It’s late Edo-period Japan. An acting troupe from Osaka has arrived in the capital city to perform. Thieves and pickpockets stalk their prey among the paying audience, while merchants and aristocrats watch from the balcony seats. Yukinojo, a slightly paunchy onnagata (kabuki actor who plays female roles), sits centre stage, […]
Reviews
ReBorn (2016) Tak Sakaguchi’s return is a case of mixed blessings (Review)
Tak Sakaguchi retiring was a bit of a running joke once upon a time, with news reports flipping sides on a near-daily basis. “Today he isn’t retiring, tomorrow he is”. Unfortunately, the ‘speed master’, friend of Sion Sono, and surprisingly good actor within the martial arts community faded from our […]
Shirley: Visions of Reality (2013) A Beautiful, Off-Kilter recreation of Edward Hopper’s Painting (Review)
Twin Peaks The Return Episode 15 (The Rewatch)
Twin Peaks the Return Episode 15 MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS THERE’S SOME FEAR IN LETTING GO In the end, Twin Peaks: The Return is all about time. Arriving after Laura Palmer’s prophesied twenty-five-year interval, it embraces the fact that the world is different now. The Black Lodge has spread its influence, Lucy […]
Twin Peaks The Return Episode 14 (The Rewatch)
Beyond the Woods (2018) Irish Low-Budget Horror whose characters trump all (Review)
Twin Peaks The Return Episode 12 (The Rewatch)
Hotel Salvation (2017) a respectful, tender exploration of old age and dying (Review)
It’s not easy being an independent film-maker anywhere in the world, but spare a thought for Indian directors outside the system. This should be their time: films like Chaitanya Tamhane’s Court have cleaned up at international film festivals, while directors like Anurag Kashyap (Gangs of Wasseypur), Vishal Bhardwaj (Omkara) and R. […]
Twin Peaks The Return Episode 11 (The Rewatch)
Twin Peaks The Return Episode 11 MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS THERE’S FIRE WHERE YOU ARE GOING So far, Agent Cooper has spent seven non-consecutive episodes being nothing but completely bizarre, and everyone he meets – from Janey-E to the Detectives Fusco to Bud Mullins – has created a tenuous rational explanation […]