Ilkley Cinema

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Playmobil, The Sun is Also a Star, The Lion King

Quentin Tarantino is back, directing the ninth film in his extraordinary catalogue of success. His career sky-rocketed after his first-time written and directed film, Reservoir Dogs, appeared at the 1992 Sundance Film Festival and immediately earned the now famous director his critical acclaim. The latest instalment in his cinematic collection is a black comedy thriller about 1960’s Hollywood. In 1969 Los Angeles, television star, Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio), and his long-time stunt double (Brad Pitt) make their way around a changing industry they no longer recognise. Tarantino artfully reflects on the transformational decade which shaped the industry in which he spent his life; with stunning performances from DiCaprio, Pitt and Robbie, this film in the jewel in the crown of an incredible career.

Based on the much-loved German building toy Playmobil, this adventure comedy prizes the importance of family as a sister strives to find her younger brother, discovering things about herself along the way. To bring him back home, she must embark on a thrilling adventure, meeting a plethora of hilarious characters as they twist and turn around the colourful and chaotic world of Playmobil, allowing us to see our childhood favourites come to life. With an action-packed, comedy centred plot and a wonderfully sentimental message at its heart, Playmobil: The Movie is set to delight children throughout the holidays.

Heart-achingly tender and devastatingly relevant, Ry Russo-Young’s romantic drama is based on The New York Times #1 best seller by Jamaican-American author Nicola Yoon. It follows the story of college-bound romantic Daniel Bae and Jamaica-born pragmatist Natasha Kingsley as they meet -- and fall for each other -- over one magical day amidst the fervour and flurry of New York City. But with Natasha facing the looming threat of deportation, she knows the love is laced with inevitable heartbreak as she is crushed by a system uprooting her entire life. With just hours left on the clock in what looks to be her last day in the U.S., Natasha is fighting against her family’s deportation just as fiercely as she’s fighting her growing feelings for Daniel. A story of hope in the face of true adversity, The Sun is Also a Star documents the all too relevant trauma of deportation, the shadow behind the blinding light of love.

King of the pride Jungle Book director Jon Favreau leads us into Disney’s next spectacular remake, pulling together an all-star cast including Donald Glover, Seth Rogan and Beyoncé along with music from legendary maestro Hans Zimmer. This year’s Lion King is a remake of the 1994 film, rich with nostalgia and alive with magic, it’s a step into the savanna for both adults and children alike, even featuring the unmistakable rich tones of James Earl Jones who returns to bring to life Mufasa, the Lion King. A piercingly sentimental story with beautifully composed music supported by awe-inspiring animated animals, this has undoubtedly been the spectacle of the summer.

by Melissa Johns-Watson