Cinema

The Dismal Framing of Dorian Gray

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:46:27 +0000

A generous portion of my third year at university was spent attempting to unravel Oscar Wilde’s masterpiece and only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, whose pages chart the intriguing regression of an initially innocent and charming newcomer to London’s high society.

Broken (Breathless) Embraces

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:04:24 +0000

Want to spend two hours feeling breathless? Then spend two hours watching Penelope Cruz in Los Abrazos Rotos, or as it is called in English, Broken Embraces.

The Hurt Locker

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:05:42 +0000

If your idea of a great night at the movies is biting your fingernails for two hours, The Hurt Locker might just offer the best value for your cinema admission fee.

Public Franchise

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:45:58 +0000

A Michael Mann film - and by that I mean a 1930s mix between Collateral Damage and Miami Vice. Baffled? You may well be. The movie said a lot, but in the end, it's easy not to care.

T4 - Salvaged

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 16:56:54 +0000

Still drooling over T2? Pining for Cameron to be back? Then this may not be for you, for everyone else, there’s a highly entertaining summer action blockbuster that won’t let you down.

A Fighting Chance

Thu, 28 May 2009 19:08:00 +0000

Not as adventurous as Fight Club - and lacking a ‘based on a true story’ tag line - inevitably means Fighting isn’t anything new or awe inspiring. But it turned out to be OK!

Star Trek Rules

Thu, 14 May 2009 17:10:41 +0000

I must state for the record that I’ve never been a Trekkie and never watched the original '70s series regularly, although I did enjoy the odd episode. To some that makes me unqualified to write a review of Star Trek. To others I’m the perfect candidate.

Two L.vers Worth Seeing

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 15:04:17 +0000

So do you take the chance to see Joaquin Phoenix for the last time on the big screen, now that he's quit Hollywood? Yes. After all you get Gwyneth Paltrow thrown in too!

Knowing...or Not

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:12:56 +0000

Knowing turned out to be a case of: "Thanks for trying to tell me, but I’d rather not know..."

Flash of Drive and Determination

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 17:51:48 +0000

What better reason to visit the cinema than to watch Flash of Genius. A feel-good movie about an underdog taking on the might of the American car makers, based on a true story. And yes, I do love a true story!

The International Letdown

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:04:11 +0000

You might think this film would appeal to the Here Is The City audience. Unfortunately, you’d be wrong.

Slumdog Millionaire Zen

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:48:08 +0000

"Unending, inseparable, unborn," said Danny Boyle in his acceptance speech for Best Director at this year’s Oscars when talking about Mumbai. If you’d blinked you may well have missed it.

Jean-Claude Van Damme Bolts (Upward)

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 17:44:00 +0000

This week it’s the return of animation and Jean-Claude Van Damme on DVD. I did warn you that the award-nominated film releases were over! But that's not a reason to stay away from either of these films.

Doubt and the Case of Benjamin Button

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 21:28:15 +0000

It's your last week to catch award-nominated films on the big screen before we gear down for the next few months. On offering this week is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (TCCBB) and Doubt. For any occasion, you can’t go wrong with either one.

Nick and Nora on Revolutionary Road

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:45:29 +0000

This week I viewed two films that couldn’t be anymore different, but have so many similarities - Revolutionary Road and Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist.

Frost/Nixon

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:22:09 +0000

Guaranteed to be a hit with fans of political dramas such as the West Wing, director Ron Howard’s adaptation of Peter Morgan’s stage success has Michael Sheen and Frank Langella resurrecting their respective West End and Broadway roles.

Milk

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:19:16 +0000

Yes, another film 'based on a true story'. I told you it was Oscar season! But it does bring out the best of Hollywood, and we see that here.

The Wrestler

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:14:24 +0000

'Stunning', 'exemplary', and 'raw effort' are just some of the words you will hear to describe Aronofsky’s The Wrestler. In particular, it's Rourke's performance that transcends the meaning of acting into living.

Seven Pounds

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:12:26 +0000

I knew I’d pit Seven Pounds up against an all-time great of this genre - 2004’s Crash, and I knew I was going to be let down. It would either be better than my favourite, Crash, or Seven Pounds would be a poor second and I would have fallen for the hype.

Slumdog Millionaire

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:02:56 +0000

Golden Globe-winner Slumdog Millionaire gives you a-ride-and-a-half in exchange for two hours of your time.