Tag: Independent Cinema

  • An Open Letter to a Cinema Vaper.

    An Open Letter to a Cinema Vaper.

    To the man sat in E15 at last week’s 30th Anniversary screening of Predator: It’s an enjoyable thing, indulging in 1980’s nostalgia at the cinema, with Arnie’s biceps almost tearing through the screen, painfully dated humour and an array of excessively over the top characters delivering the naffest of lines – “I don’t have time to…

  • Patti Cake$

    Patti Cake$

    It’s been a really strong few months for directorial debuts with the likes of Taylor Sheridan’s Wind River and Francis Lee’s God’s Own Country. There is also Geremy Jasper’s Patti Cake$ to throw into the mix – a boisterous, expressive tale of aspiration to escape the hand one is dealt. Patricia works nights in a boozy karaoke bar,…

  • Listen Up Philip.

    Many of us first fell in love with Jason Schwartzman as the egotistical, over-confident and deluded Max Fischer. Listen Up Philip is about a deeply troubled and painfully self-obsessed writer, awaiting the publication of his second novel. It could easily be a sequel to Rushmore. Philip could be an adult Fischer; an arrogant ‘one-of-a-kind’ whose naivety…

  • Hellion.

    Hellion is about many things. It is about love, family, victims of circumstance, addiction, loss, masculinity and crime. Directed by Kat Candler, this is one of the most moving films I’ve seen this year. A coming-of-age tale about the tragedy of loving but being unable to provide, Hellion is an absolute triumph. Set in the broken home of…

  • Frank.

    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…

  • Rushmore.

    Wes Anderson’s whimsical cinema sometimes gets a little irritating. For me, Anderson films are divided into two very distinct categories; the ones that work and the ones that drift off a little. Those that work include The Royal Tenenbaums, Moonrise Kingdom and of course Rushmore. I like both Fantastic Mr. Fox and The Darjeeling Limited very much but even a fan like myself…

  • Happiness.

    Happiness.

    One hardly knows where to begin with reviewing such a film. Todd Solondz’s Happiness is many things but let’s start with the acknowledgement that it is a challenging film. It is a disgusting masterpiece that taunts its audience who tend not to know how to react to it. The sensational Roger Ebert summarised the spectator’s battle with Happiness in…

  • Edinburgh: January.

    After a 6 week trip back home over the Christmas break I am finally back in Edinburgh. My time at home was a busy but relaxing one. Despite working as many hours as possible behind a bar and stressfully submitting my essays I also spend some wonderful quality time with my family, friends and partner.…

  • The Selfish Giant.

      Clio Barnard’s The Arbor was an astonishing debut film for so many different reasons. Telling the tragic life story of playwright Andrea Dunbar and the turbulent lives of her neglected children that was to follow, The Arbor refused to sugar-coat anything. This brave and bold documentary used re-enactments, archive footage, interview audio and lip-syncing in order to give…

  • Edinburgh: October.

    My second month in Edinburgh has been a busy one. It started off with a lovely visit from my parents and youngest brother who helped me to celebrate my 22nd Birthday in a new city. My beloved other half also made a surprise appearance which was very unexpected and highly emotional. Two glorious days were…

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