We may be gradually emerging from Lockdown, but with cinemas still shut there are only so many dog walks one can do to stave off the boredom and work off the banana bread. This pandemic has caused havoc with filmmaking, so in the spirit of pulling together I’ve bought some Blu-rays and DVDs – British… Out of Blue: one blu-ray to give away Read More
INTERVIEW: Tyler Cornack on his movie Butt Boy, the colonic tonic we’ve been waiting for
Tyler Cornack’s thriller-comedy-horror Butt Boy – the film that launched a thousand puns – is deadpan funny with a crazy premise, as detective Russel Fox (Tyler Rice) tries to bring to justice a man he suspects is kidnapping children by absorbing them up his bottom. But it’s also quite moving, in a non-laxative kind of… INTERVIEW: Tyler Cornack on his movie Butt Boy, the colonic tonic we’ve been waiting for Read More
Black Lives Matter: watch John Boyega’s powerful speech at London’s Hyde Park protest
“Black lives have always mattered. We have always been important. We have always meant something. We have always succeeded regardless.” Actor John Boyega spoke at Wednesday’s protest, held in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd, who was unarmed, in Minneapolis on the 25 May. Policeman Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for… Black Lives Matter: watch John Boyega’s powerful speech at London’s Hyde Park protest Read More
Movie tie-in toy review: Playmobil Back To The Future playset
With 2020 marking the 35th anniversary of Back to the Future, and the 30th anniversary of Part III, Playmobil has released a series of characters and vehicles from the movie. This playset has an RRP of £49.99 and was reviewed by Cassian (aged 8) and Ashton (aged 10). (Cassian’s video review is at the bottom of the… Movie tie-in toy review: Playmobil Back To The Future playset Read More
Let’s go (back) to the movies: flashbacks to film memories
Thinking about what to call these lockdown reminiscences – about films and cinemas – I was reduced to googling the full lyrics to Memory as a joke. It turns out they’re worryingly apt, so we may yet find that Cats becomes the voice of cinephiles rather than their punchline. That’s one hell of a “new… Let’s go (back) to the movies: flashbacks to film memories Read More
5 films to watch after Parasite
If Parasite has whetted your appetite for Asian films but you aren’t sure where to start, check out these five turn-of-the-century classics picked out by Tracey Sinclair and you won’t go far wrong. Memories of Murder (Salinui chueok) 2003 Based on the true story of Korea’s first serial murders, Bong Joon-Ho’s breakout film features a standout performance… 5 films to watch after Parasite Read More
Lowry and me: a match(stick) made in heaven?
LS Lowry: Northern, trained artist, famous for his scenes of Lancastrian industrial life, modest (he turned down a knighthood), paintings now selling for millions. Me: Northern, got a C for Art O’Level in 1987, famous for making scenes, likes to blow my own trumpet, I put my painting on social media and let’s be honest,… Lowry and me: a match(stick) made in heaven? Read More
2020 vision – 2019 in review
I’ll be making that joke all year so you’d better get used to it. But what a year it’s been! (It’s actually the law that all annual round-up articles start like that so don’t email me.) During 2019 several things happened: Like, you know, stuff. But most importantly, I was in the same room as… 2020 vision – 2019 in review Read More
“All this, because of a puppy?” Me to me, after writing 4,000 words on the John Wick trilogy…
“You dip so much as a pinky back into this pond, you may well find something reaches out and drags you back into its depths”, says Winston to John in the first John Wick film, but he ignored the warning and so will we. It’s going to be a bumpy, rain-soaked night… Since the first film,… “All this, because of a puppy?” Me to me, after writing 4,000 words on the John Wick trilogy… Read More
Director Mark Jenkin on “Bait”, his black and white Cornish classic-in-the-making
“There are shots in the film that I know were taken from rolls of film that I must have been processing when I was wearing a woolly jumper, because I can see the little bits of fibres.” Mark Jenkin on his film-making process. Bait, Jenkin’s beautiful and jolting film, looks at the gentrification of a… Director Mark Jenkin on “Bait”, his black and white Cornish classic-in-the-making Read More
Gerard Butler’s ‘Fallen’ Oeuvre
Less a deep dive, and more – considering the less than philosophical subtexts to the three Has Fallen movies – a shallow bellyflop, it’s time to look back at Butler’s battles as Mike Banning. You can see on this site I refer to myself as a Gerard Butler apologist, and I make no apologies for… Gerard Butler’s ‘Fallen’ Oeuvre Read More
INTERVIEW: Stephen Koepfer, Sambo expert on John Wick: Parabellum
“The notion that Wick is a Sambo guy is super cool. Sambo players around the globe should be jazzed about that!” Stephen Koepfer The John Wick franchise is known for its creation of an underground world of assassins and fighters, an off-kilter parallel universe that carries on around us, occasionally bumping our lives. John Wick 3, as well… INTERVIEW: Stephen Koepfer, Sambo expert on John Wick: Parabellum Read More