Reviews
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Blu-ray Review: ‘Coraline’
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 another tediously plotted, CGI-laden piece…
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DVD Releases: ‘The Tourist’
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 visually resplendent city of Venice,…
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Film Review: ‘The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec’
★★★☆☆ 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 avant-garde French humour which, despite…
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DVD Releases: ‘Blood Simple’ (2011)
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 take is as flashy and…
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DVD Review: ‘Les Diaboliques’
★★★★★ 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 pimples. On its initial release…
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Film Review: ‘Little White Lies’
★★★★☆ 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 Big Chill (1983), we are…
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DVD Releases: ‘Monsters’
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 left behind then, us plucky…
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Film Review: Cold Fish
★★☆☆☆ 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 to hear that Shion Sono’s…
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DVD Releases: ‘Rubber’
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 embark on bloody a killing…
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DVD Review: ‘My Soul to Take’
★☆☆☆☆ Few would argue Wes Craven’s credentials as one of horror’s most influential, iconic and all round well loved filmmakers. Ever since his directorial debut, the hugely controversial and groundbreaking The Last House on the Left (1972) he has provided some of the genre’s most famous and memorable moments. Whether it be the disturbing image…