Robert Aldrich
Blu-ray Review: Columbia Noir #1
Film noir played a large part of Hollywood filmmaking during the 1940s and 1950s. Whilst these stylish, cynical and melodramatic crime dramas were popular at the time, it was only decades later that many were critically reappraised. This is especially the case with the many ‘B’ movies released over the era. For every big Bogart …
Blu-ray Review: Kiss Me Deadly
It would be a severe understatement to say that Robert Aldrich was a bit of a maverick. As well as making some extraordinary cinema the American director was entirely skilled at getting on the wrong side of studios. He was a prolific risk taker and didn’t care who he pissed-off in the process. Aldrich was …
Blu-Ray Review: Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte
Bette Davis was an indomitable presence on screen. In a career which spanned over sixty years she became one of the most recognisable faces of cinema. She is undoubtedly one of the Hollywood greats and an actress who is still celebrated today. Her formidable talent was rewarded with a raft of awards including two Oscars …
Blu-Ray Review: The Big Knife
Narcissism and film-making are often happy bedfellows. Indeed, the theme of Hollywood and the film industry have proved to be fertile ground for screenwriters, directors and producers. There has been a lot of hatred and bile aimed squarely at the studio system. Great directors such as David Lynch (Mulholland Drive), David Cronenberg (Map to the …
Blu-ray Review: Twilight’s Last Gleaming
It’s hard to believe it now but during the Cold War ordinary people were terrified by the prospect of a nuclear apocalypse. This was especially the case in America. An atmosphere of fear often permeated throughout society in times of high tension. This period has frequently been captured on film, most notably in Dr. Strangelove, …
Blu-Ray Review: Flight of the Phoenix
Disaster movies are big box office these days. Every summer you’ll see a smattering in your local multiplex. The current vogue is for natural disasters. Big budget Studio films such as The Day After Tomorrow, Twister, Armageddon, The Core and Deep Impact may boast incredible visuals but there’s often less care and attention taken over …