Category Archives: Film

Team spirit

Posted on July 11, 2018 by clivedav184z

I don’t need to mention there’s an important semi-final tonight, do I? Most of the media build-up is drawing parallels with Italia ’90, for understandable reasons, yet for someone of my generation (I was born in 1959) 1966 is still … Continue reading →

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The man who had too much of everything

Posted on May 31, 2018 by clivedav184z

Talent being at the top of the list. From my Times review of a weighty new account of the rise and fall of the genius that was Robin Williams: The warning signs were there that moment in the 1970s when … Continue reading →

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Notebook

Posted on May 9, 2018 by clivedav184z

“Independent film” brings to mind noble concepts like “integrity”, “vision”, “self-expression” and “sacrifice”. It evokes the image of struggling young filmmakers maxing out their credit cards to pay their actors and crews, who work long hours for little or no … Continue reading →

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Marooned

Posted on July 27, 2017 by clivedav184z

Well, I went in with my expectations set reasonably low – the swooning and gasping from many of the critics automatically put me on my guard. (Remember how they tried to convince us that “Skyfall” was the best Bond film … Continue reading →

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Is Moonlight really the best film of the year?

Posted on February 28, 2017 by clivedav184z

It’s years since I wanted to rush out to see a film just because it won Best Picture at the Oscars – I’ve been burnt far too many times. So I went along to “Moonlight” telling myself not to fall … Continue reading →

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Notebook

Posted on January 10, 2017 by clivedav184z

The most striking novelty of the American landscape today, to anyone who knows it pretty well, is a little box about as big as a prairie schoolhouse. These boxes are trim and white and you see them every thirty miles, … Continue reading →

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Truth and lies

Posted on January 4, 2017 by clivedav184z

I have a feature in the Express on “Denial”, the compelling new film about the David Irving vs Deborah Lipstadt libel trial. When Richard Rampton rose to deliver his opening statement he was blunt: “My Lord, Mr Irving calls himself … Continue reading →

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Boldly going

Posted on September 10, 2016 by clivedav184z

Was Gene Roddenberry an “incredible, insufferable jerk”? As Star Trek celebrates its fiftieth birthday, Matthew Continetti, a self-confessed Trekkie, presents the case for the intergalactic prosecution: In 1964, after a decade as a freelancer, Roddenberry registered a treatment with the Writer’s … Continue reading →

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Notebook

Posted on August 28, 2016 by clivedav184z

The Back Lot was a noisy, gaudy example of what most people seem to imagine all Hollywood is after dark. But except for an occasional celebrated face, it might have been any night spot in any American city. It was … Continue reading →

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Readers vs burners

Posted on August 9, 2016 by clivedav184z

In honour of #NationalBookLoversDay, the Japanese poster for Truffaut’s  adaptation of “Fahrenheit 451”. [HT: @41Strange]

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