Based on the play God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza, Roman Polanski’s latest directorial effort revolves around two couples who get together in an attempt to resolve a fight between their sons, but succeed only in bickering amongst themselves. It’s a story that surely many parents can relate to; nobody likes to be criticised on… [Read more…]
February 7, 2012
We first experienced the brilliant cinematic partnership of British director Steve McQueen and actor Michael Fassbender in McQueen’s 2008 feature-length debut, Hunger. Clearly, both parties knew they were on to a good thing, as McQueen has since cast Fassbender again, this time in the role of a man trapped by his addiction to sex. Shame… [Read more…]
January 29, 2012
With a total of 10 nominations for this year’s upcoming Academy Awards, The Artist has largely proven to be a hit amongst both audiences and critics. Taking its inspiration from Hollywood’s silent era, the film’s fictional narrative focuses on George (Jean Dujardin), an actor who falls from popularity with the advent of the ‘talkies’. His… [Read more…]
January 22, 2012
The Iron Lady on one hand is a political biopic of Britain’s first female Prime Minister, following the expected narrative structure charting her rise through parliament and eventual downfall. What sets this film apart is the present day strand of the story, which depicts Thatcher as an elderly dementia sufferer who has constant hallucinations of… [Read more…]
January 22, 2012
Just a quick update – I am now also contributing writings on film to Art Film Now, a website set up by an Art History student friend of mine. My first article is up there now and discusses director David Lynch’s background in painting and the way that some of his favourite painters appear to… [Read more…]
January 7, 2012
WARNING: This analysis contains a lot of spoilers. Stop reading now if you don’t want any of the book/film(s) ruined for you. David Fincher’s recently released film adaptation of Swedish crime novel The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson has caused some debate amongst cinema-goers due to its graphic representation of sexual abuse… [Read more…]
December 31, 2011
British realist cinema has a tradition of focusing on class divisions, particularly highlighting the troubles of working-class people and contrasting their lives with that of the middle-class. Initially it seems that Paddy Considine’s first directorial effort – Tyrannosaur – is more of the same, but as the story progresses it becomes all too clear that… [Read more…]
November 13, 2011
I could literally write a whole review focusing simply on the opening scene of We Need to Talk About Kevin, which although containing no dialogue says so much implicitly. An overhead shot of a huge mass of people writhing in tomato juice appears at first sight to be something more sinister; we automatically associate the… [Read more…]
October 27, 2011
If you’re looking to watch a pleasant fairy-tale featuring a beautiful princess who – cursed by a wicked witch – pricks her finger on a spindle and falls into a deep sleep, which can only be broken by a kiss from Prince Charming, please be aware that this is most definitely not what you’re looking… [Read more…]
February 14, 2012
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