Altitude Films
Film Review: Gaia
In ancient times, man used to worship the gods of nature. In tune with and wholly dependent on the natural world around them, they would give sacrifices to these elemental forces which their tenuous existence depended on. Today, these figures have been almost entirely replaced and forgotten, but many of the old ways still remain …
Film Review: Great White
I don’t think anyone who has seen Jaws will hear the first bars of the theme without a shiver running down their spine. Spielberg created a film which made a whole generation think twice about whether it’s safe to go back into the water. It spawned a number of imitations and inspired a raft of …
Film Review: The Dissident
Jamal Khashoggi was a Saudi journalist who worked for the Washington post. He fled his homeland into self-imposed exile in 2017 following Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman’s crackdown on political critics. He continued to hold the government to account from his new home in America, but became increasingly outspoken against the oppression of freedom of …
Film Review: Billie
Billie Holiday was one of the most influential singers of her generation. Working within the music industry for over twenty-five years, she had an iconic voice which was beloved by millions. Lady Day, as she was Christened by friend and collaborator Lester Young, began her career singing in nightclubs in Harlem. By the late 1930s …
Film Review: Rocks
Childhood is meant to be a special time. One of excitement, adventure and discovery. A period of personal and physical growth through learning and play, but also a chance to experiment and experience a range of new and exciting things. This requires an implicit trust in our parent(s) or guardian(s) to take care of the …
Blu-ray Review: The Rider
Whilst the Wild West might be a place lost in the dim and distant past, the notion of the cowboy still lingers in the American psyche. Whilst ‘Indians’ are no longer red and very much Native American, the relationship between a man and his horse still holds strong. There are still those who eke-out a …
Blu-Ray Review: Shot Caller
For over a century, there has been a continuing debate regarding the role of the criminal justice system in terms of punishment and rehabilitation. Those of a conservative persuasion largely see the prison system as a deterrent. A place to punish offenders for their crimes. Liberals would argue that the emphasis should be on rehabilitation. …
DVD Review: The Nightmare
Have you ever experienced real horror? That’s what a taxi driver said to me. It was in the wee hours after a horror film festival. As he told me about his cousin, an Afghan chief, I expected it to be my last night on earth. It wasn’t (obviously). Real life can often be much more …
Film Review: Palio
Animal welfare is not always synonymous with some European countries. Whilst Spain may take the biscuit with bullfighting, horse racing isn’t far behind on the list of animal rights activists. National Hunt Racing (aka, hurdles/steeplechasing) has repeatedly come under scrutiny, most notably The Grand National, but it has nothing on the utter craziness and sheer …
Film Review: Love Is Strange
Given the amount of money spent on advertising for Valentine’s Day, you could be forgiven in thinking that love consists of handcuffs, whips, expensive dining or tacky cards. Cinema itself often concentrates on extremes or confrontation when dealing with the subject of romance or love. Ira Sachs is more interested in quiet affirmation in his …