When a film promises rogue cowboy robots, there is destined to be a particularly high level of enjoyment. Westworld explores the chaos that follows when the robots that operate on a futuristic, fantasy amusement park suffer a serious malfunction. The film opens with an advertisement for ‘Delos’ the amusement park Read More
Being only two decades old, there was something about Michael Douglas’ performance in Behind the Candelabra that I was never going to fully understand. Archive footage of documentaries and performances are the only experience and knowledge I have of the real Liberace. Steven Soderbergh’s latest release was turned down by movie studios in America Read More
Of course, there are many better films to compare The Andy Warhol Diaries to, but that one thing that Mark Christopher’s 54 and this modern classic have in common brings them close enough as to be briefly compared before the latter is overruled and The Diaries go on to gain Read More
Film Criticism An interesting side effect that results from these cinematic additions to a base of essential content (the characters, the story, etc.) is that viewers familiar with many films and fluent with the ways by which they work can recognize these “styles” in themselves (and discuss them, perhaps, with Read More
Vincent Gallo has always been a controversial figure. He is remarkably unpopular with some particular critics and film writers and his dramatic criticism of legendary film critic Roger Ebert left Gallo lacking in credibility. His filmography is still quite young and fresh and there is room for growth. Having only Read More
When the premise of a film is so intriguing and original, there is an immediate pressure upon the project and its delivery. When it is a good idea that forms the base of a movie, everything piled upon it has to be equally sturdy in order for an audience to Read More
Its music — a simple enough, flutelike melody that’s a bit unnerving all the same — gives the viewer a first signal as to what Hiroshima Mon Amour will be. It comes in with opening credits superimposed over an indeterminate image — a crooked white etching against the dark ground Read More
Deconstructing Harry is a remarkably understated piece of work. It was slated by critics, which is a pity because it’s one of Woody Allen’s most personal, and most profound. Through this film, we find pieces of Allen — in one scene, Harry Block suggests that he is able to function Read More
I didn’t really know what to expect when I decided to watch Parked. I chose it decisively after having read the plot. It sounded intriguing – and because from where I was standing, the story promised originality and a sense of something different. Parked is an independent Irish drama, filmed Read More
A rifle is placed in a little boy’s arms – here, it seems to be justifiable. Brutality, paranoia and staying out of your neighbour’s business seem to define this world. And based on what I’ve heard from other viewers, Winter’s Bone stands as a pretty accurate representation of what life Read More
Complexity – A Brief Note Complexity is important to narrative and [3] as a whole: as noted previously, conflict and action within a story stem from the hero of the story he or she has been placed within. Complexity can be defined as the sum total of all these variables, Read More
Inspired by Federico Fellini’s notorious 8 ½ as well as his personal and professional life, Nine has a great base to stand on, but fails to deliver. As it always happens with anything long and eagerly anticipated, Rob Marshall’s film promises everything but fails to satisfy. The bar is raised Read More
And as Mark Wahlberg is steadily turning into one of my favourite actors against all odds, I cross paths with Allen Hughes’ Broken City. A political crime thriller that has a lot to offer – while still offending its viewers’ intelligence as much as is required. The latter almost feels Read More
Frances is 27. Her friends say she looks older than that. One is Sophie, who at Frances’ request to “Tell me the story of us”, spins a fantasy of how they will soon be at the top of the publishing and dancing worlds, respectively. Frances Ha the film stays sensitive Read More
It’s harrowing what love can do to a man. It can make them hate, or kill, or simply hearten those who do. Even more painful is that love makes them wait. For as long as possible, those lovers wait for that love to bloom, or to come back, or to Read More
Adventureland was the director’s follow-up after Superbad, the latter being a comedy which has inspired so many since its release in 2007 — and has helped produce a subgenre which has now become somewhat commonplace. Funnily enough, this one takes it all in a very different direction. His second piece Read More
Remaining loyal to a book is a braver feat than we may automatically presume. Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby is the latest adaptation of a piece of classic American literature and he has been both criticised and commended for his personal take on one of America’s most beloved novels. It seems, these days, Read More
Experimental Film This point has further implications when applied to the differences of opinion and technique between advocates of “pure cinema” and those of narrative film: it implies that the “broadest farce” — what we can take to be the least complex, if not least-developed form of narrative — would Read More
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