FIlm Review
Film Review: Inherent Vice
As you’re probably already aware, Inherent Vice is the hotly anticipated new film from Paul Thomas Anderson. His Magnolia is one a small handful of films I can directly attribute my love of cinema to. I remember being completely obsessed and besotted with it. Hoy on the heels of the success of Boogie Nights, PTA …
Film Review: A Most Violent Year
After struggling to get a real foothold in Hollywood, Oscar Isaac finally seems to be receiving the recognition his talent deserves. His first big leading role was in the Coen Brothers’ Oscar-nominated Inside Llewyn Davis. Isaac’ss got two films out this week which showcase other facets of his talent. Whilst quietly impressive in Ex-Machina, it’s …
Film Review: Ex Machina
‘Dues Ex Machina’. Translation: God from the machine. A term which can be traced back to ancient Greek tragedy, where gods would often appear. It is more commonly used these days for us snotty critics to complain about contrived endings, such as the belated arrival of the gigantic eagles in Lord of The Rings, begging …
DVD Review: The Circle
The time proceeding and during the Second World War was a particularly difficult period in history to be gay. With the rise of Nazi Germany and historical prejudices, homosexuality was illegal in much of Western Europe. Switzerland seemed like a safe haven in an increasingly dark world, where people could, to a certain extent, be …
Film Review: The Last of the Unjust
In 1985 French director Clauda Lanzmann released Shoah, an epic 570 minute documentary about the Holocaust. Considered to be the definitive film about one of the lowest moments in human history, Shoah has been critically lauded as a staggering cinematic achievement. Lanzmann’s primary uses interviews and visits Holocaust sites across Poland, presenting testimonies from survivors, …
Film Review: National Gallery
London is full of august institutions which, whilst loved by tourists and locals alike, very rarely allow anyone to delve below their public fascade. Frederick Wiseman has made his name making (often) long documentaries capturing the essence of a range of subjects. With titles such as Deaf, Zoo, Meat and Domestic Violence 2, the octogenarian …
Film Review: Birdman
Directors of Photography often don’t get the credit they deserve, but the role is often pivotal to the success of a film. Emmanuel Lubezki has an impressive CV. The Mexican cinematographer already has credits notched up for Gravity, To The Wonder, Tree of Life and Burn After Reading. His fellow countryman, Alejandro González Iñárritu, also …
Film Review: Big Eyes
Tim Burton made his name as a director through the fantastical and the bizarre. Your probably first came across his work with Beetlejuice (with an undoubtedly terrible sequel to follow), Edward Scissorhands, Batman or Mars Attacks! Or it could even have been his best film, Ed Wood. In Big Eyes he takes a true story …
Film Review: Kon-Tiki
Many people are born with a natural desire for discovery. A few are driven throughout their lives towards adventure and exploration, occasionally spurred on to great things. The Dark Ages, and the loss of knowledge, led to centuries where the prevailing belief was in a flat Earth. The efforts of people such as Columbus, Cook, …
Film Review: Electricity
Mental disorders are frequently portrayed on film. Indeed, there have been many instances of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences rewarding actors for their portrayal of characters suffering from neurological illnesses. A Beautiful Mind, Silver Linings Playbook, Rain Man and As Good As it Gets all picked up awards and portrayed characters who …