IFFR Review: Lone Wolf
Whilst today’s Hollywood spies may skydive onto buildings, drive sportscars at precarious speeds and use a myriad of imaginative gadgets, the stories themselves are often just variations on well-worn themes. There are always the good guys, the bad guys and the unknowable players, rearranged in infinite ways. Today’s covert operators owe a debt of gratitude …
Sundance Review: Wild Indian
When Europeans arrived on the shores of North America, they were surprised to discover myriad tribes of Indigenous Peoples, but their coming usually signalled death, in one way or another. Their customs and cultures were considered basic and barbaric by Christian invaders who simply couldn’t or wouldn’t understand their ways. In subsequent generations, Native American …
Sundance Review: Try Harder!
There’s huge competition between high school students to gain admission to Ivy League colleges in the US. Year on year, the number of applications rise whilst acceptance rates often fall. Even for young people enrolled at prestigious schools, it’s incredibly difficult to get onto the course you want to study at your preferred institution. Race …
Sundance Review: Rebel Hearts
One of the main criticisms which can be levelled at any major religion is that it has failed to keep up with the times. Whether that’s in the way they operate or some of their tenets which often date back thousands of years. Despite many mini-schisms, Christianity is as guilty as any of being archaic …
Sundance Review: Bring Your Own Brigade
In 2018, the Camp Fire was the deadliest and most destructive fire in California’s history. It claimed the lives of 86 people and ravaged four towns in Butte County. The town of Paradise was almost completely destroyed, levelling over 18,000 buildings and displaced 10,000 residents. Several fires hit the state at the same time, putting …
Film Review: Rams
Sam Neill is one of a rare breed of actor who seems to make everything better. He is a reassuring presence and even when he pops up on social media, usually on his farm, the Kiwi brings happiness and joy to many. He’s had a surprisingly eclectic career, from big blockbusters such as Jurassic Park …
Sundance Review: Captains of Zaatari
Millions upon millions of children around the globe grow up dreaming of becoming a professional footballer. The same dream has been passed down from generation to generation. Today, wherever you are in the world, thanks to the wonders of modern technology you can watch your heroes play on TV or online. Whilst the chances of …
Sundance Review: Hive
For a relatively new country, or more accurately an autonomous province or partially-recognised state, Kosovo has had more than its fare share of trauma. During the Yugoslav Wars, it was the region which was on the receiving end of the most intense oppression from the Serbian authorities. Kosovan Albanians were the victims of horrendous discrimination, …
Sundance Review: One for the Road
Since Henry Ford revolutionised the manufacturing process and greatly reduced the cost of buying a car, America has been obsessed with automobiles and dreams of the open road. This love affair has been translated onto the big screen, with the likes of Thelma and Louise, Sideways, Rain Man and Old Joy all proving firm favourites. …
Sundance Review: Taming the Garden
With every minute, hour, day and week that goes by, the richest and most powerful people in the world simply just get richer and more powerful. Whilst the poor just get poorer. This polarisation grows exponentially, year on year. Money breeds money and with it a seemingly unlimited ability to do whatever you like. The …