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Brainscan (1994) – Dir: John Flynn (Best Seller)

This movie is beautiful trash – but it’s some of the best that you’ll find. The script is actually pretty good. The framing and visual style lack innovation, but it really sucks you in. It’s not senseless violence – there is a melody, a subtext of brutal reality checks. There are scary horror movies. ThereContinue reading “Brainscan (1994) – Dir: John Flynn (Best Seller)”

I’m a Cyborg but that’s okay (2006) – Dir: Chan-wook Park (Oldboy, Thirst, Stoker)

A quirky dream set mostly in a mental hospital. This is one of the strangest movies I’ve seen and that’s saying something. Young-goon (Su-jeong Lim) thinks she is a cyborg because her Granny thought she was a mouse. Her Granny liked to eat nothing but radish. But the white-coats took her away when Young-goon wasContinue reading “I’m a Cyborg but that’s okay (2006) – Dir: Chan-wook Park (Oldboy, Thirst, Stoker)”

Shrooms (2007) – Dir: Paddy Breathnach (Freakdog aka Red Mist)

A group of American friends holiday in Ireland to trip on (magic) mushrooms, in this interesting Euro-style horror film. The girl, Tara (Lindsey Haun), cute but frail, looks a little like Kristen Bell. Tara leads the charge, she’s keen to hook up with Irish tripper guru, Jake (Jack Huston). The sturdy band of travellers findContinue reading “Shrooms (2007) – Dir: Paddy Breathnach (Freakdog aka Red Mist)”

The Fifth Estate (2013) – Dir: Bill Condon (Breaking Dawn, Kinsey, Gods and Monsters)

Telling the main story in flashbacks has failed consistently in its effectiveness in contemporary films. We have seen this in the weaknesses of The Social Network and The Iron Lady and in most biopics. These movies have won awards from antiquated institutions by using stale stylistic flourishes, ways of making that have worked in theContinue reading “The Fifth Estate (2013) – Dir: Bill Condon (Breaking Dawn, Kinsey, Gods and Monsters)”

The Hills Have Eyes (remake: 2006) – Dir: Alexandre Aja (Mirrors, High Tension)

I mainly love this film because I find it fricking scary. The creepy hillbilly mutants that hide in the caves, give me the chills. Alexandre Aja is stylish and effective with this gory and shocking remake of a Wes Craven horror film. Appreciate this, gentle reader. I scared myself shitless by rewatching this movie, andContinue reading “The Hills Have Eyes (remake: 2006) – Dir: Alexandre Aja (Mirrors, High Tension)”

Tucker: the man and his dream (1988) – Dir: Francis Ford Coppola (Dracula, The Godfather, The Rainmaker)

Preston Tucker (Jeff Bridges) sets a tone of vintage style and entrepreneurial optimism. Tucker knows cars and his experiences are not without achievements, but what he wants to do is impossible. He wants to make great cars, cars that are innovative, better than anything that has been done before. He wants to revolutionise the industry.Continue reading “Tucker: the man and his dream (1988) – Dir: Francis Ford Coppola (Dracula, The Godfather, The Rainmaker)”

12 years a slave (2013) – Dir: Steve McQueen (Shame)

A brutal historical drama (based on a true story) in a muted, morose way. Watching this film, feels like being bludgeoned. Sorry for him, but only that. Not moved, or changed by the experience. It feels like the movie is only the first half of the story, it would have been nice if what happenedContinue reading “12 years a slave (2013) – Dir: Steve McQueen (Shame)”

Before Midnight (2013) – Dir: Richard Linklater (Dazed and Confused, SubUrbia, A Scanner Darkly)

Parenthood is depressing, unlike the romanticism of the first meeting on the train. This film is depressing until Jesse (Ethan Hawke) starts talking about his writing – with the passion almost as full as it was in the first film (Before Sunrise.) The viewer may anticipate the terrible American faux pa at the dinner table,Continue reading “Before Midnight (2013) – Dir: Richard Linklater (Dazed and Confused, SubUrbia, A Scanner Darkly)”

The Boys Are Back In Town: New Zealand versus the World

A discovery of how various corners of the world deal with making movies about the child years of young men. How exactly does a boy become a man? What is it that makes one different to the other? Is it a few years? Is it having a child of one’s own? Is it taking aContinue reading “The Boys Are Back In Town: New Zealand versus the World”

Why the 2011 Green Lantern Movie Was Not The Worst Movie I’ve Seen

Green Lantern (2011) – Dir: Martin Campbell (Casino Royale, The Mask of Zorro) In preparation for the Justice League movie and hopefully a new Green Lantern film, I thought it prudent to give some context, to enable people to step back a bit and consider the 2011 Green Lantern movie, as part of the biggerContinue reading “Why the 2011 Green Lantern Movie Was Not The Worst Movie I’ve Seen”