Second Run
Blu-ray Review: Neon Bull
The fortunes of the Brazilian film industry seem to be in a continuous flux. Whilst Brazil is a country which has produced memorable works of cinema since the 1930s, undoubtedly it was in the 1960s when they had their richest period. The Given Word, Barren Lives, Entranced Earth and Black God, White Devil were only …
Blu-Ray Review: Silence and Cry
The period following the turn of the century until the end of the Second World War was tumultuous throughout Europe. The end of World War I left a vacuum in much of Central and Eastern Europe. Into this space stumbled a plethora of competing ideologies and nationalism, widespread violence, poverty, disease and unemployment. Choosing sides …
Blu-Ray Review: Witchhammer
Co-founder of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, whilst Otakar Vávra was a highly prolific film-maker over a number of decades, he’s not well-known outside of his native Czech Republic. One of the reasons for this was possibly because he was considered a sell-out by many of his peers due to his willingness to …
Blu-Ray Review: The Fabulous Baron Munchausen
When it comes to the masters of post-war animation, Ray Harryhausen is a name which immediately springs to mind. However, if you were born on the other side of the Iron Curtain, your first thought might well be Karel Zeman. Branded the ‘Czech Méliès’, he made over 30 shorts and features, influencing the likes of …
Blu-ray Review: My 20th Century
As an only child, the idea of connections between siblings is one I can only vaguely comprehend on a theoretical level let alone identical pairs. However, it’s a concept which recurs quite frequently in films; particularly genre cinema. From the young twins in The Shining or The Other, to adult doubles in Dead Ringers, they’ve …
DVD Review: Electra, My Love
Myths and legends have fascinated humankind throughout he ages. Greek, Roman and Norse mythology has stuck with us in popular literature, TV and films. Based on a play by László Gyurkó, Electra, My Love is a reinterpretation of the Greek Electra myth, made in 1974. Miklós Jancsó, Famous for his extremely long takes, outdoes himself …
DVD Review: Mysterious Object at Noon
Apichatpong Weerasethakul is easily the most renowned director working today in Thailand’s independent cinema. Operating outside of the studio system, he’s achieved his greatest successes with Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives and Tropical Malady. However, his first feature was the little known Mysterious Object at Noon. An experimental documentary, he employs the …
DVD Review: The House on Pine Street
Haunted house movies have been a staple of the horror genre for decades now. There have been three great periods so far, beginning with the classics of The Haunting, House on Haunted Hill and The Innocents. The 1980s saw a renaissance (or 1979 when it comes to The Amityville Horror) including The Shining, The Changeling …
Film Review: Horse Money
A Pedro Costa film is not a fun night out at the cinema with a bucket of popcorn as big as your face – you’d probably choke. He makes films which challenge the audience. They’re definitely not suited for casual viewing, you need to surrender yourself to them. His work is often framed inside a …
Blu-ray Review: Midnight Run
There’s a certain type of film which were synonymous with the 1980s. The buddy movie has undergone many different incarnations, from the early days of Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Dean Martin’s light-hearted musical partnerships to the gross-out comedies that infest our cinemas today. The 80s tended to centre on cop double-acts. Whether it was …