Thrillers don't get much better than Uncut Gems. This latest film from the Safdie Brothers (who gave us the excellent Good Time) is brilliantly overwhelming and deeply stressful in the best way possible. The film's success is due to a multitude of factors but its most obvious asset is a mesmerising turn from the oft-awful … Continue reading Uncut Gems (Review)
Tag: cinema
The Holy Mountain (Reissue) (Review)
If you haven't seen Alejandro Jodorowsky's The Holy Mountain, you owe it to yourself to do so. If you're quick you can find it on the big screen in a beautiful restoration; if not, watch it on the biggest screen you can. I can't guarantee you will enjoy it - you may even hate it … Continue reading The Holy Mountain (Reissue) (Review)
Parasite (Review)
There's something inherently appealing about a film that's able to be consistently surprising; however, there's something really special about a film that is able to stay utterly consistent at the same time. Parasite is a film that trades in escalation and increasing levels of conflict - a film that keeps adding more spinning plates through … Continue reading Parasite (Review)
A Hidden Life (Review)
Terrence Malick's latest film, a cerebral drama about an Austrian farmer during World War 2, is an engrossing and powerful portrait of idealism. The film centres around a choice that is obviously admirable now but - at the time - brought huge negative consequences on the individual: refusing to fight for the Nazis. The film … Continue reading A Hidden Life (Review)
El Topo (Reissue) (Review)
Where do you begin with a film like El Topo? Famously one of the strangest films ever made and, arguably, the progenitor of the midnight movie. It's a slice of complete madness endorsed and supported by the likes of Yoko Ono and John Lennon (look it up), and now it's back in cinemas to befuddle … Continue reading El Topo (Reissue) (Review)
1917 (Review)
There's no denying the technical brilliance of 1917. It's a precision crafted piece of filmmaking that shows incredible skill and talent from almost all involved. For a lot of people, this technical skill will fade into the background and will support a gripping - if unexceptional - WW1 drama, a tale in which two soldiers … Continue reading 1917 (Review)
Humanising Iran: Two Films by Abbas Kiarostami
Now is a good time to explore the diverse world of Iranian cinema. When countries are targeted by other nations, these countries coalesce into something homogenous: they become a singular entity rather than a collection of people. It's easy to view a country by way of its regime or by way of its outward facing … Continue reading Humanising Iran: Two Films by Abbas Kiarostami
Little Women (2019) (Review)
Quite simply, Greta Gerwig's Little Women is one of the all time great literary adaptations. This is not only because it's a spectacular film in its own right but because of how well it transfers source material from page to screen. Louisa May Alcott's classic novel has had an impact far larger than the book … Continue reading Little Women (2019) (Review)
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)
Hustlers (Review)
In the wrong hands, a film about female strip club dancers who drug men from Wall Street and take their money could be absolutely heinous. It turns out that Lorene Scafaria, however, was the right person for the job, skilfully turning what could have been wealth porn via the male gaze into something rather brilliant. … Continue reading Hustlers (Review)
Assorted Opinions 