Mudbound is a lot of things. Adapted from Hillary Jordan’s novel by co-writers Dee Rees and Virgil Williams and directed by Rees, it is a tale of two families who face challenges that are comparable yet very different. These differences constitute the racial relations and tensions of Mississippi in the […]
Movies & Documentaries
Slotherhouse (2023) There are no Dumb Ideas, Only Terrible CGI (Review)
Picture the three toed Sloth. A majestic creature, slow yet steady, hanging from tree branches with docile confidence, basking in their South American forest environment, munching on leaves with a strong murderous rage in their heart. Oh yes, according to this movie, Slotherhouse, Sloths are natures number one adaptive predator […]
Inside (2007) Body Horror, French Extremity-Style (Review)
New French extremity holds an important place in film history and for film fans. From Baise-Moi to Martyrs to Irreversible and Raw, this movement of boundary-pushing cinema is characterised by aggressive style, graphic violence and somewhat depraved presentations of humanity. Amelie, this ain’t. Inside from 2007 more than lives up […]
The Sting of Death (1990) Scenes From a Marriage (Review)
Over the last six weeks I’ve been lucky enough to discover three new Japanese films that have been restored and released by Radiance Films that were not previously on my radar. Having spent years constantly agonising over what film to watch next, there’s something refreshing about trusting a company like […]
Kung Fu Cult Master (1993)… But Hot Damn, that action is Awesome (Review)
Louis Cha Leung Yung casts a huge shadow over the wuxia. Better known by the pen name Jin Yong, he would not only co-founded the Hong Kong newspaper Ming Pao, his wuxia novels would become essential reading and influence the genre on the large and small screen alike to this […]
Thelma & Louise (1991) Ridley Scott’s Mythic Modern American Classic (Review)
Since its original release in 1991, Thelma & Louise has become a classic and a frequently revisited and referenced one at that. A shorthand for ‘feminist film’, ‘film about women’, ‘female friendship’, ‘women who don’t need men’ and more, it is also something of an oddity in the career of […]
Documentary Shorts (Slamdance Film Festival 2024)(Review)
Like any industry film festival, Slamdance has its different strands – Graham talked about the experimental shorts, joining that there are animated shorts, and narrative shorts as well as the more traditional documentary and narrative feature sections that are also sub-divided. Fields that have some impressive alumni, with the festival […]
Goodbye and Amen (1977): Diplomacy and Dirty Tricks (Review)
Released to Blu-ray by Radiance films this week, Goodbye and Amen is director Damiano Damiani’s 1977 political thriller-cum-hostage drama, starring American actor Tony Musante of The Bird with the Crystal Plumage fame and Italian screen icon Claudia Cardinale, and featuring support from prolific Italian filoni star John Steiner and a […]
Mad Cats (2023) A Mixed Return to Japanese Madcap Comedy (Review)
There was a time in the early to mid 00s where the only type of movie you would see coming out of Japan were absurdist comedies with strange yet alluring titles. At the forefront of this was Katsuhito Ishii. With films such as Funky Forest: The First Contact, The Taste […]
I The Executioner (1968) A Brutal Neo Noir Directed by Akira Kurosawa’s Former Apprentice (Review)
Happy New Year and Happy New Radiance Films Release Day to all those who celebrate. After falling head over heels for Elegant Beast (1962), I was delighted to be jumping back into 60’s Japan for Radiance’s latest release I, The Executioner (1968), a neo-noir directed by former Akira Kurosawa protégée […]