It’s hard to discuss the breakdown and disillusionment of British and American culture of the 1960s going into the new decade, one of the richest and most well-documented periods in modern art, without bringing up The Rolling Stones. Throughout the scattering of the flower power movement and the Manson Murders, […]
Reviews
Underworld Beauty (1958) A solid noir from Seijun Suzuki
Across his filmography, Japanese filmmaker Seijun Suzuki was known for an irreverent style which prioritized entertainment over plot. At the most prominent era of his career, the creative mostly made B-movies for Nikkatsu Company, culminating with one of his best known works, 1967’s Branded to Kill. On the other end […]
High and Low (1963) – A high bar, lo and behold
If you compiled a list of the all-time greatest and most influential directors, that list would be incomplete without Akira Kurosawa. Many of his films have had a severe impact upon western audiences, whether it is The Hidden Fortress being a massive influence on Star Wars, Seven Samurai (and its […]
Sunray: Fallen Soldier (2025): IRL RMCs take easy targets in exploitation actioner
“Alright troops, here’s the mission. We’re on home turf, but things are going to get gritty and dirty; we’re storming warehouses, derelict buildings, maybe even a drug den or two. The odds will be against us: they’ve got the numbers, but we’ve got the know-how to make this work. Our […]
Il Posto + I Fidanzati (1961/1963) Love and Work; the Original Four Letter Words
Following Weak Spot, Radiance’s second release of the week is a double bill from the acclaimed Italian neorealist filmmaker Ermanno Olmi. The set comprises two of his earliest features, 1961’s Il Posto and 1963’s I Fidanzati, each of whose themes are the original four-letter words—love and work—and Italy’s post-war industrialization […]
The Cell (2000) – A sumptuous journey into a dark dreamscape
Across his decades-long career, Tarsem Singh (known professionally as Tarsem) built himself a following as a director. A reliable presence who delivers eye-catching visuals, this status was solidified by directing music videos (including the award-winning video for R.E.M.’s Losing My Religion), and commercials (including a famous Pepsi one which combines […]
Weak Spot (1975) Part paranoid thriller, part curious buddy movie
Radiance once again does admirable work this week, salvaging yet another classic piece of 70s European cinema from unfair obscurity. The Blu-ray release in question is Weak Spot, a 1975 co-production between France, Italy, and Germany, shot in Greece by director Peter Fleischmann. The film is based on a 1965 […]
Incubus (1966) Pure Kitsch by way of Bergman?
Incubus’s credentials seem to be pure kitsch. A forgotten independent horror film starring Captain Kirk and the guy who killed Mickey Rooney’s wife, shot in a made-up language. Job’s a good ‘un. Get Mystery Science Theater 3000 on the phone. But as Arrow’s excellent new Blu-Ray release reveals, there’s much […]
Mikey and Nicky (1976): Little Boys in Big Boys Games
Coming to Blu-ray courtesy of the Criterion Collection from 13th January is Elaine May’s 1976 gangster movie Mikey and Nicky. Starring regular collaborators John Cassavetes and Peter Falk, May’s movie capitalises on the pair’s natural chemistry, lending great authenticity to their roles of lifelong friends. Set over the course of […]
The Usual Suspects (1995): better left in the ’90s?
The singer/songwriter Ethel Cain recently kicked off a minor cultural debate by saying she was sick of irony. “There is such a loss of sincerity, and everything has to be a joke all the time”, she complained, making me feel deeply relieved for her: at least the 26-year-old Cain wasn’t […]