Casey Chong with ten great neo-Western movies you need to see… The old-fashioned John Wayne era of Western movies may be long gone but certainly not forgotten. And while the Western genre itself is no longer the box-office guarantee it once was back in the day, it still has its place in contemporary cinema, particularly […]
Perfect Non-Horror Movies for Halloween Viewing
We take a look at some non-horror films that will still creep you out, disturb you or deliver a nightmarish scenario… It’s almost Halloween and so the perfect time to dive into some horror. The genre sees a perfect boost during Halloween season but a film doesn’t need to belong to the horror genre to […]
Incredible Movie Opening Scenes That Hooked the Audience
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 […]
No Country For Old Men: The best Terminator movie of the 21st century
Tom Jolliffe looks back at No Country For Old Men, the relentless chase film which did ‘Terminator’ better than every 21st century sequel in the Arnold Schwarzenegger franchise… The year is 2022. We’re well into the 21st century. Franchise fascination has never been higher and likewise, the lustre in Hollywood for remakes, reboots and sequels […]
10 Villains Who Achieved Victory Against The Hero
Ricky Church on the villains who achieved victory over the hero… Most stories follow the same typical pattern: the hero is on a life or death journey against a powerful villain and after a long, arduous battle and some sacrifice, they win against the villain. We’ve seen the story play out in superhero adventures, detective […]
When the Big Screen Experience is Unforgettable
Tom Jolliffe looks back on his treasured big screen memories, and why seeing unforgettable films in a cinema will always be the ultimate experience… There was a horrible feeling for cinema fans last year, which was perpetual until a few months ago. Cinema chains were struggling to stay open, and not just because of forced […]
No County for Old Men with filmmaker Dan Pringle | The Pick of the Flicks Podcast #94
On The Pick of the Flicks Podcast, a different guest drops in every week to chat about their favourite film. This week, filmmaker Dan Pringle delves into the Coen Brothers’ dark masterpiece No Country for Old Men… On this week’s episode of The Pick of the Flicks Podcast, filmmaker Dan Pringle joins the podcast to […]
In Over Your Head, Coen Style
Tom Jolliffe looks at some of the Coen Brothers finest films, often seeing protagonists in a situation that gets increasingly out of their control… The plan seems simple. The quest, on paper, should be easy. Nothing could go wrong. In film terms, a lack of complication is a drama killer of course. In film terms, […]
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 […]
It’s Chinatown Jake: The Joys of the Unhappy Ending
Tom Jolliffe looks at the unhappy ending, and why they often have a more lasting impact (spoilers abound!)… Cinema has the power to move us. It can be an escape. The overriding formula has historically involved a happy resolution, because lets face it, after journeying through the crisis that the protagonist finds himself in, it […]
