Who killed Mr Midnight? Well, the viewers, obviously. As once- popular seventies chat show host Jack Delroy’ s ratings slump, so, he needs to do something notorious to claw them back. A psychic, and sceptic conjurer based on James Randi should (literally) do the trick. David Dastmalchian excels as the obsequious Delroy: he’s classic sleazyContinue reading “Film Review: Late Night With The Devil (2023)”
Tag Archives: Film review
Film Review: The Rolling Stones:Stones In Exile
Talk about first world problems. This insightful documentary from Stephen Kijak follows the (in)famous moment in rock history when The Stones were living as tax exiles in France in 1972, recording the classic, frankly brilliant ‘Exile On Main Street’ . Baked…and then there’s BAKED. Keef, chilling in the sun. In their fabulous interior at VilleContinue reading “Film Review: The Rolling Stones:Stones In Exile”
Film Review : Tar (2022)
Cate Blanchett gives an Oscar nominated performance as Lydia Tar, an *EGOT winning composer and conductor who is starting to spiral in real time. Written and directed by Todd Field,the film is an intense and claustrophobic study of genius, identity, cancel culture and the corrosive effects of social media. The camera acts effectively as aContinue reading “Film Review : Tar (2022)”
Film Review : Bardot
Quelle desastre! Alain Berliner’s documentary on Brigitte Bardot, which traces her turbulent childhood in a straitlaced Catholic family, to becoming the ultimate French sex siren, to animal rights activist living in La Madrague, St. Tropez in her dotage, is an utter hagiography. You’d think she walked on water. Rushing through her childhood , where weContinue reading “Film Review : Bardot”
Film Review: Gene Kelly-An American In Hollywood
Claudia Collao’s exuberant documentary on the great actor, dancer and film maker Gene Kelly looks at his rise to stardom, quest for innovation in all that he did, and above all, his egalitarian attitude that dance should be accessible to everyone, no matter where they came from. As someone who had grown up in hard-scrabbleContinue reading “Film Review: Gene Kelly-An American In Hollywood”
Film Review: God Bless Ozzy Osbourne
Mike Piscitelli and Mike Fleiss spent a few years on the road with the late Brummie rock legend Ozzy Osbourne while filming this excellent documentary. The insights they gleaned are eye-opening, to say the least, from vocal warm-ups and rituals, to paparazzi intrusion to the complete excess of a stadium band who created the blueprintContinue reading “Film Review: God Bless Ozzy Osbourne”
Film Review: Misericordia (2024)
When Jeremie (Felix Kysl) comes to pay his respects to his now deceased boss, for whom he once had a thing, it seems he may now have designs on the widow, Martine ,(Catherine Frot) too. He’s a strange presence, Jeremie, with darting eyes and a twisting mouth. Later, he gets drunk and pursues the slobbish,Continue reading “Film Review: Misericordia (2024)”
Vintage Film Review: Funny Face
Before ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ , another film looked at an intelligent young lady willing to sell her soul to capitalism: Funny Face. Despite its feel -good posturing, there lies a deeply problematic film. Stanley Donen was considered a Hollywood great, a director of great elan with the wit to back it up. This film,Continue reading “Vintage Film Review: Funny Face”
Film Review : Billy Idol Should Be Dead
When I was a kid, Billy Idol epitomised the naughty boy we all fancied. He was always a bit cheeky, but we knew that. What we didn’t know was that he was also a heroin addict. Jonas Akerlund’s documentary about the former William Broad, who grew up in Bromley and reinvented himself as “punk” singerContinue reading “Film Review : Billy Idol Should Be Dead”
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)”