Amon Warmann
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DVD Review: ‘Life of Pi’
★★★★☆ The American Academy recently awarded genre-hopping director Ang Lee the Best Director prize for Life of Pi (2012), and it was well-deserved; Yann Martel’s prize-winning novel, long-thought unfilmable, has been brought to life superbly in a visual masterpiece that won’t soon be outdone. The tale begins with an avid writer (Rafe Spall) whom, upon…
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Film Review: ‘Promised Land’
★★★☆☆ Director Gus Van Sant reunites with Good Will Hunting star Matt Damon for Promised Land (2012), which finally makes its way into UK cinemas this week. Whilst enjoyable and thought-provoking in parts, a third act revelation is more frustrating than shocking, leaving us to rue what might have been. Damon plays Steve Butler, a…
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DVD Review: ‘Pitch Perfect’
★★★☆☆ An analysis of the Step Up! and/or Bring It On franchises would show that both sets of films follow a particular formula. Directed by Jason Moore, Pitch Perfect (2012) is very much of the same ilk. Inspired by TV shows such as Glee, this ensemble comedy should be commended for being an entertaining watch…
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Special Feature: Jameson Empire DISS Awards 2013
Last Friday night (22 March), CineVue were invited to Google’s swanky London headquarters for the Jameson Empire Done in 60 Seconds Awards. The idea has evolved quite considerably in the five years since its inception, now inspiring amateur filmmakers around the world to test their talents. This year, the judges featured some of the most…
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DVD Review: ‘My Brother the Devil’
★★★★☆ My Brother the Devil (2012), the debut feature from writer-director Sally El Hosaini, has won a host of awards since its release last year – and with good reason. Newcomer El Hosaini has managed to breathe new life into an increasingly clichéd genre with substantial skill and sensitive insight. Focusing upon a Muslim Egyptian…
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DVD Review: ‘End of Watch’
★★★☆☆ A cursory glance at David Ayer’s filmography will reveal his propensity for cop dramas, with previous work including such titles as 2001’s Training Day (for which he wrote the screenplay) and 2008’s Street Kings. The American director was back on the beat again last year for his latest flick, End of Watch (2012), a…
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DVD Review: ‘The Master’
★★★☆☆ After a five-year hiatus, Paul Thomas Anderson follows up his Oscar-winning There Will be Blood (2007) with The Master (2012), an overly complex tale which is nonetheless magnificently acted and shot. The film begins and ends with Freddie Quell (Joaquin Phoenix), a WWII veteran who is having difficulty adjusting to life after war. Mentally…
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Film Review: ‘Broken’
★★★★☆ Winner of the Best Film award at last year’s British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs), theatre director Rufus Norris’ debut feature Broken (2013) finally gets its UK release this week, courtesy of StudioCanal. An adaptation of Daniel Clay’s novel of the same name, Broken is jam-packed with ideas, almost all of which are well-executed. The…
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DVD Review: ‘Argo’
★★★★★ If Ben Affleck’s directorial prowess wasn’t already evident with the excellent Gone Baby Gone (2007) and sophomore effort The Town (2010), with his third feature he has further cemented his status as one of the best current filmmakers in the business. One of the best releases of 2012 – an assertion given greater credence…
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Film Review: ‘Song for Marion’
★★★☆☆ British features centred around the older generation are becoming more and more commonplace of late, with the latest filmmaker to focus their attentions upon senior citizens being Paul Andrew Williams. Looking at Williams’ work to date – which illustrates the director’s affinity for the crime and horror genres – his decision to tackle a…