Under Paris delivers my second favourite shark movie of all time. The first is Jaws, of course. That whole slew of Sharknado films couldn’t do a damned thing for me. They are so far beyond cheesy that they become an embarrassment. You have to be able to walk a line with shark movies, to balance…
Tag: camerawork
Training Day (2001) – Antoine Fuqua
I forgot what a tightly crafted, perfectly executed film Training Day was. I knew it was excellent, I remembered it as gritty and intense, but I hadn’t seen it since 2001. Watching it afresh over twenty years later, and one is struck by the intensity of the performances, Denzel Washington deservedly won an Oscar for…
Talk to Me (2022) – Danny and Micheal Philippou
The Philippou brothers deliver a fantastic Australian horror film with Talk to Me, creepy, smart, layered, and relatable characters make this one to watch, and get freaked out over. Something is sweeping the social media of the kids in a town in Australia, parties built around a ritual involving an embalmed hand, candles, and ninety…
The Final Girls (2015) – Todd Strauss-Schulson
The Final Girls is a delightfully meta-horror comedy with an emotional heart thanks to the performances of Taissa Farmiga and Malin Akerman. Farmiga is Max Cartwright, the daughter of Alexandra (Akerman) who has always wanted to be a movie star, but keeps getting recalled for her one big role, in an 80s cult classic slasher…
TAD 2023: Late Night with the Devil dir. Cameron Cairnes, and Colin Cairnes
The Toronto After Dark film festival got started on Thursday night with a bang with Late Night with the Devil. And it was a crowd-pleaser. If you are a horror fan, this is one to seek out, this is one to demand from your streaming service, this should move to the top of your viewing…
Miami Vice (2006) – Michael Mann
I love a good Michael Mann film, and man do I love my Miami Vice, so sure win right? Unfortunately no. While it’s not a horrible film, the early 21st century update on the classic 80s series just doesn’t work as well as it could. Yes, the camerawork and look is everything you would expect…
The Prisoner (1967) – A. B. and C., and Free For All
Anthony Skene pens A. B. and C. which sees Number Six (Patrick McGoohan) dealing with a new assault, this time on his mind, as a new Number Two (Colin Gordon) uses dream manipulation to attempt to sift the truth of Six’s resignation. First airing on 13 October, 1967, it sees Six being drugged at night,…
The White Ribbon (2009) – Micheal Haneke
I’m finishing up the main body of DK Canada’s exceptional The Movie Book, and Haneke’s The White Ribbon is a fantastic film to wrap up the main section of the book. Set a few short years before the First World War, this Golden Globe winning film is a somber, thoughtful affair on sins, youth, tradition,…
Space: 1999 (1976) -The Testament of Arkadia, and The Last Enemy
The Alphans journey aboard the travelling moon continue this week as we come to the conclusion of the first season with this pair of episodes. Airing on 12 February, 1976, and written by Johnny Byrne this episode embraces that line made famous by the 1978 series Battlestar Galactica – “…life here, began out there…” Luna…
Rashomon (1950) – Akira Kurosawa
The next big title in DK Canada’s The Movie Book is the Kurosawa classic Rashomon. Serving as a commentary on the nature of man, the film tells a story of murder, rape, and truths. Set against the backdrop of a gutted out and tumble down temple, a trio of characters come together to ruminate a…
The Mind Reels 