We celebrate one of the all-time greats, the late Gene Hackman, with ten essential movies… One of the best to ever step in front of the camera sadly left us recently. Gene Hackman’s long and illustrious career, in many ways, felt like an anomaly. He was intense and enthralling whenever he was on screen. An […]
10 Essential Films From 1974
We go back half a century to offer up ten essential films from 1974… It’s incredible to think that it’s been half a century since the year 1974. As a year of cinematic offerings, it takes some beating too with a slew of incredible films. This was still right in the midst of Hollywood’s golden […]
Francis Ford Coppola In And Out Of The Wilderness
Simon Thompson chronicles Francis Ford Coppola’s career purgatory post-Apocalypse Now, as the filmmaker flitted between exile and embrace by the mainstream Hollywood studios… Francis Ford Coppola’s name is one that is synonymous with one of the most daring, innovative and exciting eras in American filmmaking, the New Hollywood era (1967- early 80s). Although this period […]
10 Stunning Performances Outrageously Snubbed by the Oscars
It’s the Oscars, so it’s time to look at ten stunning performances the Academy outrageously snubbed… Oscar season is an exciting time of the year. It’s fair to say that every year, for one reason or another, contentious decisions are made as well as glaring omissions. The desperation from some actors to snag an Oscar […]
The Essential Paranoia Films
Tom Jolliffe offers up an essential selection of paranoia films… Who likes a good hearty dose of paranoia? Okay, in real life it’s not too enjoyable. In cinema? It’s a gift for film-makers looking to tap into that feeling within their audience. There are a lot of great examples of paranoia-themed films, and when a […]
Great Films Unfairly Forgotten in Time
Tom Jolliffe on great films unfairly forgotten in time… Time is a cruel mistress. It’s the one constant and something no one can alter (except Marty McFly and Doc Brown). Looks go, memories fade and in cinematic terms a film can be forgotten over time. Now sometimes it’s probably a good thing. Take for example […]
1975: The Year Francis Ford Coppola Dominated the Oscars
Tom Jolliffe looks back to the 1975 Academy Awards ceremony, when Francis Ford Coppola had The Godfather: Part II and The Conversation in competition… With the Oscars around the corner, now is a good time to look back at the 1975 ceremony. It was a year filled to the brim with exceptional films. Among an […]
Great Directors and Their Forgotten Gems
Tom Jolliffe looks at the forgotten gems that most great directors have… If you think of many great directors you cast your mind to their career highlights. Those iconic films. Many of these directors become largely defined by one or two films in particular (sometimes more). Additionally occasionally you might also remember those films that […]
The Short Lived Maestro of Second Fiddle: John Cazale
Tom Jolliffe looks back at the career of John Cazale… On the 12th of August, John Cazale would have been 85. Who is John Cazale? Well here’s the thing…A late bloomer in Hollywood, Cazale broke into cinema at the same time as a good friend of his: Al Pacino. Pacino, five years Cazale’s junior, was […]
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 […]
