By John Murphy This was the first thing that struck me when watching Widows – the new film from Steve McQueen, and the first since his Oscar-winning 12 Years A Slave. I think we can agree that these are manifestly different films, but from the first frame it possessed that same visceral realism of his earlier work. I felt the heat from an exploding truck; … Continue reading Widows (2018) – An Affecting and Exhilarating Experience
By Chris Gallagher Social realism is one of the defining characteristics of British Cinema but what is it and how do we classify it? A focus on the everyday gives the audience an experience in the authentic and shows the world and society for what it truly is. It’s a gritty representation of the world using techniques developed by the early British documentary movement. A … Continue reading Social Realism and the ‘British New Wave’
By Chris Gallagher Wong Kar-Wai is a visionary in the world of film. A filmmaker that continues to question boundaries of style and narrative, his films are a visceral experience with each frame filled with colour and texture. Wong Kar-Wai is one of a few Chinese directors that have received International acclaim but whereas John Woo is known for his high-octane action films, Wong falls … Continue reading The Cinema of Wong Kar-Wai
By Chris Gallagher Hollywood cinema has continually portrayed masculinity as dominant, with women being relegated to the role of spectacle. The male gaze has cast a shadow over women in Hollywood, a shadow that continues to this day. How has the role of women changed in Hollywood and how have they been represented in recent times? Women in a Time of Greed The 1980s saw … Continue reading A Woman’s Role in Contemporary Hollywood
By Chris Gallagher Independent Filmmaker Scott Crawford is the man behind one of the most interesting documentaries of 2014, SALAD DAYS: A DECADE OF PUNK IN WASHINGTON, DC (1980-90). Salad Days is a film that examines the early DIY punk scene in Washington DC, exploring the musical and cultural legacy that it forged. A host of interesting contributors allows the audience to get a full … Continue reading Salad Days – An Interview With Director Scott Crawford
By Chris Gallagher Writer/Director Bradley King is the man behind one of the most interesting Sci Fi movies of 2014, TIME LAPSE. Bradley self-funded, wrote and directed Time Lapse, which was his first foray into the world of feature film. It was co-written with writer/producer B.P. Cooper and it went on to play in 75 film festivals around the world. In what is a truly unique take … Continue reading Time Lapse – An Interview With Director Bradley King
By Chris Gallagher Appropriate Behavior (2014), directed by and starring Desiree Akhavan, is a film I watched at the Glasgow Film Theatre last year and enjoyed immensely. It achieves a perfect balance between the critiquing of modern America and the story of a bisexual Iranian-American woman living in a post 9/11 world. After the showing a Q&A was held with director Desiree Akhavan and she … Continue reading Appropriate Behavior – A Modern Comedy Classic
By Chris Gallagher With a raft of postmodern horror films being released in recent years I decided to look back at the classic American slasher film. As someone who grew up with a fascination and love of horror, it’s incredibly difficult to boil down any of my favourite sub genres into a top 5 list but I decided to give it a go anyway. The … Continue reading The Slasher Movie – Top 5
Angst is a 1983 Austrian serial killer film written and directed by Gerald Kargl, the one and only film he ever made. Though little known, the film has gained cult status over the years due to its raw, relentless violence and avant-garde cinematography. During the filming of Angst, director Kargl plunged so far into debt that he was forced to give up on the film industry … Continue reading ANGST (1983) – The Austrian Cult Classic
