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Author Archives: Sam Sewell-Peterson
Review in Brief: Isn’t It Romantic (2019)
Put ISN’T IT ROMANTIC down as a good idea badly executed. It’s the classic “bump your head and wake up in another world” story, with the differences between our world (in the loosest possible terms) and the world of the … Continue reading
Review: Captain Marvel (2019)
It only took Marvel 21 movies. Now she’s finally taken flight, CAPTAIN MARVEL like GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY before it could be the first stage of a colourful cosmic journey for the superhero superfactory. An encounter with shapeshifting Skrull foes … Continue reading
Review in Brief: A Star is Born (2018)
For his control over A STAR IS BORN’s live performance scenes alone, Bradley Cooper should have been nominated for Best Director at the Oscars. I guess he’ll have to be content with his directorial debut just getting nominations for Best … Continue reading
Posted in Film, Film Review
Tagged A Star is Born, Bradley Cooper, Drama, Lady Gaga, Musical, Oscars
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30s Review: The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
Why do they keep trying to make Robin Hood gritty? Robin Hood is supposed to be fun! Folk heroes bring cultures together by passing on stories and teaching us lessons about ourselves. Trying to force a modern tone on them … Continue reading
Review in Brief: Paddleton (2019)
“An oncologist…that’s the cancer one?” Yes, PADDLETON is a “cancer movie”. It’s also an indie road movie involving two guys struggling to articulate their feelings. But I don’t think all that many of either look at both sides of terminal … Continue reading
Posted in Film, Film Review
Tagged Black Comedy, Creep, Humpday, Mark Duplass, Paddleton, Ray Romano, Road Movie, Safety Not Guaranteed, The Big Sick
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Review: Bad Times at the El Royale (2018)
Drew Goddard clearly loves genre storytelling, but in a sideways manner. His films aren’t really spoofs or pastiches, they’re twists and re-jigs. The essential elements that make a genre recognisable are all there, but arranged in a pattern you’ve never … Continue reading
Review: Lucky (2017)
Some people really are just lucky. How was a man that had crossed the threshold into his 90s, that smoked and drank and liked cream and sugar in his coffee, still that sprightly? John Carroll Lynch’s film proclaims in the … Continue reading
Posted in Film, Film Review
Tagged Comedy, David Lynch, Deal or No Deal, Drama, Harry Dean Stanton, John Carroll Lynch, Logan Sparks, Lucky
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Review: Roma (2018)
You’re probably going to decide whether ROMA is for you or not by its opening shot, a very long shot of soapy water washing up and down some flagstones. It certainly sets the mood and the pace of the piece, … Continue reading
Posted in Film, Film Review
Tagged Alfonso Cuarón, Children of Men, Drama, Fernando Gridiaga, Marina de Tavira, Marooned, Netflix, Oscars, Roma, World Cinema, Y Tu Mama Tambien, Yalitza Aparicio
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Review in Brief: The Rider (2017/18)
THE RIDER is a story about overcoming trauma, much like JOURNEYMAN, but it pack the added punch of the real. What is a rider who can’t ride? “My mom and dad taught me everything I know, but I learned a … Continue reading
Posted in Film, Film Review
Tagged Brady Jandreau, Chloé Zhao, Drama, Journeyman, Lane Scott, The Rider
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