Smile (2022, Paramount Pictures / Temple Hill Entertainment) Featuring Sosie Bacon, Jessie T. Usher, Kyle Gallner, Robin Weigert, Caitlin Stasey and Kal Penn. Music by Cristobal Tapia de VeerWritten and directed by Parker Finn. ★★★ This Halloween I found myself craving something different so thought I'd give Smile a go. It was by far one … Continue reading The Two Reviews – Smile and Top Gun: Maverick
The Banshees of Inisherin (2022, Film4 Productions / Blueprint Pictures / TSG Entertainment) Featuring Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Kerry Condon, Pat Shortt, Jon Kenny and Barry Keoghan. Cinematography by Ben Davis. Music by Carter Burwell. Written and Directed by Martin McDonagh. ★★★★ Martin McDonagh hits all the right notes on his return to Ireland and … Continue reading The Two Reviews: The Banshees of Inisherin
You make me stare, when I should not Are you so strong or is all the weakness in me? The Weakness in Me by Joan Armatrading We all love a good love story. Sadness and happiness, tears and laughter, fear and hope - all thrown together is what makes a love story work. Hollywood developed … Continue reading The Power of Love, Part 4: Blue is the Warmest Colour (2013)
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
Me and you and you and me No matter how they toss the dice, it had to beFrom Happy Together by The Turtles There is a scene in Stephen Frears' My Beautiful Laundrette (1985) where the lead, a young British-Pakistani man played by Saeed Jaffrey, is shown having sex with his romantic partner, a neo-Nazi … Continue reading The Power of Love, Part 3: Happy Together (1997)
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)
Belfast (2021, Universal Pictures / Focus Features / Northern Ireland Screen) ★★★★★ Featuring Jamie Dornan, Caitríona Balfe, Judi Dench, Ciarán Hinds, Colin Morgan and Jude Hill. Music by Van Morrison. Written and directed by Kenneth Branagh. Belfast is a self-biographical film written and directed by Kenneth Branagh. Filmed mostly in black and white, it is … Continue reading The Two Reviews: Belfast and Nightmare Alley
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
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 2
Momentary Cinema 