“You’ve got a killer scene there man!”
Scenes that make the movies
Split Screen
When films talk to one another
Reloading the Canon
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Author Archives: Ross Birks
“Grow Up Mason”: Richard Linklater’s Boyhood (2014)
It’s not often we get a film like Boyhood. In fact we’ve never had a film like Boyhood. Not only has it been hailed as one of the best films of the year but as one of the most ambitious and revolutionary … Continue reading
Seven Dwarfs – California Split (1974)
I only just saw California Split yesterday but it’s been buzzing around in my head ever since. I can’t stop thinking about the casual, breezy tone Altman creates. Both performances by George Segal and Elliott Gould are fantastic. I keep … Continue reading
Under the Skin (2014)
For his third feature film, his first in ten years, Jonathan Glazer has delivered a purely cinematic work of such surprising power and audacity that I had to take a long walk afterwards in order to let it all sink … Continue reading
Posted in Movies Watched In 2014, Reviews
Tagged jonathan glazer, Scarlett Johansson, under the skin
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Come to Daddy (1997)
As a budding filmmaker who grew up in the 90s it goes without saying that music videos have influenced and shaped my tastes and style just as much as any feature film has, maybe even more so. Directors like Spike … Continue reading
Posted in Inspiration
Tagged aphex twin, chris cunningham, come to daddy, music video
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Baby, You’re a Rich Man – The Social Network (2010)
Out of all the movies released in the past couple of years, hell maybe even the past decade, I’ve seen The Social Network more than any other. I’m addicted to the film’s sound, the rapid-fire Sorkin-speak that bludgeons you in … Continue reading
Boiling Point – Taxi Driver (1976)
If there was ever a shining example of a movie being summed up in one shot it’s this moment from Taxi Driver (1976). Martin Scorsese’s seminal urban noir is full of visual flourishes and audacious camera moves. He plunges his … Continue reading
Media Diet 2014
January: 1. Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984) 2. American Hustle (2013) 3. Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013) 4. Date Night (2010) 5. Southern Comfort (1981) 6. Streets of Fire (1984) 7. Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970) 8. … Continue reading
Posted in Movies Watched In 2014, Uncategorized
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Little Lab of Horrors – Piranha (1978)
I’m a big, big fan of Joe Dante. He has a unique stylistic personality, one which combines cartoony humour, ghoulish shocks and B-movie affection effortlessly. He’s always climbing higher and higher up my list of favourite directors with every passing … Continue reading
You and Whose Army? – Incendies (2010)
Incendies, Denis Villenueve’s twisty political thriller from 2010, washed over me and left me in a bit of a haze when I first saw it. I’ve only seen it the once and as I try to recall the specifics of … Continue reading
Posted in You've got a killer scene there, man!
Tagged denis villenueve, incendies, radiohead, thom yorke
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Hotel Punch Up – Haywire (2012)
Haywire is another typical, unexpected gem from Steven Soderbergh. It’s a fast, stylish almost throwaway exercise in genre filmmaking which is what makes it so fun. Unashamedly a vanity project originated by the director to transform real-life mixed martial artist … Continue reading
"This Film Should Be Played Loud" 