The Deer Hunter, 1978. Directed by Michael Cimino. Starring Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, Meryl Streep, John Savage, John Cazale, George Dzundza and Chuck Aspegren. SYNOPSIS: A group of men celebrate their last night of freedom before they are drafted to fight in Vietnam. In Vietnam, they experience and witness horrors that will haunt them and change […]
Movie Review – Infernal Affairs (2002)
Infernal Affairs (China: Wu jian dao), 2002 Directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak Starring Andy Lau, Tony Leung and Anthony Wong SYNOPSIS This isa tale of a mole in the police department and undercover cop. Their objectives are the same: to find out who is the mole, and who is the cop. Everyone knows […]
Movie Review – A Night at the Cinema in 1914
A Night at the Cinema in 1914, 1914 Directed by George Nichols, Fred Evans, Joe Evans and Laurence Trimble. Starring Charlie Chaplin, Roscoe Arbuckle, Peggy Pearce, Mabel Nomand, Florence Turner and Fred Evans. SYNOPSIS Fourteen short films to recreate a night at the cinema in 1914. It includes comedies, adventure films, travelogues and newsreels Some people […]
Movie Review – Some Like It Hot (1959)
Some Like It Hot, 1959. Directed by Billy Wilder. Starring Jack Lemmon, Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and George Raft. SYNOPSIS: After witnessing a murder, two musicians flee Chicago to join an all-female band on their way to Florida… Some Like It Hot is not known for its mob ties. Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis, carrying their […]
Movie Review – Hercules (2014)
Hercules, 2014 Directed by Brett Ratner. Starring Dwayne Johnson, John Hurt, Rufus Sewell, Ian McShane, Peter Mullan, Joseph Fiennes, Rebecca Ferguson, Aksel Hennie, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, Reece Ritchie, Tobias Santelmann, and Irina Shayk. SYNOPSIS After completing his twelve labours, Hercules, the Son of Zeus, is a mercenary for hire and he’s called to train the […]
Interview: Judith Hill talks 20 Feet from Stardom and Spike Lee
Simon Columb chats to Judith Hill about 20 Feet from Stardom and Spike Lee… 20 Feet from Stardom showcases some incredible talent. Women who had been hidden away were brought to the forefront by director Morgan Neville who ensured they would have their day. Unlike many singers featured, whose experience was in a time whereby […]
What’s the effect of lowering The Expendables 3 rating to PG-13?
Commenting on the Critics with Simon Columb… Scott Mendelson notes the flaws with the decision on dropping the rating for The Expendables 3 to PG-13: “Is a PG-13 Expendables film, which may end up being a strong action picture that merely lacks blood and F-words, at a disadvantage by virtue of its “lesser” rating? Will […]
London Cinemas need London Pay
Commenting on the Critics with Simon Columb… Vanessa Thorpe and Callum Cuddeford write for The Observer about the pay and conditions in cinemas across London in an article titled “Cinema stars back call to make arts venues pay a living wage”: “Investigations by the Observer this weekend found that several larger London arts venues, such as the […]
Movie Review – Spring in a Small Town (1948)
Spring in a Small Town (China: Xiǎochéng zhī chūn), 1948 Directed by Fei Mu. Starring Wei Wei, Shi Yu, Zhang Hongmai, Cui Chaoming, Li Wei SYNOPSIS: A wife, her husband, his sister and servant are visited by an old friend of the husband – a man who once was in love with his wife. All those […]
Five reasons why 24 doesn’t need Jack Bauer
Rather than Commenting on the Critics, this week it’s a Comment on Television… As we approach the final five episodes of 24: Live Another Day, I cannot help but feel that the series has been hoisted by its own petard. Despite the ever-increasing high-standard of television drama, 24 has been a guilty-pleasure for many during […]
