Film Review: Blanquita
Legal systems are built on upholding the law through the interrogation of factual evidence. Augmented by expert testimony/witness statements. Some crimes are easily quantifiable, while others can boil down to one person’s word against another. Over the last few decades, many countries have faced reckonings over their pasts. Blanquita considers the role of truth, deception …
Film Review: Mr Bachmann and his Class
Whilst the results usually take longer to settle, one of the most fruitful approaches to documentary filmmaking is to merely observe. To create a situation where the camera is as non-invasive as possible and simply capture events taking place without direction or interference. The great Frederick Wiseman has shown the immersive power of this medium …
Film Review: Christmas Bloody Christmas
The older I get, the earlier Christmas seems to start each year. Businesses certainly look to make the most of it, seamlessly transitioning from Halloween into the festive season. This is great if you’re a big fan of the holidays. Not so great if you’re more bah humbug than ho ho ho. The endless forced …
Blu-Ray Review: Ghost Stories for Christmas: Volume 1
There’s something very persuasive about a traditional ghost story. Tales which may have been initially spoken around a campfire. Passed down from generation to generation. Each country, and regions within those nations, have their own legends and folklore. While these are inherited through word of mouth, they’re often augmented and adapted by the minds of …
Blu-Ray Review: The Cat And The Canary/The Ghost Breakers
If you’re from a certain generation, Bob Hope was arguably the most quintessential American comedian. He made over fifty films in a career which spanned a number of mediums. Probably best known for his collaboration with Bing Crosby in the ‘Road’ films, he was an ever present in the entertainment industry for decades. His major …
Blu-Ray Review: The Driver
It takes a great deal of planning and coordination to pull-off the perfect heist. You need to do your research, without looking suspicious. Know your target inside out. Then, you need to assemble a team of reliable and trustworthy criminals who all have their own individual skillset. Each member will play their part in doing …
Film Review: The Last Film Show
The magic of cinema is a subject many directors like to pursue, largely because it’s what drew them to start making films in the first place. The results have range from perennial misty-eyed favourites like Singin’ in the Rain and Cinema Paradiso to more outlandish and analytic modern fare. The joy and wonder of going …
Film Review: Nr.10
As William Shakespeare (or someone else) so famously penned, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts…”. This has obvious connotations in terms of our own self-determination. We’re born, reach childhood, become an adult, …
Film Review: Tori and Lokita
Immigration is a perennial headline grabber in European countries. The migrant crisis tends to get people overly exercised and is used by many to fuel intolerance, hatred and racism. Most of Europe has benefited from colonialism in one way or another. Whether that’s economically or through the movement of labour. The slatter through slavery and …
Film Review: Goodbye, Don Glees!
The ‘boy’s’ own adventure has been popular since mass publication began. These ripping yarns appeared in comic books and magazines, capturing the imagination of active young minds. They became a staple of children’s books, such as The Famous Five, Just William or The Secret Seven, and have produced many memorable TV shows and films like …