Author Archives: Sam S-P
Review: American Hustle (2013)
AMERICAN HUSTLE has glimmers of brilliance, but as a whole it’s an underwhelming experience, and director David O Russell’s least complete feeling film to date. The story takes place in the late 1970s, and is loosely based on the real … Continue reading
Review: The Lone Ranger (2013)
It’s rare thing that a film so completely divides critics in the USA from the rest of the world. Star Armie Hammer claimed that “If you go back and read the negative reviews, most of them aren’t about the content … Continue reading
Top 3: Song Kang-ho
This article was originally published on Subtitled Online November 2012. A favourite of Park Chan-wook, having appeared in four of his films, and of Bong Joon-ho, having starred in two of his films – with one more (Bong’s English-language debut) … Continue reading
The Obligatory End of the Year Top 10 (2013)
2013 has been a bit of a downbeat year for the film world, as we’ve lost a depressing number of talented individuals before their time – Roger Ebert, Richard Griffiths, James Gandolfini, Karen Black, Paul Walker. Peter O’Toole and Ray Harryhausen passed … Continue reading
Review: Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013)
ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES might not have the joke hit-rate of Ron Burgundy’s debut, but when the gags do hit, they hit hard. Aside from an apocalyptically over-the-top sequence towards the end, nothing in the film is particularly … Continue reading
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas…
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when in the failing light I thought to myself: “What festive feature shall I partake in tonight?” Yes, it’s a Christmas list, and yes, mine, like any sane person’s favourite Christmas film is IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE. Nothing else can really … Continue reading
Review: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
I haven’t had more delirious fun with a film this year than I did with THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG. The first film, for all its merits, was a bit of a slog at times, but the same can’t be … Continue reading
“The trick is not minding that it hurts” (RIP Peter O’Toole)
As you’ll no doubt have heard, Peter O’Toole died on Saturday aged 81. As so many quite rightly mourn the passing of this great actor, we also can’t deny that it’s truly quite incredible that he lived to the ripe old age he did, … Continue reading
Review: Kick-Ass 2 (2013)
KICK-ASS 2 is a pretty solid black comic superhero movie, but the title is wrong. Kick-Ass 2 should really be called Hit-Girl. If the first film was the titular not-quite-hero’s journey, then the sequel is definitely more geared towards telling … Continue reading
SSP Thinks Film 
A Few Passing Thoughts…
It’s been a pretty big week for the world of film. From further vague STAR WARS rumours (both for EPISODE VII and the long-mooted spin-offs) to a more concrete indication of Quentin Tarantino’s next film being another Western. SHERLOCK wrapped … Continue reading →