SSP Thinks Film

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) Review

Posted on October 5, 2022 by Sam S-P

https://www.thefilmagazine.com/rocky-horror-picture-show-review/ SSP

Posted in Film, Film Review, The Film Magazine | Tagged Jim Sharman, Musical, Susan Sarandon, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, TIm Curry | Leave a comment

Rian Johnson Movies Ranked

Posted on September 28, 2022 by Sam S-P

https://www.thefilmagazine.com/rian-johnson-movies-ranked/ SSP

Posted in Film, Film Feature, The Film Magazine | Tagged Brick, Knives Out, Looper, Rian Johnson, The Brothers Bloom, The Last Jedi | Leave a comment

Review in Brief: The Sea Beast

Posted on September 22, 2022 by Sam S-P

If you had to deliver THE SEA BEAST as an elevator pitch, it would be PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN meets HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, though this beautiful animation on Netflix is easily as fun as the former and as imaginative as the latter. It’s more in the tone of something like Laika’s BOX TROLLS because it presents itself as an exciting romp to start with before being revealed as something far darker and more contemplative, but still for kids. Following a colourful crew of sea monster hunters (lead by Jared Harris and Karl Urban) and their wide-eyed kid stowaway (Zaris-Angel Hator), the film has thrills and fun aplenty although the Western world’s legacy of empire and exploitation of people and the natural world looms large. It probably doesn’t need to be touching in 2 hours, that said this gives more than enough time for every character including the titular creature to be given a compelling arc. SSP

Posted in Film, Film Review, Review in Brief | Tagged Animation, Chris Williams, Family Film, Jared Harris, Karl Urban, Netflix, The Sea Beast, Zaris-Angel Hator | Leave a comment

Pinocchio (2022) Review

Posted on September 14, 2022 by Sam S-P

https://www.thefilmagazine.com/pinocchio-2022-review/ SSP

Posted in Film, Film Review, The Film Magazine | Tagged Disney, Family Film, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Pinocchio, Robert Zemeckis, Tom Hanks | Leave a comment

Where to Start with Powell and Pressburger

Posted on September 12, 2022 by Sam S-P

https://www.thefilmagazine.com/where-to-start-powell-pressburger/ SSP

Posted in Film, Film Feature, The Film Magazine | Tagged A Matter of Life and Death, Emeric Pressburger, I Know Where I’m Going!, Michael Powell, Powell and Pressburger, The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp | Leave a comment

Review in Brief: Red Rocket (2021)

Posted on September 1, 2022 by Sam S-P

Following TANGERINE and THE FLORIDA PROJECT, Sean Baker has delivered another sun-kissed tragicomic deconstruction of the American Dream focussed on another marginalised community. Moving from shining the spotlight on the experiences of trans sex workers to hotel homeless in his previous two films, with RED ROCKET he follows a twilight star of the porn industry looking for his next big break. Mikey Saber (Simon Rex) is not a nice guy, but he is a beguiling one that you’re strangely compelled to root for despite the number of people he manipulates and screws over, chiefly his recovering addict ex Lexi (Bree Elrod) and Strawberry (Suzanna Son) a teenager who just wants to be famous. Fans of Baker’s previous work will likely know what to expect with this – grubby Americana, down-to-Earth heart and slightly uncomfortable humour – but it’s good to play the hits. SSP

Posted in Film, Film Review, Review in Brief | Tagged Comedy, Drama, Red Rocket, Sean Baker, Simon Rex, Suzanna Son | Leave a comment

Review in Brief: RRR (2022)

Posted on August 30, 2022 by Sam S-P

SS Rajamouli’s RRR will get a reaction from you, that’s for sure. Never mind the latest from Marvel, DC or Tom Cruise, this is the big film with the most awesome imagery of 2022 and it’s not even close. Said awesome imagery includes, but is by no means limited to the sight an entire menagerie of animals bursting in slow-motion out of the back of a truck to charge/maul/eat colonial oppressors. This film turns two real Indian revolutionaries (Komaram Bheem and Alluri Sitarama Raju) into folk heroes and tells their story of rebellion and resistance against the British Empire as a warm buddy movie, a lavish Bollywood (actually Telugu language) musical and a thrilling action epic full of explosions, cartoony baddies and fantastical fight choreography. At 3 hours it’s a commitment but the time flies by, chiefly due to the winning chemistry of stars NT Rama Rao Jr and Ram Charam and the film’s searing visuals. This is without doubt, the most cinema. SSP

Posted in Film, Film Review, Review in Brief | Tagged Action, Blockbuster, Bollywood, NT Rama Rao Jr, Ram Charam, RRR, SS Rajamouli, World Cinema | Leave a comment

Review in Brief: X (2022)

Posted on August 25, 2022 by Sam S-P

You think X is just going to be another in a long line of TEXAS CHAINSAW riffs, and while it certainly wears that influence proudly it undoubtedly treads its own ground as well. Rural Texas, 1979 and a group of adult filmmakers rent a cabin on a farmer’s land to give their latest porno some production value, but soon come to clash with the elderly owners of the property in increasingly shocking ways. Mia Goth is always a beguiling screen presence and here gets to show her impressive range like never before. Some of the nastiest, squelchiest slasher movie kills can be found here along with creeping tension and unexpected heart. It’s the latter element that most surprises and is what will hopefully be further explored in the already completed prequel film PEARL because she’s potentially a really fascinating and different addition to horror antagonist hierarchy. SSP