Film Review: The Fight
I find it highly unlikely that any liberal-minded person would argue that the election of Donald J. Trump was anything other than a disaster for human rights in America. His administration has systematically stripped back any legislation around equal opportunities and minority rights. With the Supreme Court now stacked in his favour, those opposing him …
Blu-Ray Review: Story of a Love Affair
After the post-war neoliberalism movement, which saw Italy become a leading player on the world stage, there was a huge gap to fill. Along with a spree of lighter comedies, two major figures stepped into the breach; Federico Fellini and Michelangelo Antonioni. The latter is best known for the L’Avventura, La Notte, and L’Eclisse trilogy, …
Film Review: The Rifleman
Due to its geographical location, Latvia found itself heavily involved during World War I. What started out as border skirmishes and even limited success pushing into the west as part of the Russian Units, soon turned into occupation at the hands of the Germans. Between 1915 and 1917 the volunteer Latvian Riflemen fought against the …
Film Review: Alice
Men are bastards. Or at least, there are a fair proportion of men who will put money or their uncontrollable libidos ahead of any relationship, family or personal responsibility. Cinema has tackled these situations in many ways, but it always seems to end up with the woman carrying the can. As well as doing the …
Film Review: Impetigore
Catered for in the UK by Tartan Films (RIP), the turn of the century saw an explosion of Asian cinema across our shores. Whilst this new wave spanned a number of genres, it was perhaps in horror where the region has made the most significant impact. Whilst Japan and Korea initially led the way, film-making …
DVD Review: The Assistant
Whilst the outcry following the revelations surrounding Harvey Weinstein started a new debate about the treatment of women in Hollywood, his crimes are only the tip of an iceberg. Powerful men have been abusing women and girls for as long as the film industry has existed. At the extreme end this is sexual and physical, …
Blu-Ray Review: Three Outlaw Samurai
In many ways, the western and samurai genres are often intrinsically linked. Indeed, tales of wandering Ronin and revenge didn’t become popular in Japan until after American boots were occupying the land of the rising sun. By far and away the most famous example of this symmetry is the Seven Samurai/The Magnificent Seven film. A …
Film Review: Ghosts of War
Not all filmmakers are prolific. In fact, quite a few create an exciting debut and then suddenly disappear (seemingly) off the face of the Earth. To a large extent, this was the case with Eric Bress. In 2004, he released his first film, The Butterfly Effect. It was critically maligned but commercially successful. However, in …
Film Review: Saint Frances
Hollywood hasn’t exactly been progressive at addressing social issues over the years. Especially not those which impact directly on women. Indeed, since the inception of cinema the prevailing focus has consistently been on the male gaze. That is thankfully beginning to change as the industry finally opens its door to increasingly diverse voices; who bring …
Film Review: Clemency
At the time of writing, capital punishment is legal in twenty-eight states of America, but who knows how many this will be by November? The ‘Land of the Free’ is the only Western country where the death penalty is regularly enforced. There’s seems to be little appetite to change this on either side of the …