Tag: Movies
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Edinburgh: Graduation.
Earlier this week I returned to my beloved Edinburgh, if only for a mere 18 hours. Graduating from the University of Edinburgh meant reuniting with my fellow graduates in order to celebrate our hard work and achievements. Visiting Edinburgh at this time of year also means getting to experience the European Christmas Market that spreads…
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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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Paddy’s Paradise.
“One touch of nature makes the whole world kin” – William Shakespeare When I occasionally have the privilege of watching independent films made by aspiring film directors, I am reminded of the beauty and addiction of cinema. Despite my personal disinterest and inability to make my own films, I am amazed at the dedication, commitment…
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Film Music Live.
A film score can make a movie. After one evening at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester I was reminded of just how crucial music is to film. Music often drifts by without our recognition and with just a little bit more attention to detail we can learn to appreciate the thought and conviction that goes…
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Graduation.
Just a quick personal entry to update you on my current circumstances. Yesterday I graduated from the University of Leeds. I received a First Class Honours in BA Film Studies. I have had a splendid time at University and my passion for film has grown over the past three years and I am so proud…
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Vera Drake.
Mike Leigh is known for his individual and ambitious approach to character creation and film making. As one of his most stylised films, Vera Drake possibly demonstrates this the most clearly. Taking months at a time to develop character back story and personality, Leigh’s character are usually firmly in place before any kind of script or plot.…
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Shame.
Director Steve McQueen and actor Michael Fassbender are proving to be one of Britain’s most flourishing collaborations. After the critical success of their first project Hunger, there was room for the duo to explore new territory. Fassbender brings a bleakness to the films of McQueen; a genuine sense of desperation that is usually so hard to capture.…
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The Magic of Tom Hanks.
Tom Hanks, possibly responsible for some of the greatest movie lines of all time, has had an admirable career. The stamina and consistency of his career and success lies in his ability to cover all bases. From the late eighties, Hanks has been a friendly and familiar cinematic star. Appearing in a staggering number of…
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Westworld.
When a film promises rogue cowboy robots, there is destined to be a particularly high level of enjoyment. Westworld explores the chaos that follows when the robots that operate on a futuristic, fantasy amusement park suffer a serious malfunction. The film opens with an advertisement for ‘Delos’ the amusement park that costs guests $1000 dollars…
Hannah McHaffie 