Tom Jolliffe on the rise of Anya Taylor-Joy and just how far she could go… Have you seen The Queen’s Gambit? Have you? What about you? You must see The Queen’s Gambit (and repeat ad nauseum). The latest water cooler TV show that only a few sad wretches haven’t yet seen is making waves across […]
Statham Fights a Megalodon: How to Double Down on Silliness
Tom Jolliffe looks back at The Meg and other ludicrous films that audiences will love or hate… Jason Statham has fought international terrorists, mobsters, the yakuza, probably carb cravings and more throughout his career as an action man. Some might say he’s become a little one note with his excessive scowling, growling and intense raspy […]
Looking Back at the Lethal Weapon Franchise
With reports of the long awaited fifth instalment still appearing regularly, Tom Jolliffe looks back at the iconic action franchise on the 34th anniversary of the first movie… As an 80’s kid, the end of the decade and into the 90’s saw two action franchises become particularly prevalent among my video collection. I’d not be […]
How to Refurbish the Terminator Franchise
Tom Jolliffe offers his thoughts on the direction to take the Terminator franchise… Terminator 2: Judgment Day is 30 this year. It’s also fair to say it’s the last film in the franchise that proved unquestionably successful. It was a massive box office hit, launching James Cameron to gargantuan levels of production. At the time […]
When a Soundtrack Becomes Beautifully Contrary to Violence on Screen
Tom Jolliffe looks at the effective use of contrarian music in films which show violence… There’s something about a great film soundtrack whether it’s the score or songs (or both). You can have a melancholic drama which will usually be laced with melancholic music. You can have the rousing action adventure with the John Williams […]
Running Scared vs Running Scared
Tom Jolliffe looks back at two films with the same title, Running Scared (1986 and 2006)… 2021 brings with it several significant anniversaries. Interestingly though it brings significant anniversaries to two somewhat underappreciated films that share the same title. First of all we have Running Scared, the Peter Hyams helmed action comedy from 1986. That […]
The Cop on the Edge
Tom Jolliffe on the well-worn but effective cop on the edge trope… Cinema can often be pretty simple. Good guys are often morally upstanding. Bad guys often irredeemably corrupt. Your good guy might be a cop, your bad guy a crook. The hero might have a foible or two, but is generally psychologically on an […]
From Duel to Joy Ride: The DNA of John Hyams’ Alone
Tom Jolliffe takes a look at John Hyams’ latest film Alone, and delves into its DNA… In 2012, director John Hyams delivered a hell of a surprise package. It was his second film in a franchise that he took into wild (and occasionally divisive) avenues. Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning was near visionary in scraping […]
Essential Time Travel Movies Part II
Tom Jolliffe offers up a second round of essential time travel movies… Having already established that cinema has a longstanding fascination with time travel with my previous ten essentials, it’s high time to add another ten to the mix. As a starting point for so many films it goes without saying that there have been […]
Audience Manipulation Through Character Perspective
Tom Jolliffe on playing with character perspective to take the audience exactly where you want them… In the history of cinema, many writers and directors have sought to transfix an audience and take them to very deliberate places. Sometimes these tales fire straight like an arrow, leading us on a linear and clear path, with […]
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