Review: The Constant Gardner
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 […]
Review: Rams
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 […]
Review: Willy’s Wonderland
Streaming: Willy’s WonderlandNicolas Cage stars as ‘The Janitor’, a man of few words (very few words) who finds himself tasked with cleaning up the titular ‘Willy’s Wonderland’ (an abandoned funhouse) in order to pay off his repair bill to a local garage after his car ran over some spikes left on the road by the towns […]
Review: Columbia Noir #2
Blu-ray: Columbia Noir #1 (1947 – 58) Following on from the great Columbia Noir #1 box set released late last year, Powerhouse Films once again delves into the Columbia film archives for 6 more noir movies, all of which are are presented for the first time on Blu-ray in the UK, with The Mob, Tight Spot and […]
Review: The Nightingale
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 […]
Review: Demons 1 & 2 Limited Edition UHD
Demons is a film that I’ve loved since I first rented it on VHS many years ago, and then bought the ex-rental VHS for a price that would now get me this fantastic 2 disc UHD blu-ray set from Arrow Films. So the fact that it (and its sequel) is now available in the best […]
Review: Land of the Dead
DVD & Blu-ray: Land of the Dead (2005)George Romero’s original ‘Dead Trilogy’, consisting of Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead (make sure to hear my interview shows with Scott Reiniger and John Harrison for some inside stories about it) and Day of the Dead (myself & Tina chatted with Lori Cardille too,) […]
Review: The Buddy Holly Story
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 […]
Review: Van Helsing
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 […]
Review: Raw Force
Blu-ray: Raw Force (1982)A group of American martial arts students find themselves trapped on ‘Warriors Island’…how they got there is a story in itself, and all you need to know is that it involves a ship catching fire that is captained by Cameron Mitchell.Warriors Island is inhabited by a band of strange monks who buy […]