Author: Chris Pate


  • The Sound of Cinema: Magnolia

    To kickstart our new ‘The Sound of Cinema’ feature, Chris Pate takes a look at the soundtrack of Paul Thomas Anderson’s 1999 sprawling tale of life, love and family.

  • BFI Flare Film Festival Review: My Prairie Home ★★★☆☆

    A music documentary following transgender folk/country singer Rae Spoon, My Prairie Home is a heartfelt exploration of Spoon’s life, their music and their gender neutrality, writes Chris Pate.

  • BFI Flare Film Festival Review: Age of Consent ★★★★☆

    The new film from Charles Lum and Todd Verow is an important exploration of the social and legal challenges to gay sex, as told through the story of one of London’s last remaining leather bars, The Hoist, writes Chris Pate.

  • Blu-ray Review: Computer Chess ★★★★☆

    Computer Chess delves deep into the glorious past of early technology to present a comedy-drama that’s both intelligent and strikingly relevant. Chris Pate takes a look at the Blu-ray.

  • Philip Seymour Hoffman: 1967-2014

    With the tragic passing of Philip Seymour Hoffman on Sunday, Chris Pate takes a look back at some of the roles that made him one of Hollywood’s most accomplished talents.

  • Review: 12 Years a Slave ★★★★★

    12 Years a Slave is a haunting portrait of one of Western society’s most shameful secrets, explains Chris Pate.

  • The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug ★★★☆☆

    The second film charting the journey of Bilbo, Gandalf and company is a definite improvement on the first, explains Chris Pate.

  • The Good, The Bad and The Fungi…?

    ComedySoc’s Chris Pate takes a comedic look at the entertainment world.