Podcasts from The Business Of Film

James Cameron-Wilson examines the UK box office chart, topped by Captain Marvel for the second week. UK comedy drama Fisherman's Friends enters at #2 while What Men Want, a remake of the Mel Gibson film What Women Wan, debuts at #3. James's DVD of the week is the Steve McQueen film Widows, starring Viola Davis and Liam Neeson. It, too, is a remake, of a Lynda La Plante 80s UK TV series.

James Cameron-Wilson looks at the box office phenomenon that is Captain Marvel, taking nearly £13m in its first weekend and disproving, as with Wonder Woman, the traditional Hollywood studio view that films with female leads do not succeed with the general public. With no other new film making the top ten (Everybody Knows with Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz made only #13), James's DVD of the week was Sink The Bismarck, the 1960 film starring Kenneth More.

James Cameron-Wilson lavishes praise on Stephen Merchant's #1 entry at the box office, Fighting With My Family, which pushes the new Lego Movie into second place. Another British entry, The Aftermath, with Keira Knightly, entes at #6. What They Had with Hilary Swank only makes #38. He explains why nobody knows the true figures for turkey Serenity with Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway. His DVD of the week is the controversial Lars von Trier film The House That Jack Built.

James Cameron-Wilson dissects the UK box office figures from half-term week, with the top new film, Liam Neeson in Cold Pursuit, only coming in at #6. In at #8 is On The Basis of Sex while Oscar-nominated foreign movie Capernaum, one of James’s favourite films of the past year, can only manage a debut at #15. James reviews for home release crowd-pleaser Bohemian Rhapsody, which did so well at the recent Oscars, the results of which James analyses. Next week, we find out what effect, if any, the Oscars have had on the box office.

James Cameron-Wilson looks at the latest UK box office numbers, reviewing new movies Instant Family, Happy Death Day 2 U and The Kid Who Would Be King. He laments the fact that the drama about war reporter Marie Colvin, played by Rosamund Pike, who got a Golden Globe nomination, only limped in at #13 in the chart. He also reviews for home release - and recommends highly - the documentary RBG about Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

James Cameron-Wilson, with sinking heart, looks at the UK box office, with Lego Movie 2 at #1, Alita: Battle Angel at #2 and How to Train Your Dragon 3 at #3. The new Kenneth Branagh film about Shakepeare's last days All Is True could only limp in at #10. James ponders the BAFTA results and reviews for home entertainment the 1955 film Picnic with William Holden and Kim Novak. Scandalous in its day and OTT in much of its acting, it's an indication of just how much has changed in the past 60 years.

James Cameron-Wilson casts his eye over the UK box office which has its first decent hit of 2019 with new #1 How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. Green Book, a big awards contender, is in at #2 with the derivative Escape Room clocking in at #4. James is mystified, though, as to why Can You Ever Forgive Me?, starring Melissa McCarthy and Richard E. Grant, another hot pick for awards glory, should only have turned up at #8 in the charts. James also takes a look at the home release of A Star Is Born, one of his favourite films of 2018, with the DVD packed full of worthwhile extras.

James Cameron-Wilson on the latest UK box office numbers, with Glass and Mary, Queen of Scots seeing off newcomer Vice, starring Christian Bale as former US Vice-President Dick Cheney. In at #8 is the Clint Eastwood film The Mule, another true story. The Nicole Kidman movie Destoyer, once touted as a possible award-nominee, only managed an entry at #19. James also reviews the new home release, Crazy Rich Asians, which he recommends highly.

James Cameron-Wilson examines the UK box office, where much-garlanded The Favourite is snapping at the heels of Mary Poppins Returns. He also discusses the Robert Zemeckis Welcome to Marwen as well as RBG, the documentary about Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. His DVD of the week is the Icelandic drama Under The Tree and James also pores over the Golden Globes and the BAFTA nominations.

James Cameron-Wilson casts his critical eye over the cinematic highlights of 2018, a year in which musicals were to the fore, as were films directed by actors. He marvelled at the array of strong roles for women and wondered why so few male performances stood out in the year. As well as examining the winners at the UK box office, James also gives his own, personal top 10 of the year.