Author Archives: Sam S-P
Review: Sicario (2015)
In case you were wondering, SICARIO opens with a card establishing that the term is derived from a Roman slur for violent Hebrew zealots and translates as “hitman” from Spanish. These dual definitions hint at two of the many … Continue reading
Review: Macbeth (2015)
Everyone knows the Scottish Play. Featuring characters and dialogue iconic enough to ingrain itself in culture the world over, you need very little help to make this story memorable. But director Justin Kurzel doesn’t do anything by halves, and has … Continue reading
Playing Catchup: The Paul Thomas Anderson Edition
It’s that time again – time to fill in a few holes in my film knowledge. Until a couple of months ago, my knowledge of Paul Thomas Anderson, considered my many critics to be the greatest auteur working today, was … Continue reading
Series Retrospective: Pirates of the Caribbean
I haven’t done one of these for a while, I don’t think since the first year of this blog. This is the segment where I pick apart a film series and see how well it’s aged, and how well it … Continue reading
Review: A Little Chaos (2014/15)
A LITTLE CHAOS is a plumb job for Alan Rickman, requiring him to shoot some pretty people in pretty surroundings, then being able to orate and flounce around to his heart’s content when he himself occasionally appears on screen. We … Continue reading
Review: An Inspector Calls (2015)
This review contains spoilers for JB Priestley’s 1945 play, as well as subsequent film and TV adaptations. For the most part, the BBC’s TV adaptation of JB Priestley’s classic AN INSPECTOR CALLS, broadcast last weekend, is polished, if conventional. The … Continue reading
Review: Legend (2015)
The first time we see Ron Kray, he’s talking animatedly about taking another man’s sausage. Over the two uneasy hours we spend with him he progresses to claiming to be able to see the future, and doesn’t seem to be … Continue reading
Review Embargoes: A Catch-22 for All Involved
To embargo or not to embargo? That is the question. Whether gagging journalists’ criticisms pre-release or simply not showing anyone your product before the big day, it’s a major concern for film studios and their flagship blockbuster products, not to … Continue reading
Review: Inherent Vice (2014)
Usually, a film’s plot or lack thereof is something I can rant on for hours about. Usually, if the plot doesn’t work, the film doesn’t work. That said, this is not a usual film, and I can say with absolute … Continue reading
SSP Thinks Film 
If The Force Awakens really is that good, what then?
It’s an equally enticing and scary prospect for STAR WARS fans, the thought that if THE FORCE AWAKENS really does deliver on all it promises, then THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK will no longer be the quintessential trip to a Galaxy … Continue reading →