Based on the 1957 crime-noir novel by Chester Himes, this 1991 film adaptation is a strange beast, a sort of R-rated BUGSY MALONE. While I wasn’t expecting Native Son, I wasn’t anticipating so much slapstick which I think tries to reflect the darkly comic absurdity of its source material (which I’ve yet to read), if … Continue reading
Category Archives: Features
Special features or discussions
The Oscars 2016
There are but a few certainties in life – taxes, death and The Oscars inciting indignant rage amongst the masses. 2016 seems to be the year of particularly intense debate. Personally inspiring a spectrum of opinion from”about bloody time” to “oh wait, the point’s been missed again”. Movements such as #Oscarssowhite, have once again been … Continue reading
BAFTAS 2016
The Baftas are on tonight! And I feel a little bit warmer towards them than I do the Oscars (I will explain my reasoning next week), so here’s a quick round-up of nominations. I’ve selected in Pink who MIGHT win and GREEN for who I would like to win because it’s all about me and … Continue reading
Best of 2015
PHOENIX| Dir. Christian Petzold A haunting film-noir of identity, betrayal and loss set against the backdrop of the end of WWII, PHOENIX is a perfectly judged melodrama that fulfilled all of my requirements for what has become my favoured genre. (2015 was an enlightening year in terms of realising this). With one of the most … Continue reading
LFF Round-Up: Carol
While reading the beautifully melancholic but hopeful Patricia Highsmith pulp classic, The Price Of Salt a few years ago, I had a passing thought that this would be the perfect Todd Haynes venture – an apt follow-up in some respects to one of the most graceful odes to the 1950s era, Far From Heaven. His … Continue reading
It’s All About the Music: What Happened Miss Simone? and Amy
https://youtu.be/moOQXZxriKY WHAT HAPPENED MISS SIMONE? Personally my most anticipated documentary this year. I was of course ecstatic when the film was given to Sheffield Doc/Fest (one of the reasons I’ve been so absent for so long), and of course I never got to see it at the Festival due to responsibilities of having to work … Continue reading
THE FALLING
I must first point out before proceeding with this review my experiences of Carol Morley’s past work can only be described as frustrating at best. I don’t like Dreams of a Life. A fascinating story about the unfortunate, lonely end of a young vivacious woman Joyce Carol Vincent, who body laid undiscovered for three years … Continue reading
FORCE MAJEURE
I had heard many a rumbling about this film for a good year but opportunities to see it seemed to escape me for what seemed liked an eternity. Quietly lauded and then seemingly forgotten I was very pleased to see FORCE MAJEURE get a theatrical release (albeit a limited one) and even more pleased to see it … Continue reading
BLAST FROM THE PAST – LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (1986)
Frank Oz’s LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS brings back fond memories of watching this as a child (although I had the theatrical version with the distinctly happier ending) and while nearly decades ( yes decades) have passed since I last saw it, I can still sing nearly word perfect at least three of the songs – the titular … Continue reading
THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD. So if you don’t want it ruined then I recommend you go watch the film and come back here. From its opening credits it’s obvious that the audience is about to see something…different. Eye-catching credits to perfumery and lingerie in indulgent velvety fonts sets the tone of what’s to come. Or so one would … Continue reading