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Author Archives: Ross Birks
Pete’s Dragon (2016)
David Lowery hasn’t really been my bag in the past (meaning I didn’t think much to Aint Them Bodies Saints) but his emotionally wrought, golden heart sensibility proves to be a great fit for Disney. Pete’s Dragon is quiet and gentle and told … Continue reading
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Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)
I don’t know when it became a part of my DNA but somewhere along the line the imagery of the Creature from the Black Lagoon became synonymous with the words “B-movie”, “creature feature” and any subsequent variation. If you said B-movie to … Continue reading
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The Beguiled (2017)
A delicious and schlocky B-thriller distilled from Don Siegel’s original film then bottled into Sofia Coppola’s own distinct brand of cinematic perfume. I just love her eye. All of those postcard shots of the women together in their dresses bathed … Continue reading
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Men in Black (1997)
Caught this on TV and ended up sitting through the whole thing, and I never watch movies on TV. I thought I saw this enough times in my childhood to last a lifetime but evidently not. From script to casting, this is … Continue reading
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The Invisible Man (1933)
James Whale is my man. This really wasn’t the film I was expecting for some reason. Didn’t expect the snowy town setting at all or the fact that the Invisible Man himself is basically the villain of his own movie. … Continue reading
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It Comes at Night (2017)
I loved Shults’s previous movie Krisha but this just did nothing for me. A “horror” movie totally embarrassed by the word horror. Luckily I like the cast and, yeah, it’s well made, just so not my bag. I hate this modern trend … Continue reading
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Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
What a blast. After two previously fizzled-out attempts at getting a Spidey franchise off the ground, it should come as no surprise to find this third attempt, finally under the Marvel Studios banner – that Homecoming in the title comes with a … Continue reading
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Django Unchained (2012)
That wobbly and kinda unnecessary last (fifth?) act keeps this from being a total slam-dunk for me. Kerry Washington’s Broomhilda is disappointingly under-developed too, making this the only QT movie with a relatively lifeless and undistinguished female lead (Reservoir Dogs excluded … Continue reading
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Experiment in Terror (1962)
As someone only familiar with Blake Edwards through his colourful comedies and Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Experiment in Terror was especially surprising. In total contrast to those movies, this film is truly, deeply sinister. The unravelling mystery at the centre is … Continue reading
Dracula (1931)
I know this is a “classic” but this is bad. No atmosphere. No sense of threat, tension or peril. Lugosi is hammy as hell. Kinda stupid overall. Even for 1931, this is poor. Look at Whale’s direction on Frankenstein then watch this. … Continue reading
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"This Film Should Be Played Loud" 