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Author Archives: Ross Birks
Culloden (1964)
A blistering combination of drama and documentary techniques that Peter Watkins practically pioneered. I’m struck by how groundbreaking Watkins approach feels. What an inspired way to present this topic and make it resonate with and be relevant for modern audiences, … Continue reading
Fool for Love (1985)
I recently read Sam Shepard’s play Fool for Love so figured it’s as good as time as any to finally check this one off the old Robert Altman watchlist. Fool for Love is just one of many stage-to-screen adaptations Altman made in the … Continue reading
Posted in Movies Watched In 2016, Reviews
Tagged Fool for Love, Harry Dean Stanton, Kim Basinger, Rand Quaid, robert altman, Sam Shepard
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Murder on the Orient Express (1974) or: How Albert Finney Can Save Your Movie
A great case-study in how one great performance can make a movie worthwhile. Murder on the Orient Express is exquisitely constructed. Director Sidney Lumet handles the sprawling cast with ease and constantly fills the frame with lush period-detail. It’s as glitz and … Continue reading
Mysterious Object at Noon (2000)
A stunning, form-defying debut from Apichatpong Weerasethakul. His use of the “exquisite corpse” technique to build an ever-evolving storyline is wonderful. The film’s combination of fictional off-shoots and personal testimonials from genuine faces really makes it a unique viewing experience, … Continue reading
Symptoms (1974)
A very atmospheric and textured (mmm that grainy 35mm photography) slice of British gothic filmmaking from 1974. This movie represented the UK at Cannes back in the day before disappearing into almost total obscurity. Symptoms has finally been rediscovered with the BFI … Continue reading
Posted in Movies Watched In 2016, Reviews
Tagged Angela Pleasance, Jose Ramon Larraz, Symptoms
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The Zero Boys (1986)
My second trip into Mastorakis land following Island of Death last year. I’ve thought about that movie way more than I expected to since first seeing it so of-course I’m going to give The Zero Boys a go. This is a silly movie, but … Continue reading
Posted in Arrow Films, Movies Watched In 2016, Reviews
Tagged Kelli Maroney, Nico Mastorakis, The Zero Boys
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Intruder Alert: Hush (2016)
Oculus director Mike Flanagan’s latest Blumhouse production Hush arrives with a tantalizing hook: it’s a slasher movie featuring a deaf woman as the protagonist. On a purely conceptual level this is a thrilling idea. I always feel that many filmmakers today miss the … Continue reading
Posted in Movies Watched In 2016, Reviews
Tagged Hush, John Gallagher Jr., Kate Siegel, Mike Flanagan
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Bride of Re-Animator (1989)
Brian Yuzna’s follow up to Stuart Gordon’s beloved Re-Animator(which Yuzna also produced) is pretty satisfying as far as 80s horror sequels go. As is generally the case, the credo seems to be “more is better”, I feel like the body count … Continue reading
Posted in Arrow Films, Movies Watched In 2016, Reviews
Tagged Brian Yuzna, Bride of Re-Animator, Jeffrey Combs
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Thinking Comes Later: Inherent Vice (2014)
Paul Thomas Anderson is like a god to me. I know I’m not at the only one to feel that way. Anderson is to us what I imagine Scorsese was to cinephiles of the 70s and 80s. He’s one of … Continue reading
A Man Obsessed: The Offence (1973)
Sean Connery and Sidney Lumet made five films together and The Offence was their third. It is an ugly, angry picture that has since been overshadowed by bigger, classic films but that isn’t to say it’s bite has become any less severe. … Continue reading
Posted in Movies Watched In 2016, Reviews
Tagged Sean Connery, Sidney Lumet, The Offence
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"This Film Should Be Played Loud" 