Category Archives: Film

Film Review: A Real Pain

Jesse Eisenberg has often beautifully portrayed assholes (The Squid and the Whale, The Double, The Social Network) so it’s lovely to see him playing against type here, as well as writing and directing the film. It’s seriously impressive. He portrays uptight, neurotic but still empathic David Kaplan, a family man, who is thrown together withContinue reading “Film Review: A Real Pain”

Film Review: Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliche

It ‘s tough at the top, and it’s far from easy being the offspring of a punk legend, either. That’s the overarching theme of Celeste Bell and Paul Sing’s critically acclaimed documentary about X Ray Spex singer Poly Styrene. Narrated by Bell herself, who shares a similarly sleepy, childlike drawl with her late mother, thisContinue reading “Film Review: Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliche”

A M3gan Franchise?-No, Thanks

I finally succumbed to the hype surrounding M3gan last night and watched the British TV premiere on Channel 4. Really, I wish I hadn’t. On paper, it sounded perfect for this old goth: a scathing satire/ horror of Artificial Intelligence gone wrong through the actions of a cutesie doll prototype, initially designed as a kindContinue reading “A M3gan Franchise?-No, Thanks”

Not Coming Soon To A Multiplex Near You…

Ex-Bros. The latest episode in the Top Gun franchise focuses on two plucky young pilots and their narcissistic attempts at decimating the entire planet in a myriad of nefarious ways… Errr… I mean, the breakdown of a wholesome and utterly genuine friendship between Maverick and Goose. What went oh so wrong with the bros? TrulyContinue reading “Not Coming Soon To A Multiplex Near You…”

Overlooked Classics: The Devil and Daniel Johnston

This beautiful documentary by Jeff Feuerzeig focuses on the much missed cult singer songwriter and artist Daniel Johnston, a sensitive and thoughtful portrait of a troubled, gifted soul. Although the director takes a linear, somewhat conventional approach to Johnston’s life, he was absolutely unique, whether drawing comics and painting, or creating his beautiful, brittle music.Continue reading “Overlooked Classics: The Devil and Daniel Johnston”

Film Review: Nope (2022)

When siblings O J and Emerald (Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer) inherit their father’s horse wrangling business following his tragic death, they are also forced to confront bizarre, ectoplasmic alien entities coming from the clouds, threatening earth’s very existence. What to do? Film it, or it didn’t happen, and put it on ‘Oprah’. They are,Continue reading “Film Review: Nope (2022)”

Film Review: England Is Mine (2017)

Jack Lowden as Morrissey. Most music biopics rise and fall on the strength of their leads capturing the essence of a performer, not a simple impersonation or caricature, which would be so easy to fall into. But then, this film’s focus is on the early days of a man who eschewed empty cliches, forever breakingContinue reading “Film Review: England Is Mine (2017)”

Scream If You Love Nosferatu

Lily-Rose Depp in Nosferatu. Everyone- audiences and critics alike – seemed to adore Robert Eggers’ recent version of Nosferatu, but I must confess it left me bored. It looks beautiful, with a painterly touch homaging the German Expressionism of the 1922 F W Murnau classic. But it feels reductive, style over substance with little newContinue reading “Scream If You Love Nosferatu”

Film Review: Pauline Black: A Two Tone Story

What a brilliant, beautiful and triumphant documentary on The Selecter frontwoman Pauline Black. Directed by Jane Mingay, it’s as unflinching, witty and eloquent as Black herself. It’s not simply a music documentary, it’s also a time capsule of the divided late seventies in Britain, a fascinating insight into the formation of the Thatcher-baiting Black/white movementContinue reading “Film Review: Pauline Black: A Two Tone Story”