Cinema: a place to escape

Who doesn’t love a good movie? Now that summer is well and truly here (regardless of what the weather has to say), it’s the perfect time to escape from the outside world with a bucket of popcorn and sit back to enjoy the latest films at the cinema!

Staying Safe

Having visited the cinema recently, it was reassuring to see Covid prevention methods in full effect in order to keep everyone safe. Masks must be worn unless you are sat in your seat watching the film, all queues are single file, and it is encouraged to keep a safe distance from others when entering and exiting the building. Additionally, it is best to book tickets online. In fact, many cinemas only allow online pre-bookings. As a result, it is a good idea to have the email with the verification code ready, before you reach the front of the queue. The last thing anyone wants is to be hurriedly trawling through emails looking for tickets, or (as I almost made the mistake of doing) presenting the wrong QR code, trying to sign in with an NHS Vaccination appointment email!

Recommendations

Fast & Furious 9

Attempting to live life in the slow lane with their son, Dom (Vin Diesel) and Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) have their peaceful retirement interrupted by the emergence of Dom’s brother, Jacob (John Cena). Together, with the ‘Fast Family’, they must stop Jacob from obtaining a device of world-ending potential!

The newest instalment of the ‘Fast Saga’, Fast & Furious 9 is a cartoon come to life. This isn’t a criticism, but if you are looking for physics… they’re not here. However, this (for me, at least) has become the charm of these movies. They aren’t supposed to be realistic; they’re supposed to be fun! If you’re looking for a dumb, fun, explosive action blockbuster: this is the movie for you!

Nobody

Never underestimate a Nobody. Hutch (Bob Odenkirk) is a normal guy, living in calm suburbia with his family until an armed robbery causes friction between the man he was and the man he has become. When he inadvertently incites the wrath of an infamous drug lord (Aleksey Serebryakov), he must use all the skills developed as a killing machine to survive.

Written by Derek Kolstad (John Wick), and directed by Ilya Naishuller (Hardcore Henry), this brutal action thriller struck me as a throwback to classic 80s action films. Bullets fly, engines rev, and Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul) brings charisma and wit to the role of Hutch. The soundtrack is amazing and perfectly matches the film’s tone.

On a personal note, this is currently my favourite film, and I’ve seen it twice!

Supernova

After being diagnosed with early onset dementia, Tusker (Stanley Tucci) and Sam (Colin Firth) travel across England to visit family, friends, and places from their past. Their time together is the most important thing they have.

Bring the tissues; this is a tear-jerker. Beautifully acted and stunningly raw and emotional, this film is simultaneously heart-breaking and heart-warming. Moreover, it’s wonderful to see a story featuring a gay couple where the story isn’t about their sexuality. This is a pure, no-holds-barred, love story. It features some emotionally intense scenes, and as mentioned is incredibly raw and honest.

In Summary

The cinema is a great place to visit at any time, but certainly during the summer break. The pandemic has cut cinemas’ profit for the past year, so this is also a great way to support an industry loved by so many. Be sure to follow the current guidelines in order to stay safe (wearing a mask unless eating or drinking, social distancing and online booking), and you’ll be fine!