Tom Jolliffe takes a look back at several of last year’s films overlooked by the major award ceremonies…. As we find ourselves almost half way between the last Oscars and the next, with some uncertainty about just what we’ll see at the 2021 Academy Awards (after months of delayed films and closed cinemas), seems like […]
Cinema’s Groundbreakers – Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey
Tom Jolliffe looks back at the groundbreaking sci-fi masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey… There have been some key films in sci-fi cinema throughout the years. Certain films have been genre defining, or redefining. It began with Fritz Lang’s visionary masterpiece Metropolis (also a groundbreaking film), which astonished with its visual imagination and dystopian story-line. The […]
A Look Back at The Expendables Franchise (And a Look Forward…)
Ten years on from the release of the first movie, Tom Jolliffe looks back at the Expendables franchise and then looks at where it can go now (and who needs to join the crew)… When The Expendables was first announced in late 2009, my excitement levels went through the roof. Initially it was Sylvester Stallone, […]
Movie Review – Max Reload and The Nether Blasters (2020)
Max Reload and The Nether Blasters, 2020. Directed by Scott Conditt and Jeremy Tremp. Starring Tom Plumley, Hassie Harrison, Joey Morgan, Lukas Gage, Joseph D. Reitman, Richard Lippert, Greg Grunberg, Kevin Smith, Lin Shaye, Martin Kove, Jesse Kove and Wil Wheaton. SYNOPSIS: A small town video game store clerk must go from zero to hero after […]
Cinema’s Groundbreakers – Jackie Chan’s Police Story
Continuing a series on groundbreaking cinema, Tom Jolliffe takes a look at Jackie Chan’s iconic Police Story… The Criterion Collection. It’s usually a selection of key films across classic era cinema, arthouse, indie and world cinema. Some might call the selections somewhat high brow. It’s unlikely for example, that you’d see The Avengers as part […]
Guilty Pleasures: A Vintage Adam Sandler Double Bill
Tom Jolliffe delves into two guilty pleasures with a double dose of classic era Adam Sandler… We’ve all got guilty pleasures. Whether it’s music, TV, or film, some things just bring with them a general air of derision (despite their awesomeness). I mean in music terms, why does Phil Collins get a bad rap, when […]
Seven Essential Films Scored By Tangerine Dream
Tom Jolliffe looks at seven essential films, and their music from Tangerine Dream… In recent cinematic history there has been a nostalgia loaded fascination with synth scores. The kind of music that was popular through the late 70’s and 80’s, would begin to find itself increasingly used in film. After all, a few solo artists […]
The Northman – Destined for Greatness?
Tom Jolliffe looks at the upcoming Viking epic from Robert Eggers, The Northman… Robert Eggers is two features into his fledgling film career and has already established himself as a major voice in auteur horror. Comparisons to Kubrick have been thrown his way with two films, The Witch and The Lighthouse, which is high praise […]
Relentless Kinetic Energy: Run Lola Run and Dangan Runner
Tom Jolliffe looks back at the visceral non stop energy of Run Lola Run and Dangan Runner… Occasionally a film can burst out the blocks with the kind of flair and visceral energy that grips you from the start and never lets up. Some films just have a sense of perpetual motion. There’s always something […]
A 90’s Video Double Bill: Sabotage and Night Vision
Tom Jolliffe looks back at two well cast 90’s video thrillers, Sabotage and Night Vision… Many a 90’s straight to video special has been left cast asunder by time. Some left forever to remain as rare VHS copies, occasionally appearing on Ebay, or low resolution uploads on Youtube. Certain cult favourites do find their way […]
