Masters of Cinema
DVD Review: Seconds (Masters of Cinema)
Even as far back as 1966 Americans were suffering from the boredom of suburban normality. Whether as a result of a hangover from the war or a general malaise through the burgeoning middle classes, there was a growing shifting of priorities towards material goods and the breaking down of the traditional family unit. John Frankenheimer …
DVD Review: The Naked Prey (Masters of Cinema)
Whilst the rise of the British Empire and European colonialism may have been profitable for rich white men, it certainly was no fun for the natives. Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness paints the picture of the nightmarish side of Africa but for the most part it was a continent raped of its natural resources and …
DVD Review: Medium Cool (Masters of Cinema)
Turbulent times often lead to some of the most groundbreaking cinema. 1968 was possibly the most unstable year in post-war American history. The US were on the back foot in Vietnam, and with public anger at boiling point, President Lyndon Johnson resigned during the Primaries. Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy were both assassinated, the …
Cruel Story of Youth (Masters of Cinema)
Post-War Japan was very turbulent in many ways. The Rising Sun has always been a very conservative and conformist country throughout modern history. The only time the consensus has been rattled was in this period from 1950 until the late ’60s. A youthful population were growing up in a society still struggling with the humiliation …
DVD Review: Paper Moon (Masters of Cinema)
Double acts have featured prominently in American film. From the early days of Laurel and Hardy and Crosby and Hope, to the heady heights of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Thelma and Louise and Riggs and Murtaugh, duos have been big Box Office. In Peter Bogdanovich’s Paper Moon it’s a family affair, with Ryan …
DVD Review: The Offence
Sidney Lumet had a glittering career, making over fifty films spanning six decades. Beginning with the classic 12 Angry Men in 1957, he’s gone on to make such brilliant films as Serpico, Network, Dog Day Afternoon and The Verdict. In a rich period in the ’70s he was one of the most consistent and influential …
DVD Review: Man of the West (Masters of Cinema)
Westerns are a much maligned cinematic genre, but once upon a time they were the Hollywood equivalent of modern action films. Today, we’re often left with the image of an overacting John Wayne swaggering round a town full of tumbleweed. However, there’s been some classic westerns over the years, with Once Upon a Time in …
DVD Review: Wild River
Elia Kazan is often considered to be one of the most influential directors working in post-war American cinema. Responsible for introducing the world to James Dean and Marlon Brando, he was rewarded with two Best Director Oscars for Gentlemen’s Agreement and On The Waterfront. He also received an honorary award from the Academy. His films …
DVD Review: Two For The Road (Masters of Cinema)
Two of the most iconic actors of the 1950s and 1960s were Audrey Hepburn and Albert Finney. Whilst Hepburn is synonymous with the glamour of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Roman Holiday and Charade. Finney made his name in the kitchen sink dramas Saturday Night and Sunday Morning. In Stanley Donen’s Two For The Road, they play …
DVD Review: Spione (Masters of Cinema)
Fritz Lang was the leading light of German expressionist cinema. His most successful period of film making was in Germany under the Weimar Republic. During this period he made such classics as Metropolis, M and Dr.Mabuse the Gambler. His pioneering vision has influenced many who followed and he continued making films after he’d emigrated to …