FIlm Review
DVD Review: The Fear of 13
There have always been documentaries about injustice and real life murder cases, but with the success if Serial, and more recently Making a Murderer, they’re currently extremely popular. Since the use of DNA evidence has become widespread there’s been a flurry or retrials and overturning of convictions. It’s pretty clear that the US justice system …
DVD Review: Grazing the Sky
Going to the circus is an entirely different prospect today than it was in Barnum’s day. Gone are the seedy reputations and the dubious animal and human rights records, replaced by tightly run multi-national businesses. The most well know, and one of the most popular live performance events around the world, is Cirque du Soleil. …
Film Review: Lost in Karastan
There have been many films written about the film industry and film-making. It’s a subject which has enthralled and fascinated audiences over the ages, harking back to Golden Age classics such as A Star is Born, Singing in the Rain and Sunset Boulevard. With the success of The Artist, Adaptation and Birdman at the box …
Film Review: Dragon Blade
For decades now the American market has dominated the film industry. Not only is it the home of the biggest studios, the largest investment and big-named stars, it also has the largest Box Office. With the ‘opening-up’ of China that looks likely to change over the coming years. The Middle Kingdom has already overtaken the …
DVD Review: Camp X-Ray
The War on Terror has thrown up many controversies, from the use of drone attacks to the killing of innocent civilians, but nothing has caused as much consternation as the Guantánamo Bay detention centre. Based on an American naval base in Cuba, the centre is considered to be outside of US law, allowing detainees to …
DVD Review: Momentum
The history of cinema is littered with films which flopped at the Box Office. Heaven’s Gate and Ishtar are two of the most famous examples but there are numerous films every year which either suffer the same fate or fail to even get a theatrical release. Granted, many of these films are absolute bilge, getting …
Film Review: Partisan
The Australian film industry is having somewhat of a purple patch currently. Off the back of the huge success of George Miller’s new Mad Max outing it has been a bumper year. The likes of The Suicide Theory, The Dressmaker, Frackman and Spear are helping establish Australia one of the most vital and exciting places …
Film Review – Star Wars: The Force Awakens
I write this in the early hours of the morning after just returning from one of the midnight showings of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. I am not going to divulge a single piece of spoiling information about the movie, but I need to say it’s good. Oh yes, it’s good. If you have even …
Film Review: Sherpa
Everest has always been a focal point for Western climbers and film makers alike. No other mountain holds the history and mystique of Chomolungma and the desire to climb it has transformed that part of the Himalayas into a tourist resort. The overcrowding in base camp and the logjams on the mountain itself culminated in …
Film Review: The Forbidden Room
Guy Maddin has managed to forge himself a position in modern cinema as one of the most unique film makers around. There’s no mistaking a Maddin – his penchant for recreating the look and feel of silent and early-sound-era film has permeated his entire career. On his new venture, The Forbidden Room, the Canadian director …