The Double is the latest film from UK funny man Richard Ayoade (“Submarine”), and what an utterly depressing tale it is. Set in a dystopian world (future? past? it’s hard to say) where work seems pointless and suicide is commonplace, Jesse Eisenberg plays Simon, a timid everyman working to the best of his limited ability … Read more
There is something rather compelling about action films set on aircraft. The claustrophobic confinement and obvious dangers of guns, de-compressions and – erm – gravity naturally add to the sense of peril. Examples of the genre are Air Force One, Passenger 57, United 93, Airport 77/79/etc. and (at the ridiculous end of the spectrum) Snakes … Read more
I was intrigued by this film: the Times reviewer gave it 5 stars; the Sunday Times reviewer gave it 1 star. Such diversity of view has to be investigated! Let’s get one thing straight before we start; Under the Skin is very much an ‘art house’ film, so don’t go and see it if you … Read more
The Grand Budapest Hotel is the latest from Wes Anderson, and what great fun it is. My review of Monuments Men pointed out that putting the likes of George Clooney, Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, Jean Dujardin, Bill Murray and Hugh Bonneville in the same film was no guarantee of a good film. Following that logic, … Read more
I’m a child of the 60’s, and to me as a young boy the films of the 60’s and 70’s that really spoke to me were those involving cars doing dangerous things: Steve McQueen in ‘Bullitt’ tearing round the streets of San Francisco; the Love Bug; the Monte Carlo race in ‘Grand Prix’; Bond’s Lotus … Read more