Author Archives: Sam S-P
Review in Brief: Eye in the Sky (2016)
It might be about as subtle as an airstrike, but drone warfare thriller EYE IN THE SKY fields an interesting debate. Just how far can you push “For the greater good”? In the moment, if you could save more lives, … Continue reading
Review: The Host (2006)
To shamelessly appropriate and warp the catchphrase of a beloved cartoon character, THE HOST is smarter than the average monster movie. I stumbled on this one on DVD years back, and it’s since become a firm favourite along with the … Continue reading
Review: Ghost in the Shell (2017)
Out of the two unnecessary live-action remakes released this month, I’ll take the one with some evident passion behind it. Mamoru Oshii’s anime GHOST IN THE SHELL worked because it allowed you time to think. For every iconic image, brutally … Continue reading
Review in Brief: I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore (2017)
I think the best thing I can say about Macon Blair’s debut as writer-director is that it’s a curiosity. For years he’s been a game regular as an actor in grisly genre fare (collaborations with Jeremy Saulnier stand out) and … Continue reading
Review: Legion: Season 1 (2017)
LEGION is bonkers and brilliant. If you were ever disappointed that Chris Claremont’s more out-there comic book stories weren’t adapted into the movies, look no further than this TV show to correct that. Although they still don’t go to space, … Continue reading
Review in Brief: Blood Father (2016)
BLOOD FATHER opens with a teenager (Erin Moriarty) being refused sale of cigarettes but able to buy ammunition, because America. There is genuine pain to Mel Gibson’s latest comeback performance and frustration at a broken justice system in addition to … Continue reading
Review: Power Rangers (2017)
Let’s be clear from the outset: I have nothing invested in POWER RANGERS at all. I never watched the show, I never had the toys, I know nothing about this property beyond the fact that they re-edited a janky Japanese … Continue reading
Review in Brief: Sing Street (2016)
John Carney is clearly fascinated by the process of making music. ONCE explored the breakthrough album, BEGIN AGAIN the production and business side of the industry. SING STREET captures music making at its most pure – getting a group of … Continue reading
Review: Beauty and the Beast (2017)
Even for Disney, it’s an audacious move to out-musical your own musical. THE JUNGLE BOOK upped the spectacle and downplayed the songs, CINDERELLA was out to make sense of its protagonist in her time and place and again skipped the … Continue reading
Review in Brief: Eddie the Eagle (2016)
EDDIE THE EAGLE does exactly what it needs to do. It’s undemanding and feelgood, and wisely doesn’t claim Eddie Edwards (Taron Egerton) changed sport in any lasting way (he didn’t). Eddie himself even admits that he is only allowed to … Continue reading
SSP Thinks Film 