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Author Archives: Ross Birks
Cobra (1985)
Cobra is one of a handful of action movies Sylvester Stallone wrote and starred in during the 80s (outside of the Rocky and Rambo films) and the legend goes he pretty much directed this one too. As Lieutenant Marion ‘Cobra’ Cobretti, Stallone goes up against … Continue reading
Posted in Movies Watched In 2017, Reviews
Tagged Brigitte Nielsen, Cobra, Sylvester Stallone
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Rocky IV (1985)
Stallone never really gets his due as a filmmaker. Anyone who believes in the auteur theory could make a serious case for Stallone just by looking at the Rockyseries. I love these movies because of how he utilised them to reflect … Continue reading
Posted in Movies Watched In 2017, Reviews, Rewatch
Tagged Dolph Lundgren, Rocky IV, Sylvester Stallone
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Singles (1992)
Probably Cameron Crowe’s lightest film (during his “on” period at least) in terms of content but the snapshot – or “single” as opposed to “album” – presentation makes it pleasingly episodic and breezy. It’s essentially a collection of vignettes, each … Continue reading
Posted in Movies Watched In 2017, Reviews
Tagged Bridget Fonda, cameron crowe, Kyra Sedgwick, Matt Dillon, Singles
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Darkman (1990)
Essentially a dry-run for a lot of ideas Raimi would retool for his Spider-Mantrilogy, but considered on its own terms – as a 1990 made-for-screen comic book movie – Darkman is a fun little curio. Green-lit and released hot on the heels of … Continue reading
Posted in Movies Watched In 2017, Reviews, Rewatch
Tagged Bill Pope, Darkman, Frances McDormand, Larry Drake, Liam Neeson, Sam Raimi
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Raising Cain (1991)
DIRECTOR’S CUT A fascinating re-assembly that restores De Palma’s original structure before he got cold feet and made it more linear to avoid confusion amongst audiences. I rewatched the theatrical version just before this and, for anyone savvy to De … Continue reading
Posted in Movies Watched In 2017, Reviews, Rewatch
Tagged Brian De Palma, John Lithgow, Raising Cain
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The Sixth Sense (1999)
Weird how this was a major studio release in 1999 and in today’s landscape it looks and feels like anything but. An achingly personal portrait of haunted psyches and oppressive spaces that unfolds at exactly the pace it needs to … Continue reading
The Matrix (1999)
“I know you’re out there. I can feel you now. I know that you’re afraid. You’re afraid of us. You’re afraid of change. I don’t know the future. I didn’t come here to tell you how this is going to … Continue reading
Tale of Tales (2016)
It’s easy to get lost in this movie for the initial stretch because of the gorgeous world-building and visuals. There’s a barrage of heightened, fantasy imagery shot like grotesque pastels. It’s a storybook reality and one of the best I’ve … Continue reading
Posted in Movies Watched In 2016, Reviews
Tagged John C. Reilly, Matteo Garrone, Salma Hayek, Stacy Martin, Tale of Tales, Vincent Cassell
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Hell or High Water (2016)
The film’s quiet greatness is way more potent upon rewatch. So much to chew on here. The slow-burning sense of the inevitable that looms over everything is really something. It’s not exactly dread, it’s sadder than that, more human. There are car … Continue reading
Posted in Movies Watched In 2016, Reviews, Rewatch
Tagged Ben Foster, Chris Pine, David Mackenzie, Hell or High Water, jeff bridges, Taylor Sheridan
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The Box (2009)
“I like mystery. Don’t you?” Man, seven years have done The Box a lot of favours. It’s jumped up at least two stars since I first saw it and watching it today, in 2016, every weird and puzzling little flourish feels less … Continue reading
Posted in Movies Watched In 2016, Reviews, Rewatch
Tagged cameron diaz, Frank Langella, James Marsden, Richard Kelly, The Box
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"This Film Should Be Played Loud" 