Film
Blu-Ray Review: Howards End
Merchant Ivory Productions started out with the goal of making English-language films in India, aimed at the international market. The majority of their films have been produced by Ismail Merchant and directed by James Ivory; at one point almost becoming their own genre. They’re still going to this day, with James Ivory writing the script …
Incoming: Battle of the Sexes
In the wake of the sexual revolution and the rise of the women’s movement, the 1973 tennis match between women’s World #1 Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) and ex-men’s-champ and serial hustler Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell) was billed as the Battle Of The Sexes and became one of the most watched televised sports events of …
Blu-Ray Review: Montparnasse 19
The portrait of a tortured artist is one which has inspired fascination and sometimes imitation for hundreds of years. Alcoholism and drug addiction can become romantic notions when they’re associated with the likes of Hemingway, van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec, Coleridge or Dickens. Indeed, these kinds of excesses have become synonymous with those who are considered creative …
Film Review: Manifesto
The line between art and film has become increasingly blurred as technological advances allow artists more access to digital media. Indeed, many have decided to specialise in multi-media installations and exhibitions. Julian Rosefeldt’s latest multi-screen installation debuted at Australian Centre for the Moving Image in 2015. After moving to Berlin and then New York, the …
Film Review: Beach Rats
Electric, energetic and raw film-making is one of the greatest joys in cinema. It’s also one of the most difficult and complicated feats to achieve. Translating the verve and zest of real life onto the big screen has proved problematic for most directors. One of the greatest triumphs of 2015 was Sean Baker’s Tangerine. It …
Film Review: Lost in Paris
The art of the cinema clown has its roots in the role played by court jesters in Medieval history. In the silent era, they were the biggest names in film. Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Laurel & Hardy wowed and amazed audiences with their wit, physical acting and daring escapades. Whilst the tradition has continued, …
Film Review: Jane
Whilst humans might be the alpha when it comes to the animal kingdom, there’s still so much we don’t know about our fellow mammals. Indeed, we seem Hellbent on wiping many of them out, one way or another. The most famous face of animal conservation is arguably Jane Goodall. The work she’s done on primates …
Incoming: Good Time
After a botched bank robbery lands his younger brother in prison, Constantine “Connie” Nikas (Robert Pattinson) embarks on a twisted odyssey through the city’s underworld in an increasingly desperate – and dangerous – attempt to get his brother Nick (Benny Safdie) out of jail. Over the course of one adrenalised night, Connie finds himself on …
Blu-Ray Review: The Thing
The Thing is one of those films which is a cult classic whilst being part of mainstream culture. It’s a good remake. Arguably the best remake there’s ever been. It’s a John Carpenter film which is not only a good John Carpenter film (arguably his best above Escape from New York, Halloween and They Live) …
Incoming: Strangled
A psychotic killer is on the prowl, who continues to slaughter young women while an innocent man is wrongly accused and sentenced for crimes he could never have committed. A determined detective arrives on the scene and soon becomes obsessed with the case while under pressure from the prosecutor to see a man hang. We …