Film
DVD Review: Klown
I’m not sure whether it’s the cold or the enthusiastic participation in the consumption of hard liquor, but the Northern and Eastern Europeans have a very odd sense of humour. I remember watching a popular Russian family comedy franchise about a bunch of drunks who kept getting drunk and into bother, and wondering: “What on …
DVD Review: Wake in Fright (Masters of Cinema)
As the opening credits roll over a rural Australian backwater, don’t let the jaunty music lure you into a false sense of security. There’s an uncomfortable ride in store for you. Beautifully restored for the Masters of Cinema series, based on a best-selling novel by Kenneth Cook , Wake in Fright is a brutal drama …
DVD Review: The Borderlands
I’m struck by the thought, after the first five minutes of The Borderlands, that I may be about to watch another sub-par found footage film. It’s a genre which periodically unearths the odd diamond in the rough, but for the most part is littered with the corpses of enthusiastic failures. Thankfully, I had no need …
Film Review: Starred Up
Prison dramas are not my cup of tea in all honesty, but there’s been a few impressive exception in the last year years from Jacques Audiard’s A Prophet to the Taviani brother’s Caesar Must Die. Normally I shy away from anything remotely full of macho posturing, but Starred Up promised to be a whole lot …
Film Festival Preview: ShAFF 2014
What started back in 2003 as a series of grass route rock climbing talks morphed into the inaugural Sheffield Adventure Film Festival in 2006. It has continued to grow in the proceeding years into a Mecca for adventurous types; screening over a hundred of the best adventure, travel and extreme sports films. Taking place at …
Preview: LaDIYfest Film Night: Transamerica
Fortnightly feminist film nights return to Harrisons 1854 in Sheffield courtesy of LaDIYfest. To celebrate LGBT History Month they asked people to nominate their favourite LGBT-themed films. As a result, they will be screening Transamerica on Thursday. Nominated for two Oscars, Transamerica follows a trans woman who takes an unexpected journey when she learns that …
20 Feet from Stardom Screening – 2nd March
Ahead of the Oscars tomorrow night, Sensoria are screening the favourite to win the Best Documentary Feature, 20 Feet From Stardom. Morgan Neville’s feature focuses on the unsung heroes or backing singers that, from the shadows, have helped shape rock and pop music for decade. The film features a great soundtrack plus interviews with members …
Film Review – Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
I like it when we see Kenneth Branagh named as director for an action movie. I like it even more when he gets to play the bad guy, all dead eyes, false smiles and charm. Game on then. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit is a solid action thriller starring Chris Pine in the title role. Ryan …
Film Review: Philomena
Judi Dench starring in a film opposite Steve Coogan? I know! Who’d have thought it? It’s an interesting pairing which works, Coogan almost acting as Dench’s straight man for the purpose of the movie. The character of Philomena is often unintentionally funny, but even with this it’s Dench that gets to deliver most of the …
Film Review: Thor – The Dark World
So the second Thor installment. What’s that about then? An other-worldly superhero in the guise of a Norse-type god re-engages with his earthly love interest, whilst saving everyone from an evil enemy. They do a lot of world jumping. What? That’s Christopher Eccleston under all that prosthetic make up? A war! A monster! Some super …