It's rare to see a documentary with such talent behind it turn out so misguided. A Dog Called Money is the seeming final layer of a multi-stage vanity project that has turned an interesting piece of art into an oblivious display of privilege. Technically, it's a documentary to accompany PJ Harvey's 2016 album The Hope … Continue reading A Dog Called Money (Review)
The Nightingale (Review)
With the Nightingale, Jennifer Kent (of The Babadook fame) continues to be one of the most interesting voices in cinema, achieving with this - her second film - her second masterpiece. The film is an astonishing achievement on every level, as beautiful and thoughtful as it is brutal and uncompromising. It's an art-house exploitation film … Continue reading The Nightingale (Review)
Knives Out (Review)
One of Rian Johnson's gifts as a screenwriter and director is his ability to play with genre and audience expectations. In his murder mystery pastiche Knives Out, this quality flourishes. Knives Out is centred around the presumed suicide of a wealthy crime writer (Christopher Plummer) and the suspicions that then fall upon his family. The … Continue reading Knives Out (Review)
Blue Story (Review)
Sometimes good enough is, well, good enough. This is certainly true of Blue Story, a film with a clear audience in mind that does exactly what it needs to do for that audience. It's a film about the spiralling consequences of gang culture in London, specifically focusing on the black community. The almost Shakespearean story … Continue reading Blue Story (Review)
Marriage Story (Review)
There's a point in Noah Baumbach's fantastic Marriage Story where our two protagonists (played note perfectly by Scarlett Johansson - thankfully staying in her lane - and Adam Driver) close a gate together, one on either side. They push this barrier between themselves, working together to drive themselves apart. It's a wonderful moment that is … Continue reading Marriage Story (Review)
The Irishman (Review)
Thanks to the Netflix war chest, Martin Scorsese has returned to the gangster epic with Robert De Niro in tow. The end result is something truly interesting but undeniably indulgent. Weighing in at 209 minutes, an easy target for criticism is the film's length. To a certain extent, this is a clear issue, the film … Continue reading The Irishman (Review)
NastyPALs 16: Night of the Bloody Apes
A movie in which a man has his heart swapped with that of an ape in order to cure his leukaemia, only to be turned into a monster who goes on a bloody rampage! Oh, and it's also about female wrestling (Luchadores, to be specific).Yeah... This movie rules. You need to listen to this one … Continue reading NastyPALs 16: Night of the Bloody Apes
Terminator: Dark Fate (Review)
Dark fate would serve as an excellent summary of the Terminator franchise. After two outstanding films, viewers have been treated to three sequels that offered various shades of bad. However, Dark Fate - in spite of its name - puts things back on track, offering instead a new hope and a renewed energy. Yes, Terminator … Continue reading Terminator: Dark Fate (Review)
Ford v Ferrari (Le Mans ’66) (Review)
If Ford v Ferrari was a car, it would be an SUV. It doesn't serve much purpose, it somewhat belongs in the past, it's oversized and it can be pretty toxic. However, it's also weirdly good looking and when you get into driving it, it wins you over: it's comfortable, it's pleasingly simple, it's well … Continue reading Ford v Ferrari (Le Mans ’66) (Review)
Doctor Sleep (Review)
How do you follow up Stanley Kubrick's the Shining? Well, not like this. Doctor Sleep functions as a sequel to Stanley Kubrick's film, while also aiming to be a faithful adaptation of Stephen King's novel (an approach that Kubrick certainly didn't take). What this means is that the film somewhat awkwardly straddles a split audience: … Continue reading Doctor Sleep (Review)
Assorted Opinions 