THE FULL TOP 40 – https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/film-chart/

  • Occurrence At Mills Creek: Review

    Occurrence At Mills Creek: Review

    Clara (Ava Psoras) and Cassandra (Alexa Mechling) are sisters and as with all teenage sisters, they don’t often get along even though Clara does her best to look after her little sister. Then one day after an argument, Cassandra is found dead and soon Clara starts to learn about the family curse that has been passed on to her.

    Dealing with her grief and trying to find a way to move on, Clara finds herself being tormented by ghostly apparitions, hallucinations and strange occurrences as she starts to feel the grip of her mourning take her over.

    Occurrence at Mills Creek is a feature length melodramatic horror movie directed by Don Swanson and co-written by Betsy Lynn George and Joe Fishel, based on Swanson’s short film, Mills Creek. Framed as a ghost story, Mills Creek feels like a story from another time and almost takes a Victorian inspiration from the way it tells the story.

    There is no real explanation or emphasis as to how the supposed family curse manifests itself, leaving it up to the audience to speculate on what’s going to happen. This may work for some audiences, but it may also bore some as with the random encounters that Clara experiences, there is no hint as to what will become of Clara.

    Shot on a very low budget and with a cast that’s lacking in experience, Occurrence at Mills Creek can feel slow and often aimless and those expecting something of a higher quality may be disappointed. However, during the movie’s final act it does manage to increase the tension as the true nature of Clara’s family curse is revealed.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umP2of9HN14

    With its limited budget then it may very well be a blessing in disguise that Swanson’s ghost story isn’t all that ambitious in terms of story. Being inspired by a different kind of ghost story that audience’s may not be accustomed to may bring them something a little different.

    However, although there are many horror stories in cinema that may have a familiar tone and formula, those who are looking for something a little more exciting and familiar may want to look for something else.

  • Sparkshorts: Burrow – Disney+ Talk

    Sparkshorts: Burrow – Disney+ Talk

    Sparkshorts: Burrow – Disney+ Talk

    While I’ve written a lot of articles on the short films that are available on Disney+, I’ve never touched on Pixar’s Sparkshorts. These are shorts that are created by Pixar employees, and are given a limited budget and six months’ time limit. As of typing, there are 8 Sparkshorts on the streaming service, the latest one being ‘Burrow’.

    ‘Burrow’ was written and directed by Madeline Sharafian (Story artist for ‘Coco’) and revolves around a rabbit who is looking to create her perfect home in the burrows. However, she feels overwhelmed by the neighbourhood and digs deeper and deeper down until she lands into trouble. It isn’t until then that she realizes that it’s ok to ask for help.

    As someone who is extremely independent and doesn’t like to ask for help, this short was very relatable. I understood the main character’s frustration of wanting to make her perfect home herself, as well as feeling scared about the other critters’ opinions towards her plan. She was only encouraged, not forced, to show her plans to the other residents’ when she literally hit a dead end at the bottom of the burrow. But the moral of this short is clear: it’s ok to ask for help if and when you need it. This is a moral that is especially important in our current climate and is one that should always be taught. 

    What makes the Sparkshorts different to Pixar’s feature length films is the various styles of animation that are used in each short. These are styles that would never be used in the feature lengths but gives fan an insight into the talent of the animators at Pixar.

    This animation style is particularly interesting and echoes that of older animated films. It’s unique to the animation company but still looks fantastic, giving each character a soft and friendly tone, further adding to the moral of the short. 

    Overall, ‘Burrow’ may only last for 6 minutes on screen, but it left a lasting impression on me. Not only is the animation style unique and fantastic, but the moral is one that is relatable and one that should never be forgotten. 

  • Sacred Cow: Review

    Sacred Cow: Review

    You’ve probably had a great holiday at home together and you probably had at least one big meal that consisted of either beef, pork, chicken, turkey and maybe even duck or goose. A lot of us never even think about where our meat comes from and we take it for granted when we go to the supermarket or local farm shop to get the freshest cuts that we assume must be the healthiest choice money can buy.

    There’s also a rise in people who have decided not to include meat and animal products in their diets which is either down to ethical reasons or health benefits. Sacred Cow is a documentary that recognises those arguments and presents counterpoints to each of them as it explores an in depth look into the benefits of eating meat.

    Narrated by Nick Offerman, audiences may expect such a documentary to be about how the human body has evolved over time to eat meat and that it’s only natural. Also, audiences may expect that it’s simply telling its audience that they’re not ‘man enough’ if they don’t eat meat.

    However, Sacred Cow takes a more balanced perspective as it not only looks at the rise of veganism, but the health crisis in general that our world is facing and that excluding red meat may not necessarily be the answer.

    Talking to a number of experts and those who work in the farming industry, Sacred Cow covers every single argument that could possibly be made about not eating meat is dealt with fairly, giving a reasonable response. Just when the audience may think of something that could upend the argument for eating meat, Sacred Cow gives them a thoroughly thought out and well researched answer.

    However, it doesn’t mean to demonise vegans or vegetarians either, but merely give them something to think about which often means addressing the issues head on. One little critique could be that it does sometimes try and blind its audience with science and occasionally sentimentalises the people who work on the farms, but luckily it pulls itself back and proves an informative watch for those who wish to learn more.

    Perhaps don’t make your vegans friends watch it though, because it may not entirely change the strongest of minds.

  • If Not Now, When? – Review

    If Not Now, When? – Review

    The plights of modern black women are rarely highlighted on screen, placing extra pressure on the seldom offerings to capture lightning in a bottle. The dearth of authentic tales makes Tamara Bass and Meagan Good’s newest venture If Not Now, When? a delightful surprise. As an earnest exploration of sisterhood and familial difficulties, Bass and Good touch upon genuine sentiments with their well-versed offering.

    If Not Now, When? follows four friends (Bass, Good, Meagan Holder, and Mekia Cox), who met in high school and are bonded by their difficult upbringings. They are suddenly forced back together when one of them suffers a crisis, putting their delicate friendship to the test as the four search for self-fulfillment.

    A narrative encompassing addiction, marital disconnect, and personal acceptance could be combustible in the wrong hands. Thankfully, the film never drifts towards maudlin territory. Bass and Good’s sure-handed delivery ensures authenticity at every turn, examining familiar dynamics with an effectively empathetic eye. Bass’ screenplay allows each conflict to breathe with thoughtful complexion, never offering cheap answers to its universal problems.

    Whether it’s small-knit exchanges or grandly emotional frames, the dialogue threads an impressive balance between raw power and seamless interplay. If Not Now, When? rarely feels false, offering intimate examinations of characters who are often underserved by Hollywood norms.

    The fruitful material prospers under the cast’s sensitive hands. Meagan Good grounds Tyra’s addiction subplot through her sensitive delivery, never allowing the intimate struggle to reach overly-theatric territory. For Tamara Bass, Mekia Cox, and Meagan Holder, their warm performances should serve as a much-deserved breakout. The three stars grab the screen with effortless chemistry, naturally capturing the highs and lows of a decade-long friendship. The central four’s effervescent appeals carry the narrative load capably.

    If Not Now, When? develops a strong core for audiences to invest in, but its strengths are underserved by clumsy craftsmanship choices. Good and Bass offer competent imagery and a deft handling of tonality (their film has steaks without ever feeling hopeless). However, the duo’s debut doesn’t always embrace the material’s simple strengths. Dramatic frames are often overwhelmed by overbearing song choices, leaving audiences digging through theatrics to reach insular developments. I wish Good and Bass trusted their material enough to avoid the constant overselling, though I am confident the two can evolve with further experience.

    While somewhat marred by technical hiccups, If Not Now, When? comfortably reaches its emotionally resonant sentiments. I hope to see Good and Bass direct again in the future.

    IF NOT NOW, WHEN? is On Demand and Digital on January 8.