Tom Jolliffe looks back at 1980, a key turning point in cinema… After a decade that began with an overwhelming air of pessimist cinema, the end of the 70’s would mark the beginnings of a significant turn around in box office tastes. By 1980 Steven Spielberg and George Lucas were household names. Star Wars, Jaws […]
When Mickey Rourke Almost Ruled Cinema
Tom Jolliffe looks back at the early career of Mickey Rourke… When you think back through cinema you can easily think of an array of icons. Brando, Stewart, De Niro, Pacino… I could go on. The role of Acting Deity includes being a point of comparison. When De Niro first broke through he was quickly […]
Blumhouse: Leading the Way with Sustainable Genre Film Production
Tom Jolliffe looks at Blumhouse Productions and the success and sustainability of its business model… When it comes to box office discussion, it seems to revolve around the success or failure of the huge tentpole films. Was Birds of Prey a flop? Did The Rise of Skywalker flop? Can Avengers: Endgame be matched again in […]
The Matrix 4: Can It Work?
Tom Jolliffe on The Matrix 4… 2019 signalled a number of cinematic anniversaries and milestones. It was after all, the year of Blade Runner (the setting of the original film). It also marked the 20 year anniversary of a certain Keanu Reeves-led film that revolutionised visual effects and re-galvanised a sci-fi genre that was suffering […]
Why the No Time To Die delay is a good thing
Tom Jolliffe looks at the positives with the delay of No Time To Die… It seems like Daniel Craig’s final Bond film has been somewhat tarnished over the years. It’s not been the luckiest production that’s for sure. A lot of money has already been wasted on getting underway as a Danny Boyle film, only […]
Films about Film
Tom Jolliffe takes a look at films about film… The magic of cinema. A wonderful escape from the rigours of modern life, or a microscope onto the worst issues we might face. Escapism, realism, thrills or dramatic truth, whatever your desire, is covered. The very process in making film is also in equal measures magical, […]
Revisiting the Universal Soldier Franchise
Tom Jolliffe revisits the Universal Soldier franchise… With today’s home entertainment release of director Roland Emmerich’s WWII epic Midway, now seems a good time to revisit the original Universal Soldier, and the eclectic sequels the director’s 1992 sci-fi action film spawned. Universal Soldier The early 90’s. In the wake of Terminator 2: Judgment Day came […]
A Tribute to Max von Sydow
Tom Jolliffe pays tribute to the late, great Max von Sydow… Cinema lost another legend with the sad news that Max von Sydow has passed away. A career which spanned over 70 years of his 90 year life, he established himself very early on in his career, becoming one of the collaborators of choice for […]
Pandemic Box Office Fallout
Tom Jolliffe looks at the potential box office fallout in the wake of the coronavirus… You may have noticed in the news that a virus has swept the globe. Depending on what resources you choose to source your information, it’s either the oncoming biblical plague which will lead to our apocalypse, or it’s just a […]
James Gunn offers some details on his “interconnected” DC Universe
We all know James Gunn is about to head over the run DC Studios following the third Guardians of the Galaxy coming next year. And now the filmmaker is offering even more details about his plans. During a Twitter Q&A promotion for The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special [read our review here], fans wanted […]
