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Scenes that make the movies
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When films talk to one another
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Category Archives: Uncategorized
The Perfume of the Lady In Black (1974)
A steady, well told psychodrama stirred into a mid-70s euro slasher that rarely wobbles into the sloppiness so many of these films are prone to. It’s very well told with a brave, authentic performance by Mimsy Farmer at the centre … Continue reading
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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Things (1989)
I don’t even know how to describe this thing but I adore it deeply. Imagine Jared Hess directing August Underground and you’re on the right track. One of those bizarre transmissions from the ether that only cinema can deliver. An out-and-out experience of relentless … Continue reading
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Commando (1985)
If I saw Commando when I should have, aged between eight and twelve years old, I would have probably grown up with an unflinching fondness for it. Watching it today at twenty six though, it’s difficult to look past the … Continue reading
Burial Ground (1981)
The zombie genre has a lot of jewels in its crown: the Romero films, Fulci’s Zombiand The Beyond, Braindead, Shaun of the Dead and (depending on where you stand on the running zombie debate) 28 Days Later and the [REC] movies. But as with any sub-genre overloaded by decades … Continue reading
Intruder (1989)
Scott Spiegel is best known as the co-writer of Evil Dead II and for his cameos in various other Sam Raimi movies, but as a filmmaker in his own right he is responsible for one of the more interesting entries in the … Continue reading
Posted in Movies Watched In 2016, Reviews, Rewatch, Uncategorized
Tagged Intruder, Scott Spiegel
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Ganja & Hess (1973)
After the surprising success of 1972’s dopey blaxploitation flick Blacula, financiers were keen to cash in on the “black vampire” craze and Bill Gunn’s Ganja & Hesswas born. But Gunn, a respected playwright and stage director, had no intention of turning in … Continue reading
Posted in Movies Watched In 2016, Reviews, Uncategorized
Tagged Bill Gunn, Ganja & Hess
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Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011)
Where Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance really blazes is when the voices of its star and directors are in total harmony. The combination of Neveldine/Taylor and Nicolas Cage is spectacular. Naturally, when the film goes big it goes BIG. Ghost Rider pisses fire, … Continue reading
Nixon (1995)
A grandstanding achievement from Oliver Stone. Nixon has the sweep and length of an all-American epic but really it’s just an incredibly in-depth character study. I always respond to Stone’s work when he turns things up to the max and when he clearly has … Continue reading
Posted in Reviews, Uncategorized
Tagged Anthony Hopkins, Joan Allen, Nixon, Oliver Stone
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"This Film Should Be Played Loud" 