Features and reviews

Discover the latest from the BFI, the UK’s lead organisation for film, television and the moving image.

Reviews

The Uprising: A murky retelling of the 1381 Peasants’ Revolt

Paul Greengrass’s 14th-century historical drama keeps the action moving, but leaves its character development in the mud.

By Henry K Miller

The Uprising: A murky retelling of the 1381 Peasants’ Revolt

Festivals

Queer Edward II: New Derek Jarman documentary captures a vital piece of cinematic history

By Travis Jeppesen

Queer Edward II: New Derek Jarman documentary captures a vital piece of cinematic history

Festivals

The Face of Horror: Anna Biller bewitches with a tragic medieval horrorshow

By Savina Petkova

The Face of Horror: Anna Biller bewitches with a tragic medieval horrorshow

Reviews

Digger: an unwieldy but compulsively watchable satire

By Philip Concannon

Digger: an unwieldy but compulsively watchable satire

Festivals

The Debut: Julianne Moore gives a showstopping performance as a woman transformed by community theatre

By Neil Young

The Debut: Julianne Moore gives a showstopping performance as a woman transformed by community theatre

Festivals

Everytime: Sandra Wollner’s digital-age fairytale finds light in a time of grief

By Alexander Mooney

Everytime: Sandra Wollner’s digital-age fairytale finds light in a time of grief

Reviews

Animol: Ashley Walters proves an instinctive actor’s director with a tense cell block drama

By Leila Latif

Animol: Ashley Walters proves an instinctive actor’s director with a tense cell block drama

Reviews

Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie: fascinating documentary captures the author’s courage and humour in the wake of a brutal attack

By Philip Concannon

Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie: fascinating documentary captures the author’s courage and humour in the wake of a brutal attack

Reviews

Heart of the Beast: a bracingly executed man-and-dog survival story

By Jonathan Romney

Heart of the Beast: a bracingly executed man-and-dog survival story

Festivals

Ghost Song: A fleshed-out and full-blooded portrayal of youthful amour fou

By Neil Young

Ghost Song: A fleshed-out and full-blooded portrayal of youthful amour fou

Festivals

Look Back: Two rival manga artists join forces in Koreeda’s sweet story of teenage friendship

By Blake Simons

Look Back: Two rival manga artists join forces in Koreeda’s sweet story of teenage friendship

Reviews

Resident Evil: Zach Cregger’s thrilling reboot pares things back to the essentials of survival horror

By Matthew Taylor

Resident Evil: Zach Cregger’s thrilling reboot pares things back to the essentials of survival horror

Festivals

Salvation: well-crafted debut offers a glimpse into the manosphere

By Adam Nayman

Salvation: well-crafted debut offers a glimpse into the manosphere

Festivals

The Julia Set: Chase Infiniti levels up a college romance coming-of-ager

By Adam Nayman

The Julia Set: Chase Infiniti levels up a college romance coming-of-ager

Reviews

Remake: A heartbreaking exploration of the slippage between documentary and fiction

By Imogen Sara Smith

Remake: A heartbreaking exploration of the slippage between documentary and fiction

Reviews

Pulp: What Do You Do for an Encore?: Documentary charts the thrilling story of Pulp, with a few forgivable omissions

By Sam Davies

Pulp: What Do You Do for an Encore?: Documentary charts the thrilling story of Pulp, with a few forgivable omissions

Festivals

Woman Unknown: May el-Toukhy’s elegant postwar drama has little beneath its surface tension

By Jessica Kiang

Woman Unknown: May el-Toukhy’s elegant postwar drama has little beneath its surface tension

Festivals

Primetime: Robert Pattinson gives a devilish performance as a ‘paedophile-hunting’ TV presenter

By John Bleasdale

Primetime: Robert Pattinson gives a devilish performance as a ‘paedophile-hunting’ TV presenter

Festivals

Let Us Through, Dear Ancestors: Lav Diaz explores the horrors inflicted upon the Philippine islands in a smart historical epic

By Travis Jeppesen

Let Us Through, Dear Ancestors: Lav Diaz explores the horrors inflicted upon the Philippine islands in a smart historical epic

Festivals

NAZA: Essential documentary from the co-directors of No Other Land lays bare the machinery of killing in Gaza

By Nicolas Rapold

NAZA: Essential documentary from the co-directors of No Other Land lays bare the machinery of killing in Gaza

Festivals

Wild Horse Nine: Martin McDonagh deploys his trademark irreverence in a funny-sad 1970s spy caper

By Jessica Kiang

Wild Horse Nine: Martin McDonagh deploys his trademark irreverence in a funny-sad 1970s spy caper

Reviews

Bad Apples: Saoirse Ronan is this black comedy’s secret weapon

By Kate Stables

Bad Apples: Saoirse Ronan is this black comedy’s secret weapon

Festivals

Bucking Fastard: Herzog’s tale of two sisters who speak in unison is his best fiction feature in years

By Nicolas Rapold

Bucking Fastard: Herzog’s tale of two sisters who speak in unison is his best fiction feature in years

Festivals

Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger: Fan-service rockumentary is very much the Gallagher brothers’ show

By John Bleasdale

Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger: Fan-service rockumentary is very much the Gallagher brothers’ show

Festivals

My Undesirable Friends: Part II – Exile: documentary sequel exposing Russian media censorship is every bit as gripping as its first instalment

By Carmen Gray

My Undesirable Friends: Part II – Exile: documentary sequel exposing Russian media censorship is every bit as gripping as its first instalment

Festivals

Possible Love: Lee Chang-Dong’s sober exploration of economic disparity is filled with quiet revelations

By Jonathan Romney

Possible Love: Lee Chang-Dong’s sober exploration of economic disparity is filled with quiet revelations

Reviews

Everybody Digs Bill Evans: a gentle sonata of loss

By Ehsan Khoshbakht

Everybody Digs Bill Evans: a gentle sonata of loss

Festivals

You Don’t Belong Here: Golden Leopard winner settles into hopelessness as if it was a woolly blanket

By John Bleasdale

You Don’t Belong Here: Golden Leopard winner settles into hopelessness as if it was a woolly blanket

Reviews

Super Nature: Ed Sayers’ Super 8 documentary is a beautiful ode to nature’s restorative power

By Ben Nicholson

Super Nature: Ed Sayers’ Super 8 documentary is a beautiful ode to nature’s restorative power

Reviews

Late Fame: Kent Jones’s playful drama pokes gentle fun at New York literary circles old and new

By Jessica Kiang

Late Fame: Kent Jones’s playful drama pokes gentle fun at New York literary circles old and new