This week the ICA hosted a special screening of a genuine masterpiece of cult, avant garde cinema. Ever since its release thirty four years ago, David Lynch’s Eraserhead (1977) has remained a defining moment in the world of experimental cinema and, in my view, remains Lynch’s crowning achievement.As one of Continue Reading
Those familiar with the name Diego Luna will most likely associate him with his breakthrough performance as Tenoch Iturbide, in Alfonso Cuarón’s Y Tu Mamá También (2001). Having recently appeared alongside Sean Penn in Milk (2008) Luna is now plying his trade as director, with his debut feature Abel (2010) Continue Reading
★★★★☆ Tetsuya Nakashima’s Confessions (2010) is a powerful exploration and dissection of what we understand about ourselves as human beings and the fine line between our civility and the reality of our innate primal behaviour. By juxtaposing the bewildering and inconsequential age of adolescence with the reality of adulthood, Nakashima Continue Reading
Henry Selick’s Coraline (2009) is finally an example of how 3D doesn’t have to be solely about exploiting the ideas of spectacle. Being very much an anti-3D spectator, it would understandably take something fairly special to convince this writer that such a film can hold greater merit than just being Continue Reading
With a film of such critical acclaim as 2006’s The Lives of Others under his belt, it is absolutely unfathomable as to how Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck has managed to create a film so desperately pathetic and unforgivably cringe-inducing as The Tourist (2010). Set in and around the glamorous and Continue Reading
★★★☆☆ The first impression that springs to mind when watching Luc Besson’s latest film The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec (2011) is simultaneous in any film-goers mind; Amelie (2001) meets Raiders of the Lost Arc (1981). Its action, its style, its punchy one-liners are a fusion of Hollywood-style adventure and Continue Reading
What better way to celebrate CineVue´s first Birthday than by nominating the site for an award or two at the annual LAMMYs, run by the friendly guys at the LAMB (the Large Association of Movie Blogs). Some of the most desirable crowns include Best Blog, Best Design, Best New LAMB and Best Continue Reading
It takes an extraordinary director to decide to remake Blood Simple (1984). Reworking any Coen brothers movie would be a daunting task, but their flawless first film is almost untouchable. Zhang Yimou, though, has no fears of touching their 1984 debut. Translating the neo-noir thriller into period farce, Yimou’s warped Continue Reading
★★★★★ The BFI has recently restored and released Henri-George Clouzot’s French classic spine-chiller-thriller Les Diaboliques (1955). The restoration is a great achievement and the final result looks truly beautiful. Whilst the horror element in this classic is somewhat dated, the film still has the power to leave you with goose Continue Reading
For cult fans, this month sees the release of an exclusive four disc box set from the Fantastic Factory label, which is bound to draw a fair amount of interest and attention. ‘The Fantastic Factory presents’ compiles four of the labels most successful films: Beyond Re-Animator (2003), Arachnid (2001), Faust: Continue Reading
★★★★☆ This April sees the release of Guillaume Canets’ latest film, Little White Lies (2011). Canets is probably most well known for his performance in The Beach (2000), as Étienne, but he has also received critical attention for his last feature film Tell Know One (2006).With a vibe of The Continue Reading
There’s nothing we like more at the moment than a good monster movie. If we assume that supply typically meets demand, then we can be pretty damn certain that with all the high-concept extraterrestrial creature features vying for our attention just lately, somebody’s paying to see them. Not to be Continue Reading
★★☆☆☆ Whenever a film feels the need to sell itself on its controversial or shocking nature, you can usually be certain of a few things: tackiness, puerile shock tactics and, above all else, a director at the helm with an overwhelming ineptitude for storytelling. It may come as no surprise Continue Reading
In narrative cinema, things usually happen for a reason (through cause and effect), but this is not always the case. A president may get shot; ET is brown; Adrian Brody has to hide in rubble, even though he plays the piano beautifully; or a car tire may come to life, possess psychokinetic powers, and Continue Reading
Recently, CineVue sat down with Monsters (2010) director Gareth Edwards to discuss his explosion onto the UK film scene and the challenges he faced in bringing his superb debut feature to life. He takes us through the process, discussing production, politics and even Doctor Who – though he’s not a Continue Reading