Tom Jolliffe looks at 15 great movie openings which hook the audience immediately… Audiences are a difficult bunch to please sometimes. A film’s goal is to grab the attention of viewers and hold them until the final credits roll. In the age of streaming and a lust for instant gratification, where Tik Tok videos all […]
The year Heat was criminally overlooked by the Oscars
Tom Jolliffe looks back at the Oscars in 1996, when Heat was criminally overlooked by the Academy… The year was 1996, which looked back over the films of the previous year. It was a fairly strong year, and like a lot of the nomination lists throughout that decade there are some oddities. There are also […]
Great Movie Scenes That Left An Indelible Mark
Tom Jolliffe takes a look at 15 great movie scenes that left an indelible mark… Great movies require many things to achieve that unshakable stamp of quality. As well as great writing, directing and acting, you need memorable scenes. Some can be more memorable than others. Some may end up defining a film more than […]
The Best Character Introductions in Cinema History
Ricky Church on the best character introductions in cinema history… Sometimes a character’s introduction in a movie makes a lasting impression that becomes an integral part of the film’s legacy. Whether its through their swagger, high-stakes danger or a one-liner, their introduction not only sets up their role in the film, but can make quite […]
Heat at 25: Still the Best Crime Thriller of the Modern Era
Tom Jolliffe looks back at Heat which turns 25 and remains the best crime thriller in the modern era… It’s hard to believe, but Heat turns 25 this month. The enduring neo-noir instantly enraptured fans upon release, bringing two screen titans in Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, together for the first time since The […]
A Lasting Final Shot
Tom Jolliffe looks at the power a film’s final shot can have… There are many aspects that will make a piece of cinema stay long in your mind. You give yourself over to a film sometimes. It sweeps you away. Moments leave particularly strong and inedible impressions. One thing that many films will strive for […]
Joy Division in Cinema and TV
40 years after the death of Ian Curtis, Tom Jolliffe looks at the impact of Joy Division in cinema and TV… There have been a few big anniversaries of late. 40 years since Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back was released. 40 years since The Shining came out too. On a more […]
Al Pacino at 80: One of the all time greats
Tom Jolliffe looks back at the career of Al Pacino as he turns 80… Ready your best Al Pacino impression. We’ve all got them. Those usually tend to be Al at his explosive, unrestrained best. Maybe it’s one of several scenes in Heat, or something in his scenery chomping brilliance in Scent of A Woman. […]
Oscars: Five Great Films That Should Have Been Nominated for Best Picture (But Weren’t)
Graeme Robertson with five great films that should have been nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars… Whenever the Oscar nominees are announced, the best and brightest of the film critic world (and idiot’s like me) gather together and begin our collective muttering about what film we feel deserves to win the Best Picture trophy. […]
Mann, Refn and the Safdies: Mastering Neo-Noir
Tom Jolliffe looks at a few examples of classic neo-noirs… Dark tales in rain sodden streets with the glistening neons of a big City. There comes that inevitable moment. A wrong choice, the self-destructive move to an inescapable corner. The neo-noir, the resurrection of the classic film noir genre that typified much of 30’s-50’s cinema. […]