Like the prison movie, the military boot camp film is a pretty clichéd genre. There’s the sadistic drill sergeant, the meathead bully recruit, the strange military rituals and marching sing-alongs. We’ve seen it many times in movies but if done well it’s still fertile ground for a compelling drama. The Inspection, which is based on the experiences of photographer and
Read moreThrough his often crazed screen presence, Nic Cage has become a strange pop cultural icon and his films have almost become a subgenre unto themselves. His kooky charisma is given full licence to go into hyperdrive as he plays none other than Count Dracula in the slightly bonkers action/ horror comedy Renfield. Despite the imposing presence of Mr Cage, the
Read moreOn November 13, 2015, Paris was tragically hit by a series of terrorist attacks including the suicide bombing at Stade de France and the mass shooting ag the Bataclan Theatre. The various attacks resulted in 130 deaths. The tense, white knuckle French film, November, powerfully and viscerally dramatises the investigation into and pursuit of the terrorists who committed the attacks.
Read moreBritish playwright Alan Bennett (The History Boys; The Lady in the Van) has been documenting and dramatising the British character and the country’s institutions for decades. His play Allelujah, which examined the health system and its impact on the vulnerable people within in it has now been turned into a film. While at times very affecting, occasionally grim, sometimes amusing,
Read moreAlmost no franchise is safe from a reboot and modern makeover, not even horror cult classic The Evil Dead. A film, that was a staple of 80’s teen sleepover parties, has seen two direct sequels (Evil Dead 2 and Army of Darkness) a 2013 remake and a TV series Ash vs Evil Dead. There have also apparently been several aborted
Read moreFor someone like myself who is absolutely mystified by the appeal of computer games, it’s easy to overlook their cultural and economic impact. They are massively popular and increasingly infiltrating other media with adaptations like TV series The Last Of Us lauded by critics. Computer games are also big business with returns on new releases rivalling and often exceeding those
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