Tag: Film

An Out Of Sync Gladiator 2

Ridley Scott’s 2000 Best Picture directorial work Gladiator was a seminal moment in 21st century cinema.  Oscar winner Russel Crowe’s broody Maximus made an impression on filmgoers.   Gladiator 2 arrived in cinemas this week.  It is best to leave well enough alone. This come twenty-four years later sequel is an out of sync spectacle. Paul… Continue reading An Out Of Sync Gladiator 2

The Anti-War Film On My List

I placed Elem Klimov’s 1985 anti-war work Come and See on my watch list years ago.  The film’s title comes from the Book of Revelation, “I heard the Beast say Come and See”.  When the restored print was released in 2020, there was universal acclaim for the 142-minute film.  At times shocking, numbing, unforgettable, the… Continue reading The Anti-War Film On My List

Femme moves to 2023

I interviewed filmmakers Sam Freeman and Ng Ping for a Chat Cinema podcast last year. The BAFTA nominees had completed their short film noir FEMME. Fast forward to this week, the duo unrolled their feature debut FEMME at the Berlinale. A continuation on the sexual repression theme from the duo’s first work, the longer version… Continue reading Femme moves to 2023

Awards + Uncertainty

This Award Season reflects life, uncertainty. Trying to decipher a front runner in the race has confounded critics and filmgoers. Tar and Everything Everywhere All at Once seem sure bets as does Braden Fraser and Ke Huy Quan are nods bets. Cate Blanchette, Michelle Yeoh and Danielle Deadwyler for the little seen Till are front… Continue reading Awards + Uncertainty

Is An Oscar In The Future?

For this episode of Chat Cinema, a conversation with Film Director Martin Strange-Hansen about his short film ON MY MIND. A personal story drawn from real life experience. The Danish work received a nomination in the Best Short Film category for the 94th Academy Awards. One question asked, “how did he come with the one… Continue reading Is An Oscar In The Future?

Is This Indie Flick Worth The Trip?

Pooling to Paradise Indie Road Flick Pooling to Paradise is an engaging and often fun critique on contemporary living. Married mum and step-mother Jenny (Lynn Chen) plans to travel to Las Vegas for a professional Blogger conference. Involuntarily she chooses the Car Pool option on her app. This means she will subsequently miss her flight.… Continue reading Is This Indie Flick Worth The Trip?

Belarus on the VERGE

Reading the headline about the Ryanair flight intercepted to Belarus, a story straight from a Cold War novel, suddenly the world was back in an East versus West game of high stakes chest. President Alexander Lukashenko has been in power for almost 3 decades with no signs of exiting the stage. After the the 2020… Continue reading Belarus on the VERGE

Tribeca Day 1 Impressions

My first day at the virtual Tribeca Film Festival. My first impression of the overall films: technically superb, polished, broadcast quality, indeed ready for a streaming service. These are filmmakers with an end goal concerning their work.  While I have not seen broad risk taking, after viewing a few features, the message here is: I… Continue reading Tribeca Day 1 Impressions