Category: Articles
David Bowie & The Man Who Fell To Earth: Seeking Grace after the Fall
The tragic passing of British rock legend, trendsetting male fashionista and film star David Bowie, in January of 2016 from cancer, marked the end of one of the greatest chapters in both music and cinema. Bowie was a force to be reckoned with, whether onscreen playing roles ranging from the charming and villainous Goblin King…
Six great Prisoner of War films you might not have seen
Ever since there has been war, there have been prisoners of war. In times gone by, they might have been sold into slavery, recruited into the winning side, or just killed out of hand. As societies became more civilised, they began to treat prisoners with more care, putting them in camps under guard, and providing…
Homophobia in the cinema of Mel Brooks
Now that comedy master Mel Brooks has turned 90, I think we should examine an element of his oeuvre that has, to a certain extent, been swept under the rug rather disgracefully while praise for his achievements has been lavished on him to no end. I’m talking about the homophobia evident in many of his…
Powerful Put-Downs: 8 Downright Devilish Onscreen Insults
A well-written, expertly relayed verbal barb can be one of the most satisfying things to hear in a movie—especially when it’s proffered to a character who deserves it—and even the smallest throwaway line can be most effective when delivered at the right moment. I’ve heard a lot of celluloid jibes in my day, and I…
Hollywood in the 1970s: 10 Films History Forgot
I became a film fan in the 1970s. It was a good decade, one of the best if we’re ranking Hollywood in such a fashion. It had a number of iconic movies. There were the blockbusters – Jaws and Star Wars – which would rewrite the rules for how Hollywood manufactured its product. There were…