Classic Cinema
Blu-Ray Review: Love
During the Cold War, communist states were great supporters of their filmmakers. As long as they were telling stories which aligned with their ideology, that is. Writers and directors regularly walked a tightrope between individuality and prison. This reflected daily life for ordinary citizens. Living in a society where anyone could be an informer and …
Blu-Ray Review: The Mummy
There was a time, before the internet and globalisation, when Egyptology felt exciting and exotic. Much of this can be attributed to Empire, with Britain and France, in particular, having a keen eye for antiquities. Expeditions to Cairo, and the surrounds, unearthed a number of treasures, but also brought with them a fair smattering of …
Blu-Ray Review: The Swimmer
In a career which began after World War II and spanned five decades, Burt Lancaster proved beyond a shadow of doubt his range and ability as an actor. The former circus performer made his name by playing tough guys with a heart of gold, and it was this mix of malice and humanity which made …
Blu-Ray Review: The Breaking Point
While Ernest Hemingway may have only published seven novels during his lifetime, his writing style had a profound influence on American literature. An author whose work was very much shaped by his experiences, themes such as love, travel and loss punctuated a lively creativity. His novels have been adapted for the big screen many times. …
Blu-Ray Review: Man Without a Star
After his big breakthrough in boxing drama Champion at the end of the 1940s, Kirk Douglas spent the next decade at the top of his game. One of the biggest film stars in the world and hot Hollywood property. By 1955, he had broken away from Warner Brother, establishing his own production company; Bryna Productions. …
Blu-Ray Review: Get Carter
Michael Caine was undoubtedly one of the most famous British faces of the 1960s and 1970s. Sporting his iconic ‘NHS specs’, a swagger and a cheeky grin, he starred in a number of films which in many ways epitomised the era. It was in his memorable portrayal of Harry Palmer in The Ipcress File where …
Blu-Ray Review: Summertime
Today, David Lean is best remembered for classics such as Laurence of Arabia, The Bridge on the River Kwai, Brief Encounter and Doctor Zhivago. However, he made almost twenty films in an illustrious career spanning five decades. While some have become a little lost in time that doesn’t mean to say they aren’t any good. …
Blu-Ray Review: Pickpocket
Where there are large groups of wealthy people, there will undoubtedly be pickpockets just waiting to relieve them of their money. Although, long gone are the days of people carrying around wads of cash. As cities grew so did poverty. This form of petty larceny became more and more prevalent. Criminals began working together, often …
Blu-Ray Review: Frieda
War films tend to focus on the battle. The heroic victory and the courageous feats of bravery. The spirit of defiance. Of determination. They’re often little more than propaganda. Or, on the flipside, the unspeakable evil which makes humans do the most terrible things. It’s rare for a picture to concentrate on the aftermath. The …
Blu-Ray Review: Appointment In London
While feckless politicians may invoke the Second World War to whip up self-serving nationalistic fervour, only a moron would want to replicate the spirit of being bombed every night. Countries like to look back at (victorious) conflicts through rose-tinted glasses. Britain is one of the worst offenders. Most films about the period paint a romantic …