CODA (2021, Vendôme Picture / Pathé Films / Apple+) ★★★★ Featuring Emilia Jones, Marlee Matlin, Eugenio Derbez, Daniel Durant, Troy Kotsur and Ferdia Walsh-Peelo. Screenplay by Sian Heder, based on the film La Famille Bélier by Éric Lartigau. Directed by Sian Heder. CODA is a coming-of-age drama with clear award-winning aspirations right from the start. … Continue reading The Two Reviews: CODA and Red Rocket
The whispers in the morningOf lovers sleeping tightFrom The Power of Love by Jennifer Rush Since time immemorial, many have ruminated on what love is. Stevie Nicks doesn't know what it is but agrees that it's very powerful. Pat Benatar thinks its a battlefield. Todd Rundgren thinks that its the answer. The Beatles told us … Continue reading The Power of Love, Part 2: Broadcast News (1987)
I'll protect you from the hooded clawKeep the vampires from your doorThe Power of Love by Frankie Goes to Hollywood A love story is often regarded as having high-scoring box office potential - there are limited special effects or action sequences required, therefore rendering the budget relatively low (though this can be dependent on the … Continue reading The Power of Love, Part 1: All That Heaven Allows (1955)
The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021, TSG Entertainment/Freckle Films/MWM Studios/Semi-Formal Productions) Featuring Jessica Chastain, Andrew Garfield, Cherry Jones and Vincent D'Onofrio. Screenplay by Abe Sylvia. Directed by Michael Showalter. I am 9 years old, sitting alone in front of our TV at home watching The PTL Club. Jim and Tammy Bakker are in polyester and … Continue reading The One Review: The Eyes of Tammy Faye
With a mocking smile, he placed one hand upon my shoulder and, holding me tight, bared my throat with the other, saying as he did so: 'First, a little refreshment to reward my exertions...' And oh, my God, my God, pity me! He placed his reeking lips upon my throat!Mina Harker narrates in Bram Stoker’s … Continue reading Horror in Store, Part 1: Dracula’s Influence
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)
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
The film year during Covid began with a gawk-inducing attempt by Wonder Woman Gal Gadot to bring sunshine into people’s lives affected by lockdown by assembling a star-studded line-up to collectively sing John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’, and it ended with Tom Cruise giving a foul-mouthed tirade to a few people who stood too close to each … Continue reading Film in 2020: Best and Worst in a Year of Few
As is often the case, I don’t always get to see the films I was recommended or wanted to see in the year that they were made and/or released. There are just too many to get to, and anyway, I don’t get paid for reviewing films. I do this stuff for my own pleasure and … Continue reading Film in 2020: Firm Favourites among Last Year’s Late Releases
The cinematic form took on a new and exciting shape for Hollywood in the 1970s. This blog has made reference to it many times. Like the French New Wave, New American film-making borrowed from other times and places too. Home-grown directors took the reins, but sometimes their selected crew were internationally renowned and experienced. Together, … Continue reading Cinematography of the World – Part 3: Terrence Malick’s Vision of an American Heaven
Momentary Cinema 