Currently Belfast based film reviewer, once a film theory student (BA 2:1, MA with distinction). I share a deep fascination with Asian cinemas and am mostly interested in cinematography. Documentary film is probably my favourite genre if I had to pick one. Monster movies, classic comedy like Chaplin or the downright bizarre are among my favourite viewings. My passion for film boarders obsessive like any cinephile would say. I’ll watch anything once, but can guarantee I’ll have something to say.
The Look of Silence is director Joshua Oppenheimer’s second documentary film that takes on the heavy subject matter of the 1956-1966 Indonesian anti-communist genocide. As Oppenheimer has said the films can be viewed in any order, they accompany each other rather than act as a starting point and follow up. There’s no excuse to dive straight in with …
The little yellow sidekicks are back this summer for their own feature film. Ranking high was always going to be a given, but it’s just taken second place (Shrek the Third still holds record first) in box office figures for an opening animated film. The marvel that is the minions has quickly beaten the American animation giants Disney and Pixar at their own game, well done Universal.
I really knew very little about the British singer songwriter Amy Winehouse, apart from what news passed through the media in the UK. I felt no deep attachment to Amy Winehouse and put her quick rise to fame down to her evident talent and uniqueness within the UK music industry. Taking that into account, I thought it was unlikely that I’d be rushing to the cinema to see this documentary. As the …
Dino fans grab your safari hats we’re going back to the park where it all began. When it was only spun through the rumour mill that Jurassic Park was getting a modern update, I was uncompromisingly delighted at the thought. It’s been twenty-two years since the first events took place, and fourteen years since the last film hit the big screens. Saving grace for all those sceptics is that Spielberg is an executive producer, he did have involvement with the project and he …
I don’t often find myself in the cinema eagerly awaiting the opening credits of a comedy feature, but there I was. There was an odd anticipation around this dark comedy that had lured me in. You might be surprised to note that I hadn’t a clue about the director’s body of work. In fact I hadn’t seen anything past the trailers available online before buying the ticket. Somewhat of a mix between festival enthusiasm and the overall imagery of the piece attracted me to what I can ….
Living in a nursing home after a long and colourful life, Allan Karlsson’s 100th birthday makes him seize the opportunity to escape his current predicament. Silently and unnoticed, he climbs out of the window and disappears. How this is possible you might question, but it’s a good start to the consequential humour of his tale. If you’re sitting down to watch Allan Karlsson’s tale, the right angle is …
Everything Ghibli takes the form of a traditional Japanese fairytale in Isao Takahata’s new feature. Dazzling audiences with sumptuous visuals and enchanting fantasy, it’s all Studio Ghibli has owed as its global success to in a nutshell. Viewers of all ages will be drawn in by the stunning animation styles and unique way of storytelling, but as always there’s plenty more under the surface for those more discerning …
What would the world be like without war between nations? Peaceful and battle free you’d suppose. As much as that seems to be true, it’s become clear that people and society enjoy the excitement and fear that goes with warfare. In a future version of Earth where nations are at ease with each other, the deployment of staged warfare has …
A hybrid of flesh eating piranhas are released into the rivers surrounding a summer resort, accidentally of course. No other animal attacking film has spawned so many follow-up or “inspired by” films as these beloved creatures. As natural flesh eaters and frantic in their feeding frenzies, they’re practically horror film fodder waiting to happen…
Horror films have been terrifying me since I first set eyes on them. As a genre, there are many reasons for the seemingly constant production and audiences keep coming back for the thrill of the scare. Asian horror films are in a complex league of their own, more often than not being the subject of a Hollywood remake. Sadly the …