Tom Jolliffe looks back at the iconic career of the late Daria Nicolodi… 2020 hasn’t been very forgiving, and it was sad to hear the news of Daria Nicolodi’s passing. To a corner of horror fandom, particularly those versed in golden era Giallo horror from Dario Argento (to whom she was a long term partner, […]
10 More Essential Revenge Films
Tom Jolliffe with another ten essential revenge films… Are you not entertained? No? Then you need some hardy revenge to pass some time. The revenge formula (served chilled, straight from the fridge or something) has remained popular for well over half a century. There’s something about that trigger of a protagonist who has been wronged […]
Is Bong Joon-Ho the best in the business right now?
Tom Jolliffe looks at Bong Joon-Ho’s work this century. Is there anyone better? There are some exceptional directors in cinema right now. Some fresh talent burning bright, just etching the beginnings of their (hopefully consistent) legacies. I’m massively into Robert Eggers right now, and the Safdie Brothers. Steve McQueen continues producing powerful work across several […]
Bond: No Time To Delay (Again!)
Tom Jolliffe on the perpetual delays of No Time to Die… Daniel Craig’s final outing as Bond has taken its sweet time. Prior to the pandemic playing havoc across cinema release schedules, it had already had problems. Danny Boyle was given the sack and replaced with Cary Joji Fukunaga, which pushed Bond out of its […]
Now Is The Time for Indie Films To Strike
Tom Jolliffe looks at a pre-Covid rise in popularity for independent films, and a big upcoming push for content going forward… Slowly but surely, changes were afoot this time last year. It had been a progressive rise for a few years. Cinema was still monopolised by the mega budget blockbusters. In particular, Disney and every […]
The Dark and Disturbing Underbelly of Home Alone
Tom Jolliffe revisits a holiday staple, and looks into the dark underbelly of Home Alone… Home Alone is 30. Macaulay Culkin turned 40 this year. If that makes you feel old, I apologise. The film turned the former child actor into a mega star, and in a short run of largely repetitive films, Culkin suffered […]
From Zeus to President of the Planet: Tommy ‘Tiny’ Lister
Tom Jolliffe on the career and legacy of the late, great Tommy ‘Tiny’ Lister… Some actors are just larger than life. There’s a presence and charisma that draws your eyes upon them. The world lost another great icon of screen (and more) with the untimely passing of Tommy ‘Tiny’ Lister. His career spanned 35 years, […]
So many Burning questions
Tom Jolliffe looks back at the 2018 Korean thriller Burning, a film brimming with ambiguity… So it’s Christmas. I enter a well known entertainment store to peruse Blu-rays, particularly with an eye on collectors editions and specialist labels. It’s my first trip A.V. (that’s After Viddy). I’ve been working hard, balancing four jobs and a […]
A Terry Gilliam Christmas
Tom Jolliffe looks back at Brazil and 12 Monkeys, released in December 1985 and 1995 respectively… Former Python animation specialist, Terry Gilliam turned his hand to film direction and became known for creating films absolutely loaded with visual whimsy and outlandishly creative ideas. The limits of budget never stifled Gilliam’s own limits despite some frustrations, […]
It Ain’t Christmas Without Die Hard
Tom Jolliffe on why Die Hard is still essential Christmas viewing (and why it IS a Christmas film)… It’s Christmas time. It’s been Christmas since the last piece of candy was collected on the most lacklustre Halloween in forever. In fact I recall last Christmas, adverts on TV already pitching this Christmas. The season is […]
