La La Land

I am being brave. It's deepest, darkest January and the rain here in Manchester can only be described as thick drizzle ... but I'm going out in it. What could warrant such bravery? Escapism, dear reader. A chance to spend two hours bathed in sunlight and swept up in romance. Finally, La La Land is in cinemas and it's here to banish the January blues.

Jersey Boys

Captain's log: It's been more than 36 hours since I saw Jersey Boys at the Piccadilly Theatre. Will I ever stop humming 'Big Girls Don't Cry?' Reason tells me it's unlikely.

Steve Jobs

It's been five years since The Social Network and at long last, Aaron Sorkin's given the dialogue lovers of the world another film to fawn over, the talk-a-thon that is Steve Jobs. Helmed by Danny Boyle and starring Michael Fassbender as the co-founder of Apple, I've been desperate to see this one for months. I've taken the time to review it so you already know what I'm going to say ...

Brandon Flowers - A long time coming

Typical isn't it, you wait five years for a new Brandon Flowers track and he releases two at once! I'll forgive him the agonising wait though, as I'm told he's been quite busy with some band called The Killers in between times. King B's been dropping cryptic hints about his upcoming solo album The Desired Effect on Twitter since last September though and now, with the release date just weeks away, we're finally getting to revel in its gloriousness. Here are the new videos for your audio/visual pleasure.

Just a friendly reminder ...

Pride gets its DVD and download release in the UK today. If you saw it at the cinema, I expect you've had it on pre-order for months, if you didn't, read The Optimist's recommendation here then head down to your local VHS retailer and get yourself a copy. Like I said back then, you HAVE to see it. It's wonderful.

The Theory of Everything

It was back in early August that the trailer for The Theory of Everything first appeared and The Optimist got terribly over excited about it. The wait has been long and at times testing but rejoice, for the film has finally been released in cinemas. So, does it live up to the expectation? Read on ...

The Best TV Dramas of 2014

Christmas is but 6 days away and I can smell the panic in the air. Need some last minute gift ideas? Well roll up roll up for I, a recognised television connoisseur have drawn up a list of 2014's best British dramas. Head on down to your local Woolworths Megastores and pick up a boxset or five.

The Imitation Game

It's been a tough few months waiting for this one but we made it through. The Imitation Game is one of the most highly anticipated films of the year - turns out it might also be one of the most important. Now The Optimist offers you less of a recommendation and more of a shove towards the cinema. Mark my words, you'll be glad you've seen this when award season comes around.

Shakespeare in Love

The Optimist has been living the high life in London again. This time I paid a visit to the Noel Coward Theatre, to see the newly opened Shakespeare in Love.

Pride

I don't want to come across as bossy, but you have to go and see this film, it's the best one you'll see all year! I'm about to use all of my powers of persuasion to convince you - get ready for a gush-fest.

Once - The Musical

The Optimist spent Saturday night watching Olivier award winning musical Once, at London's Phoenix Theatre. In the words of Iggy Azelia: I'm proper fancy - or something along those lines.

Begin Again

There are some films that you know you're going to love before you've actually watched them; 500 Days of Summer and Gatsby for example. When I heard the words 'New York', 'Musical' and 'Keira Knightley' I knew Begin Again would be the same. So here's a slightly redundant recommendation, for the new film by John Carney - Oscar winning director of Once (SOLD!)

Inside Llewyn Davis

First things first; this film is downbeat - no doubt about that. It opens with a song about a hanging and looks as if it was all shot on one long drizzly Thursday. If you're expecting a happy-go-lucky musical, you'll be disappointed. If you're in the mood for a thought-provoking, darkly funny, ultimately heart-warming bit of cinema, you'll love it as much as I did.

Gravity

Gravity's opening shot would be the centrepiece of any other space film. A glowing corner of Earth fills the left-hand side of the screen while a solitary dot floats in the blackness beyond. Is it a star? Some kind of space debris? Either way, it's distant, like everything else. It takes minutes for it to become discernible, welcome minutes that give you time to drink in the view and nudge the person next to you to make sure they're as in awe as you are. There is silence except for the faint crackle of voices over a radio then some vaguely audible country and western beaming out of George Clooney's space suit, completely at odds with the stillness.

The Great Gatsby

I've long been a fan of Baz Luhrmann's work and after repeated watchings of the trailers for his adaptation of classic American novel The Great Gatsby, I was expecting a film with the director's trademark visual flamboyance. Suffice to say, I was far from disappointed on this front. Gatsby is, in a word, gorgeous.