Film Review: January
Winter can be a magical time of year and there’s nothing more atmospheric than a sprinkling of snow. In many places, that light covering becomes something different entirely. In Eastern Europe, snowbound conditions are perfect for traditional folklore and legends to flourish. Rural communities huddled alone in the dark. Listening to new carried on the …
Sundance Review: Iron Butterflies
As we approach the first anniversary of the full Russian invasion of Ukraine, it’s easy to forget that this war didn’t start in 2022. Indeed, the (recent) troubles with Russia can be traced back to the Maiden in 2013, which preceded Putin’s annexation of Crimea the following year. It was in the same year that …
Sundance Review: Slow
Cinema reflects the age, society and country it’s made in. For example, 1950s Hollywood portrayed romance as straightforward love between a man and a woman. They meet, get to know each other and soon Cupid’s arrow does its job. Wedding bells and a family follows, in that order. Obviously, this never really represented real life, …
Sundance Review: When It Melts
Trauma is a terrible thing. It’s not something you can outrun or escape from. It doesn’t matter how many years you bottle it up inside, it will suddenly resurface when you least expect it. You can close yourself off from the world, lock your emotions away, but unless you face up to it you will …
Blu-Ray Review: Villa Rides
The line between good and evil has always been a little blurred in Mexico. Whilst American cinema likes to have a clear delineation between its heroes and villains, the reality is often much more complicated. One man’s freedom fighter is another man’s terrorist. Some of the best westerns operate within these grey areas. Villa Rides …
Blu-Ray Review: The Fighting Kentuckian
While time hasn’t been on his side, Marion Robert Morrison, aka John Wayne, was one of the most iconic stars of his generation. Working during the Golden Age of Hollywood, usually starring in westerns or war films, The Duke was a household name across America and beyond. In the course of his career, he made …
Film Review: Corsage
‘Growing old gracefully’ is one of those gendered concepts which is usually applied differently to men and women in patriarchal societies. A man matures with age and is seen to gain wisdom as they reach their autumnal years. A woman, on the other hand, is often viewed as ‘past it’ and expected to simply quietly …
Film Review: Jurassic Punk
With the release of Avatar: The Way of Water, James Cameron is set to take special effects to a whole new level. In a sense, he’s been a pioneer in this area since the release of The Abyss in 1989 and then Terminator 2: Judgement Day a couple of years later. However, it took the …
Blu-Ray Review: Adrift in Tokyo
If you’re based outside of Japan, you might naturally assume that the culture is dominated by manga, anime, overwrought historical dramas and young adult fiction. While this is true, to an extent, there’s often much more interesting fare bubbling just under the surface. Most of it never seems to travel but, when films do appear …
Film Review: Rimini
Fame is a curious thing. It can come and go in the blink of an eye. One day, you’re on top of the world. Everyone want to be you or be with you. The next, you’re yesterday’s man; washed up with a rapidly diminishing fanbase. Age is rarely kind to performers. Most people take the …