Author Archives: Sam S-P
Review in Brief: Batman vs Two-Face (2017)
Along with the live-action movie and RETURN OF THE CAPED CRUSADERS, this makes for a nice nice little trilogy, not to mention a fitting tribute to Adam West. BATMAN VS TWO-FACE has all the sorts of gags you’ve come to … Continue reading
Review: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)
JUMANJ was one of those 90s films. At the risk of being pilloried, I’m going to say it: it wasn’t great. It hasn’t aged well either, but there was definitely something about it, something that means a lot of people … Continue reading
Review in Brief: The Love Witch (2017)
I can almost guarantee somewhere down the line THE LOVE WITCH is going to be studied. It’s going to be that really weird one you watch on your film course in order to write an equally weird essay neither you … Continue reading
Review in Brief: Bright (2017)
“Only a Bright can control the power of the wand”. That’s really how BRIGHT opens. Then we see “Curse the police” on a wall. Whatever its intention, Bright comes across as a massive piss-take of Black Lives Matter. Just in … Continue reading
Review in Brief: Bloody Milk (2017)
It really has been the year for depressing farming dramas hasn’t it? First-time UK filmmakers gave us THE LEVELLING and GOD’S OWN COUNTRY, now comes France’s offering, BLOODY MILK. Director Hubert Charuel must have drawn on some of his own … Continue reading
Looking Back and Looking Forward: 2017, Part 1
2017 has been an…interesting year in Hollywood. For all the high points, the last 12 months will be remembered for the low. But if we’re considering the films themselves, well it’s far more positive. As I say every year, I … Continue reading
Review in Brief: Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond – Featuring a Very Special, Contractually Obligated Mention of Tony Clifton (2017)
JIM & ANDY: THE GREAT BEYOND is a must-see for fans of Jim Carrey, Andy Kaufman and especially Milos Forman’s superlative oddball biopic MAN ON THE MOON. Impossible as he’s shown to be going “method” throughout filming, the only thing … Continue reading
Review: Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017)
There was a lovely little moment in THE FORCE AWAKENS where Leia (Carrie Fisher) after reuniting with Han (Harrison Ford) comments with a wry smile, “Same jacket” and her paramour responds, with mock hurt in his voice, “No, new jacket”. … Continue reading
Review in Brief: King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)
Guy Ritchie can’t do the fast-slow-fast-slow thing in every film. Like everything else he’s done, KING ARTHUR: LEGEND OF THE SWORD is grey and self-serious but with breaks for “banter”. There are modern street clothes, dialect and hairstyles in the … Continue reading
Review: Marjorie Prime (2017)
MARJORIE PRIME took me by surprise. It’s a very well-acted, thoughtful chamber piece and dialed-back sci-fi has had great form over the last few years, but I wasn’t quite expecting the emotional content to hit me like a train. It’s … Continue reading
SSP Thinks Film 