Month: January 2013

Wonder In The Dark

Jamie Neish4 Comments

Berlin

Sometimes I worry that my life revolves too much around film. I’m not a particularly sociable person and I spend most of my days in darkened rooms watching other people – characters, rather – live their lives, as tragic or as blissfully happy as they are. It makes you wonder, doesn’t it? But then, film has always been a massive part of my life, from embarrassing cinema trips as a little ‘un to covering film festivals as the budding writer I am today. And I honestly Continue reading “Wonder In The Dark” →

Review: Lincoln (2013)

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Lincoln, based in part on Doris Kearns Goodwin’s Team Of Rivals: The Political Genius Of Abraham Lincoln, sees director Steven Spielberg dramatising the 16th President of the United States’ final few months in office to varied results. In 1865, as the American Civil War nears its conclusion after four years of bloody combat, Abraham Lincoln (Daniel Day-Lewis) takes it upon himself to pass the landmark constitutional amendment and rid America of slavery: the main reason Continue reading “Review: Lincoln (2013)” →

Review: Zero Dark Thirty (2013)

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Zero Dark Thirty

Three years after reigning supreme at the Academy Awards with The Hurt Locker, director Kathryn Bigelow and regular collaborator Mark Boal return with Zero Dark Thirty. CIA analyst Maya (Jessica Chastain) has spent years chasing falsified intelligence relating to the possible whereabouts of terrorist Osama bin Laden. Undeterred, even in light of her colleagues’ ever-weakening investment, Maya makes a breakthrough when his possible hideout is revealed, leading to a Continue reading “Review: Zero Dark Thirty (2013)” →

Review: Django Unchained (2013)

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Django Unchained

Writer and director Quentin Tarantino enters new territory with Django Unchained, a part exploitation, part Spaghetti Western romp about slavery in the antebellum South. That’s not to say that Django Unchained is any less a Tarantino film than, say, Kill Bill or Pulp Fiction were, as it includes many of his memorable traits (explicit violence and quick-cut editing) and boasts a revenge motif as intrinsic to the narrative as any other. Continue reading “Review: Django Unchained (2013)” →

London Day #6: Weariness, Glasgow Film Festival Launch And My Own Bed

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MPC

The final day in London had arrived. I woke up at nine o’clock, packed and was all checked-out in no time. With my suitcase, laptop bag and satchel I took some last minute pictures of the area I’d spent the last few days calling my “home” (it was actually a lovely area, despite the fact an entire office block full of people had seen me naked and there was always a sense of dread coursing through my body as I walked to and from the tube station) and clambered down the escalators and onto the Northern Line.  Continue reading “London Day #6: Weariness, Glasgow Film Festival Launch And My Own Bed” →

London Day #5: Wreck-It Ralph, Hot Food And Final Night Drinks

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Wreck-It Ralph

Before I knew it Wednesday had arrived and I was shattered. The trip to Piccadilly Circus felt longer than usual (I may or may not have falled asleep, which was incredibly disorientating) and by the time I was in the cinema I was in need of a hot cup of tea or coffee. Luckily, there was plenty on offer, and it was fine, but nothing compared to a Starbucks. As I drunk it down and ate a couple of danish patries, I made a note in my head to visit a Starbucks later on. Continue reading “London Day #5: Wreck-It Ralph, Hot Food And Final Night Drinks” →

London Day #4: Krispy Kreme Breakfast, Zero Dark Thirty And Compliments

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Krispy Kreme

After a night of maniacs and nearly freezing to death, I opted to miss the first two films (one of which I’d already seen) and have an extra couple of hours in bed. It was an altogether more relaxed morning and, once I was ready, I slowly made my way across to the tube station and caught the usual mix of the Northern Line and the Piccadilly Line over to Holborn Street, where I dived into Krispy Kreme and ordered a tea and three enormous donuts, each filled with different, yet equally Continue reading “London Day #4: Krispy Kreme Breakfast, Zero Dark Thirty And Compliments” →

London Day #3: Django Unchained, Obsessions And Podcast Hilarity

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Rafe Spall

Day three in London kicked off in style, with a screening of Quentin Tarantino’s latest Django Unchained. While it wasn’t quite the incredible piece of filmmaking many critics – The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw, included – had made it out to be, it certainly made for entertaining viewing at nine o’clock in the morning and made up for the torturous Underground experience that proceded it. Don’t travel during rush hour. It’s a nightmare. Continue reading “London Day #3: Django Unchained, Obsessions And Podcast Hilarity” →

London Day #2: Tube Ease, UK Media Showcase Kick-Off And Hunger Strikes

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London Underground

Waking up on the Sunday morning was surreal. Not only was I in London, but I’d also had the best night’s sleep in weeks. I took a moment to appreciate my peaceful surroundings before I bumbled around getting ready and gathering up everything I’d need for the day ahead, which wasn’t much considering I’d be spending the vast majority of it stationed in the Apollo cinema. Continue reading “London Day #2: Tube Ease, UK Media Showcase Kick-Off And Hunger Strikes” →

London Day #1 (2/2): easyHotel, Soho Delights And Amour

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Curzon Soho

Upon arriving in London, I found myself in one of the busiest queues I have seen in some time waiting to pick up an Oyster card. Yes, you heard that right. Instead of diving into the nearest Starbucks I came across (and believe me, there were plenty), I decided to grab myself an Oyster card and head straight for my hotel to dump off my stuff and shower off the overlong train journey. (I honestly have no idea why I was so worried about using an Oyster card now. From the minute it Continue reading “London Day #1 (2/2): easyHotel, Soho Delights And Amour” →