Very much an authorized documentary that opened an interesting door on Annie Leibovitz, one of the 20th century’s great photographers. 8/10
Not Alex Gibney’s finest work – but an entertaining docudrama about Hunter S. Thompson. 7/10
Extremely bizarre Dennis Hopper film that possibly should never have been made. Dennis was supposed to turn up for Q&A, but pulled out. Possibly that was the plan all along. Meta. 5/10
More serious than one might imagine from the posters. Brolin ensures Dubya is a three-dimensional character. Decent but a bit long, while Toby Jones as Karl Rove slightly steals the movie. 7/10
This Hungarian film is peculiar and ponderous. I’m glad I saw it, wouldn’t watch it again. 6/10
Excellent debut film by Courtney Hunt. What it lacks in subtlety it makes up for in plot and acting, with Melissa Leo superb in the lead role. 9/10
Very hyped French film with non-actors playing most of the kids. Good but not great and although based on a true story, too many scenes later on feel too contrived. Enjoyable, but doesn’t live up the billing. 6/10
Not my favourite Atom Egoyan film. It has some interesting ideas, but never really hangs together like his other classics. Still a class apart from most filmmakers though. 7/10
Wonderful, surprising, charming. The highlight of the 2008 London Film Festival for me. 9/10
Hilarious spoof. Bond meets Austin Powers in this highly enjoyable French film. 9/10
Lavish but forgettable and too blunt in its Diana allegory. 5/10
I mooched over to the National Gallery to see what was on there. I’d not heard of “A Radical Light“, which is the Sainsbury Wing exhibition. This is perhaps not surprising. It’s an artists’ art exhibition. The Divisionists were a bunch of disparate late 19th century artists in what was a rather shaky country called… Read More
Angelina Jolie in Lara Croft mode again, Morgan Freeman playing Morgan Freeman and James McAvoy proving once again why he’s the hot young thing of British acting. Will there be a sequel? Could McAvoy’s Wesley Gibson be the successor to Damon’s Jason Bourne? In a word, no. Wanted was enjoyable but it was no Bourne… Read More
I’m on a two-day culturefest and I’m back at the British Museum for Hadrian – the next in the empire series. Can’t say it was as good as the Terracotta Warriors. I mean, don’t get me wrong, Hadrian was a pretty interesting guy but the exhibition is largely full of statues of the Hirsute one.… Read More
I’m at the British Museum. Last time I was here was for the Terracotta Warriors. Now it’s for “American Scene” in the invariably excellet print room. It’s a take on American prints roughly from the first half of the 20th century. The marketing throws out the two famous names: Hopper and Pollock. But there’s lots… Read More
Took Friday off and headed to the Hayward. Having been to an entertaining evening celebration of all thing Hayward a few weeks earlier (Antony Gormley special guesting), was even more keen to go to the Psycho Buildings exhibition that’s been the cultural talk of the town of late. If you like buildings and you’re a… Read More
Last Sunday I trotted off to the Courtauld (never been before) with two of the History of Art gang to see the Cézanne exhibition there. Only a room. Bit steep for a fiver (this causes an argument later in the week), but I get in for free – thank you Art Fund membership. Good though.… Read More
Very good noir action movie – still a benchmark for the genre, partly thanks to Heath Ledger’s Joker, but Bale’s Batman is top notch. 9/10
Gibney documentary that should be compulsory viewing. Powerful, chilling and anger-inducing like few films I’ve seen. The ending with Gibney’s father is a masterstroke. 10/10
Dire outing for Indy. An embarrassing film, that plays up to old Indiana Jones stereotypes that feel misplaced in the 21st century, while missing some moments to inject the wisecracking whipcracking Indy we all know and love. Or knew and loved. Spielberg doesn’t have too many misses, but boy this was one. 3/10