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The Odyssey: Nolan goes full Greek epic, entirely in 70mm | First Take

It was a film I was determined not to miss with my deepening role on the Lancashire Film Network family of film festivals (where I now oversee the en…
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Project Hail Mary: sci-fi that is able to amaze, amaze, amaze | First Take

My oh my, have cinemas been crying out for a film like this. Sci-fi is a complex genre to navigate, and a more difficult one to master for a modern, …
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The Magic Faraway Tree: Enid Blyton's books get a modern-day film adaptation | First Take

So for the first time since August, I'm not in film festival mode, looking at films for consideration - so it was very nice to actually see a fea…
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Romeo + Juliet - Luhrmann's version of the Shakespeare classic still packs a punch | First Take Classics

When the blog came into being 13 years ago, during a time when the original text was prominently featured on English A-levels, this was the film that…
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Bird Boy: a South African story lands in.... Fleetwood | First Takes at CineWyre

SYNOPSIS: August, a troubled young orphan, finds an abandoned ostrich egg and raises a giant, bird-brained best friend. When his ostrich is taken awa…
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Rotten Apple: a hard hitting documentary-drama blend about an important subject | First Takes at CineWyre

Rotten Apple contains scenes some viewers may find disturbing, viewer discretion is advised. SYNOPSIS: A hard-hitting investigation into grooming and …
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Cowgirls and Synthesizers: proof that you can make country music with ANYTHING | First Take at CineWyre

SYPNOSIS: UK hit-maker and Eurovison songwriter Ricardo Autobahn follows the synthesizer pop duo Hyperbubble, described by Alternative Press as "…
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Bold Stories Will Ignite in Preston | TheJackSmit.com & Lancashire Firestorm Film Festival

Here we go again ladies and gentlemen. I have been sitting on the biggest secret for nearly a year, and with the prep to deliver CineWyre on the home…
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Better Man: the story of Robbie Williams told in his own way | First Take

When it was announced that one of this country's biggest ever popstars was exploring a biopic into his own life, albeit with the most 'him…
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Hearts of Stone: Noomi Rapace anchors brilliant LGBTQ drama | Short Takes at CineWyre

This short is just too beautiful not to write a piece about. Audiences who came to Lytham last year will know this one very well, as it was a UK Prem…
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Jane Austen's Period Drama: Oscar-nominated, and bloody marvellous | Short Takes at CineWyre

Across the countdown to CineWyre, we're gonna put the spotlight on the best shorts playing the festival to showcase just what's coming to Fle…
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CineWyre 2026 on TheJackSmit.com

And here we go then. For the last seven months, TheJackSmit.com and the Lancashire Film Network team have been preparing for CineWyre - the newest ad…
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Welcome to the Next Chapter | Bringing Cinema Closer since 2013

A new year, a new era, and a new look for the blog - it's been a long time coming but welcome to our new lick of paint, which in essence, is more…
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Back to the Future - still looking good over 40 years on | First Take Classics

SYNOPSIS: Marty McFly, a 17-year-old high school student, is accidentally sent 30 years into the past in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his cl…
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December and January's Big Films, Previewed | Front Row

The festive period brings with it hours upon hours of top tier big screen entertainment - and in true Radio Times style, Jack's covered it all in…
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What's on in UK Cinemas this November? | Front Row

Big musicals in Wicked: For Good, big adaptations of beloved Stephen King novels in The Running Man, and so much more is on offer across the UK cinem…
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What's On in UK Cinemas this October | Front Row

Plenty going on in UK cinemas this month, from Tron: Ares to Roofman and beyond - and as ever Jack’s previewed it all in the October edition of TheJa…
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The Breakdown: Lytham International Film Festival 2025

150 films, a full weekend and a brand new home. Lytham International Film Festival is in the books for another year as it continues to grow into a tr…
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What's On in UK Cinemas this September | Front Row

Sandwiched between LYIFF, Womens’ Rugby World Cup and other exciting things - we got Jack in to do this month’s Front Row eventually!
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First Take: The Naked Gun - turns out Hollywood can make a silly comedy in 2025

SYNOPSIS: Only one man has the particular set of skills - to lead Police Squad and save the world. Well, it took them long enough to reopen the files…
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