I have been wondering a lot about what makes the quintessential ‘American movie.’ God knows, they have been trying to hammer something home to us for as long as I have been on this earth watching movies...and I think it has something to do with the so-called ‘American Dream.’ I am aware that movies do … Continue reading American Nostalgia, Part 1 – Sports Movies
Towards the end of Planet of the Apes (the original 1968 version) the borderline grotesque human George Taylor (Charlton Heston) commands his two ape saviours, Cornelius and Zira, and his ape captive, Dr. Zaius, to show him the ancient remains of pre-simian creatures in a cave located in the so-called 'Forbidden Zone'. The remains had … Continue reading Archaeologists on Screen: Heroes, Villains or Somewhere in Between?
The last few months of 2021 and the opening of 2022 – the festive season or summer in the southern hemisphere – marks the re-emergence of major film releases following the COVID outbreak. While all through 2021 there was a steady release of films, the big-budget blockbusters have been held back until late 2021. A … Continue reading A Summer Selection of Film, Part 1
A love of film never ceases, but an enthusiasm to write about film sometimes wanes. I had intended to write more about the films I watched last year but alas, time got the better of me. And it's not as if there wasn't enough madness to deal with in the world last year. It was … Continue reading 2021 – Another Year in Film
David Byrne’s American Utopia (HBO Pictures)Choreography by Annie B Parson. Written by David Byrne. Directed by Spike Lee. And we're not little children. And we know what we want. And the future is certain. Give us time to work it out. David Byrne has always struck me as a wacky guy but with an extraordinary … Continue reading The One Review: David Byrne’s American Utopia (2020 Spike Lee)
Can’t Get You Out of My Head: An Emotional History of the Modern World (BBC)Written and directed by Adam CurtisAvailable on YouTube Just to be clear, this documentary seemingly has nothing to do with Kylie’s 2001 hit ‘Can't Get You Out of My Head’ despite sharing the title. You could find a connection somewhere in … Continue reading The One Review: Can’t Get You Out of My Head (2021 Adam Curtis)
Good documentaries are hard to come by but they are there if you look for them! Netflix have several mainstream and topical documentary series in their catalogue, and many from this year have been worth the remote control button press. The Last Dance about Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls is a riveting sports documentary. … Continue reading Film in 2020: Five Must-See Documentaries
Many filmmakers have made their name by making stylised documentaries - Micheal Moore, Werner Herzog, Adam Curtis, Amy Berg, Joshua Oppenheimer, Nick Broomfield, Alex Gibney and Errol Morris are all big names that come to mind. Indeed, style derives from the individuals and can often take away from the content of their documentaries. But I … Continue reading The Focus of Film: 8 Documentaries with a Cause
Win Win (2011, Tom McCarthy) – From the director of the wonderful The Station Agent from a few years previously (the first time I delighted in Peter Dinklage's talent), this was a perfectly adjudged comedy drama focusing on the evolving relationship between a troubled kid (Alex Shaffer) and a struggling lawyer/part-time wrestling coach (Paul Giamatti). … Continue reading The Most Underrated Films of the Past Decade 2010-19
Amy Scott’s recent documentary celebrating the life and work of the late director Hal Ashby, simply called Hal, may have slipped by without you noticing. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2018 and received a limited release late last year. Scott must be commended for making a tender and celebratory ode to an … Continue reading Peace and Love: The Wonderful Films of Hal Ashby
Momentary Cinema 