Author Archives: Sam S-P
Review: The Lady in the Van (2015)
It’s always nice to sit back and watch a great actor do their thing. THE LADY IN THE VAN is often just that: Maggie Smith, Alan Bennett’s words. and a camera. You might not think Bennett’s stories would be particularly … Continue reading
Review: Bridge of Spies (2015)
The thing about Steven Spielberg is that he’s consistent. A couple of clangers aside (and 1941 and A.I ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE are at least terrible in interesting ways) you can usually rely on him to deliver something special. That goes double … Continue reading
Review: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Extended Edition (2015)
It’s over. We now have Peter Jackson’s final Middle Earth Extended Edition. It doesn’t dramatically improve THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES but it certainly isn’t a pointless exercise in making your lean movie unwieldy like extended DESOLATION OF SMAUG. … Continue reading
Review: Mr. Holmes (2015)
Ian McKellen and Bill Condon have done it again, but in perhaps the exact opposite fashion to how they approached their stunning not-really-biopic of James Wale, GODS AND MONSTERS. In that film they wrapped a real person in the trappings … Continue reading
Review: Fast & Furious 7 (2015)
Well this one’s just shot straight to the top of the list of movies it’s OK for guys to cry at. The untimely death of Paul Walker in 2013 has cast a shadow over the latest instalment of Universal’s ever-revving … Continue reading
Review: Cinderella (2015)
Did you really have to put the talking mice in it again, Disney? Rodents shouldn’t have facial expressions! I’ve never really had that much affection for Walt’s 1950 animated “classic” – I always found it a bit simpering and wet. … Continue reading
Review: Spectre (2015)
From the moment we see the gun barrel sequence back in its rightful place right after the studio logos, SPECTRE makes its intention clear – we are firmly back to formula. Following revelations made at his childhood home, James Bond … Continue reading
Halloween Series Retrospective: Evil Dead
This is the segment where I pick apart a well-worn film series and see how well it’s aged, and how well it hasn’t. In the leadup to Halloween I’ve revisited Sam Raimi’s beloved horror-comedy series EVIL DEAD. Groovy. THE EVIL … Continue reading
Review: Crimson Peak (2015)
Poor old Guillermo, why does nobody want to see your movies on the big screen? The worrying thing about CRIMSON PEAK being the second del Toro film in a row to underwhelm at the box office (despite the considerable draw … Continue reading
Review: Suffragette (2015)
By rights, there should have been more films made on the campaign for women’s suffrage in the United Kingdom by now. It’s a great story that is more relevant than ever today, and it’s completely dumbfounding that 2015 sees the … Continue reading
SSP Thinks Film 