Vintage Film Review: How To Marry A Millionaire (1953)

On the surface, the classic 1953 Hollywood comedy How To Marry A Millionaire directed by Jean Negulesco, is the usual sexist nonsense, very much of its time, focusing as the title suggests on three models each of whose sole purpose in life is to be an attractive gold digger, dedicating all their time to seekingContinue reading “Vintage Film Review: How To Marry A Millionaire (1953)”

Overrated Crap: The Piano 💩

What nonsense Jane Campion’s drama The Piano is. A steaming pile of horse shit, masquerading as meditation on love, the transcendental nature of music, and disability. An elective mute, Ada, portrayed by Holly Hunter, moves to New Zealand with her young child Flora, and emotes using only her piano. That’s it. That’s the entire film.Continue reading “Overrated Crap: The Piano 💩”

TV Review: Falling

Series 1, Episode 1. Jack Thorne’s brand new series stars Keeley Hawes as Anna, a nun who falls for priest Father David (Paapa Essiedu). This notion of renouncing religion for desire has of course been covered many times: think of classic film ‘Black Narcissus ‘ ; the TV series ‘The Thorn Birds’ , or moreContinue reading “TV Review: Falling”

Lost In Music: These New Puritans- Inside The Rose

I was wrong about this album at the time- I only gave it four stars when I reviewed it in The Wee Review. It’s a five star album. It’s a masterpiece, start to finish.George and Jack, I was wrong. From the Reichian percussion of opening track ‘Infinity Vibraphones’ to the languid eroticism of the titleContinue reading “Lost In Music: These New Puritans- Inside The Rose”

Overlooked Classic: Hedwig and the Angry Inch

There had been much speculation around the titular character of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Who was she based on? Jayne County was mooted, and indeed she herself , having seen the premise, thought the story was hers. Indeed, other lesser known artists also saw themselves in Hedwig. But according to the film’s creator andContinue reading “Overlooked Classic: Hedwig and the Angry Inch”

Vintage Film Review: Royal Ballet-Romeo and Juliet

This ballet , first screened on TV in 1977, was choreographed by Kenneth McMillan, and features the legendary pairing of Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev at the height of their powers. It goes without saying that the emphasis was on storytelling, with the onus on the leads, whose movement vocabulary was emotive and dynamic, particularlyContinue reading “Vintage Film Review: Royal Ballet-Romeo and Juliet”

The Tony Ferrino Musical: Silence Of The Lambs

Steve Coogan’s lesser-known character Tony Ferrino has been on my radar a lot lately, because of the Eurovision (Bulgaria won, incidentally.) Who could resist this stylish, moustachioed lothario; part Julio Iglesias, part Tom Jones, but all love stallion? This swingin’ number about a certain serial killer is possibly even better than Spinal Tap’s spirited paeanContinue reading “The Tony Ferrino Musical: Silence Of The Lambs”

Archive Review: Grimalkin 555, Buzzcut 2017

thetempohouse April 18, 2017 • Spoilt Victorian Child Grimalkin 555: ‘No Demoniacs!’ Govan Parish Church  We are gathered here tonight to bear witness to horror screen misogyny: to torture; mutilation, stabbing, strangulation, asphyxiation, hurtling bodies off buildings.All in glorious monochrome and Technicolor: women in the final death throes, hysterical and helpless, dying, endlessly dying,and all so beautifully.Continue reading “Archive Review: Grimalkin 555, Buzzcut 2017”