2017 has been full of films about family but sadly Mindhorn isn’t really an advert for the enduring bonds of blood and friendship – his TV “family” seem to have got used to his absence after he popped out to the shops and never returned all those years ago, and aren’t overjoyed to see him back; and his potentially… Mindhorn Read More
Search Results for: fast 9
Macbeth (2015) 4 stars
Lady Macbeth schemes to propel her husband towards the Scottish throne but even as the chain of events she set in motion moves bloodily forward it’s hard not to feel sympathy for her; especially as she speaks to and weeps over a hallucination of her dead toddler with the heartbreaking “wash your hands, put on your nightgown, look… Macbeth (2015) Read More
Free Fire 3.5 stars
If you like the idea of half an hour of sniping followed by an hour of, well, sniping in a 1970s Boston warehouse, then Free Fire is the movie for you. Two groups (IRA weapons buyers, and an arms dealer and his associates) come to blows when handing over on a gun deal. And while there are loads of guns around,… Free Fire Read More
What We Do In The Shadows 5 stars
Immortality can’t all be glamorous cloak-swishing nights out or chases pursued by 15th century pitchfork-waving villagers. At some point someone has to sort out the recycling and wash up the blood-spattered plates. Mockumentaries rarely get it completely right. Balancing out the laughs with situations that could actually be real, and which also propel the story forward,… What We Do In The Shadows Read More
Boss Baby 2.5 stars
Like my parenting methods, Boss Baby is several great ideas that collapse into a bit of a mess when put into practice. There’s lots of exposition, some confusing threads left hanging, and at times it’s downright dull. At its heart is that age old question, when a new baby joins a family. No, not is there… Boss Baby Read More
Myths, Melodrama & Swedish Meatballs – Q&A With Love Witch Director Anna Biller
“The style that a lot of people attribute to B-movies and melodramas is just classical, theatrical acting… and all of my actors were classically trained. So they have strong voices, they speak clearly and enunciate. I have a musical ear, so I like to listen to actors with beautiful voices” Anna Biller After watching writer/director Anna Biller’s 2016… Myths, Melodrama & Swedish Meatballs – Q&A With Love Witch Director Anna Biller Read More
The Lost City of Z 4 stars
“This search for Z – I can no longer bear the cost” explains an emotionally weary Henry Costin, Percy Fawcett’s long time travelling companion on hearing news of Fawcett’s latest exploratory trip. Because by then, after 20 years of travels, for Fawcett no cost is too high. James Gray’s film is beautiful, stately, but overlong;… The Lost City of Z Read More
Life 3 stars
When it comes to single-cell organisms that can lie dormant for what seems like hundreds of years before being reanimated with some sugar and then causing complete havoc, I’m something of an expert – but they were at school today so I thought I’d go and watch Life instead. With the action taking place on the International Space Station, there are… Life Read More
Love Witch 5 stars
Check out my interview with Love Witch director Anna Biller here. “Who ARE you?” asks Richard, married to Trish but besotted with Elaine who is lying semi-naked beneath him. “I’m the Love Witch!” she exclaims, “I’m your ultimate fantasy!” Women have long been lusted after and feared in equal measure by men, for their feminine wiles that seem… Love Witch Read More
Sense And Sensibility 4.5 stars
Who doesn’t enjoy looking back to what seem like happier, simpler times, where having a fortune of four thousand a year marked one out as the catch of the season, and treating oneself meant buying some new bonnet ribbons for church on Sunday. Though of course, there were dangers – chest infections were common from wearing… Sense And Sensibility Read More
Wayne’s World 4 stars
Can it really be 25 years since Wayne’s World was released? In some ways at my age it’s easier to remember what happened 25 years ago than what I had for breakfast this morning (until I remember that I’ve forgotten I don’t eat breakfast) but I was still staggered how many of the words and phrases from Wayne’s… Wayne’s World Read More
Interview With A Film Subtitler – Accuracy, Action, and Oldboy
“I subtitled one of the Rambo movies for broadcast and I think that had about 100 lines of dialogue so that was a pretty fast job!” Without a talented subtitler, whole swathes of foreign films would either not be available or would, literally, say something else entirely. Watching a subtitled film can be something of… Interview With A Film Subtitler – Accuracy, Action, and Oldboy Read More