Author Archive
Film Review – Battle of the Sexes
Although Battle of the Sexes (2017) takes place in 1973, its themes feel unfortunately modern. That’s a sign telling us how slowly the progress of gender equality has been since. The tennis match that pitted Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs exploded in a spectacle…
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An Appreciation – Apocalypse Now
The production of Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now (1979) has become almost as infamous as the film itself. Hot off the successes of The Godfather (1972), The Godfather: Part II (1974), and The Conversation (1974), Coppola had turned into one of the major faces of…
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Film Review – Kingsman: The Golden Circle
The idea behind the Kingsman franchise, partly, was to lampoon the spy thrillers of yesteryear, most notably the Bond films. We see a lot of the same kind of tropes: the stylish suits, the fancy gadgets, the quirky bad guys, etc. This also includes the…
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Film Review – American Assassin
American Assassin (2017) feels like it belongs to a bygone era. It has the makings of a Cold War spy thriller with its rebellious hero and international terrorists. We even get the luxury of the classic nuclear bomb that our protagonist must disable before the…
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Film Review – Crown Heights
If there is one thing that writer/director Matt Ruskin does well in Crown Heights (2017), it’s highlighting the fact that the justice system is inherently flawed. With pressure put upon law enforcement to swiftly capture criminals to the racial profiling of minorities (particularly those of…
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Film Review – What Happened to Monday
It’s a surprise that after her breakout turn in the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo trilogy, Noomi Rapace remains a highly underrated actress in modern movies. Her English language films have – frankly – not made the most of her talents. She’s either played the…
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Film Review – Death Note
Earlier this year, I reviewed the new Ghost in the Shell (2017). In it, I discussed the issue of Scarlett Johansson playing the lead role, and how it was yet another example of Hollywood’s long history of casting white actors in roles meant for people…
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Film Review – Patti Cake$
Writer/director Geremy Jasper’s Patti Cake$ (2017) has all the trappings of an underdog story. The hip-hop music will call to mind 8 Mile (2002) or Hustle & Flow (2005). As our protagonist delves into her fantasies of glamour and fame, we’re reminded of similar dream…
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