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Sigourney Weaver, Creed and the strange story of Silibil N' Brains − Reviews...
I have broadband in my flat for the first time ever, so I streamed some recent movies. Then I went to meet Sigourney Weaver.A Most Violent Year (J. C. Chandor, 2014)− A superb, low-key crime film set...
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The Nicholas Brothers, Arrival and the sound of silence – Reviews #248
Plus: Jimmy Joyce's laugh riot and a load of rubbish starring Ryan Gosling.CINEMA: Arrival (Denis Villeneve, 2016)– This cerebral, mind-bending and emotionally devastating sci-fi film takes a while to...
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Amy Adams, The Big Short and a biography of rare brilliance – Reviews #249
Here's what I've been consuming of late:BOOK Huey Long by T. Harry Williams (1969)– This is a political biography of rare brilliance: a heavyweight chronicle of the life of Huey P. Long, one of the...
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Stewart Lee, Stories We Tell and extremely melancholy whores − Reviews #250
We're at a quarter millennium of reviews, but they're not getting any better. This time: autobiography, corrupt cops and more (but worse) Huey Long.LIVE Stewart Lee: Content Provider at Leicester...
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Omar Sy, The Hateful Eight, and the rise of the far-right − Reviews #251
Merry Christmas!FILMS The Hateful Eight (Quentin Tarantino, 2015)– A bloody, bloody brilliant fusion of Western, horror and black comedy that confirms Tarantino's return to relevance after the glorious...
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Sam Fuller, Rogue One and Chaplin's last stand – Reviews #252
I have a week off before Christmas, so I've spent the first part of it mostly just watching loads of movies. That's included catching up with a couple of films that the Guardian included in their 'best...
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Review of 2016: Part 1 – Movies
2016 has been an absolute binfire of a year. At least I watched a few nice films, eh? Here's the first part of a review of the year in the usual three instalments (movies/live stuff/books and TV). I...
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Review of 2016: Part 2 – Live
Hello again. Thanks to those of you who read the first part of my review of the year, it means a lot to me, genuinely. And thanks especially to those who shared it on Twitter and Facebook. Part 1 was...
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Review of 2016: Part 3 – Books and TV
I read 32 books and watched 43 TV shows this year. Enough boasting, here's a piece about which ones were good and which ones weren't.BOOKS Fiction My favourite book of the year was Kingsley Amis's...
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Roger Moore, Fantastic Beasts, and Sesame Street: Origins – Reviews #253
Just a quick round-up of the things I watched immediately before Christmas. Been mostly eating cheese and re-acquainting myself with a guitar since then.CINEMA: It's a Wonderful Life (Frank Capra,...
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Jane Austen, Pride, and Martin Scorsese pandering to my every whim – Reviews...
I've only watched two films since 22 December (what the hell?), as I have been Broadening My Horizons*. Thanks to everyone who read and shared my blogs last year. It topped 9,000 views in a month for...
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Kate Hepburn, 11/22/63 and Elia Kazan's America – Reviews #255
I've been busy writing, reading and working, but I found time to watch a few films too.BOOK *A FEW SPOILERS*11/22/63 by Stephen King (2011)– This is the first Stephen King book I’ve read (though I’ve...
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REVIEW: Martha Wainwright and Ed Harcourt at the Roundhouse
Thursday 2 February, 2017 This was an often brilliant evening in the company of one of the 21st century’s most compelling performers, ably supported and assisted by multi-instrumentalist Ed Harcourt,...
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REVIEW: Richard Thompson at Cadogan Hall
Sunday 6 February, 2017 A slightly disappointing acoustic show, sat on a broken seat, listening to an erratic setlist, with RT wrapping it up and going home a good half hour before the curfew. Perhaps...
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Ayn Rand, Hunt for the Wilderpeople and the 13th Amendment – Reviews #256
Hello there. Below you'll find some stuff about books and films, mostly focusing on The Fountainhead. I've also written a couple of blogs in other places. Here's one about legendary composer Elmer...
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Emily Watson, Fences and Hollywood alienation – Reviews #257
I went to the BAFTAs this week– yes, nice, thank you. Then I pathologically reviewed all of my other cultural endeavours. Here you go:BOOKThe Day of the Locust by Nathanael West (1939)– A nasty,...
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Ten things I learned about The Crying Game
*Warning: plenty of spoilers in this one, please see the film first* Last night I was privileged enough to attend the BFI's very special cast and crew reunion celebrating 25 years since the release of...
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And introducing... #1. John Ford
About five years ago, I used to write a regular series for the now defunct Eat Sleep Live Film, and since I want to run more features here alongside the usual reviews, I thought I'd revive it. It's...
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Peter Lorre, Sunset Song and an enrapturing trip to 1900s Brazil – Reviews #258
More erratic adventures in culture, including – but not limited to – Terence Davies's worst film, Peter Lorre on the big screen, and one of the most beautiful books I've read in years. I've just signed...
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Ten things I learned about Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid
The latest in my semi-regular series. I stumbled across Paul Seydor’s book, The Authentic Death and Contentious Afterlife of Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (2015), while passing time between BFI...
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