Tyldum: Passengers (2016)
I almost didn’t see Passengers, thanks to a series of excoriating reviews that seemed to suggest that there was absolutely nothing redeeming about Morten Tyldum’s second [...]
Bay: 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016)
Since 2007, Michael Bay has more or less devoted himself to the Transformers franchise. While that has undoubtedly produced some original moments – especially Transformers [...]
Zemeckis: Allied (2016)
Over the last fifteen years, there have been two quite distinct tendencies in Robert Zemeckis’ body of work. On the one hand, as befits a director who made his name as a [...]
Arnold: American Honey (2016)
One of the most astonishing depictions of roadside America that I have seen in some time, Andrea Arnold’s American Honey started its life as Mag Crew, a film about the [...]
Frears: The Grifters (1990)
The second of two Jim Thompson adaptations to be released in 1990 after James Foley’s After Dark, My Sweet, The Grifters is my favourite film adaptation of any Thompson [...]
Hopkins: Predator 2 (1990)
In a year that was distinguished by big budget sequels – Die Hard 2, Child’s Play 2, RoboCop 2 – Predator 2 was arguably the most inspired, an utter reinvention of the [...]
Joanou: State of Grace (1990)
I wasn’t really sure to feel about State of Grace, Phil Joanou’s sophomore film – it’s a bit of a curate’s egg. On the one hand, it’s clearly aiming to create an [...]
Harlin: Die Hard 2 (1990)
In many ways, 1990 was a watershed year for the blockbuster sequel. With Die Hard 2, Child’s Play 2, RocoCop 2 and Predator 2 all coming out within the space of six months, [...]
Leonard Cohen: You Want It Darker (2016)
With George Michael passing away on Boxing Day, it feels as if 2016 has been indelibly marked as the end of a musical era. Between them, Leonard Cohen, George Michael, Prince [...]
Crisis in Six Scenes: Season 1 (2016)
For me, 2016 has been one of Woody Allen’s best years in a long time. Not only did I enjoy Café Society more than any of his films since Anything Else, but his six-part [...]