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”

Film Review: Liza Minnelli-The Last Heiress of Hollywood

Lucie Caries’ film about Hollywood icon Liza Minnelli is candid and moving, precisely because her subject isn’t afraid to speak openly and honestly about her tragedies as well as triumphant moments.So there’s battles with drugs and drink; unsuitable romances, Bob Fosse, Studio 54, Andy Warhol , Michael Jackson, AIDS activism, and a Pet Shop BoysContinue reading “Film Review: Liza Minnelli-The Last Heiress of Hollywood”

Theatre Review: Sunset Boulevard- The Backstage Cut

Perth Theatre, 9th of May, 2026. Writer and director Morag Fullarton follows the winning formula she created with Casablanca: The Gin Joint Cut, with this, at once deconstruction of and homage to the classic Billy Wilder Hollywood satire. This isn’t the play’s first rodeo though- its first iteration was at A Play A Pie andContinue reading “Theatre Review: Sunset Boulevard- The Backstage Cut”

Vintage Film Review: Quadrophenia (1979)

“We are the mods, we are the mods, we are, we are, we are the mods”. Few chants are as iconic in British cinema as Franc Roddam’s peerless Quadrophenia. With a star- making turn from Phil “Park life!” Daniels as frustrated “face” Jimmy, plus brilliant support from the likes of Jamie Winstone, Sting, Leslie Ash,Continue reading “Vintage Film Review: Quadrophenia (1979)”

Theatre Review : The High Life The Musical

Photos: Tommy Ga-Ken Wan Dundee Rep Theatre, April 4th,2026. Who better than Johnny McKnight, Scotland’s first dame of Pantoland and legendary comedy writer, to team up with Alan Cumming and Forbes Masson to pen this late capitalist airline romp? Naebody, that’s who. This comedic menage a trois, adapting the fictional Air Scotia, come with someContinue reading “Theatre Review : The High Life The Musical”

Overlooked Classic: Young Adult (2011)

“She wears denim wherever she goes/Says she’s gonna get some records by The Status Quo/Oh, yeah”… You’ve got to love a film which begins with Teenage Fanclub’s ‘The Concept’ blasting out on an old car tape deck. So begins Diablo Cody’s masterful Young Adult, starring Charlize Thereon as the particularly vituperative Mavis Gray, a (barely)Continue reading “Overlooked Classic: Young Adult (2011)”

Album Review: New German Cinema – Pain Will Polish Me

Nobody makes sad synth- pop quite like British bands. Jessica Weiss’s solo project New German Cinema mine the saddest parts of alt-pop from the last forty years to the present day, and spin it into literate, desolate loveliness. It’s haunting and crepuscular, best enjoyed on trains at nighttime. Weiss’ vocals, like Broadcast’s Trish Keenan andContinue reading “Album Review: New German Cinema – Pain Will Polish Me”

Overlooked Classic : Sonic Youth -EVOL (1986)

The front cover shows Lung Leg, in a still from Richard Kern’s notorious film Submit To Me, doing her typically fucked-up, possessed writhing. Kern of course had collaborated with Sonic Youth on the ‘Death Valley 69’ video, but EVOL, which remains my favourite Sonic Youth album beside Daydream Nation, is a much different beast thanContinue reading “Overlooked Classic : Sonic Youth -EVOL (1986)”

Documentary Review: The Myth of Marilyn Monroe

  What an utter train wreck of a documentary, The Myth of Marilyn Monroe is. Directed by Oliver Elphick, it charts her rise and fall, with some historical context of America in the fifties, as opposed to telling her life story with any nuance. Instead, fairytale rags to riches clichés abound. The American Dream symbolismContinue reading “Documentary Review: The Myth of Marilyn Monroe”

Album Review: James Adrian Brown -Forever Neon Lights

Former Pulled Apart By Horses guitarist James Adrian Brown’s debut album is an eerie but slick series of beats, sitting somewhere between Boards Of Canada and Gold Panda. His choppy electronics are heavy but beautiful, warped yet melodic. These paradoxes make his sound interesting. Contradictions in sonics are always welcome with me. He may notContinue reading “Album Review: James Adrian Brown -Forever Neon Lights”