British Council To Make London's BFI Flare Short Films Available in 50 Countries

If you have ever wanted to head down to London for the UK's biggest LGBT Film Festival, you will be able to get a taste of it in your own home, all thanks to British Council's new digital festival FiveFilms4Freedom.

Top 5: Things To Do In London This Month

We are going to join with the unison of "Is it February already? Blimey!" But only because we know that all the good stuff happens in February! And trust us, there are some great ones to look out for. How about a group of magical misfits for a Valentine's date for example? Check out our top five picks for going out in London this month.

Selma Review

Director: Ava DuVerney

Cast: David Oyelowo, Oprah Winfrey, Common, Tim Roth, Tom Wilkinson

Running Time: 128 Minutes

Rating: 12A

Selma tells the story of the 1965 Selma Voting Rights Movement triggered by Annie Lee Cooper's (Oprah Winfrey) attempt to vote which was a right for all people at the time but made difficult for African Americans in the area. Dr King (David Oyelowo) makes it his priority to ensure that the voting rights are enforced, with a lack of support from the president and the difficulty faced by a southern state the film tells of only one of the battles and struggles which made Dr King the icon and leader of the civil rights movement remembered today. 

It is a wise move to not attempt to even begin to tell the full story of Dr Martin Luther King Jr, instead we are given a snap shot of one of the many powerful moments of the civil rights movement. 

While everything about Selma screams Oscar, film director Ava DuVerney derails from the usual Hoover-'60s-civil rights-JFK-esque film making which are seen in any attempts of an American history film and creates a masterpiece of her own. The mise-en-scene is there but the greatest power in Selma is in its reluctance to shy away from the barbarity and extreme violence the African american community endured during their quest for enforcement of the equality prescribed to them in the law. 

DuVerney's creates a beautiful film which oozes power, passion and lights a fire in the audience. She tells a historic tale, a political complexity and while still remaining relevant to the state of affairs in the US today.

Selma closes in on one moment in American history spanning over only a few months, it throws us into a time where Dr King had already made several progresses in the US and moving from one issue to another. He had made a name for himself, and the celebrity treatment he received is portrayed in the film along with his marital problems and the corruption of American government including some bold statements are made about the presidency of the time. 

The Academy has received a lot of criticism this year due to David Oyelowo missing a nomination for best actor in a leading role, hold your rocks when I say this; he's not that great. The problem with the Academy Awards is not that the lead of the civil rights film of the year is missing a nomination, but the problem lies in the assumption that he should have one. Oyelowo is a fine actor, and his deliverance of great Dr King speeches is powerful, but it is greatly thanks to the words.. Selma should be celebrated for its ensemble cast consisting of Carmen Ejogo, Common, Tessa Thompson, Wendell Pierce and more. A great group of actors and actresses representing both the supporters and the opposer of a man who became the voice and leader of the civil rights movement. 

Selma is out in UK cinemas on the 6th of February. 

Foxcatcher Review

Director: Bennett Miller
Cast: Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo, Sienna Miller
Running Time: 134 minutes
Rating: 15

Music Monday: Kele (With Brolin) at Oval Space, London.

If there is one act that you could see again and again and never be bored of them, that one act would be Kele Okereke.

Guest Blogger: Fatty Went To Rehab

Each week Tongue Loose will have a different blogger talking about things on their mind...Please give a warm welcome to our first - Fatty Went To Rehab. 

What We Do In The Shadows Review

Director: Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi
Starring: Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi, Jonathan Brugh, Jackie van Beek
Running time: 87 minutes
Rating: 15

Get On Up Review

Director: Tate Taylor
Cast: Chadwick Boseman, Nelsan Ellis, Octavia Spencer, Viola Davis, Dan Aykroyd, Keith Robinson
Running Time: 139 minutes
Rating: 12A

One Direction - Four Review

Label: Columbia and SyCo Records
Producers: Julian Bunetta, Pär Westerlund and John Ryan
Tracks: 12 (16 with deluxe edition)

The Drop Review

Director: Michaël R. Roskam
Cast: Tom Hardy, James Gandolfini, Noomi Rapace
Running Time: 106 Minutes
Rating: 15

Glass Caves - Alive Review

Label: Tri-Tone 

Producer: Richard Turvey 

Twisted Loaf's Half Baked Review

The comedic duo Twisted Loaf were a success at Fringe this year with their 60 minute collection of bizarre, outrageous, uncomfortable and intimate sketches. Their sold out shows have now come to London for only a few days and Tongue Loose were there on opening night to witness the madness.

Firstly, there is no way to describe this comedic show - it's different. Twisted Loaf are so wonderfully weird and unafraid, as an audience member you're almost convinced they wouldn't care if you find it funny and laughed, but they will undoubtedly get a reaction.

The first ten minutes are painfully awkward and so incredibly dragged out but Half Baked isn't about the cheap jokes or the easy sketches, that becomes obvious when you've endured 5 minutes of a silent opening bit involving nothing but half of the duo awkwardly making an entrance and bringing discomfort to the whole audience with her silence, occasional bows and nods.

After that - Toasted Loaf intertwine their best talents from the theatre world and play on their musical, dance and knowledge of accents while mocking any other English class with spot on impersonations. The duo play off each other brilliantly and there's an apparent appreciation for each other's talents.

While it's all very awkward and uncomfortable with its various 'what is going on?' moments, the audience managed to laugh but it also highlights the fact that Half Baked is targeting a white English middle class audience and will go down a treat with its very specific white English middle class feminist comedy.

The success of Twisted Loaf is wonderful to see, and it's exciting that such an outrageous and out of the box female led comedy show has made it to a great venue in London. Half Baked is only on tonight and tomorrow at 9 pm and you can get your tickets here.

The Skeleton Twins Review

Director: Craig Johnson

Cast: Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Luke Wilson, Ty Burrell, Boyd Holbrook

Running Time: 93 minutes

Rating: 15

Say When Review

Director: Lynn Shelton
Cast: Keira Knightley, Sam Rockwell, Chloe Moretz, Ellie Kemper
Duration: 99 minutes
Rating: 15

Jump Review

Executive Producer: Kyung Hun Kim

Artistic Director: Jun Sang Lee

Running Time: 90 mins

Interval: No

IC1s - In The Blink Of An Eye Review

Haven't heard of IC1S yet? Well you should be hitting yourselves. Finding their beginnings in the form of one bad ass drummer's record label (Gary Powell from The Libertines, if you're wondering) IC1s have picked up a following along the way, selling out music venues left right and centre. Now they are releasing a new EP to the masses, In The Blink Of An Eye.

London Film Festival 2014: Wild Review

Director: Jean-Marc Vallée 
Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Brian Van Holt
Running time: 115 minutes
Rating: 15 

The Maze Runner Review

Director: Wes Ball 
Starring: Dylan O'Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Will Poulter, Aml Ameen, Ki Hong Lee, Thomas Brodie-Sangster 
Running time: 113 minutes
Rating: 12A 

LFF 2014: Camp X-Ray Review

Director: Peter Sattler
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Peyman Mooadi, Tara Holt, Lane Garrisson 
Running time: 117 minutes
Rating: 18 

Kele - Trick Review

Tracks: 10

Label: Lilac Records 

Released: 13th October 2014