Category Archives: Film
Review: The Death of Stalin (2017)
If there’s a darker comedy out there than THE DEATH OF STALIN, I’m not sure I want to see it. This is the blackest of black humour, a seemingly impossible situation to derive laughter from, but Armando Iannucci somehow manages … Continue reading
Review in Brief: The Dark Tower (2017)
The most disappointing thing about THE DARK TOWER is what might have been. Of course you can’t judge a hypothetical movie, only what was actually released, and what was released has been considerably cut down. A fascinating premise, dense mythology … Continue reading
Review in Brief: Most Beautiful Island (2017)
MOST BEAUTIFUL ISLAND is a creepy and tuned-in allegorical suspense thriller. From profound observations of the economic migrant experience, from being “tired of the possibilities”, when you are unlucky to be good-looking in case New York “eats you”. We follow … Continue reading
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