Film Review: Dogs
Smuggling has existed for as long as anyone has tried to regulate trade or travel. Traditionally it has been a way for self-styled entrepreneurs to avoid paying tax or customs fees on commodities and luxuries, but it covers a whole manner of illicit activities. People trafficking has become increasingly prevalent nowadays but dates back to …
Film Review: The Collini Case
World War II, in the European arena at least, ended with the unconditional surrender of Germany on 8 May 1945. Whilst the fighting may have ended, the ramifications and recriminations rumbled on for decades to come. Whilst the Nuremberg Trials followed and prosecuted the most notable surviving members of the Nazi Party, many escaped this …
Film Review: Ninjababy
We live in a patriarchal society where women’s roles have been reduced and restricted for centuries and more. Today, in many traditional countries their ‘job’ is basically to be an obedient daughter, mother and wife. Forced to cater to their husband’s every wish. Often little better than a slave. Even in more progressive nations, women …
TIFF 2021 Preview
The Toronto International Film Festival, or TIFF to its friends, is the largest publicly attended film festival in the world. Now in its 46th year, each edition attracts almost 500,000 attendees. Obviously, things are a little different this time round and it will be both in-person and digital. Allowing as many Canadians to take part …
Film Review: Yakuza Princess
In the real world your life chances are influenced, to a large degree, by who your parents are and where you’re born. It’s not so straightforward in the movies. We want our heroes or heroines to be normal. Just like us. Their destiny not shaped by their privilege but instead self-determined by their actions. However, …
Open City Documentary Festival Preview
Open City Documentary Festival has always approached its task a little differently. Instead of just screening the biggest films it can get hold of they take a more inquisitive approach. Championing the art of creative documentary and non-fiction filmmakers, the festival looks to challenge perceptions and confound expectations within the genre. This year the festival …
FrightFest Review: The Retaliators
While vengeance might be a dish best served cold it’s more than likely that a wounded party will prefer a steaming-hot meal. It doesn’t matter how laidback someone is or what their beliefs are, we all have a ‘temperature gauge’. Pacifist or not, when pushed past the point of no return we can easily revert …
Blu-ray Review: Dune
Anyone who has ever read Frank Herbert’s novel, or any of its increasingly confusing sequels, will know that the world of Dune is a fascinating and highly perplexing one. With the release (at the time of writing, at least) of Denis Villeneuve’s version later this year, it’s likely that a whole new generation will be …
Film Review: Souad
Like most men, I was simply unaware of the sheer magnitude of the issues faced by girls and women on a daily basis. The #METOO movement has opened many eyes and shown a lot of men up for what they really are, but it’s questionable how much difference it has made to daily lives in …
Film Review: Jazz on a Summer’s Day
To put it kindly, concert films can be hit or miss. More often than not they’re no more than a couple of cameras and just band and crowd shots. Made on the cheap to try and turn a quick profit. However, things are definitely getting better and there have always been examples that bucked this …