Category Archives: Everything Else

Billy (Rick Schroder) has been in trouble – living by the law of the street, getting wasted and taking anything he wanted. Letting himself be led into worse trouble by his crazy raw-headed friend, Louie (David Anthony Marshall) – the shit gets deeper (shit happens, it’s just the depth that varies.) Billy gets in overContinue reading “Across the Tracks (1990) – Dir: Sandy Tung (Confessions of a Sexist Pig)”

In an extraordinarily taut suspense drama, David Cronenberg paints a character portrait of a spider – with Ralph Fiennes as the traumatised, mumbling Mr. Clegg. Beautiful cinematography by Peter Suschitzky (of Empire Strikes Back fame) introduces us to the world of the story, based on the uniquely morbid novel by Patrick McGrath. First we seeContinue reading “Spider (2002) – Dir: David Cronenberg (eXistenZ, The Fly)”

Never before has hand drawn animation been so raw, so artsy, so bad. It is minimalist to the extreme – one supposes this is a conscious effort to draw the focus to what is more important than flashy spectacle, the fireworks. The story matters more. And it is cleverly and at times beautifully told. It’sContinue reading “It’s Such a Beautiful Day (2012) – Dir: Don Hertzfeldt (Rejected, The Animation Show)”

Rainn Wilson from the American version of The Office (TV) stars in this lovely and silly piece of rock trash. A beautiful parody with a soft heart. Wilson as Fish is hilarious. Fish is loud, gross and brutal. He is a satire of rock/metal attitude. The movie is infinitely re-watchable. The music is cool, theContinue reading “The Rocker (2008) – Dir: Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty)”

We all know that disco sucks. However, this is the second disco film that I have enjoyed. It is intelligent, peculiar and unique. It celebrates disco as an era, and its end. Alice (Chloe Sevigny) is beautiful, naïve, tragically burned. There is a lovely juxtaposition of the nervous pre-coupling rituals for men and women. TheContinue reading “Last days of disco (1998) – Dir: Whit Stillman (Damsels in Distress)”

I recognise three things, that I personally enjoy this film. And the second is that it’s pure rubbish. Third, I appreciate the topic. With a very cool concept and the topic of a creative struggle through filmmaking politics. The soundtrack is gorgeous, supporting a vast array of silly characters. The story is kind of sweet,Continue reading “New Suit (2002) – Dir: François Velle (The Narrows, Kings for a Day)”

A wonderfully original con movie about traditional martial arts. Not Mamet’s best script, but still quite excellent. The viewer is a naïve child, totally unexpecting the hit from tragic event after event, to build the spiral downward. Totally unaware that this negative thrust is designed. A warrior, purist sensei, Mike Terry (Chiwetel Ejiofor – 12Continue reading “Redbelt (2008) – Dir: David Mamet (Glengarry Glen Ross, The Untouchables)”

This is a story of innocence and betrayal, a lovely little story by Spike Lee. Very nearly Shakespearean. It’s the Summer of a famous American serial killer, Son of Sam. The real Adrian Brody – a fresh, engaging character. Before they turned him into a pretentious, arrogant, passionless leading man. Disco is disgusting, however asContinue reading “Summer of Sam (1999) – Dir: Spike Lee (Do the Right Thing, Jungle Fever)”

Harvey Pekar (Paul Giamatti) is a loser, the downtrodden, but there is nothing lovable about him. He’s interested in a different kind of comic book – more realistic, more neurotic, autobiographical, miserable. His work is unique and he is unique, but most people can’t see on the surface what is so special about him. It’sContinue reading “American Splendor (2003) – Dir: Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini (The Nanny Diaries)”

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)”