Author Archives: Sam S-P
Review: The Theory of Everything (2014)
How do you sum up the life of such an extraordinary human being? Director James Marsh, writer Anthony McCarten and principle actors Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones prove that you have to start from a place of emotion, and THE … Continue reading
Review: The Expendables 3 (2014)
The opening sequence of THE EXPENDABLES 3 sees Wesley Snipes kill a military despot-type baddie by running an armoured train into him. This sets the tone for the film, that basically if this franchise ever took itself remotely seriously, then … Continue reading
Looking Back and Looking Forward: 2014
Well, it’s been an interesting year on the Big Screen. Last year, I said that 2014 would be the cinematic pits. I’ll admit that I wasn’t entirely correct. Some of the films I dreaded did indeed turn out a bit … Continue reading
Review: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
It’s at an end. Peter Jackson has left Middle-Earth behind. For real this time. Probably. THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES gives the lengthiest chapter in Jackson’s career so far an appropriately grand ending, but wisely he doesn’t … Continue reading
Review: Life Itself (2014)
LIFE ITSELF is an incredible documentary made by a film lover, about a film lover, for film lovers. It’s about love, about passion more than anything else, and I like to think Roger Ebert would have approved of this take … Continue reading
Review: Paddington (2014)
Many might groan in distress at the thought of yet another childhood icon given a lavish live-action film adaptation. Even more alarm bells ring once you hear of the involvement of the producer and a few of the cast of … Continue reading
Downbeat Marion Cotillard Double Bill: Rust and Bone & Two Days, One Night
Marion Cotillard is rapidly becoming notorius for her drastic transformations of body and presence on film. She excels playing strong women worn down or broken by trauma, from the increasingly frail Edith Piaf in LA VIE EN ROSE to Mal’s steady … Continue reading
Review: The Imitation Game (2014)
Much like its subject, THE IMITATION GAME has spent many years in obscurity, an unloved script waiting for someone to take a chance on a story about the secretly gay genius who was instrumental in helping bring World War II … Continue reading
Review: Begin Again (2013)
There’s a scene early on in BEGIN AGAIN where Mark Ruffalo’s ramshackle record producer Dan shows obvious physical pain at listening to the bilge that are the demo tapes he is sent as he is stuck in busy city traffic … Continue reading
SSP Thinks Film 