Film Review: Bull
There’s seems to be something that the British, in particular, find fascinating about gangsters. While other countries have their own versions (Yakuza, Triads, Mafiosi etc), our hard men tend to be outwardly nasty and rotten, but with strong emotions bubbling beneath the surface. There was a time when people like the Krays were quasi-celebrities and …
LKFF Review: Collectors
There’s something about a good adventure yarn which feels inherently satisfying. Treasure hunters like Indiana Jones, Laura Croft or Nathan Drake capture the imaginations of both the young and old. They operate in worlds that are both dangerous and very appealing. The same can be said for heist movies. Accomplishing something as a team has …
Film Review: Dead & Beautiful
With the publication of his novel Dracula, Bram Stoker brought the concept of vampirism to the masses. While entities with vampiric tendencies have existed in folklore dating back to ancient civilisations, the vampire as it’s known today can be traced to south-eastern Europe during the 18th century. The tropes and lore of this supernatural being …
Film Review: Beans
Ever since the first Europeans set foot on North American soil there have been tensions between the colonisers and the indigenous peoples. While disputes no longer (usually) end in bloodshed, there are still regular conflicts over land. Especially in Canada. Back in 1990, the Oka Crisis, as it has come to be known, threatened to …
Blu-Ray Review: Spirited Away 20th Anniversary Collector’s Edition
While the work of Studio Ghibli was familiar to many film fans around the world before the release of Spirited Away, it was their 2001 film that (finally) brought their work to mainstream audiences. The likes of My Neighbour Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and Kiki’s Delivery Service became firm …
LKFF Review: Climbing
The pressure placed on young athletes to succeed is phenomenal. We have all heard tales of pushy parents and ‘soccer moms’, but when you reach the highest echelons of your sport competition is fierce. While there are horror stories of abusive coaches or systems, it’s often a self-destructive determination which drives them to the brink …
Film Review: North by Current
Families are complex units but words and actions, often spoken or taken in the heat of the moment, can resonate across a life. The beliefs and moral values parents impose on their children can become ingrained in their psyche. While the young might be adaptable, resilient and robust, that doesn’t mean that childhood trauma won’t …
Film Review: Speer Goes to Hollywood
Of all the senior figures in the Nazi Party, Albert Speer was perhaps the most interesting. Hitler’s architect, he was entrusted with a huge programme of works to rebuild and transform Germany and beyond. As part of the Führer’s inner circle, Speer was afforded opportunities he could only have dreamed of; building such iconic buildings …
Film Review: The Spine of Night
Today, we live in a world where it’s increasingly accepted that animation can be for adults. The likes of The Simpsons, South Park and Family Guy have demonstrated that not only do cartoons appeal to several generations of the same family, they can also be used to express dark humour and adult themes. While this …
Film Review: Azor
Historically, many European and North American businessmen have come unstuck trying to make deals in Latin America. This failure can be attributed to many factors. The area has a history of unstable and authoritarian governments. Corruption is often rife and legalities can seemingly fluctuate from person to person. Then there’s crime, which is normally fuelled …