Yes, they should’ve been terrible but somehow weren’t!
Luc Besson’s Dracula is much stronger than I expected. Owes a fair bit to Coppola’s take & yet it’s structurally nimble, tonally daring, visually arresting & full of intoxicating formal flourishes. Pours new blood-red wine into old bottles. Caleb Landry Jones is a hypnotic Drac
Ettore Scola’s A Special Day (1977) is the best first watch I’ve had for months. Superbly performed by Loren & Mastroianni, as two lonely souls who connect against the backdrop of Hitler’s visit to Rome in 1938. The blocking & camera movement within domestic spaces is miraculous
I rewatched all the Coens’ films a couple of months ago. Fargo was my favourite this time around. Its balancing of tones is perfect
A film I watched a lot as a teenager
Revisited The Outfit (1973). As Donald E. Westlake adaps go, it can’t match Boorman’s Point Blank (few revenge thrillers can) but it’s only a rung or two beneath. Hard, professional men moving through a violent world. Goes without saying that Duvall is terrific in the lead
When I worked in offices, I mainly ate lunch at my desk because of deadlines. But whenever I did remove myself to try and decompress by reading a book, someone would always sit down within 5 mins and say, “What you reading?”
I know exactly what you mean. I enjoyed it and was infuriated by it at the same time. It’s fine for what it is but an empty adaptation of the book
Just caught up with “Wuthering Heights”. Fennell has an eye for image-making but all so hollow. At best it feels like she’s made a fairytale version of Bronte’s book; at worst it’s a fashion shoot. Even the rain-lashed, windswept moors felt like the interior of a snow globe
Even at 96, Frederick Wiseman is a great loss. Still at the top of his game. No conversation about the great American filmmakers is complete without mention of his work, which was consistently outstanding for more than half a century. BFI Player currently hosts a good selection
Silence of the Lambs is 35 today. I was doing A-levels when it came out. About 20 of us went to see it. I was worried that people would talk and mess around, as always happened when a big group from school went. But every single person sat riveted in clenched silence. Masterful
Today’s transcription service delight is Cocaine Bear becoming Croquet Bear. Now that’s a far more genteel film (unless the bear uses the mallet to stave in people’s heads)
Woman in coffeeshop asked me to leave a review. Said, “I’m Carrie”. I said, “Like Carrie White.” She didn’t know the film. I said, “She gets drenched in pig’s blood and kills everyone at her prom.” Woman looked shocked that I’d compare her, so I added, “She’s really nice though”
A remake of The Mist is news both perplexing (Darabont’s near-perfect version still feels so fresh) and hugely exciting (King! Flanagan!). Certainly feels like the right time in terms of the division in America (and everywhere else). Makes Lovecraftian beasts look like a safer prospect
Great movie
Yesterday marked the third time in last couple of months that I’ve stood in line for the hand dryer in a public loo while someone has stood between the two machines with arms outstretched, drying one hand under each. If it happens a 4th time I’m gonna go full Falling Down
Had a good time with Sam Raimi’s Blue Lagoon/Phantom Thread mashup, Send Help. Gets more fun (and more Raimi) as it goes along. Tremendously game performances from Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien
OK, here are 25 great horror movies from the 1980s. Name one more (and only one!) that you feel belongs in this exalted company
Thanks Ant x
The Strangers: Chapter 3 uses The Moody Blues’ ‘Nights in White Satin’ at a key moment, and it reminded me how effectively the same tune is employed in Ben Young’s superb Hounds of Love
One of the greats
Tried a transcription app for first time. More amused than annoyed that it interpreted “Cronenberg” as “Corn burger” every
Great list, voted for by @londoncritics.bsky.social. We each selected our Top 10s from the films available on the BFI Player subscription service. Six of my choices made the 20. The London Critics’ Circle Collection is available to stream on BFI Player from today
Mother of Flies is now on Shudder. A film of great beauty, vulnerability and poignancy as it explores the liminal space between life and death. Threat writhes like churning maggots. The Adams Family are among the most interesting genre filmmakers working today. Treat yourself
On Sale to Members Tomorrow 1PM – Don’t miss GAME on 25th March, featuring Post-Film Q&A with John Minton (Director), Marc Bessant (lead actor) and Geoff Barrow (Producer). Written and produced by Portishead co-founder Geoff Barrow, Game is an unpredictable thriller set in the 90s rave scene.
OK, that’s all of Lovejoy and Darling Buds of May watched. What next?
Today’s double bill was Hamnet (second viewing) and Anaconda. Immensely gratifying that both films were completely sold out. Cinema is back, baby!
Malick would later go further, deeper, as he stretched the boundaries of cinema, but this staggering debut remains *the one*
Greatly saddened by the passing of Béla Tarr. One of the great European auteurs. Sátántangó, Werckmeister Harmonies and his final feature, The Turin Horse, are all masterpieces. His films are immersive and apocalyptic - the slow heartbeat before death
Friend’s 4-year-old son today told me, “I don’t want to grow up. I wish I was a baby.” I said, “You preferred being a baby to being 4?” He nodded. “And you’d choose to be a baby your whole life?” Another nod. I asked why. “You don’t have to bend down.” Can’t argue with that logic
