Leonardo DiCaprio says turning down 1997 movie is his ‘biggest regret' – although it freed him for Titanic
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Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Fans of Netflix My Oxford Year should watch these 4 'superb' rom-com dramas next
Netflix film My Oxford Year, starring Sofia Carson and Corey Mylchreest, has gained impressive viewer ratings and left many in tears There's one romantic-comedy drama that has been on everyone's minds lately, after Sofia Carson returned to screens in this tear-jerking love tale. My Oxford Year tells the story of straight-A student Anna (Carson) who fulfils a long-term dream of studying at Oxford University. The straight-talking student ends up falling for her professor Jamie (Corey Mylchreest) despite their unfortunate and humorous first encounters. It's guaranteed to have you both laughing (and crying) among other mixed emotions. Fans have taken the film viral as it's been the hot topic of conversation on social media platforms such as TikTok, and also storming the Netflix top 10 charts. One viewer said on Rotten Tomatoes: "I loved it! I love Sofia in anything! I laughed and cried through this movie!," as another added: "This film doesn't tell a new and organic story but director's imagination and creativity to put old things in a new way is brilliant." Someone else wrote: "I really loved the movie, there were so many characters that just made sense to the story and it both got me mad, laughing and crying and the ending killed me. I think it was written so good, good story and amazing work." There's nothing worse than coming to an end of a really good movie, and wondering where next? Luckily we have compiled below five similar films to get stuck into next. Atonement (2007) Briony (played by Saoirse Ronan) stars in Atonement as an aspiring writer, who later catches her elder sister in a passionate embrace with her lover, Robbie Turner (played by James McAvoy). Jealous, she accuses Robbie of raping her cousin, a lie that changes the course of three lives. Ronan, who was only 13 at the time, gave such a chilling and compelling performance that she earned herself an Oscar nomination. One five-star review on Google read: "I remember seeing Atonement when I was an older teenager, and I also remember this being the particular story and rendition that showed me that 'girly' love stories CAN capture the heart of a man." Someone else wrote: "The acting is superb across the board. James McAvoy delivers a captivating performance as the passionate and conflicted Robbie Turner, while Keira Knightley, as always, is luminous." Our Souls at Night (2017) Our Souls at Night, starring Jane Fonda and Robert Redford, tells the tale of two lonely neighbours seeking company. It has plenty of depth, with an entanglement of grief and complication amid the blossoming love. The official synopsis reads: "Addie Moore and Louis Waters, a widow and widower, have lived next door to each other for years. When Addie tries to make a connection with her neighbour, the two begin sleeping in bed together platonically, with the innocent goal of alleviating their shared loneliness. "As their relationship deepens, however, they each deal with grief and loss, and a real romance begins to blossom." One person wrote in their review on Google: "This movie is so moving, so real and so empathetic towards old age. We think of being aged as having disabilities, but I love how the movie sets the mood for a old age couple romance." Only You (2018) When Jake and Elena bump into each other on New Year's Eve, they end up getting into a passionate relationship. However, things soon get complicated when they decide to have a baby together. Starring Spanish actor Laia Costa and Josh O'Connor, Only You opens up on the raw and unfiltered realities of fertility struggles. The romance film has been hailed by viewers for its fantastic cinematography. One review on Google wrote: "There are very few movies I would give five out of five stars to. If I could award this six out of five, I would. A heartwarming love story which has some aspects all couples can relate to." Someone else added: "Such a beautiful film realistically portraying the excitement and passion of falling in love followed by the struggles experienced by so many couples of trying to conceive." Marriage Story (2019) Marriage Story, available to watch on Netflix, tells the tale of a stage director and his actor wife who struggle through a gruelling, coast-to-coast divorce that pushes them to their personal and creative extremes. There's nothing quite like a Noah Baumbach film to make you feel like you've been dumped in your girlfriend's tastefully decorated Brooklyn kitchen. The 2019 film stars Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson as a couple in the midst of a breakdown. One person wrote on Google reviews: "I just saw this movie, I must say that it really exceeded my expectations! I loved! I smiled, laughed and cried many times. Adam Driver definitely became one of my favourite actors after seeing this movie." Another added: "Marriage story (2019) is one of the best movies of its year and for good reason. The performances by Scarlett Johansson, Adam Driver, and Laura Dern are all pretty much perfect and the emotions displayed by everyone in the cast is great."
Wales Online
2 hours ago
- Wales Online
Welsh lighthouse horror as keeper forced to live with corpse as he went slowly mad
Welsh lighthouse horror as keeper forced to live with corpse as he went slowly mad The Lighthouse, directed by Robert Eggers, is a psychological horror film that was partly inspired by a real-life tragedy that took place more than 200 years ago on the far coast of Wales The original Smalls building has been replaced with a new structure since the automation of lighthouses Robert Eggers' 2019 psychological horror, The Lighthouse, garnered praise and even an Oscar nomination for its striking monochrome cinematography, surreal ambience, and stellar performances from Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson. The film narrates the tale of two 19th-century lighthouse keepers marooned at a remote New England outpost during a violent tempest, with isolation, suspicion, and bizarre visions taking their toll. While audiences and critics have debated the film's symbolism and genre – part horror, part myth, part drama – what many viewers may not know is that it was partly inspired by a real-life tragedy that occurred over 200 years ago on the distant coast of Wales. The true story, now referred to as the Smalls Lighthouse Tragedy, is one of the most distressing chapters in British maritime history and led to a lasting change in lighthouse policy. The Smalls Lighthouse is perched on a rocky islet about 20 miles west of the St David's Peninsula in Pembrokeshire, exposed to the full force of the Irish Sea - designed and constructed in 1775, reports the Mirror. The Smalls Lighthouse Article continues below Life at The Smalls was solitary and confined. At the time, lighthouse crews typically consisted of just two men, who would spend extended periods in complete isolation. Their sole duties were to keep the lamp lit at night and maintain the structure by day, regardless of the weather. In 1801, the lighthouse was staffed by Thomas Howell and Thomas Griffith, two men reputed to be at odds. One day, Griffith fell gravely ill following what was reported as a bizarre mishap. Howell attempted to look after his workmate and set up a distress signal, hoping a passing ship would communicate their need for assistance. However, this was a time before radio, and simple flag signalling proved ineffective in such an isolated location. The lighthouse was battered by storms for weeks on end, making it impossible for any vessel to pass. Griffith's health deteriorated, and eventually, after enduring a lengthy period of suffering, he passed away. Suddenly alone, Howell faced a daunting predicament. Given the strained relationship between the two men, he worried that if he disposed of the body at sea, any subsequent investigation might suspect him of murder. He decided his only choice was to keep the body until help arrived. The lighthouse is situated about 20 miles west of St David's Peninsula in Pembrokeshire Initially, Howell kept Griffith's body inside the living quarters, a hut barely five metres across. However, the smell of decomposition soon became intolerable. A former barrel-maker, Howell took apart part of the interior to construct a makeshift coffin from wooden planks. He placed Griffith inside, secured the lid, and hoisted the coffin onto a ledge on the exterior of the lighthouse, tying it securely in place. The weather showed no signs of easing, and weeks later, the violent winds ripped the coffin apart, casting the boards into the sea and leaving the corpse tied to the railing, exposed to the elements. This is when the incident took on its most enduring – and macabre – image. One of Griffith's arms had come loose, and whenever the wind caught it just right, it seemed to wave or beckon. Howell could see it from inside the hut, a constant and chilling reminder of his dire situation. As days turned into weeks, several ships sailed within sight of the lighthouse, but the conditions were too treacherous to attempt a landing. Crews could see the light still burning at night – a testament to Howell's commitment to his duty – and during the day, they occasionally spotted a figure on the gallery. Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson in a scene from The Lighthouse (2019) (Image: Dumfries and Galloway Standard) From afar, they couldn't discern what had transpired, and with no apparent urgency in the signalling, they continued their journey. It's believed that Howell lived alongside his deceased colleague for approximately four months before a vessel from Milford Haven was finally able to land on The Smalls. When rescuers arrived, they discovered Griffith's body still bound to the railings and Howell physically and mentally altered. Friends back on shore later claimed they didn't recognise him – his hair had prematurely turned grey, his face was gaunt, and he appeared shattered by the ordeal. The Smalls Lighthouse Tragedy sent shockwaves through the maritime community, highlighting the perils of having only two keepers at such a remote station. As a result, the governing body changed its policy to mandate that all lighthouses be manned by at least three people at a time. This rule stayed in place for nearly two centuries, until the automation of British lighthouses in the late 20th century. The events of 1801 have inspired numerous works over the past two centuries. In 2011, the BBC aired The Lighthouse, a radio play by Alan Harris based on the tragedy. Article continues below In 2016, Welsh director Chris Crow released a feature film of the same name, also loosely adapted from the events on The Smalls, before Robert Eggers' The Lighthouse brought the tale to international audiences.
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
Lighthouse keeper forced to live with corpse for 4 months unrecognisable when rescued
Robert Eggers' 2019 psychological horror The Lighthouse, featuring powerhouse performances from Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson, won acclaim for its striking black-and-white cinematography and surreal atmosphere, even earning an Oscar nomination. The film spins a tale of two nineteenth-century lighthouse keepers stranded at a remote New England outpost during a violent storm, with isolation, mistrust, and strange visions taking their toll. While the movie's symbolism and genre – part horror, part myth, part drama – have sparked debates among audiences and critics, many viewers may not realise that it was partly inspired by a real-life tragedy that occurred more than 200 years ago on the far coast of Wales. This true story, now known as the Smalls Lighthouse Tragedy, is one of the most harrowing episodes in British maritime history and led to a permanent change in lighthouse policy. The Smalls Lighthouse, designed and constructed in 1775, stands on a rocky islet about 20 miles west of the St David's Peninsula in Pembrokeshire, exposed to the full force of the Irish Sea, reports the Mirror. Life at The Smalls was lonely and cramped. At the time, lighthouse crews typically consisted of just two men, who would spend long stretches in complete isolation. Their only duties were to keep the lamp lit at night and maintain the structure by day, regardless of the weather. In 1801, the lighthouse was staffed by Thomas Howell and Thomas Griffith, two men who were known to have a contentious relationship. One day, Griffith fell seriously ill following an unusual accident. Howell attempted to look after his colleague and set up a distress signal, hoping that a passing ship would notice their plight. However, this was a time before radio, and simple flag signalling was of little use in such a remote location. The lighthouse was battered by storms for weeks on end, making it impossible for any ship to pass by. Griffith's condition deteriorated, and eventually, after enduring a long period of suffering, he passed away. Suddenly alone, Howell faced a chilling predicament. Given the strained relationship between the two men, he feared that if he disposed of the body at sea, any future investigation might suspect him of murder. He decided his only option was to keep the body until help arrived. Initially, Howell kept Griffith's body inside the living quarters, a small hut barely five metres across. But the smell of decomposition soon became unbearable. Having previously worked as a cooper, Howell dismantled part of the interior to construct a makeshift coffin from timber boards. He placed Griffith inside, secured the lid, and hoisted the coffin out to a ledge on the exterior of the lighthouse, tying it securely in place. The weather showed no signs of easing up and, weeks later, the violent winds ripped the coffin apart, casting the boards into the sea and leaving the corpse tied to the railing, exposed to the harsh elements. It was then that the incident took on its most enduring – and gruesome – image. One of Griffith's arms had come loose, and whenever the wind caught it just right, it seemed to wave or beckon. Howell could see it from inside the hut, a constant and chilling reminder of his dire situation. As the days went by, several ships sailed within sight of the lighthouse, but the conditions were too treacherous to attempt a landing. Crews could see the light still burning at night – a testament to Howell's commitment to his duty – and during the day, they occasionally spotted a figure on the gallery. From afar, they couldn't discern what had transpired, and with no apparent urgency in the signalling, they continued their journey. It is thought Howell lived alongside his deceased colleague for about four months before a vessel from Milford Haven finally managed to land on The Smalls. When the rescuers arrived, they found Griffith's body still fastened to the railings and Howell physically and mentally altered. Friends back on shore later claimed they didn't recognise him – his hair had turned prematurely grey, his face was gaunt, and he appeared shattered by the ordeal. The Smalls Lighthouse Tragedy sent shockwaves through the maritime community, highlighting the perils of having only two keepers at such a remote station. As a result, the governing body changed its policy to mandate that all lighthouses be manned by at least three people at a time. This rule was upheld for nearly two centuries, until British lighthouses were automated in the late 20th century. The events of 1801 have sparked numerous creative works over the past two centuries. In 2011, the BBC aired The Lighthouse, a radio play by Alan Harris inspired by the tragedy. In 2016, Welsh director Chris Crow released a feature film with the same title, also loosely based on the events at The Smalls, before Robert Eggers' The Lighthouse brought the story to international audiences.
