FIlm Review
Film Review: Moon Dogs
One of the strongest areas of British cinema over the last decade has been coming-of-age films. Traditionally, it has been a sub-genre which has thrown teenagers into huge life-changing situations which they overcome to enter adulthood. More recently, films such as Fish Tank, Submarine, The Levelling, This is England and An Education demonstrate how fertile …
Film Review: Mimosas
Despite the continued smattering of dreadful Christian films which get released every year, religion is hardly a cool subject. This is especially the case in North American cinema. Whether it’s Noah, The Passion of Christ or Risen, it’s all a little bit overblown and worthy. Thankfully, many independent film-makers have a much more innovative, fresh …
Film Review: In Bed with Victoria
Whilst gender disparity remains in almost all worldwide cinema, it’s fair to say that French directors are much more included to give female actors leading roles. It’s hardly surprising when you consider the wealth of talent they have at their disposal. Catherine Deneuve, Marion Cotillard, Isabelle Huppert, Juliette Binoche, Mélanie Laurent and Clémence Poésy are …
Film Review: Bushwick
One of the only benefits of the current political climate in the US is that it’s fertile ground for a new wave of creativity in filmmaking. The Purge, and its sequels (hopefully not terrifyingly prescient) portrayed a nation after collapse where populism and totalitarianism holds sway. Cary Murnion and Jonathan Milott’s first film Cooties was …
Film Review: The Untamed
Thanks to Guillermo del Toro, Mexican horror cinema is firmly on the map. However, it’s a country with a rich tradition of genre cinema. Mexican director Amat Escalante caused a stir in 2013 when his brutal, gritty and earthy Heli wowed and stunned audiences on the festival circuit. For his latest film, Escalante follows in …
Film Review: Tom of Finland
Historically, artists haven’t always held the most prestigious or reputable positions within societies. It’s hard to imagine what it’s like to be a gay homoerotic artist living in a country where homosexuality is illegal. Touko Valio Laaksonen was arguably the most influential gay erotic artist of the 20th century. Over four decades he drew thousands …
Film Review: The Event (Sobytie)
Modern day Russia has a long and tumultuous political and social history. Starting with Peter the Great, the Tsars ruled for almost two hundred years until the aristocracy was overthrown in the October Revolution. After a civil war, the Soviet Union was formed in 1922. In 1991, as the USSR was on the verge of …
Film Review: Forever Pure
Whilst, to a large degree, racism within the game of football may have almost disappeared in most of Western Europe, the same cannot be said when you travel further east. Hatred and intolerance is almost endemic in many clubs, which only mirrors the culture within wider society. Israel is a country with many problems, not …
Film Review: Scribe
There are very few, if any, male actors of a certain age, working in French cinema today, with a reputation as strong as François Cluzet. Whilst he found national fame, and won a César, for Untouchable, he’s been making quality films from decades. His best work, Tell No One and Little White Lies, are two …
Film Review – Water and Sugar: Carlo Di Palma, the Colours of Life
Whilst he only directed three films, none of which are well known today, Carlo Di Palma is arguably the most influential person to work in Italian cinema. As a cinematographer, he worked with some of the greatest directors. Most notably, he had long and profitable collaborations with Michelangelo Antonioni and Woody Allen. In Water and …