Tom Jolliffe reflects on a crazy year of writing straight to video horror films… There’s a particular go to in cinematic protagonists; a writer. Usually someone psychologically damaged in some way, in desperate search for isolation and peace (which then makes their fragile psyche or situation worse). Stephen King, writer extraordinaire often has writers as […]
Why Rambo: Last Blood could finally fulfil Sylvester Stallone’s Expendables ‘Old School’ promise
Tom Jolliffe takes a look Rambo: Last Blood and why it could be the ultimate old school action film of the modern era… It was the tail end of 2009. The announcement was made that Sylvester Stallone, having been on something of a comeback with successful rejuvenations for Rocky and Rambo, announced the ultimate old […]
The Ultimate Batman Film
On Batman Day, Tom Jolliffe delves back through the Caped Crusader’s films and TV so far to pick the best of the best in the ultimate Batman film… Lets say you’re putting together a Batman film, and you’ve got to piece together a cast and crew of the best from the film and TV incarnations […]
Movie Review – Rambo: Last Blood (2019)
Rambo: Last Blood, 2019. Directed by Adrian Grunberg. Starring Sylvester Stallone, Paz Vega, Sergio Peris-Mencheta, Adriana Barraza, Yvette Monreal, Genie Kim, Joaquín Cosío, and Oscar Jaenada. SYNOPSIS Rambo must confront his past and unearth his ruthless combat skills to exact revenge in a final mission. Sly Stallone has seen his fair share of action as his […]
When Sandler Gets Serious
Tom Jolliffe looks at Adam Sandler’s successful forays into drama… When you get a name for yourself doing something, it becomes difficult to shake off that label. When Robert De Niro had been so well known as gangsters, maniacs or tough guys, his ventures into comedy were initially surprising. When it comes to Adam Sandler, […]
Is there any life left in the Terminator franchise?
Tom Jolliffe looks at Terminator: Dark Fate and the prospect of further films… James Cameron approaches most of his projects with a certain confident swagger. He is the King of the world after all. When he left the Terminator franchise, with Arnold Schwarzenegger being slowly lowered into cyborg retirement he’d left behind two genre defining […]
Joker: Selective Uproar and a Questionably Timed Rating Plunge
Tom Jolliffe looks at the controversy surrounding Joker and an apparent drop in critic’s ratings in the aftermath… So after a year of furious anticipation and excitement, Joker has finally been released upon the cinematic world. A month or so ago we were looking at what critics were describing as exceptional, a masterpiece, an Oscar […]
The Disturbed Outsider: A Cinematic Pathway Leading to Joker
In the wake of Joker’s success, Tom Jolliffe looks at similar cinematic examples of the disturbed outsider… With a quarter billion in takings and counting, as well as divisive reviews, media attention up the wazoo, and a status (particularly among the 18-30 viewers) as a cinematic masterpiece, Joker’s depiction of disturbed isolation and disconnect from […]
River Phoenix as Joker? Parallel Universe Castings
Tom Jolliffe looks at the idea of River Phoenix as the Joker and other parallel universe castings… It’s 2019. It’s an era of perpetual rebooting. For some, we’d barely settled on the idea that Jared Leto was cast as the clown prince, before it was announced that Joaquin Phoenix would don the make up in […]
The Martin Scorsese/Marvel Debate
Tom Jolliffe on the Martin Scorsese and Marvel debate… One of cinemas greatest living directors, with around 50 years of crafting artistry behind him caused a storm recently with his comments dismissing Marvel films as ‘not cinema’ and ‘theme parks.’ Quite a few fired back (with plenty of politeness it should be said) who have […]
