DVD review: We Live in Public by Sundance Grand Jury Prize-winner Ondi Timoner
A cautionary tale of the effect of the technological age on the human mind, this documentary portrays the ‘public life’ of a man named Josh Harris - a man whose work demonstrates that existing in the modern world means existing ‘in public’, and whose vision has been proven both piercingly accurate and ahead of its time.
DVD review: Disgrace
Set against the dramatic backdrop of post-apartheid South Africa, Disgrace is a skilful adaptation of J.M. Coetzee’s Booker Prize-winning novel of the same name, and explores themes of morality, desire and race. any of the scenes are difficult to watch, but there is a curious beauty to the film.
Taking Aim at the Police Van DVD review
Seijun Suzuki’s Take Aim at the Police Van (1959), stars Michitaro Mizushima as the prison guard looking after a prison bus full of prisoners when it is attacked. The beauty of the film lies in its taut simplicity, which I liked. Suzuki is the master of identifying a subtle truth that only cinema can capture.
Garrow’s Law DVD review
Based on the Old Bailey’s archives, Garrow’s Law tells the stories of cases represented by a young barrister who changed the way the law was delivered in the 18th century. The writing from Tony Marchant is superb, making the the whole series an excellent way to bring law and its history into the modern spotlight.
DVD review: Gambit
Originally released in 1966, just after Michael Caine starred in Alfie, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Gambit was just a stepping stone on to bigger and better things. But although less well-known than some of Caine’s earlier, and much of his later work, Gambit is a thoroughly enjoyable heist movie in its own right.
Film review: An Education
Whether you remember the sixties or are still rollicking through your teenage years, this film will fill you with recognition. Sixteen year old Jenny (Carey Mulligan) is bold, vivacious and intelligent enough to run rings around her father, but she’s also a typical teen – desperate for a more exciting life.
DVD review: Slacker Uprising
In 2004, just before the North American Presidential election, controversial documentary-maker Michael Moore went on a five-week tour to try and convince non-voters to vote George W. Bush out of the White House. Whether or not you like Michael Moore, or subscribe to his politics, one thing that this documentary leaves you with is a desire to question and seek out “the truth”.
DVD review: In The Loop
If you’ve ever seen Armando Ianucci’s TV series The Thick of It, you’ll know you’re in for a treat when you settle down to watch the spin-off feature In The Loop, a ‘behind-the-scenes’ style satire about a fictional team of staff behind the UK’s prime minister. At the heart of the film is a highly topical commentary on the mix of media and politics.
