Author Archives: Sam S-P
Guardians of Awesome!
Finally, last night saw the debut footage from maverick director James Gunn’s ambitious Marvel space opera GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY. It looks great, really great. So, what do we have? First a classic set-up for any new character – back to … Continue reading
Review: Her (2013)
There is no filmmaker working today quite like Spike Jonze. He’s the master of thoughtful, playfully reality-bending cinema with punchy messages. HER tells the story of Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix), a writer who’s life is persistently haunted by a disastrous breakup … Continue reading
Review: You’re Next (2011/13)
YOU’RE NEXT is a good home invasion horror elevated by confidence in direction and the occasional promise of something more. It’s not a game-changer, but it’s just different enough to stand out from the rest of the all-consuming horror market. When an … Continue reading
Review: The Frozen Ground (2013)
An inept filmmaker is one thing, an uninspired filmmaker is another, and neither do much harm in the grand scheme of things. What is more worrying is when you have an artist who’s clearly technically competent, who does their research and claims … Continue reading
Review: The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
THE WOLF OF WALL STREET is a joyous, mostly unashamed feast of sin, and a pleasingly brazen, amusing and different Oscar-contender in comparison to all the more supposedly “fitting” contenders it’s up against this year. Based on Jordan Belfort’s memoir, … Continue reading
Greatest Oscar Injustices 2004-2013
The selection of the Academy Awards is an unfair, flawed system. Everyone knows that. Not long to go now before this year’s awards, so here’s my pick of the biggest mistakes the Academy made over the last decade, and the … Continue reading
Review: 12 Years a Slave (2013)
12 YEARS A SLAVE is a beautifully crafted film about an abhorrent subject. It’s quite an endurance test all-in-all, and I’m not sure whether I’ll ever be able to put myself through it again; not because of the quality of the film, … Continue reading
“I cannot understand how being honest can be improper” (RIP Philip Seymour Hoffman)
The first major blow to the film industry in 2014 has been dealt. Philip Seymour Hoffman has died aged 46. Hoffman was a prolific and incredibly versatile actor, and he did of course have an undeniable raw talent. As comfortable adding … Continue reading
Luthorland
After months of speculation, and pretty much nothing 100% confirmed about DC/Warner Bros’ mind-blowingly ambitious comic book extravaganza (that still may or may not be called BATMAN VS. SUPERMAN) we now know who’ll be playing Lex Luthor. That man is Jesse … Continue reading
SSP Thinks Film 
“It’s hard for winners to do comedy…We attack the winners” (RIP Harold Ramis)
The world lost a comedy icon yesterday as Harold Ramis passed away aged 69 after a prolonged illness. Ramis was rightly loved and admired by his fans and fellows as a gifted comedy writer, director and performer, and leaves behind … Continue reading →