English writer and film critic, Guardian chief critic since 1999
Andrey Zvyagintsev has used his Cannes Grand Prix acceptance for Minotaur to appeal directly to Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine, saying millions on both sides "dream" of an end. The director has sent the message to the Kremlin through official channels; the Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has refused to relay it.
Olivia Wilde’s The Invite has sparked a broader conversation about modern relationships. The film, directed by Wilde and starring her opposite Seth Rogen, centers on a couple whose marriage unravels during a dinner with liberated neighbours. The conversation touches on identity, societal expectations, and the purification of self within intimate life.
The live-action Moana remake has drawn sharp criticism from Independent and Guardian reviewers who label it cynical and copy‑paste. Johnson’s return as Maui is described as stiff, with debate over whether the film adds anything new beyond the animated original.
Disney’s live-action Moana opens to a global $95 million, underperforming the $60 million U.S. target and facing scathing critics who call it a “shot-for-shot” redo. Audiences are warmer, with a CinemaScore A- and a largely female 66% share, while competition from new releases looms.
Christopher Nolan’s $250m Odyssey redefines the epic by narrowing gods’ roles and intensifying homecoming, using IMAX 70mm to capture vast seas and intimate faces. The film reorders Homer’s three-part form, foregrounding memory, action, and the price of return, with a stark, bleak tone that lingers beyond the credits.