Author: Laura Shearer

  • Don Jon: A perverted examination of gender roles

    Don Jon: A perverted examination of gender roles

    Sex sells…or so advertising companies would have us believe. Don Jon sets out with what seem to be grand initial ideas of exploring the relationships between male and female ideals on sexual identity. The bigger questions of gender differences and how gender ideals correlate with opinions on standards for sexual behaviour and fantasies are also…

  • BFI Gothic: The dark heart of film

    BFI Gothic: The dark heart of film

    The British Film Institute programmes seasons at the Southbank Centre London and special events around the UK often. It’s a key part of what they do, and they do it well. However, BFI Gothic is by far the most exciting season of screenings and events I’ve been witness to. The UK wide celebration of film…

  • On the seventh, eighth & ninth days of Christmas: Five Criterion films I’d like to find in my stocking

    On the seventh, eighth & ninth days of Christmas: Five Criterion films I’d like to find in my stocking

    So how does one go about choosing just a handful of films from Criterion’s 800+ film collection? I haven’t picked what I’d call the best films in the collection because I fear that I would be stuck sitting here for days making alternate lists. Instead, I’ve chosen films that I’d be delighted to receive as…

  • On the second day of Christmas: Five horrifying Christmas classics

    On the second day of Christmas: Five horrifying Christmas classics

    On this side of the world the nights are getting dark and long, and much time is spent settling down with mince pies in front of the television screen. But as one might expect, too many viewings of It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) have resulted in a sickly sweet feeling from which I’ve found myself…