2017's It adaptation worked brilliantly. It was a well directed, well acted coming-of-age movie bolstered by terrific horror set-pieces, some well handled thematics and a great sense of humour. Unfortunately, its sequel is uniformly disappointing, managing to drop the ball in almost every area that the previous film kept it so impressively aloft. Chapter 2 … Continue reading It: Chapter 2 (Review)
Category: Films
Dutch Angle: Chas Gerretsen & Apocalypse Now (Review)
Every film about Apocalypse Now lives in the shadow of the superb Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse. Dutch Angle is no exception and, though it introduces the viewer to what looks like a fascinating exhibition, it is singularly uninteresting. The film is about photographer Chas Gerretsen, who went from photographing the actual Vietnam war … Continue reading Dutch Angle: Chas Gerretsen & Apocalypse Now (Review)
Leto (Review)
There are countless tales of how art and creativity were repressed in Soviet Russia. Just last year, the superb Cold War explored this space - and its impact on personal relationships - and earlier this year, The White Crow commendably - but not always successfully - traversed similar territory. Leto, is conceptually of a piece … Continue reading Leto (Review)
The Souvenir (Review)
With only four films under her belt, Joanna Hogg has already established herself as a unique and important voice in British cinema. Following her promising debut, Unrelated, Hogg's work has only got stronger with each release and, with the Souvenir, she has completed her first (and hopefully not last) masterpiece. Despite its conventional appearance - … Continue reading The Souvenir (Review)
Bait (Review)
To watch Bait is to be reminded of the possibilities and power of cinema. Bait is a film that will reinvigorate your love of the medium through its use of filmic language and technique to deliver something transcendent. It's a film of clear political, metaphorical and emotional import that is at once brutally real and … Continue reading Bait (Review)
Pain and Glory (Review)
Autofiction is a dangerous game. The line between art and reality is often a thin one and drawing from one's life opens up conflict and complication. This is one of the central ideas in Almodovar's brilliant Pain and Glory, yet another enthralling film from one of the masters of cinema. Pain and Glory is not … Continue reading Pain and Glory (Review)
Hail Satan? (Review)
Let's get this out of the way: for a while now, I've been fascinated by Satanism - specifically modern Satanism. Therefore, I have to admit that I am the exact target audience for a documentary that focuses on the Satanic Temple. Keeping this in mind, believe me when I say that Penny Lane's Hail Satan? … Continue reading Hail Satan? (Review)
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (Review)
André Øvredal's latest repeatedly, and bluntly, pushes the idea that stories are important. It posits that stories change us, define us and shape the way we interact with the world. To an extent, it proves this idea, through the ineptitude of its own storytelling, which saps any interest and appeal - clearly reminding you how … Continue reading Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (Review)
Notorious (4K Restoration) (Review)
The title card 'Aflred Hitchock's Notorious' reads more like a statement of fact than an introduction to a film. Of course, it would be irresponsible - espcially when reviewing a film of this name - to not mention the notoriety of Hitchcock himself, who was known for terrorising his actors - women specifically. This looms … Continue reading Notorious (4K Restoration) (Review)
Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood (Review)
When considering Tarantino's most recent films, it's hard to decide which one is his most self-indulgent. Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood (OUaTiH) is, however, a strong contender for the throne. Tarantino's latest continues a clear downward trend, and though it is not his most objectionable or distasteful film to date, it is his dullest. … Continue reading Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood (Review)
Assorted Opinions 