At a time when trust in politicians, in pretty much all countries is eroding to the point it may never return in a meaningful sense, it is refreshing to say the least, to be made aware of how politicians can… Read More »Dennis Skinner: nature of the beast // A portrait of one of the UK’s most respected (and feared) MPs
What a great little (under 90 minutes) movie this is! Is it one of these movies that will herald the rebirth of the long lost & last seen in the 90s, genre movie? I’m not so sure, but it fits… Read More »The Vault: a missing John Carpenter
The debut feature from Amit Ranjan Biswas, Bridge, draws together a lot of big questions, into a relatively small setting. In summary, a simple story; two strangers, both at the end of their tether, encounter each other on a bridge… Read More »Bridge: review
Revealing the true story and inspiration behind Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, the new film from Ron Howard recounts the tale of the Essex, a whaling ship from New England. Based on a book by Nathaniel Philbrick, (in the heart of… Read More »In the heart of the sea: review
This is the latest film by director Patrick Brice and executive produced by Jay and Mark Duplass and Adam Scott. Alex (Adam Scott) and Emily (Taylor Schilling) have recently moved to LA with their son RJ. Looking to make new… Read More »The Overnight: review
The Bagri Foundation London Indian Film Festival kicks off with Sundance winner Umrika with hard-hitting cricket documentary Death of a Gentleman to close the festival. Prashant Nair’s Umrika, winner of the Audience Award at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, starring… Read More »London Indian Film Festival (16 – 23 July 2015)
We’re really up for the new film with Pierce Brosnan – Survivor – and this is a great preview clip showing why Pierce can still mix it with both good and bad characters. And given there isn’t really a terrible… Read More »Survivor: The Watchmaker clip, sneak preview
San Andreas is the new film starring Dwayne Johnson and imagines what would happen if the biggest earthquake ever recorded struck in California, devastating Los Angeles, before travelling along the San Andreas faultline to wreak destruction on San Francisco. It… Read More »San Andreas: review
Based on the literary classic by Thomas Hardy, FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD is the story of independent, beautiful and headstrong Bathsheba Everdene (Carey Mulligan), who attracts three very different suitors: Gabriel Oak (Matthias Schoenaerts), a sheep farmer, captivated by… Read More »Far from the madding crowd
As long as you’ve not been living under a rock recently, you’ll know Daredevil has started on Netflix. Or quite possibly you’ll know exactly that and also have watched all of the first series by now! Whilst the show builds… Read More »Daredevil – suit close-ups
Coming to UK cinemas from 19th June, THE LONGEST RIDE centres on the star-crossed love affair between Luke, a former champion bull rider looking to make a comeback, and Sophia, a college student who is about to embark upon her dream job… Read More »The longest ride, preview clip
In cinemas today, Broken Horses is Vinod Chopra‘s debut Hollywood feature and makes him the first Indian filmmaker to write, produce and direct a Hollywood film Set in the shadows of the US-Mexico border gang wars, Broken Horses is an epic thriller… Read More »Broken Horses: review
Warning, review contains mild spoilers Black Sea, is the latest from director Kevin MacDonald (Last King of Scotland). It features Jude Law (Sleuth, Dom Hemmingway) as submarine captain Robinson, on the hunt for a submarine, lost somewhere in the… Read More »Black Sea: review
As the resident Upodcasting sport fan and thankfully for this release, long time Manchester United fan it was an absolute pleasure to see this for review. This is the story of how six 14 year-old working class boys (David Beckham,… Read More »The Class of ’92: extended collector’s edition – review
After the night is a portrayal of life in the slums of Lisbon. Directed by Basil da Cunha we see life through the eyes of Sombra, who returns to his life as a drug dealer after coming out of jail.… Read More »After the night (Ate ver a luz): Review
The Machine is a British indie sci-fi movie, first screened last year before its general release in 2014. Set in the near future, the West is in the midst of a new cold war with China that has sent the… Read More »The Machine: review
If ever there was a perfect role for Nick Frost, then surely being Cuban Fury is it. Beneath Bruce Garrett’s shabby, flabby exterior, beats the heart of once great Salsa king! Only one woman can reignite his Latin fire. Spotlight hits,… Read More »Cuban Fury
First up, I’ll be candid and say that if you’re even vaguely curious to see this film, then I would urge to act on that impulse and watch it. The recounting of Ron Woodruff’s post-AIDS life is a remarkable one… Read More »Dallas Buyers Club Review
Warning, contains plot spoilers. A film right up my street to almost kick-off the year with. An interesting one this as Chris Pine is now the 4th incarnation of the seemingly evergreen Tom Clancy character, having been played previously by… Read More »Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit – review
Joy of joys in the season of goodwill, my co-host Asim was unable to attend our screening of Anchorman 2. One man’s pain is another man’s gain. It is a hard life, but sometimes you just have to take one… Read More »Review: Anchorman 2 – does the legend continue?
A Woody Allen movie, despite the annual appearance, is always an event. Upod casts its eye over Blue Jasmine, his latest release. Jasmine (Cate Blanchett) is a former New York socialite, broke (although still travelling 1st Class), homeless and a… Read More »Blue Jasmine review: Jasmine is truly Blue in Woody’s latest bid for another actress Oscar
The long-awaited (?) Robocop re-vamp has finally come to life with this trailer for the 2014 release of Paul Verhoeven‘s mid-80s sci-fi cult classic. 25 years or so really is a long time, so we can’t begrudge a re-make on… Read More »Robocop: The New Trailer
In cinemas this Friday is the new film from Ron Howard and normally, I’d not be arsed to be honest. HOWEVER…Rush is a re-creation of the merciless 1970s rivalry between two Formula 1 drivers: James Hunt and Niki Lauda. And… Read More »Rush: out this Friday
Dial M for Murder 3D. During what has become my unofficial Hitchcockathon at the British Film Institute this month, I had the chance to watch a restored version of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1950s classic in 3D. Possibly a surprise given… Read More »Dial M for Murder 3D – a review in 2 dimensions
About Time is the latest film from British director Richard Curtis (Love Actually, Notting Hill, Four Weddings). A great cast of Brits, plus of course Rachel McAdams and Margot Robbie (Neighbours and the ill-fated/rubbish Pan-Am). With the exception of those… Read More »About Time: Review
In honour of what would have been Alfred Hitchcock‘s 114th birthday this August, Upodcasting is delighted to shed some light on the great man’s films, legacy and influences. Kicking things of for us, is this wonderful introduction by Elizabeth Eckhart.… Read More »Happy Birthday Alfred Hitchcock!
A good title for this movie I have to say. Adapted from a truly horrific real life story Michael Bay‘s newest on screen adventure is a crime-comedy starring Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson and Anthony Mackie. The film is based on a story published in a 1999 series… Read More »Pain and Gain review: Michael Bay’s best film?
Got Sky, love Facebook and want to keep your mates up to speed on the latest and greatest that you’re watching? Sky Share is probably the thing for you in that case. Well, I say that, but you don’t need… Read More »Sky Share
Released this Monday, August 12th, the DVD and Blu-Ray of Evil Dead, one of my movies of the year so far. A fitting remake for the 21st century, this has some things the original lacks: consistently good acting across all… Read More »The Evil Dead: coming to your home from August 12th
The Heat is the latest movie from Paul Feig, director of the acclaimed and universally adored Bridesmaids. Starring Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy (also in Bridesmaids), The Heat is about an over-dedicated FBI agent teaming up with a no-nonsense… Read More »The Heat
For those of you who’ve seen the video I posted on here last week – Without You by Lapalux – that may give a clue as to the music I like to listen to. Down-tempo, not with a 4:4 (or,… Read More »Cuttooth by Cuttooth
The stylistically-gory trailer for 300: Rise of an empire has just been released and Upod has also been given some cracking new posters for it. Sequel to the hugely successful 300, these posters re-capture the original’s aesthetic and make me wish… Read More »300: Rise of an empire
If in my last post I said that the video was way cool, then this video has to be way weird. It’s brilliant…but ever so weird. Directed by Nick Rutter and featuring Natalia Tena (better known for starring in Harry… Read More »Highly odd but highly brilliant: Without You – Lapalux
Check out this video of The Greeks by Brit band Is Tropical. It’s ages old (2011), but worthy of a post I’d say. In fact, the video is so bloody good I can’t tell you anything of any note… Read More »Way cool video: Is Tropical – The Greeks
THE EAST starring Brit Marling (ANOTHER EARTH), Alexander Skarsgård (TRUE BLOOD), Ellen Page (JUNO) and Patricia Clarkson (STATION AGENT) will be released in cinemas across the UK & Ireland on June 28th 2013. An official selection at this year’s Sundance… Read More »The East is coming
Suddenly, last summer. But for me, more a case of: finally, this winter. Courtesy of the BFI Southbank and their screenings of Montgomery Clift movies I was able to catch this excellent movie. Also starring Elizabeth Taylor and Katharine Hepburn,… Read More »Suddenly Last Summer BFI Review
Picture the scene; it’s Tuesday, in the UK. The weather is warming up nicely (it is where I live, so tough if it’s cold and wet where you are) and you’re wondering what you should have watched over the bank… Read More »21 and Over New Clip
Upod are pleased to make show you a new clip from 21 and Over, the upcoming comedy from the writers of The Hangover; Jon Lucas and Scott Moore. Straight-A college student Jeff Chang has always done what’s expected of him.… Read More »21 and over – new preview clip
…A NEW FILM BY PEDRO ALMODÓVAR, OPENING MAY 3RD IN THE UK Usually I wouldn’t care too much for the darling of Spanish cinema, but on this occasion I’ll waive my usual cynicism. I can only hope the melodrama isn’t… Read More »I’m so excited! Trailer & poster
Never let it be said Upod lacks flair, sophistication or an eye for the unusual. Starting today, April 4th, Rendez-Vous with French Cinema is back in London for its 4th edition, with fantastic films and a host of famous actors… Read More »4th Rendez-vous with French cinema
Coming out this Friday, a new (but 2 years old…) Donnie Yen movie: Dragon / Wu-Xia. We love Donnie Yen at Upod so getting to see this was a treat. Spoilers below; you have been warned 🙂 Liu Jin-xi (Yen)… Read More »Dragon (Wu Xia)
DEAD MAN DOWN exploding into cinemas on May 3 When the body of a gang member is discovered in the freezer of crime boss Alphonse’s (Terrence Howard) mansion – a clear message has been sent… or has it? As the… Read More »Dead man down
Upodcasting are pleased to present five stunning new character banners for the upcoming release of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. The posters feature Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks), Caesar Flickerman (Stanley Tucci), Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson), Cinna (Lenny Kravitz) and the symbol of… Read More »Hunger Games Catching Fire: new artwork and posters
The latest instalment of booze-fulled mayhem and its after-effects is here! Directed by Todd Phillips and starring Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms, Justin Bartha, Ken Jeong & John Goodman, The Hangover III is released May 24th. This time, there’s no… Read More »The Hangover 3 Teaser Trailer
Celebrating its re-release today, Samsara and Baraka, two “movies” that will stun the viewer. As a fan of Koyaanisqatsi, the Godfrey Reggio release from 1983, getting to take a peak at the newly refurbed versions of Samsara and Baraka was… Read More »Samsara / Baraka Blu Ray Review
Lights, camera, action! Or in Upod’s case: pizza, ice cream, movie! The venue? Martin’s flat, London. The food? Domino’s meat-based pizzas and Ben and Jerry’s Vermonster and Cookie Dough ice cream. The occasion? A Upod get together and a chance… Read More »Mel Gibson’s summer vacation with pizzas
…or Psycho x 5 as was last week’s reality, at the Leicester Square theatre; screened with www.cigaretteburnscinema.com. Let me start with a brief description of the concept: 1 main screen showing Alfred Hitchcock’s original and 5 smaller screens showing the… Read More »Psycho versus Psycho
In August 2008, 22 climbers from various international expeditions reached the High Camp of K2, the final pit-stop before the peak of the mountain, on an expedition renowned among adventurers as extremely dangerous to attempt – far worse than Everest,… Read More »LFF 2012 The Summit Review
Salman Rushdie‘s first film screenplay adapts his own Booker Prize-winning novel – an allegory that parallels the upheavals in one family’s history with the events that would shape a post-colonial India, from the British exit to the partitioning of… Read More »LFF 2012: Midnight’s Children Review
A young and in-love couple Kanya (Sadawo Abe) and Satoko (Takako Matsu) see their restaurant burn down in an accident and their savings are wiped out by a compensation claim. Not knowing where to turn or what to do. Kanya… Read More »LFF 2012: Dreams for sale / Yume Uru Futari
British Asian actor, Kamal Khan, is preparing to take the music industry by storm with the release of his debut single and music video, Pariyon Ki Rani. “Pariyon Ki Rani is a soulful hindi love ballad about meeting someone special… Read More »Kamal Khan, in search of his queen of angels
“I told you all I was going to be No. 1 and I just did that” We certainly can’t accuse the aptly named Jamaican sprinter of lacking confidence. And now that he’s defended successfully both of his Olympic golds in… Read More »Usain Bolt: The Movie DVD Release
As July draws to a close, so does the small-scale marathon I’ve undertaken at the British Film Institute this month. I’ve already written about a classic Japanese horror, Onibaba but last week I had the fortune to watch Kuroneko, another Japanese… Read More »Kuroneko
Another Upod exclusive? That’s right folks – we really do suffer so you don’t have to. Upod attended a little launch for Now TV yesterday evening, appropriately held in London’s Film Museum in Covent Garden. We were treated to in-person… Read More »Now is the time for Now TV
The Random Adventures of Brandon Generator: episode 4 As you will have already seen from a couple of blog previous posts, Brandon Generator is easily the best collaborative project that Microsoft have worked on to inspire people to learn more… Read More »Brandon Generator: Part 4
Tin Drum AKA Martin’s continuing voyage into yet more “weird old movies”. If you thought I might have struggled with Onibaba‘s oddities and very loose write-up then that was a cake walk by comparison to what follows. At least there… Read More »Die Blechtrommel (The Tin Drum)
Onibaba On a strong recommendation from a friend, I signed-up to watch this 1964 black and white Japanese movie. I didn’t know the director, the actors or the plot so this was the movie equivalent of a blind tasting. It’s… Read More »Onibaba
The renowned illustrator for Marvel and Lucasfilm, Tommy Lee Edwards, has joined forces with Edgar Wright, – award-winning director of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz – to create a world first innovative animated story with Internet Explorer called… Read More »The Random Adventures of Brandon Generator
It’s been a long long time, although not in a galaxy far far away sadly. Returning to Upod with some content, I thought I’d kick-off with an intro to director Nima Nourizadeh. A London born British-Iranian, he is probably most… Read More »Nima Nourizadeh
More disappointment this week for Beatles fans when it was revealed that one of the most enduring records in pop history was broken. Having held the top spot for a non-solo artist with the most records in the top 100… Read More »HELP! Glee beats the Beatles!
I was going to write a huge long rant about Justin Bieber…but having just given out about Lady Gaga, I’ve realised I just can’t go on…basically I don’t have a problem with Bieber (OK, certain things DO annoy me) but… Read More »RANT: Justin Bieber…
Or could be subtitled, “one of the crappest cinemas in the UK”. My advice for anyone wanting to watch a film in the West End, is pretty much to visit any cinema you like (and preferably the Prince Charles, it’s… Read More »Ranting time once again
For those unfamiliar souls, Frightfest is basically as it says on the tin – a festival of fright and now the leading horror and fantasy film festival in the UK if not Europe. The Film4 organised and sponsored Frightfest was… Read More »Frightfest 2010
Occasionally, channel surfing throws up something quite interesting. And not in the “oh I didn’t know fruit bats actually ate fruit” kind of way. This was certainly the case with Charlie Brooker’s Gameswipe, re-screened by the Beeb last week and… Read More »Gameswipe: Charlie Brooker’s done it again
Once in a while something comes along that ticks a lot of boxes in one go and takes you by surprise.Ă‚Â Whilst trying to find an MP3 of Moby’s God moving over the face of the waters, (taken from the… Read More »Soundtrack to our Lives: Moby / UNKLE – God Moving Over The Face Of The Waters
Well well, what’s been getting my goat this week then? TV has been a consistent theme of mine since I started these weeklies and no changes to this week’s format I’m afraid. However, not merely content with picking on a… Read More »Friday rant Virgin 1 & Navy Seals
Slightly tired and recovering after a “few” beers from last night I realise the Friday rant is overdue…So following from Asim’s blog about Lost; the show now gets my own treatment. What started out in the first two seasons as… Read More »Saturday rant – I’m Lost
Well well, it’s been quite some week, batting illness and the effects of an insane partying weekend in Sweden. However, here I am for another little shout from my soapbox. And in some ways, last weekend shapes the nature of… Read More »Friday rant (only just)
ANother Friday, another chance for American TV to get it in the neck from me… This time and with due consideration that this is a bit like shooting fish in a barrel I have chosen two and a half men.… Read More »Friday rant part three: Two and a half men
Well, another week passes and another thing bugs me. And I do understand I’m a little slow here, but Goddamnit I was upset when I found out that Reaper was only deemed worthy of 2 seasons. This from the country… Read More »Friday rant (pt 2…and on Monday) Reaper
This is my vague attempt to try and give thought on most of the films that I watch…sounds ambitious right? Well, I guess there are criteria (no musings on Universal Soldier to be found here) There was quite a glut… Read More »Filmblog: Casablanca
We like to think we only get the good stuff, the cream of the crop of American TV, over here in the UK. Sadly for every season of Sopranos, 6 feet Under, The Wire etc, there will always be an… Read More »First Friday Rant: Numb3rs
Small ticket entertainment we may be, but you can’t accuse us of not trying to visit the corners of the world India one week and New Zealand the next. That’s right folks for episode 2 we visit the land… Read More »Episode 2 Horror- Black Sheep