Welcome to TOTAL FILM

THE SMARTER MOVIE MAGAZINE

We’re coming back after the holiday with a roar. Or a couple of roars. Yep, Godzilla and Kong are back and stomping through 2024 like champs. Let’s start as we mean to go on, right? In this issue we’re digging into that monster mash as well as the dust-up in the family and the ring in awards-bait must-see The Iron Claw. I had the pleasure of chatting with Willem Dafoe about his diverse career, currently capped by the superlative Poor Things, and trying to get a word in edgeways with George Clooney and Callum Turner for The Boys in the Boat (and checking out Clooney’s goofy videos of Brad Pitt on his phone). I also got to talk to the team behind Masters of the Air (Callum Turner again!) and nerd out about warplanes. Elsewhere, we nattered with the gang on Argylle plus Jennifer Connelly, Jamie Bell and the Kung Fu Panda 4 creatives.

Honestly, we’d be skipping into the new year if we weren’t having to say goodbye to one of the Total Film family. Our genius art editor, Mike Brennan, is taking his leave and we’re going to have to say goodbye to his illogical spelling, love of a ‘Benny and hot’, messiah styling and a laugh that is completely infectious. Mike’s visionary design has made Total Film the beauty it is and we’ll miss him. In case we don’t see you, Mike - good afternoon, good evening and good night…

Enjoy the issue!

JANE CROWTHER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @JANEVGCROWTHER

CALL SHEET

THIS ISSUE’S EXTRAS

ART EDITOR

MIKE BRENNAN

@MIKE_BRENNAN01

Eight years, 112 issues and many highlights, but getting to work with the incredibly talented, passionate people that make this magazine so special by far tops them. Since buying my first issue as a teenager, working on TF was a dream come true; now I leave to be an avid reader once again.

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

JAMIE GRAHAM

@JAMIE_GRAHAM9

Henry Cavill rocks a mean flat-top in Argylle, and I found myself swapping hair tips with him. My MO of ‘brush when you remember’ wouldn’t cut it in Hollywood.

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

NEIL SMITH

I offered my window seat to Tilda Swinton on our flight to the 20th Marrakech International Film Festival and got a chocolate finger in return.

REVIEWS EDITOR

MATTHEW LEYLAND

@TOTALFILM_MATTL

The Next Goal Wins screening hit the back of the net with a Paul Merson intro and a salute to Specsavers’ ‘Best Worst Team’, Cwm Albion, who’ve at last won something…

ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT WRITER

EMILY MURRAY

@EMILYVMURRAY

Asked Charles Melton of May December how he was feeling about probably getting awards nods for his role. He seemed overwhelmed by the reaction. Fingers crossed he sees some gold come gong time.

DEPUTY EDITOR

MATT MAYTUM

@MATTMAYTUM

Jamie Bell complimented my jacket. ‘I’ve worn something like that in a film before. Don’t ask me any more questions about [redacted film] – but it was very similar, and I really liked it.’