by Jennifer Drewett 

There are some people who come into the spotlight of fame as soon as their career begins. Others have been working tirelessly for years and their fame grows over time and they establish an arguably more grounded career. One such person is a man who needs very little introduction in the nerd world.

For those who’ve been living in a cave with their eyes shut and their fingers in their ears, Joss Whedon is something of an idol to some people including most of the I’m With Geek staff for some of his work. His best known work is the cult television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the story of a young woman fated to fight the forces of Evil and protect the world. Whilst this reviewer could go on about Buffy for hours, this is the Film Essentials section. Throughout his work, Whedon has a knack for doing excellent character-based writing. His penchant for killing off loved characters has been compared to Game of Thrones writer George R. R. Martin.

To celebrate the upcoming release of The Avengers: Age of Ultron, let’s discuss some of the films Whedon has been involved in either writing or directing and why you should go see them (if you haven’t already!)

by Cookie N Screen

Tom Hardy is one of those actors whose reputation precedes them, a reputation of being difficult. It is all probably largely unfounded and unfair. Often, the limelight of fame peers onto your emotions and how you are, so much so that you come off as a bit of a knob, if you don’t entertain the press and audiences. Although he is aware of his own difficulties and how he presents himself, it’s still something clear when walking the red carpet or interview. That being said, he really is a terrific lad who creates some stirring films and ventures out of his comfort zone regularly. This week, he’ll be appearing as a Russian soldier in Child 44 and, in a month’s time, he’ll become a different incarnation of Mad Max in Fury Road.

So what films are his essentials? Let’s have a look. 

by Jennifer Drewett 

The issue of access to acting opportunities for anyone who isn’t a rich, white man in modern times has come up recently with James McAvoy pledging £125,000 to The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland to fund talent for those under 25 who cannot afford the drama school fees and Christopher Eccleston pointing out in a recent interview that if he was entering acting now it would be so much harder for him as a working class actor. Inequality within the film industry is a definite issue but it definitely isn’t impossible to make it as an actor if you’re not from a high socio-economic background. One such examples is the talented Alan Rickman. He was born in 1946 on a council estate in Acton, West London to his unemployed Mum and his father who was a factory worker who would die when Rickman was 8. He ended up attending Latymer Upper School on a scholarship and would go on to get a degree at Royal College of Art. He ran a successful graphics design business he set up before his love of theatre got him to audition and get a scholarship for Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He’s worked hard to get to where he is and to celebrate the release of the film A Little Chaos which he starred in and directed, here’s an essentials list of Alan Rickman films you must go watch.

Honourable Mention: Die Hard. I’m totally aware of the cult following his character Hans Gruber received when Die Hard hit the cinema screens but there are two excellent reasons why it wasn’t included in the Essentials list. The first reason is that I’ve only seen Die Hard once many years ago so my memory of the film is limited hence I feel I can’t adequately comment on it. Secondly, and most importantly, these Rickman performances in these films made a genuine impact on audiences including myself. I felt they deserved commentary and recommendation on their own merits.

by Hayley Louise Charlesworth 

Keanu Reeves has gained a reputation for being a bad actor. I am here to say that reputation is unjustified. Sure, Reeves has made some bad choices, but he also has some unsung masterpieces out there. And he has a reputation for being one of the most genuinely nice guys in Hollywood. Not to mention there are rumours of his immortality......


With him receiving rave reviews for John Wick, released today, we celebrate his best work. Whoa!

by Robbie Jones 

If Easter has left you a bloated mess, and all you want to do is relax and enjoy yourself with as little movement as possible, maybe it’s time to indulge in the filmography of Ethan Hawke, one of the finest actors working today. Since he was 12 he’s been handing in great performances, and with his new time travel adventure Predestination hitting shelves today, let’s take a look at the man’s best work.

Honourable Mentions: Lord of War, Sinister, Daybreakers, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead and Alfonso Cuaron’s stunning contemporary adaptation of Great Expectations.

by Cookie N Screen 

There is so much that could be said about Vin Diesel.

He’s the mammoth hunk of man meat. He’s an action hero star. He does a lot of charity work. Plus, he had a massive bromance with the late Paul Walker, so much so he recently named his daughter Pauline. Oh and he also likes to play Dungeons & Dragons whenever he can because Vin Diesel is an absolute huge geek. We love it!

Not only can he shift between mainstream action and “comedy” films but he can appear in our comic book adaptations too and do an equally stellar job in each. So here is a list of his best work...