Tag: British Cinema
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Calvary.
There is something eerie and claustrophobic about setting films in small communities; perhaps Robin Hardy’s The Wicker Man is a good example. Such settings have always been ideal for murder mysteries and “whodunit” thrillers. John Michael McDonagh’s Calvary takes advantage of such a setting but uses it in a very unique way. The film begins when Father James Lavelle…
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Frank.
There are just too many things that have inspired and influenced Lenny Abrahamson’s Frank so I won’t even begin to go into them. But I will say this: this is not the biography of either Frank Sidebottom or Chris Sievey, although both have had an impact on the film in different ways. When Jon, a slave to…
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Philomena.
I hadn’t read any reviews of Philomena before I went into the screening. I was looking forward to seeing the film but wasn’t particularly desperate to fit it into my week. Luckily, I made time to see it on Saturday evening. I say luckily because it’s turned out to be one of the greatest releases of this…
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The Moo Man.
Stephen Hook has named each individual dairy cow that he owns. With only seventy cows, all named and known, Stephen Hook is an unusual and incredibly unique dairy farmer. The Moo Man explores Hook’s caring attitude towards dairy farming and his passion for his animals and the way that they are treated. Stephen’s farm remains…
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Berberian Sound Studio.
I first experienced Italian Giallo cinema nearly two years ago when I sat in the Hyde Park Picture House at Halloween and witnessed Dario Argento’s Suspiria. The sounds of smashing glass, gruesome screams and the violent musical score were some of the most enchanting elements of the film. The bright crimsons that splashed onto the screen…
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Notes on a Scandal.
Notes on a Scandal, is a story within a story. A female teacher’s affair with a fifteen year old student, and the consequences of this, is merely a backdrop for the real tale of one woman’s agonising loneliness. Barbara is a stern and well respected teacher, nearing retirement. Her bitterly cold approach to teaching is…
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Cinema: A Luxury.
Recently, I was given a £20 Amazon voucher; a generous present from close friends, congratulating me on my graduation. Instinctively, I immediately ordered several films with the voucher – excited to purchase and own some new films. I have previously written about my personal film collection and its importance to me. Buying new films is…
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Children of the Damned.
Horror and science fiction merge effortlessly in 1960 British classic Village of the Damned. Creepy blonde haired children, whose terrifying powers threaten humanity, must be stopped after they take over a small English village. In 1964 the ‘sort of’ sequel was released. Children of the Damned assumes you have seen its predecessor and plunges instantly into a follow up…
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A Field in England.
When I finally got round to watching Kill List several months ago, I began to fall slightly in love with Ben Wheatley’s ability to not only direct films but his audience. Despite leaving me utterly bewildered and unsure about what I had just witnessed, Kill List was admirable and exciting. Two years later Wheatley has returned with his boldest…
Hannah McHaffie 