The loner is a staple of the Michael Mann vehicle, whether it’s Neil McCauley evading cops, Frank trying to avoid slipping back into a life of crime or Hawkeye taking out bad guys. The director’s leading men are driven by a solitary urge, even when a woman comes along to threaten their sacred individuality. Speaking of driving, one of Ferrari’s main promotional posters, which features Adam Driver’s single-minded businessman, bears a striking resemblance to the central poster of Nicolas Winding Refn’s cult classic Drive. Not that Drive holds the mantle for having the first poster of a guy standing in front of a car in a film poster, but it’s an interesting link between the silent hero concept, even though that’s a pretty difficult idea to get your head around in this particular joint.
Continue reading “Review: Ferrari”Elf: 20th Anniversary
I went to see Elf for the first time at a preview screening my dad took us to back in the day, but my memory of it is pretty vague, unfortunately. Probably because I was quite young combined with the fact that myself and my brothers were frequently grooving out of the cinema with my pa to go to the toilet, which wouldn’t have helped. I’d never commit such a cardinal sin these days. Even if my bladder was at the point of bursting like when I was watching Avengers: Civil War. Oof. That was a close one.
Continue reading “Elf: 20th Anniversary”The Christmas Shop (In meme form, mostly)
It’s a big endeavour. Huge, some might say. We’re not even having a particularly large gathering, just the usual quiet one with the family. Still, stress in the purchasing department is a given.
Continue reading “The Christmas Shop (In meme form, mostly)”Rewatch: The Raid 2
Violent night
Gory night
All is tense
All is fight
Ah, the genius, the lyricism, the poetry. Yep, you’re welcome. Moving on.
Continue reading “Rewatch: The Raid 2”Review: Chicken Run – Dawn of the Nugget
I’d be lying if I said that I remember the original Chicken Run in detail. Assuming I watched it around the time of its release, I would’ve been three years old, so that’s probably why. Still, it’s Aardman , so you know it’s going to be high quality when it comes to the animation department. The three original Wallace and Gromit films were my bread and butter growing up, bowling me over with their inventive visuals and compelling villains as well as their gentle humour and tension. The Wrong Trousers’ Feathers McGraw (genius name, whoever came up with that) kept my older brother on absolute tenterhooks as he watched the bad guy with fear and fascination, and there’s camcorder footage to prove it.
Continue reading “Review: Chicken Run – Dawn of the Nugget”