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Author Archives: Ross Birks
The Chronicles of Riddick (2004)
Despite it being a terribly average movie, Pitch Black has one of my favourite concepts and worlds for a genre movie. The ideas and design are so potent that I can’t help but revisit it every now and again. My … Continue reading
Deliverance (1972)
Deliverance paved the way for the redneck rapist stereotype that still populates backwoods horror cinema, but beyond that I always have trouble pin-pointing why this movie has endured for so long. It’s certainly a strong piece of work, unbelievably 70s … Continue reading
Posted in Reviews, Rewatch
Tagged 1972, Burt Reynolds, John Boorman, Jon Voight, Ned Beatty, Ronny Cox
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Manhunter (1986)
Peak 80s Mann. All those surfaces and neon backlights. Mmmm. It’s fun to contrast this with Brett Ratner’s pointless redo Red Dragon (a film I actually enjoy for what it is and have seen a handful of times). Where that … Continue reading
Posted in Reviews, Rewatch
Tagged 1986, Brian Cox, Dennis Farina, Michael Mann, Tom Noonan, William Petersen
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The Outsiders (1983)
Like a lot of Coppola B-sides, The Outsiders is a lot better than its non-reputation would suggest. Beyond the novelty factor of seeing an ensemble of future-superstars look all young and baby-faced (Matt Dillon, Tom Cruise, Emilio Estevez, Patrick Swayze, … Continue reading
Posted in Reviews
Tagged 1983, Diane Lane, Emilio Estevez, Francis Ford Coppola, Matt Dillon, Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, Tom Cruise
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28 Days Later… (2002)
Ferocious. Shot on pre-HD DV and all the better for it. Boyle goes for the jugular and tears it the fuck out. Even the third-act, which always felt disjointed and at odds with the other two on previous watches (though … Continue reading
Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Even as a big Danny Boyle fan and someone who gave this five stars once upon a time, I can admit that Slumdog Millionaireisn’t aging well. Still, its total immersion in the textures and vibrancy of India – with all … Continue reading
Posted in Movies Watched In 2017, Reviews, Rewatch
Tagged danny boyle, Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Movies Watched In 2017, Rewatch, Slumdog Millionaire
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Trance (2013)
I can certainly understand why many find Trance underwhelming but there’s something about Danny Boyle’s presentation I find infectious. The audio/visual experience is far more interesting than the plot, characters and dialogue. Boyle has become increasingly haywire with every film he … Continue reading
Posted in Movies Watched In 2017, Reviews, Rewatch
Tagged danny boyle, James McAvoy, Movies Watched In 2017, Rewatch, Rosario Dawson, Trance, Vincent Cassell
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Jerry Maguire (1996)
I love this movie. I don’t care. Cameron Crowe’s ultimate deconstruction of the rom-com. Beginning where most movies would end (character has a moral epiphany), Jerry Maguire instead punishes its title character for even daring to step outside of the box … Continue reading
The Church (1989)
Dumb and moronic in the way a lot of late-period Argento movies are (he co-wrote this) but the dark fantasy and practical-effects imagery make any groans tolerable. It’s interesting that this as originally inteded to be Demons 3. As a … Continue reading
Posted in Movies Watched In 2017, Reviews
Tagged Asia Argento, dario argento, Michele Soavi, Movies Watched In 2017, The Church
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Rocky Balboa (2006)
Sylvester Stallone’s performance as Rocky Balboa across seven movies/forty years is one of my favourite things in movies. His emotional breakdowns in this one absolutely floor me. Also Stallone’s best script since the original Rocky. The ache, the pain, the … Continue reading
Posted in Movies Watched In 2017, Reviews, Rewatch
Tagged Burt Young, Movies Watched In 2017, Rewatch, Rocky Balboa, Sylvester Stallone
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"This Film Should Be Played Loud" 