1992's Candyman is undeniably British auteur Bernard Rose's most well-known film, but it’s also most likely his best—although Paperhouse and the early DV feature ivansxtc are certainly worth seeking out. It's also the best film of the Candyman franchise, despite 2021's soft reboot/sequel's honorable attempt to bring the franchise back to its socio-political roots with a script by Jordan Peele. The themes of … Continue reading Candyman (1992) – UHD Review
Category: Reviews
I Am a Camera – Blu-Ray Review
I Am a Camera is more interesting for its historical value than as great cinema. It's the first cinematic adaptation of Christopher Isherwood's The Berlin Stories, which was also the basis for the stage musical and later 1972 film Cabaret, directed by Bob Fosse. The musical Cabaret is based on the play I Am a Camera, the title of which comes from the … Continue reading I Am a Camera – Blu-Ray Review
Revolver (1973) – Blu-Ray Review
Revolver is an Italian cop movie from 1973 featuring Oliver Reed. Director Sergio Sollima had by this point made a bunch of spaghetti westerns, including some famous ones like The Big Gun Down and Face to Face. From there he moved into poliziottesco—his first was Violent City, which was written Lina Wertmüller. The wife of … Continue reading Revolver (1973) – Blu-Ray Review
Fire Sale – Blu-Ray Review
Fire Sale was the second film directed by actor Alan Arkin after his gloriously unhinged black comedy Little Murders. It's so bad that it basically killed off Arkin's once-promising directorial career, with Arkin the opportunity to make just a couple of shorts and TV episodes in the 45 years since. It was based on the novel by … Continue reading Fire Sale – Blu-Ray Review
Parallel Mothers – Blu-Ray Review
Parallel Mothers is the latest film from the always reliable Pedro Almodóvar. The script has been around for a while, and there was even a poster for the then-fictional film Parallel Mothers in 2009's Broken Embraces. The time for him to fine-tune the script is probably down to it being the first film where he really deals with the … Continue reading Parallel Mothers – Blu-Ray Review