DVD: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (1990) What happens to the people in Shakespeare’s plays, when they are not actually on the stage? Well in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead you get a peep behind the curtains. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern from Shakespeare’s Hamlet are former school friends of the Danish Prince, and Hamlet’s stepdad and uncle, King […]
Blu-ray: The Falcon and the Snowman (1985) After watching The Falcon and the Snowman I’m surprised that I hadn’t heard about it before, especially considering the talent involved. This excellent film is even more fascinating as it is based on actual events in the lives of Christopher Boyce and Andrew Daulton Lee. Not heard of […]
Cinema: 13 Hours (2016) On September 11th 2012 in Benghazi, Libya, the American Embassy was attacked by Islamic militants. One mile away was a CIA compound where 6 contracted soldiers broke rank and went to assist the American ambassador and his minimal security. The same six men then had to defend the CIA compound from […]
Blu-ray: The Adventures of Hercules II (1985) The Adventures of Hercules 2. Sequel to Luigi Cozzi’s 1983 mad fest. A star vehicle for body builder turned actor Lou Ferrigno, who was already know from TV’s The Incredible Hulk. Ferrigno is literally here to flex a lot as he is dubbed entirely by what sounds like […]
Blu-ray: Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine (1965) ‘Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine’. No, it’s not a new Rob Zombie song, it’s actually 101 Films new Blu_ray release of this obscure, ‘screwball’ sci-fi/comedy from 1965. Screwball is the only accurate word I can summon to describe what was offered up here. As far as the […]
Dual Format: Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls (1970) An all-female band try to make it in Hollywood with the aid of a new manager, Ronnie ‘Z Man’ Barzell (John Lazar). It’s rare I find it difficult to write about a film, but I must admit this one has me flumped. It’s all I can do […]
Cinema: The Revenant (2015) I remember watching the much lauded Birdman when it came out and thought ‘this is a bit annoying’; the soundtrack, the frenetic pace and visuals, the close-up camera work. The acting was good, the story a bit ‘meh’ and I was unimpressed. Having seen Inarritu’s other films (Babel, Biutiful) no one could […]
Streaming: Operator (2015) Funded by Kickstarter, Operator was inspired by a genuine 999 call. Director/writer Caroline Bartleet heard and recognised the dramatic possibilities of giving us a brief glimpse into just one fire service phone call. Short films have to be quick and punchy and it’s rare to find a 5 minute film telling a […]
Cinema: Creed (2015) Nine years after Sylvester Stallone figuratively and literally waved goodbye to everyone as Rocky at the end of Rocky Balboa, he returns to the big screen in Ryan Coogler’s ‘Creed’. No longer providing the body (in more than one sense of the word) of the movie, Stallone is without doubt the beating heart that pumps the […]
DVD/Blu-ray: The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973) Eddie Coyle is looking at a stretch in prison and doesn’t want to leave his wife and kids reliant on welfare. He works for Jimmy Scalisi, supplying him with guns for a couple of bank jobs, but a cop named Foley is on to Eddie and he’s trying […]