Jack Davenport and I are back for part two, find the full context here and watch the second part of our film awards here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iv3DOWDLxWE&t=1912s
Category: Films
Have You Seen… Throw Away Your Books, Rally in the Streets (1971)?
Terayama's iconoclastic classic is full of unfiltered madness and moments of political cogency. The main political push is in the title, and it is something that carries throughout the film: throw off apathy and disillusionment and take action. It's deeper than this though, it is about throwing out traditional forms of art so that we … Continue reading Have You Seen… Throw Away Your Books, Rally in the Streets (1971)?
The Mitchells vs. the Machines (Review)
The best animated films take advantage of the medium, speaking in ways live action films cannot. Mitchells vs. the Machines is one of these films, a consistently hilarious feature about a relatably dysfunctional family of four (plus a dog) going on a road trip and... Trying to stop the the robot apocalypse. You know, everyday … Continue reading The Mitchells vs. the Machines (Review)
The STACK Awards 2021 (Part 1 of 2)
On this blog, I've previously done my own version of the Oscars in text form - just to show how strange that ceremony would be if they let me have control (more horror movies and arthouse fare). This year, I collaborated with the talented music producer, audio engineer, composer, sound designer, visual artist (self described … Continue reading The STACK Awards 2021 (Part 1 of 2)
Things Heard and Seen (Review)
Sometimes, you have to give a film credit for trying. And, you know what, Things Heard and Seen (another disposable Netflix film that has gained attention purely to a couple of notable stars) certainly tries. It tries to touch on wider themes: transcendental and theological horror (hinting at Blakean and more widely Romanticist concepts); cycles … Continue reading Things Heard and Seen (Review)
Quo vadis, Aida? (Review)
Films about horrific historical events are difficult. The question of what not to show versus what you must show is always a hard one - and the want to present, and comment, without glorifying is always challenging. Quo vadis, Aida? focuses on the Bosnian genocide of 1995. It takes place during the events leading up … Continue reading Quo vadis, Aida? (Review)
The Labyrinth of Cinema (Review)
Nobody makes films like Nobuhiko Ôbayashi does, and with his tragic death in 2020, we are never going to have films like them again. Luckily, we have Labyrinth of Cinema; after giving us a final filmic statement in 2017 with the wonderful Hanagatami, Ôbayashi lived long enough to make one more final film. This film … Continue reading The Labyrinth of Cinema (Review)
The Man Who Sold His Skin (Review)
In this modern take on the Faust story, the central theme is appropriation, specifically pertaining to how modern systems appropriate and dehumanise the already vulnerable, be this through the art world or on a global, political level. The tragic irony is that the film itself feels uncomfortably appropriative, as it takes advantage of real world … Continue reading The Man Who Sold His Skin (Review)
Shiva Baby (Review)
Filmic comedy is rarely as modern or as razor sharp as it is in Shiva Baby. While we live in an age of fabulous and diverse comedy, from fresh - or previously underrepresented - perspectives, this has been somewhat relegated to television, short form video and podcasts. The contemporary comedy film still often feels formulaic … Continue reading Shiva Baby (Review)
Collective (Review)
Occasionally, a documentary comes along that feels utterly vital: Collective is that documentary. This jaw dropping exploration of large scale corruption in the Romanian Health system (and connected systems) needs to be seen to be believed. It is a powerful and expertly constructed singular narrative about how the insufficient response to a tragedy - that … Continue reading Collective (Review)
Assorted Opinions 