Survival in the face of desperate odds is a theme that Alfonso Cuarón has explored before. His 2006 picture Children of Men is a sumptuous contemplation of the fierce will of humanity to prevail when in a seemingly helpless situation. Whilst Children of Men considered the very existence of mankind, Gravity is a smaller, simpler story on a far grander scale; an examination of the sheer determination to live in an environment where life is inherently impossible. Continue reading
Welsh author and documentarian Jon Ronson’s 2004 book “The Men Who Stare at Goats” examined the U.S. Army’s investigation of the psychological and paranormal and their potential uses in modern warfare. Utilizing this fascinating study of top-secret military research as source material, director Grant Heslov delivers an entertaining picture, albeit one which slightly trivializes the underlying seriousness of its content.
“Riddle me this, riddle me that, who’s afraid of the big, black bat?”
The year is 1995 and thus spake The Riddler (a maniacal Jim Carrey) in Joel Schumacher’s utterly bonkers take on the Batman universe, Batman Forever. Well, the answer was of course absolutely nobody. Taking over directorial duties from he of the inky heart Tim Burton (who moved into the Producer’s chair), Schumacher, presumably in thrall of nervy Warner Bros execs, instead applied a neon polish to Burton’s grimy Gotham and discarded the brooding tone of Bat instalments one and two in favour of camp, vampish comedia. Continue reading
Awards darling The Artist swept the board at Sunday night’s 65th Baftas, winning in seven of the 12 categories it was nominated in. The British film industries premier film awards ceremony, held in the luxurious surroundings of the Royal Opera House, was a somewhat staid and predictable undertaking, offering up little in the way of surprises.
Host Stephen Fry did his best to irreverently mug his way through proceedings, lest he let our global showcase turn into an Oscar-esque snoozefest, but the distinct lack of any leftfield wins lent the whole affair a rather pedestrian air.
crash/burn 