Films

On the quiet, Richard Linklater has carved out a deeply impressive directorial career over the years. From his breakout hit 'Dazed & Confused' (1993) to the 12 year odyssey (and Academy Awards darling) 'Boyhood' (2013), he has not only brought a completely original style to cinema but is probably one of the few auteurs birthed in the 90s independent film movement who manages to have written and directed a wide, varied, cannon of work.   To further illustrate this point, afte

When thinking of great films starring the legend that is Jack Nicholson, few would immediately name this 1973 cult classic. However, Jack himself considers this his finest moment on screen, famously stating "I did it in that movie. That was my best role". When you watch this largely unheralded gem again now, it's not hard to see why.  At the dawn of 'New Hollywood', Hal Ashby became quite an important figure. However, by 1973 he was coming off the back of the abject failur

Tis the spooky season once more and thus time to revisit a film that, at the time of it's release, had a massive cultural impact, not only spawning multiple sequels but also spoofs and an almost entire new genre of hyper-aware teen slasher/comedy flicks for good measure. Directed by the 'sultan of shock', Wes Craven, and penned by future Dawson's Creek creator Kevin Williamson, this film serves as the almost perfect amalgamation of both of these men's sensibilities - blending

The unearthing of cinematic gems from days past is easier than ever. Where it used to take hours scouring video shops or bargin buckets or car boot sales, now one can cruise the internet for all manner of films. You don't even have to leave the comfort of your own backside. The process can be organic - maybe you read a book that makes reference to a film, which you then look up and watch - or it can be more studied, i.e. you find an actor or director (or sound engineer, or ke

"That rug really tied the room together" What happens when you take an abject stoner with no discernible income, skillset or education and throw him into the middle of a Raymond Chandler-eqsue noir thriller? This is the question that the Coen Brothers came to the table with when conceptualising this film. Coming off the back of the critically lauded and quite brilliant 'Fargo' (1996), the Coen Brothers, as they have tended to do throughout their career, followed up a dark cr

Along with Quentin Tarantino, and arguably Steven Soderbergh, Paul Thomas Anderson is one of the last great auteurs from the 90s independent movement still making culturally relevant films today. Widely considered by critics as one of the greatest filmmakers of his generation, his canon is held in extremely high regard. From the wild exuberance of 'Boogie Nights' (1997) to the towering 'There Will Be Blood' (2007), to the criminally underrated 'The Master' (2012) this is some

Before we review this film, the elephant in the room needs to be addressed: This plot is absolutely preposterous. I mean, absolutely "let's all drop acid and think of the maddest thing imaginable and let John Milius direct it" level bonkers.  Now that is out of the way, we can begin.  World War 3. Will it ever happen? Has it already happened? Who's to say? Famed Hollywood lunatic John Milius certainly had an opinion on how it might happen and this film was his testament to

At the time of it's release, what is now known as 'the heist movie' was just starting to find it's cinematic feet. After relative successes like 'Ocean's Eleven' and 'The Italian Job' in the 60s, Sam Peckinpah's 'The Getaway' (1972) became something of a box office hit, thus opening the door for more of the like. Because as we all know, when Hollywood finds something that works, they'll rinse the living arse out of it until it don't work no more.