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Mark Kermode on… Kathryn Bigelow, a stylish ruffler of feathers

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From vampire noir to Bin Laden, Point Break to Detroit, the first woman to win an Oscar for best director has never pulled her punches Watching new Jeff Nichols release The Bikeriders , starring Austin Butler and Tom Hardy as 60s Chicago greasers, I was reminded of two other movies: László Benedek’s 1953 Marlon Brando vehicle The Wild One , explicitly cited as an inspiration, and The Loveless , the 1981 feature debut of Kathryn Bigelow , the American film-maker (b.1951) who would go on to become the first woman to win a best director Oscar with her 2008 war drama The Hurt Locker . A symphony of leather-clad posing (with just a touch of Kenneth Anger ), The Loveless was a staple of the late-night circuit in the 80s, often on a double bill with David Lynch’s Eraserhead . Sharing directing credits with Monty Montgomery, Bigelow playfully deconstructed masculinity and machismo in a manner that was one part wry to two parts relish. I remember seeing The Loveless at the Phoenix in East
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Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani unveil the musical journey of love in Satyaprem Ki Katha; watch teaser now

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The highly anticipated teaser for the upcoming film Satyaprem Ki Katha, produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and Namah Pictures, has finally been unveiled. The teaser has left the audience pleasantly surprised, as it promised to deliver a beautiful love story. Starring the charismatic duo of Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani, the film is set to redefine romance on the big screen, marking their reunion after the film Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2. The teaser hints at the magical chemistry between Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani, leaving fans eagerly awaiting the release of the film, which is expected to captivate viewers with its enchanting narrative. The release of the teaser has created a buzz around the Sameer Vidwans directorial, as it promised to be a heart-warming love story that caters to the audience's longing for a grand-scale musical romance. The film appears to be a visual treat, adorned with breath-taking visuals that will captivate viewers. The combination of stunning cinematography and soulf
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Tiger Stripes review – coming-of-age body horror releases the monster inside

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Malaysian director Amanda Nell Eu’s debut about a young girl discovering the truth behind her rebellious nature bristles with supernatural energy thanks to a tremendous young cast There are some arresting images and bright performances in this bristling debut feature from Malaysian film-maker Amanda Nell Eu, who heads off into a jungle of the mind for a supernatural-realist drama and coming-of-age chiller about the female body and sexuality, with hints of Brian De Palma, David Cronenberg and Apichatpong Weerasethakul. It is possibly a little bit derivative and sometimes seems to be treading water in narrative terms, but only after making us submit to a very woozy and hallucinatory experience. The scene is a Muslim school for girls in Malaysia whose pupils are required to submit to conservative dress and attitudes; in the English language class, they are presented with sentences such as: “The father goes to work. The mother cooks at home.” Twelve-year-old Zaffan (Zafreen Zairizal) han
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IIFA 2023: Kabir Khan and Omung Kumar to host masterclasses on different aspects of filmmaking

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The countdown for this year’s IIFA (International Indian Film Academy) Awards has begun. The 23rd edition of the prestigious awards show is all set to take place on May 26 and 27 at Yas Islands, Abu Dhabi. The event will be graced by a long list of Bollywood celebrities. Apart from this, the other attraction at the event will be masterclasses and workshops from some renowned names from the industry. Filmmaker Kabir Khan will not only trace his beginnings in cinema during ‘Director’s Cut with Kabir Khan’ along with thoughts and anecdotes but will also share five tips for aspiring directors. Sharing his excitement at being a part of this year’s IIFA, Kabir said in a statement, “I’m really looking forward to the interaction as it will give me a chance to retrospect and introspect on my choices too. This kind of knowledge exchange not only makes for a stimulating conversation, it also works to the benefit of cinema. I will not only be celebrating box-office wins and awards, but also refl
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Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret review – Judy Blume’s classic pre-teen tale retold

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Set in 1970, the year Blume’s novel was published, the sweet-natured story is engaging but does feel a little out of date Judy Blume’s proto-YA classic from 1970 gets a screen adaptation; it is a sweet-natured, undemanding, oddly inconsequential movie about a lonely, smart 12-year-old anxious about the onset of puberty and adulthood. Blume herself gets a producer credit and a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo. The movie is played as a 1970 historical piece rather than being updated to the modern world, which would of course require LGBTQ+ plot additions, though I suspect a completely original drama of this sort set in 1970 would not tacitly consent, as this does, to the invisibility of gay people. Ant-Man’s Abby Rider Fortson is engaging as Margaret, who has to move from New York to New Jersey when her dad Herb (Benny Safdie) gets a big, though unspecified, job and his wife Barbara (Rachel McAdams) agrees to quit her art teaching career to be a stay-at-home mom for Margaret out there in
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The Other Fellow review – whimsical film about non-famous James Bonds

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These tails and travails of ordinary people who share a name with the famous spy are often fun and funny – but the shifts in tone are uncomfortable The title of this documentary about real-world men who are named James Bond echoes a famous, winking moment in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service when a young woman runs away after being rescued instead of staying to smooch with her saviour; George Lazenby as Bond, taking over the role from a temporarily retired Sean Connery, wryly says: “This never happened to the other fellow.” The reference is apt because the stories recounted here are all about that glamour gap between the heroic exploits of fictional spy 007 and the regular guys who share his name. Many of the James Bonds met here clearly loathe it when, for the zillionth time, strangers remark that they don’t look like Connery, Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan or Daniel Craig. Some parents named them James Bond before Dr No came out in 1962, or if it was out alread
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TMKOC actress Jennifer Mistry aka Mrs. Roshan says she is ‘disappointed’ with Mandar Chandwadkar aka Mr. Bhide; says, “He has been a close friend and I am surprised that he's saying that I don't know”

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Jennifer Mistry aka Mrs. Roshan took Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashma fans by shock when she accused the producers of the Sony SAB show of mental and sexual harassment. Followed by that, another popular actor of the show, Mandar Chandwadkar, who essays the character of Mr. Bhide, denied these allegations and accused Mistry of lying. An upset actress recently revealed that she is disappointed in her best friend as he even attempted to convince her to not take action against the producers. In an interview with ETimes, Jennifer Mistry said, “I know the production team will not speak in my favour, they will obviously support the production house. But my best friend from the show, Mandar Chandwadkar, I am disappointed with him. I've shared birthday posts for him every year on social media. He has been a close friend and I am surprised that he's saying that I don't know why Jennifer is saying all this and Taarak set is not male chauvinist. Firstly, he himself is a male, so he will
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SCOOP: Vicky Kaushal to make an entry in Rohit Shetty cop universe with Singham Again

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Rohit Shetty cop universe is the second biggest IP of Indian Cinema at this point of time after the YRF Spy Universe. The filmmaker has got some of the biggest names of Hindi Film Industry in his Cop Universe. The cop universe started back in the day with Singham played by Ajay Devgn, followed by Simmba with Ranveer Singh and finally, Akshay Kumar's Sooryavanshi. During the promotions of Cirkus, Rohit Shetty confirmed that Deepika Padukone will be the newest cop in his universe. And now, we have learnt that Rohit is planning to introduce URI actor, Vicky Kaushal as well as a cop. "Vicky Kaushal and Rohit Shetty are in talks for Singham Again for a while now and Rohit is chalking out a proper character for Vicky in Singham Again. His cop will be very different from Ranveer, who is an over-the-top character. Rohit wants to explore the heroic and macho side of Vicky in his cop universe," a trade source told Bollywood Hungama. Vicky and Rohit have been discussing a film for
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Jeanne du Barry review – Cannes kicks off with Johnny Depp’s purring and peculiar royal dandy

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Louis XV’s infatuation with a sexy, smart courtesan played by Maïwenn – who also writes and directs – is an entertaining spectacle but preening Depp’s king overshadows her story The rosebud lips of Johnny Depp in this film are pursed in a strange expression of irony, stupefied entitlement and droll, martyred awareness of the absurdity of which his royal person is the centre: a human candle starting to melt. He plays Louis XV in the decadent court of pre-revolutionary Versailles, purring his lines in French and playing him as the ageing, slow-moving dandy – though Rip Torn was sexier in the same role in Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette. Depp might actually have been better cast as the lead: Madame Jeanne du Barry, the low-born and entrancingly sensual mistress and royal favourite with whom the king was scandalously infatuated at court, permitting her all manner of familiarities and intimacies. Jeanne is in fact played by the movie’s director, Maïwenn , who has written the screenplay w
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Classic sitcom Tu Tu Main Main to make a comeback on OTT, confirms Sachin Pilgaonkar; speaks about a “twist”

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In a delightful surprise for fans of Indian television, the iconic sitcom 'Tu Tu Main Main' is all set to make a triumphant return, this time on an over-the-top (OTT) platform. The popular show, known for its rib-tickling humour and relatable family dynamics, will be available for streaming, allowing viewers to relive the hilarious banter and timeless charm of the beloved characters. Starring the talented Supriya Pilgaonkar as Devaki Verma and Reema Lagoo as Radha Verma, the show struck a chord with viewers, presenting an endearing blend of comedy, emotions, and everyday family conflicts. Tu Tu Main Main, which originally aired from 1994 to 2000, captured the hearts of millions across the country with its humorous portrayal of the bittersweet relationship between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Recently, Sachin Pilgaonkar, who acted and directed the show, confirmed that a new season of Tu Tu Main Main is to return very soon during an interview with News18. He shared that
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Restart the Earth review – Chinese sci-fi is pacy plant-based apocalypse

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A super-species of triffid-style sentient flora terrorises humanity in a schlocky blockbuster No doubt to Alan Titchmarsh’s great relief, the horticultural arm of the post-apocalypse flick is finally entering the growth phase, with the likes of Annihilation , The Last of Us and now this lightweight effort from Chinese director Lin Zhenzhao. The hubris here is that mankind has overcompensated for the desertification of the planet with cutting-edge research to promote plant growth, accidentally creating a super-species of sentient flora that has choked the Earth, and whose roving vines hunt down people to snack on. Yang Hao (Mickey He) is a bunkered-in dad skulking in the ruins with daughter Yuanyuan (Zhang Mingcan), fending off the triffids with UV light torches. His wife, one of the researchers responsible, has already become fertiliser, and he’s frantic when Yuanyuan is plucked from her bed by the creepers. But after rescuing her, they manage to hook up with a squad of crack soldie
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