Of all the 248 films showing at the 58th London Film Festival I managed 37. Some I’d anticipated from the beginning of the year, some I curiously waltzed in on after being caught up in the current of hype, and some, I’ll admit, I watched as I didn’t want to be the only one in … Continue reading
Filed under Movie Reviews …
Nightcrawler
Satirical thriller Nightcrawler beckons us in to the vulturous industry of capturing human roadkill on tape. Apparently, opportunists can make a tidy sum by being first on the scene of a crime and capturing the tragedy – the bloodier the footage, the bigger the buck. A slender, particularly bug-eyed Jake Gyllenhaal is Lou Bloom – … Continue reading
Dear White People
Black face. It wasn’t ok then and it’s not ok now. So hearing that the ‘blacking up’ past time is still used for ‘bantz’ in some American high schools is woefully tragic. But rather than get angry, writer and director Justin Simien has responded with a satirical sledgehammer of a movie – Dear White People. … Continue reading
Interview: Fruitvale Station director Ryan Coogler
If you were following the USA news back in 2009 you’ll be aware of how the story of Oscar Grant ends. But do you know how it started? First-time director Ryan Coogler, and Oakland California Bay Area resident, used his blossoming talents to woo producer Forest Whitaker and tell the story of Oscar from the other … Continue reading
Fruitvale Station
If you’ve not yet heard about the Oscar Grant case that rocked America back in 2009, don’t Google it. Don’t even watch the tad-too-telling trailer as this is one of those ignorance is bliss movies. Just know that it’s powerful, dramatic and has Michael B. Jordan (The Wire, That Awkward Moment) doing a fine job … Continue reading
Blue Ruin
Dwight looks like he’s neither slept or shaved since whatever horrific thing happened, happened. He sleeps in his rusty car, takes baths in other people’s houses and seems to have no real motive for existence. When some unexpected news is delivered by a compassionate police officer, his hobo life is given a much-needed objective: revenge. … Continue reading
Obvious Child: At last we can laugh about abortion
As taboos go abortion is right up there, particularly when it comes to making jokes about it. It nests alongside female masturbation, female farts and discharge-stained knickers. However, it now seems we’re now in a place where we can tickle our ribs with the sticky topic of unwanted pregnancy (and discharged-stained knickers) as Gillian Robespierre’s … Continue reading
Sundance London 2014: Round-up reviews
Blue Ruin Dwight (Macon Blair) looks like he’s neither slept or shaved since whatever horrific thing happened, happened. He sleeps in his rusty car, takes baths in other people’s houses and seems to have no real motive for existence. When some unexpected news is delivered by a compassionate police officer, his hobo life is … Continue reading
I Heart Poetry: The selected films
‘I Heart Poetry’ was a haven for those both wrapped-up or fed-up with that rose-tinged calendar event – Valentine’s Day. As part of Ideas Tap Love Take over, playwright, spoken-word poet and all round creative wizardress Sabrina Mahfouz, gathered her poetic posse to grace the Rich Mix stage on the cusp of Shoreditch for a … Continue reading
Dallas Buyers Club
Imagine doctors told you have 30 days to live. What do you do? Slip into a state of denial? Tell them they’ve made a mistake? Spend your cash on cheap hookers and expensive drugs? Rodeo Romeo, Ron Woodroof (Matthew McConaughey) did just that when he was told to prepare for his pending doom after catching … Continue reading
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