Category Archives: Uncategorized
The Lobster
I tried hard to dislike this film for being pretentious and a pale imitation of my hero Luis Bunuel but… the twisted sad logic continues to echo. Unimaginative but if I failed the film’s central premise of finding love, I’d … Continue reading
Irrational Man
Perhaps Woody should leave the ideas scribbled on yellow notepads locked in the drawer. This isn’t even A Level philosophy. It’s a blunt mind in search of a sharpener. Still, like the sucker I am for anything with his name … Continue reading
The lie that is five stars
My regular go-to critics are Peter Bradshaw in The Guardian and Nigel Andrews in the FT. But I’m losing faith. The following quite disparate films are all given five stars or thereabouts: MISTRESS AMERICA, THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL, … Continue reading
Low Expectations
Where have all our expectations gone? MR HOLMES, yet another spin on a rehash on a tired story is merely adequate. The film that took the biggest box office ever in its opening weekend, JURASSIC WORLD is also another spin … Continue reading
Clouds of Sils Maria
An overcooked Europudding where Juliette Binoche constantly and extravagantly emotes even when she’s pretending to be quiet, and everyone else in the movie tries to keep up with her. This film has been described as a female BIRDMAN. Another noisy … Continue reading
Far from the Madding Crowd
The sword display with Terence Stamp and Julie Christie was sexier… the whole film was. I was disappointed by Vinterberg’s new go at it. Nowhere to be found is the austerity needed to underpin the tragic moments acting … Continue reading
While We’re Young
OK so Ben Stiller is me: bitter that the film he’s been obsessing over for ten years and driving his wife nuts, hasn’t seen the light of day. Except mine did and Gaby only gave me heroic encouragement all … Continue reading
Blind
I sneak out at lunchtime in time honoured fashion to the smartly refurbished Curzon Bloomsbury (nee Renoir) to see Norwegian obscurity, BLIND. Inventive and an absorbing journey into a blind woman’s head…. troubled, suspicious even paranoid about her slightly gormless … Continue reading
Return with thoughts on STILL ALICE
Once again, on reflection, my opinion of a movie does a volte face. Perhaps STILL ALICE is in fact a quiet masterpiece of just being there (another great movie). No three act structure no journey the screenwritingclassteacher’s bête noir. Anathema … Continue reading
To Fiona 6 a.m. Arabia
Each grain of sand contains within it the entire knowledge of the universe, each breath of wind all of time. You have flown while I watched the scimitar sliver of a pale mooncrescent rise over the prussian blue heat. … Continue reading
Notes on THE SEA 