Written and directed by David Mamet, Things Change is one of those ‘hidden gem’ movies Powerhouse Films excel at releasing under their Indicator series of releases. Gino (Don Ameche) is a quiet, considered older Italian shoe-shiner working in a repair shop in Chicago. He’s poor, lives alone, minds his own business, and gets on with life.One […]
Blu-ray: 20th Century (1934)Interestingly, 20th Century has nothing whatsoever to do with time or the studio. It is in fact, a train. The film is based on ‘Napoleon of Broadway’, a very successful play by Charles Bruce Millholland about his experiences in working for the legendary Broadway producer. This screwball comedy film directed by the great Howard Hawks and starring John Barrymore and Carole […]
DVD: The Constant Gardner (2005)The Constant Gardener, based on John le Carré’s 2001 novel of the same name, is one of those ‘well made’ British films, starring really good actors that tell a solid story about a terrible wrong that is eventually righted.Told partly in flashback, Justin Quayle (Ralph Fiennes) is a shy, quiet British diplomat in […]
Digital Platforms: Rams (2020)A remake of Grímur Hákonarson’s 2015 Icelandic film also called Rams, this is the story of 2 Australian outback brothers: the more affable Colin (Sam Neil) who tells his sheep daily how beautiful they are, and the pissed, miserable, disliked Les (Michael Caton), who despite more or less living side by side […]
Blu-ray: The Nightingale (2018) Imagine if awards ceremonies weren’t absolute shite. If only truly really GOOD films were allowed to be entered and then won. The Nightingale, an Australian film written and directed, by Jennifer Kent (The Babadook), would win best film, best screenplay and stars Aisling Franciosi as Clare and Sam Claflin as Hawkins would […]
Blu-ray: The Buddy Holly Story (1978)Made just 19 years after Holly’s tragic death aged 22 in a freak crash along with Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper, The Buddy Holly Story is a surprise, and perhaps one of the best music biography’s I’ve seen. This is largely due to an Oscar-nominated lead performance by Gary Busey, and […]
DVD & Blu-ray: Van Helsing (2004)When Van Helsing came out, despite it starring Hugh “gorgeous” Jackman, I thought ‘Nah, there’s only ONE Van Helsing, and that’s Peter Cushing’. So this was a first watch for me.Directed by the King of ‘those sort’ of films; Stephen Sommers (The Mummy, GI Joe), you know, those bonkers CG […]
Digital HD, Blu-ray & DVD: Possessor (2020)Possessor, directed and written by Brandon Cronenberg (yes, David’s son), is set in an ‘alternative reality’ of 2008, starring Andrea Riseborough as Tasya Vos; a sort of hitman for hire, Christopher Abbott as the man she ‘possesses’, Tuppence Middleton, Sean Bean, and Jennifer Jason Leigh.How can I explain the premise without ruining the story? […]
DVD & Blu-ray: 8 Mile (2002)8 Mile passed me by back in the day, and not being a rap fan I didn’t seek it out despite its director, Curtis Hanson being on my radar from The Wonder Boys and the amazing LA Confidential.Starring Eminem in his film debut, alongside Mekhi Phifer, Brittany Murphy, Michael Shannon, Anthony Mackie, and Kim Basinger, the […]
Blu-ray: The Valachi Papers (1972) Starring Charles Bronson (as Valachi) and directed by Terence Young, The Valachi Papers tells the true story of Joseph Valachi; a bag man for the New York Mob who first made the term “Cosa Nostra” known. In the early 1960s he testified to court that there was such a thing as […]
