In January, the Doomsday Clock remained set at 90 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever come to tolling the hour of the apocalypse. From climate change to global conflict, unregulated AI and predictions of the next pandemic, the world is teetering on the brink. A film like Panic in Year Zero!, which imagines […]
The Good Life: ‘The Barefoot Contessa’ (1954)
The Barefoot Contessa seems to exist for three reasons: to expose the vapidity of Hollywood; to give a good cast some great dialogue; and to serve as a testament to the beauty of Ava Gardner. It succeeds in all of these endeavours, but moves at such a glacial pace, you begin to wonder if the whole business is worth the time.
My Favourite Discoveries of 2023
Happy New Year! As we settle into 2024, here are my favourite film discoveries of the previous year. Sneakers (1992) Martin Bishop (Robert Redford) is a criminal for hire with a twist: law-abiding companies hire him to expose the chinks in their armour. When he and his crew grow suspicious about their latest assignment, they […]
Musings on TCM and Summer Under the Stars
It’s August, which means it’s time for TCM’s annual Summer Under the Stars marathon, where the channel invites us to spend 24 hours in the company of a different star every day of the month. This year’s line up is a cheerfully eclectic mix, with stalwarts like Barbara Stanwyck and Humphrey Bogart rubbing shoulders with […]
The Criterion Channel Celebrates New York
As part of its September lineup, the Criterion Channel just launched New York Stories, a dazzling tribute to New York City celebrating its boroughs and byways, its idiosyncrasies, struggles and triumphs. Just the trailer made my heart leap with joy, then brought me close to tears as I realized what the series also commemorates. I […]
We’re Jungle Creatures: ‘The Lion in Winter’ (1968)
Christmas, season of peace and good will to all men, when families congregate by the hearth to eat, drink and rejoice in the warmth of each other’s company. Unless you’re a Plantagenet, in which case you’d best keep your wits sharp and a blade handy. It’s December 1183 and Henry II (Peter O’Toole), King of […]
Celebrating Black History Month: Part Four
The final set of Facebook posts celebrating Black History Month. Day 22: Diahann Carroll Diahann Carroll refused to let herself be limited by others’ expectations. The first African American woman to win a Tony, she also broke ground by starring in ‘Julia’, the first television series to focus on the life of a Black professional […]
Celebrating Black History Month: Part Three
The penultimate batch of Facebook posts. Day 15: Juano Hernandez Born in Puerto Rico, of Puerto Rican and Brazilian heritage, Juano Hernandez took a roundabout route to acting. He worked as a sailor and moved to Rio de Janeiro, where he joined a circus and became an acrobat. After that he became a professional boxer, […]
Celebrating Black History Month: Part Two
Here’s another batch of Facebook posts I wrote for Black History Month, all from week two. Day 10: Paul Robeson A true Renaissance man, Paul Robeson was an actor, singer, athlete, lawyer, author and linguist, as well as the blueprint for African American performers who wanted to combine art and activism.
Screen Escapes: A Year of Pandemic Viewing
It’s been one year since the coronavirus pandemic began: a year of lockdowns, social distancing, mounting anxiety and masks. I’ve watched a lot of films since last March (I don’t think I’m alone in that), but looking back I realize many of them weren’t new to me. As reality edged uncomfortably close to fiction, I […]
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