an absorbing film noir

Posted : 1 day, 16 hours ago on 3 September 2008 04:46 (A review of Where the Sidewalk Ends)

Dana Andrews is great as the tortured anti-hero cop Dixon. His inner struggle to conserve the truth of his actions is so absorbing as the plot twists and turns. I didn't want the sidewalk to end.

Watch Laura and this in a double bill and you'll witness a brilliant trio at work. Otto Preminger + Dana Andrews + Gene Tierney = Gold!

Also of note, Karl Malden makes an early appearance in this film.

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Dark, haunting and energetic

Posted : 4 weeks ago on 8 August 2008 06:19 (A review of The Dark Knight)

Dark, haunting and energetic but not as deep as the hype would like you to believe. A great comic book adaptation, good action movie and half-decent crime thriller. Oldman is still the best actor on show, never does Gordon feel like Oldman playing Gordon. I can't say that about the rest of the cast, but I can see why the public are hyped for the leading roles.

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Why Michael?

Posted : 4 weeks ago on 7 August 2008 12:25 (A review of The Actors)

A superficial formulaic comedy of errors. The main error being Caine and Gambons for choosing to collect a paycheck over a quality production. I like Dylan Moran in the brilliant Black Books, but maybe he should stick to the small screen if this is the sum of his efforts.

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viva la bioddity!

Posted : 1 month, 1 week ago on 29 July 2008 03:24 (A review of I'm Not There)

'I'm Not There' is a poetic but less than revealing biopic. You don't need to be fanatical about Bob Dylan to like this film, It doesn't tell anything the average fan doesn't know already. The hook is in the stylistic, innovative way this biopic is executed, and how the actors capture the various cells of this musicians life. I kinda wanted to dismiss the film early on but it hooked me before I could shrug it off as profound mundanity. Haynes turns the biopic on it's head as if it's written by the subject himself, as if each of the six cells are Dylan's own fantastical view of himself. It doesn't always work, sometimes it feels just too odd and quirky for its own good, but regardless of this you just can't help but love it. Stand-out's, for me were Cate Blanchett as folk-gone-rock traitor Bob and one I totally unexpected from thirteen-year-old Marcus Carl Franklin, the kid really done got the blues. Dylan has always said there is no point to his music 'It Just Is', the same goes for Haynes film. He has created a new genre with I'm Not There... long live the bioddity!

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Stinks of London

Posted : 2 months ago on 6 July 2008 10:41 (A review of Naked)

A relentlessly brutal early-nineties odyssey that is so real you can almost smell the stench of London's underbelly in each cell. David Thewlis is amazing as the anti-hero, Johnny. So much so I'll probably see him as this character no matter whom he plays from now on. Johnny's rants are worth the rental fee alone.

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Funny and thoughtful

Posted : 3 months ago on 5 June 2008 12:55 (A review of The Savages)

I'm experiencing similar events to the Linney and Hoffman's characters within my own family, so this film really hit home. The Savages subtle brand of humour and thoughtfulness make for a deeply funny, superbly acted film. I haven't seen Tamara Jenkins directorial debut 'Slums of Beverly Hills' but if it's half this good I won't leave it long.


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A feast to the senses

Posted : 4 months ago on 5 May 2008 06:48 (A review of The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford)

This film is a feast to the senses, I swear it's that well crafted I could smell it. Although Pitt gives an adequate performance the real stars here are Roger Deakins (cinematography), Nick Cave & Warren Ellis (music), and Casey Affleck as the creepy and highly annoying coward that is Robert Ford. One of my faves of 2007.

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Honest and brutal

Posted : 4 months, 1 week ago on 28 April 2008 03:12 (A review of Violin, El)

It's not hard to see why Francisco Vargas' feature length debut earned an official selection at Cannes. El Violin is an honest and brutal social depiction of corruption in the Mexican peasant fields. Hollywood should look beyond the border and take note.

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A brilliant debut

Posted : 4 months, 2 weeks ago on 22 April 2008 04:06 (A review of Ratcatcher)

Lynne Ramsay's debut feature is a stylish, gritty slice of realism that is so strikingly shot you forget that you're watching a film. I wish I hadn't took so long to get around to seeing Ratcatcher, that is my only regret.

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A remarkable story

Posted : 4 months, 2 weeks ago on 19 April 2008 05:38 (A review of Rescue Dawn)

Werner Herzog's passion and enthusiasm for Dieter Dengler's remarkable story make Rescue Dawn stand-out amongst the best of a long tradition of p.o.w. films, a genre one could be forgiven for thinking had taken its last breath. A fascinating study of the strength of human will, grit and determination. I haven't seen Bale this good since The Machinist. I still prefer 'Little Dieter Needs To Fly' but I don't regret Werner's decision to dramatise Dieter's story now I've seen the results.

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