Shame
Ferry Hunt reviews Steve McQueen’s controversial and challenging second feature SHAME, screened at Brighton Film Festival last night.
Category Archives: Reviews
Arahan (아라한 – 장풍대작전 / 아라한 장풍 대작전 )
Near the start of ARAHAN, the hero can’t believe that the old duffers surrounding him are the fabled Seven Masters. One of them punctures the moment by suggesting that maybe he thinks they’re Power Rangers instead.
Dachimawa Lee (다찌마와 리 – 악인이여 지옥행 급행열차를 타라!)
Ryu Seung-wan’s comedy DACHIMAWA LEE started life as a short film in 2000, kick-started lead actor Im Won-hee’s career and then upgraded to full feature status in 2008. Although allegedly set during the Second World War with Korea under Japanese occupation, Im Won-hee dresses like John Shaft and acts like Leslie Nielsen.
The City of Violence (짝패)
Wonder no more why the fights in Far Eastern films often seem to pause at critical moments: it’s because everybody’s really breakdancing. Director Ryu Seung-wan presents a credible reason for this by making one set of assailants in THE CCITY OF VIOLENCE body bop along the pavement before simultaneously all pulling handstands. Along with the … Continue reading The City of Violence (짝패)
Die Bad (죽거나 혹은 나쁘거나)
Ryoo Seung Wan’s critically revered 2000 debut, DIE BAD is yet to receive a UK release but it remains ripe for discovery as it showcases the origins of a talented young film maker. TAKE ONE will be interviewing Ryoo this weekend, when he visits Cambridge Art Picturehouse in the last leg of the Korean Film Festival. Oh, and before you ask – yes, a pointless English remake is on the cards. Step away from Korean film, lazy English film makers!
The Ides of March
Mike Boyd reviews George Clooney’s latest offering, as both director and actor – a political drama about the dehumanisation required to win the US presidency.
Piccadilly
Rosy Hunt reviews E.A. Dupont’s Piccadilly, which is screened on 12 November as part of Silent London’s silent film season at West London Trade Union Club.
The Future
Jim Ross reviews Miranda July’s second feature film, THE FUTURE, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and is now showing at Picturehouses nationwide
Wuthering Heights
Jim Ross reviews Andrea Arnold’s take on the classic tale of WUTHERING HEIGHTS, based on the Emily Brontë novel
Dreams of Elbidi (Ndoto Za Elbidi)
Rosy Hunt attended DREAMS OF ELBIDI, a unique fusion of community theatre and traditional cinema. It offers not only a dramatisation of Kenyan ghetto life, but a way to entertain its African audience while educating them about HIV and AIDS. Also featured: transcript from the Q&A with Kamau wa Ndung’u.