Many years ago my Dad introduced me to the joys of the comedy album, sitting me down with him and listening to The Goons, Blaster Bates, and Monty Python. Both of us laughing like mad…especially when there was something a bit rude in it. As I grew older I bought albums by Billy Connolly, Derek […]
When ‘Pills an’ Thrills and Bellyaches’ came out in 1990, I was living in Los Angeles writing about whatever new thrash group was around, so the Manchester (“Madchester”) scene with its new wave of music totally passed me by. It was on my return to Wales and seeing my younger brother and sister in dayglow […]
Blu-ray: Secret Friends (1991)Imagine if you will, that the majority of movies you watch at your local multiplex are the cinematic equivalent of artwork by Bob Ross…easy to look at landscapes that can tell a full story with a few cursory looks.Now imagine the cinematic equivalent of artwork by Jackson Pollock…made while he’s in the […]
Blu-ray: Endless Night (1972) Adapted from Agatha Christie’s novel of the same name, Endless Night stars Hywel Bennett as Michael Rogers; a young man who bounces from job to job, but has a long held dream of owning a picturesque piece of land called ‘Gypsy’s Acre’. While working as a chauffeur, Michael meets Ellie Thomson (Hayley […]
DVD & Digital: The Trial of Christine Keeler (2019)Most people under 50 will have no idea what the ‘Profumo Affair’ was, so the BBC making a series about it was surprising, but then in an age where no one really knows for sure how many children our Prime Minister Boris Johnson has with various concubines, […]
Blu-ray, DVD & Digital: The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019) Boy do I love a feel-good film. Unfortunately there’s a fine line between feel-good and sloppy, where overly emotional histrionics ruin the story. Thankfully The Peanut Butter Falcon only has a few small hokey hiccups, but it is overwhelmingly a feel-good movie…emphasis on GOOD. I like Shia […]
DVD & Digital Download: Primal (2019) Frank Walsh (Nicolas Cage) is a hunter of exotic animals, he catches them then sells them to the highest bidder. On one hunt he unexpectedly (using a knock out potion of his own invention) catches an ultra-rare albino jaguar. He excitedly returns to the remote Brazilian village ready to […]
DVD & Digital: Disturbing the Peace (2020) Jim Dillon (Guy Pearce) is a small town Marshal who hasn’t picked up a gun in 10 years after a hostage situation went wrong and ended with him shooting and paralysing his partner when they were both Texas Rangers. Jim is distraught when hearing that his ex-partner has […]
Blu-ray & DVD: Judy (2019)Fat (not fat), insanely talented and mother-controlled Frances Gumm had her name changed by the studio she was signed to as a nemesis to Shirley Temple. Possessing a singing voice that soared and big brown eyes that could wring you dry, she was a gold mine for Louis B. Mayer. Forced to […]
Blu-Ray: Under The Shadow (2016) Great films normally reflect the time and occurrences of what’s going on at that time, and Under the Shadow is a perfect example of this. It’s Tehran in the late 80’s and Shideh (Narges Rashidi) isn’t allowed to return to university to train as a doctor after the revolution because […]