For me, 2022 was a year of prioritising the new films, filmmakers and national cinemas. I tried to forego all cinematic prejudices, approaching films and genres without any preconceived expectations. I viewed multiplex blockbusters and art house indies as equal partners, two sides of the same coin, a coin we call cinema. According to my … Continue reading BEST OF 2022
The Sandman, Seriality (Cereality?) and the Value of Truly Episodic Television
A key reason I love Neil Gaiman's Sandman comics is that with each new issue, you never know exactly when, where and with whom you might find yourself. One chapter might play out like a video-nasty nightmare ('24 Hours'), another a treatise upon the nature of storytelling's relationship to 'truth' ('A Midsummer Night's Dream'), or … Continue reading The Sandman, Seriality (Cereality?) and the Value of Truly Episodic Television
Comic Book films, Martin Scorsese and the ‘Footballification’ of Film Culture
Listeners of James O'Brien's LBC show will be familiar with a term popularised, if not coined, by the radio host to account for the political divide of post-Brexit Britain. Describing the stubborn bi-partisanship of contemporary politics, O'Brien likened the right/left divide in political life to rival football teams and their fans. 'We’re completely immersed in … Continue reading Comic Book films, Martin Scorsese and the ‘Footballification’ of Film Culture
On Location: The Third Man in Vienna
There is nothing more surreal for a film fan than to find themselves following in the footsteps of their screen heroes. On a recent visit to Vienna I found myself doing exactly that. Whilst many films have been shot there, Vienna is a city which is still haunted by the ghost of Harry Lime to this … Continue reading On Location: The Third Man in Vienna
Frames in Focus: The Thing (Carpenter, 1982)
'It's just a story about paranoia' remarks Kurt Russell about The Thing in a documentary focusing on horror master John Carpenter. It's about 'the breakdown of human beings believing in each other.' First and foremost The Thing is probably most remembered for its brutal special effects and grotesquery: the horrific manifestations of a shape-shifting alien as it moves … Continue reading Frames in Focus: The Thing (Carpenter, 1982)
Notes from the Multiplex 