For better or for worse, Ian McEwan doesn't see much virtue in religious beliefs or faith. To him, they are a hindrance at best, an absurdity at worst. Founders and practitioners of various religions and cults come up with a logic completely devoid of reason, one that’s meant only to establish their power on the sheep that follow them. Not mincing words, he makes the point in “The Children Act,” for which McEwan wrote the script on the

Midway through the 70th Cannes Festival the focus has veered sharply away from missing persons to domestic entanglements: or put another way, from people who have checked out of your life – voluntarily or involuntarily – to those you have no choice but to coexist with. It’s always difficult living in the shadow of a famous parent, but what if that parent isn’t exactly the genius you always thought he was? That question hugs

"Effie Gray" is a 2012 British biographical drama film directed by Richard Laxton, released in 2014 in the U.K. The film's release was delayed by several lawsuits that alleged that the script, written by Emma Thompson, was plagiarised from earlier dramatizations of the same story (Thompson won the suit). The subject of "Effie" is the love triangle involving Victorian art critic John Ruskin (played by Greg Wise), his wife, Euphemia "Effie"

There are two types of British indie movies. Some are touched with deep or crazy ideas too creative for mainstream release. Others give middle-aged British stars something to do in between “Harry Potter” movies. Emma Thompson and Pierce Brosnan are the middle-age British stars of record in Jeff Hopkins’s romantic comedy, “The Love Punch.” They play a divorced English couple driven to both revenge

Yes, you heard right. Mary Poppins is getting an update--it will be called Saving Mr. Banks, will be produced by Disney and is adapted from a screenplay by Kelly Marcel. John Lee Hancock will direct. Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson (Meryl Streep was first in line to get the role) have already been attached, as previously reported by Deadline, and Colin Farrell has officially joined the party. The Irish actor will play the father of the novelist, an alcoholic

[SPOILER WARNING] I once wrote Steven Spielberg never creates an […]

Is there a film critic’s superstition that the first film […]