REVIEW: I Stand Alone (1998)
An unemployed, nameless horse butcher (Philippe Nahon) living in northern France violently assaults his wife, steals a gun, and makes his way home to Paris – where he plans his revenge against a society that has left him feel alone … Continue reading REVIEW: I Stand Alone (1998)
REVIEW: The Olive Tree (2016)
A broken family leads a young woman on a mission to repair it in Icíar Bollaín’s wonderfully heartfelt and enjoyable 2016 drama The Olive Tree. Alma (Anna Castillo) is the adult daughter of Spanish chicken farmer Luis (Miguel Angel Aladren). Her … Continue reading REVIEW: The Olive Tree (2016)
REVIEW: Nightbreed: The Director’s Cut (1990)
Aaron Boone (Craig Sheffer), convinced that he is a uncontrollable serial killer, seeks to find the rumoured secret city of Midian – a place where monsters are said to go. He is trailed by his therapist (David Cronenberg), actually the … Continue reading REVIEW: Nightbreed: The Director’s Cut (1990)
REVIEW: Hocus Pocus (1993)
With the various coronavirus lockdowns and restrictions keeping many cinemas around the world shut, Hollywood’s various studios and distributors have been understandable reluctant to release many films in 2020. Those cinemas that have remained open, however, have struggled with a … Continue reading REVIEW: Hocus Pocus (1993)
REVIEW: Clear and Present Danger (1994)
Tom Clancy was a hugely successful author, combining military action and political intrigue in a long series of novels – mostly featuring protagonist Jack Ryan. Their popularity naturally led to Hollywood knocking on Clancy’s door; the first result was John … Continue reading REVIEW: Clear and Present Danger (1994)
REVIEW: Drug War (2013)
When mid-level drug boss Timmy Choi (Louis Koo) is captured by mainland Chinese police – led by the stoic Captain Zhang (Sun Honglei) – he turns traitor on his underground empire, leading the cops into a complicated sting operation to shut … Continue reading REVIEW: Drug War (2013)
REVIEW: Sadako (2019)
Horror films seem to lend themselves to franchises, as audiences crave to revisit the monsters and villains that entertained them so much in the earlier instalments. There is more often than not a gradual drop in quality as these franchises … Continue reading REVIEW: Sadako (2019)
REVIEW: The Haunting (1963)
We never deserved Robert Wise. Sure, he won two Best Director awards at the Oscars. He absolutely received acclaim for many of his films over the decades. I don’t think anybody claims he was untalented or an ordinary filmmaker. When … Continue reading REVIEW: The Haunting (1963)
REVIEW: The Hitman’s Bodyguard (2017)
When progressive or experimental films make unexpected breakthroughs in how to tell stories on screen, they are rightfully praised. Sometimes, however, it worth stepping back and also acknowledging quality mainstream work: films that do not reinvent or transform anything, but … Continue reading REVIEW: The Hitman’s Bodyguard (2017)
REVIEW: The Rambling Guitarist (1959)
Young street musician Shinji Taki (Akira Kobayashi) wanders into the northern Japanese city Hakodate and straight into the affairs of local mob boss Akitsu (Nobuo Kaneko). Taki gets assigned to force a nearby family to vacate their house so that … Continue reading REVIEW: The Rambling Guitarist (1959)
