TheBlackfordBookClub

So how does Director Alexander Payne take a depressed writer, a sex mad lothario and two beautiful ladies who collide into their detestable world and turn it into Oscar gold? Quite expertly indeed now that you ask! Sideways is littered with highly comedic interludes, from Jack chasing a drunk Miles down a hill into a vineyard to a deliberate car crash that goes horribly awry, to Miles hilariously rescuing his friend’s wallet (and wedding rings) before escaping from a large swinging penis! There are many, many more such scenes to enjoy. The film is edited brilliantly by long time collaborator Kevin Tent and with the inclusion of rolling split screens the narrative moves at a tremendous pace throughout and highly complimented by Rolfe Kent’s jazz infused soundtrack that only deviates to a simple piano tune to highlight Mile’s highs and lows. One short scene typifies the genius of Alexander Payne’s directing as he employs every camera angle possible (above, below, obtuse and oblique and especially extreme close up) on Miles’ angry, drunken and desperate telephone call to his ex-wife. Giamatti plays it heartbreakingly well but Payne’s directing takes the short scene to another level of intensity as he backs and stifles an already desperate man into a metaphorical corner with his camera. #sideways #paulgiamatti #alexanderpayne #california #wine #winetasting #movies #moviereview #filmreview #film #cinema #ebook #amazonkindle #unlimited #reading #readalong #readaloud The above paragraphs are taken from my original spoiler free review of "Sideways" I penned and published nearly a decade ago, transferred to my Medium blog site on 13th January 2023 and which can now be read in full and for free via my Substack blog site and original article linked immediately below: https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/sideways-2004-a3adeb3162f5 This spoiler free review is also integral to volume 5 of my 7 volumes of "essential film reviews collection". Currently only available via e-book, each volume is priced at £4.99 however should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package, you can read each and every volume for free: Volume 5 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4N25YCW All 7 Volumes https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HZSTTH?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn https://www.patreon.com/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.paypal.me/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.buymeacoffee.com/steveblackford Thanks for watching! Please "like", subscribe and comment if you wish! Thank you.

“...and this is how I met Tyler Durden”. Where do you start with Fight Club? A film that continues to split opinion between a violent, sweary, semi misogynistic wrap of a film that glorifies violence and wants a violent rebellion, to on a subconscious (dare I say more enlightened?) level, a rallying cry against modern living, of fractured lives, of a brighter future and a new beginning away from “Planet Starbucks” perhaps? Based on the excellent (and thoroughly recommended) book of the same name by Chuck Palahniuk and a wonderful screenplay from Jim Uhls, Director Fincher also relied heavily on some wonderfully frenetic editing from James Haygood and in particular stellar cinematography from Director of Photography Jeff Cronenweth. Combine this with some wonderfully diverse and surreal characters, brilliant portrayals from some of cinema’s finest character actors and mix in a pulsing and unrelenting musical score from The Dust Brothers and you have Fight Club. But please remember before you proceed: “The first rule of Fight Club is — You do not talk about Fight Club”. #fightclub #bradpitt #edwardnorton #helenabonhamcarter #meatloaf #davidfincher #masterpiece #movies #moviereview #cinema #film #filmreview #reading #readalong #readaloud #audiobook #amazonkindle #unlimited #writing #writingcommunity The above opening paragraphs are taken from my original spoiler free review of "Fight Club" originally penned and published over a decade ago, transferred to my Medium blog site on 26th December 2022 and which can now be read in full and for free via my Substack blog site and original updated article linked immediately below: https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/fight-club-1999-6740bc65f0d1 This spoiler free review and love-in appraisal of an all time classic film is also integral to volume 2 of my 7 volumes of "essential film reviews collection". Currently only available as an e-book on Amazon, each volume is priced at £4.99 however should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package, you can read each and every volume for free: Volume 2 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4J1S1TL All 7 Volume Series https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HZSTTH?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn https://www.patreon.com/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.paypal.me/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.buymeacoffee.com/steveblackford Thanks for watching! Please "like", subscribe, comment and perhaps consider supporting your favourite independent writer via the links above! Thank you.

John Hillcoat’s end of the world Father and Son tale. “The clock’s stopped at 1:17”. Based on the world renowned novel of the same name by Cormac McCarthy and with a screenplay from Joe Penhall, this was the first Hillcoat film not penned either by himself or Nick Cave. John Hillcoat also followed up one classic film with another and this audience splitting classic. Too maudlin for some, downright depressing for others, or an uplifting and heart warming tale of the human spirit? Pick your poison! With a cast of only 16 credited roles and a further 10 uncredited roles, this near two hour film follows the journey of one man and his son across a post apocalypse United States of America. From a richly coloured beginning of an idyllic life, we are immediately transported to a monochrome, desaturated world of despair and destruction. With a melancholic narration from “Man” (Viggo Mortensen) it’s clearly established the earth is dying, and quickly, and with a continuing narration we see and hear the destruction unfold as earthquakes shake the earth, amid thunder claps and lightening strikes. Sheltering with his “Boy” (Kodi Smit-McPhee) and sleeping rough, the brightly coloured beginning has been completely taken over by a dank, dark and dirty environment. Existing only on scraps of food, both Man and Boy push a shopping trolley full of their remaining deeply personal belongings through a bleak, wide open and seemingly destroyed world. The above opening paragraphs are taken from my original spoiler free review of "The Road" penned and published nearly a decade ago, transferred to my Medium blog site on 29th January 2023 and which can also be read in full and for free via my Substack blog site and the link immediately below: https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/the-road-2009-9025dcd10434 This spoiler free review is also integral to my 7 volumes of "essential film reviews collection". Only available currently in e-book form, each exhaustive volume of spoiler free film reviews is £4.99 however, should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package, you can read each and every volume for free: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HZSTTH?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn https://www.patreon.com/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.paypal.me/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.buymeacoffee.com/steveblackford Thanks for watching! Please "like", subscribe and comment should you wish! Thank you.

Black on White. White on Black. Reflections. Mirror Images. Perfection. Obsession. Genius. “I just want to be perfect”. The metamorphosis of the pure, virginal white swan into her evil black swan twin is the insignia for Aronofsky’s fifth film set against a continuing visual motif of white on black throughout and a day in, day out striving for perfection in this brilliant psychological thriller. From the simple premise of casting for Tchaikovsky’s ballet Swan Lake we follow a similar theme of obsession and perfection which is brilliantly juxtaposed in a horror/psychological drama that never relents and although following a linear narrative always reinforces a darker, obsessive side to many characters. Written by Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz and John McLaughlin, however it was Aronofsky’s original idea of a relationship between a Wrestler and a Ballerina that spawned both The Wrestler and Black Swan and is perhaps why they both share the obvious theme of dedication and obsession to their art but more importantly is perhaps the physical toll exacted on these perfectionists. Both films showcase this but importantly they both portray the psychological and physiological breakdowns brought on by their obsession. Whereas in The Wrestler we see an aged Wrestler trying to recapture his glory days in a failing body, here the close ups are of a frail, tender and young “Nina Sayers” (Natalie Portman) rigorously training at every available opportunity, foregoing the delights of a normal diet and indeed a normal, regular life to achieve her dream. The close ups are of the excruciating pain ballerinas go through to achieve a nubile and flexible body, the constant pressure on their legs and feet (forever shot in close up) and whereas The Wrestler depicts camaraderie between the professionals, here there is intense competition to be the best, to stand out amongst a high calibre field of your contemporaries and never settling for being a member of the cast. #blackswan #swanlake #darrenaronofsky #movies #moviereview #cinema #film #filmreview #reading #readalong #readaloud #audiobook #ebook #writing #blogwriting #blogging #blogger #writingcommunity The above paragraphs are taken from my original spoiler free review of "Black Swan" penned and published over a decade ago, re-released as a tribute to my dearly missed Mum and Sister, and available to read in full and for free via my Substack blog site and updated original article linked immediately below: https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/a-black-swan-3-white-swans-and-a-whole-load-of-regret-b2fa09124b0b This spoiler free review is also integral to volume 1 of my 7 volumes of "essential film reviews collection". Currently only available as an e-book and priced at £4.99 per volume, however should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package, each and every volume can be read for free: Volume 1 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HHDL56 All 7 Volumes https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HZSTTH?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn https://www.patreon.com/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.paypal.me/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.buymeacoffee.com/steveblackford Thanks for watching! Please "like", subscribe, comment and perhaps consider supporting your favourite independent writer! Thank you.

The few minutes preceding the opening credits of Barry Jenkins’ debut feature set the tone entirely for the coming hour and a half, with long periods of silence punctuated by awkward, nervous glances or brief fractured conversations, unusual and oblique camera angles of routine everyday occurrences, majestic wide shots of the city of San Francisco from high upon a hill and all conveyed to the audience via desaturated black and white cinematography. With only glimpses of occasional colour (mainly pale, saturated reds), the film is entirely in black and white and covers one single sunny Sunday in the lives of Micah and Jo, who whilst awkwardly dealing with the aftermath of a one night stand now spend the following day together in search of the American Dream, of black culture and their shared roots, of lust and friendship and common ground in a city in which they remain a statistical and cultural minority. A lost wallet throws these disparate characters back together after a tense opening to the film whereby no words are spoken by either Micah or Jo for the first three minutes and only then the tension is broken by the host of the party they are quietly leaving from. The first word uttered between the two is an awkward “sorry” before Micah invites Jo for a coffee before also admitting “I’m sorry. It’s kind of embarrassing but I forgot your name”. Sharing a taxi and very little in the way of conversation, their rendezvous is at an end before Jo’s lost wallet intervenes and brings the following two characters together for a day in the sunshine. The above opening paragraphs are taken from my spoiler free review of "Medicine for Melancholy" I originally penned and published in April 2017 before transferring to my Medium blog site on 19th January 2023 and which can now be read in full and for free (please also consider subscribing for free too!) via my Substack blog site and the original article linked immediately below: https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/medicine-for-melancholy-2008-124e21684845 This spoiler free review is also integral to Volume 3 of my 7 total volumes of "essential film reviews collection". Each volume is priced at £4.99 but each and every volume can be read for free should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package: Volume 3 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4JTLRY1 All 7 Volumes https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0C4HZSTTH?ref_=dbs_p_pwh_rwt_anx_a_lnk&storeType=ebooks https://www.patreon.com/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.paypal.me/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.buymeacoffee.com/steveblackford Thanks for watching! Please "like", subscribe and comment if you wish! Thank you.

“Get that smile off your face, you’re freaking me out”. Breaking the mould of the critically titled “Death” films, here are ten reasons why you simply have to see Birdman, or to give the film it’s fuller title, Birdman: the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance (1) “All of us has a Birdman in us, saying how great and brilliant we are” Director, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu. (2) Aided and abetted by his lifelong friend and regular Director of Photography collaborator Emmanuel Lubezki, Editors Douglas Crise and Stephen Mirrione and a huge behind the scenes crew as well as a stellar cast of genuine A-List actors and actresses, this truly is a virtuoso triumph of vision, of daring and a complete break from the “Quadrilogy of Death” for Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu. A well worn cliché but this truly is the Director’s “Vision” writ large on the cinema screen. The meticulous nature and attention to detail shines through in every single frame and is truly incredible and a joy to behold. A play within a play within a film, everything rolling in seemingly one long continuous shot with no discernible edits, building and expanding on an eclectic mix of characters ostensibly within the confines of a Theatre but with the “outside” world always there, and you can take the outside world in any analogous way you wish. Multi levelled, multi dimensional and a thoroughly unique take on the existential crisis of a Hollywood Superstar who also happens to have supernatural powers? Only in the hands of Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu! Part of a four man writing team, Inarritu deservedly landed an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay as well as two further gongs for the most prestigious Oscars in 2015, for Best Film of the Year and Best Achievement in Directing. In Oscar parlance, 2015 was deservedly the year of Birdman. #birdman #alejandrogonzáleziñárritu #movies #mexico #barcelona #movie #moviereview #film #filmreview #cinema #reading #readalong #readaloud #audiobook #amazonkindle #unlimited #blogger #blogging #writing #writingcommunity #ebook #michaelkeaton The above opening paragraphs are taken from my spoiler free review of "Birdman or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance" and one of my earliest forays into film writing and film appreciation over a decade ago. This review was originally written just after the release of the film and transferred to my Medium blog site on 9th January 2022 and can now be read in full and for free via my original updated article linked immediately below: https://medium.com/@stephenblackford561/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu-life-in-six-films-18196beafc6 This spoiler free review is also integral to volume 1 of my 7 volumes of "essential film reviews collection". Currently only available as an e-book, all 7 exhaustive volumes of multiple spoiler free film reviews are priced at £4.99 however, should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package you can read each and every volume for free. Volume 1 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HHDL56 All 7 Volume Collection https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HZSTTH?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn https://www.patreon.com/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.paypal.me/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.buymeacoffee.com/steveblackford Thanks for watching! Please "like", subscribe, comment and consider supporting your favourite independent writer via the links above! Thank you.

“I feel like a teenage, tantric Superman!”. Written, Produced and edited by Ben Wheatley and Robin Hill, this 89 minute film with a total cast list of just sixteen actors is simply incredible. I find this film fascinating and the waxing lyrical above is also a tribute to Director of Photography Laurie Rose who with Ben blend moments of bone crunching and deeply dark humour with brilliant character portrayals and a real grating angst that runs through the entire film. With fifteen minutes to go you may be shaking your head at the achievement of this debut film from Wheatley. By the end of those fifteen minutes, you’ll be picking your jaw off the floor. An incredible first feature film. #downterrace #gangster #gangsters #gangsterfilm #benwheatley #debut #debutfilm #movies #movie #moviereview #film #filmreview #cinema #reading #readalong #readaloud #audiobook #amazonkindle #unlimited #blogger #blogging #writing #writingcommunity #ebook The above closing paragraphs are taken from my spoiler free review of "Down Terrace" and one of my earliest forays into film writing and film appreciation over a decade ago. This review was originally penned and published over a decade ago, transferred to my Medium blog site on 21st December 2022 and can now be read in full and for free via my Substack blog site and original updated article linked immediately below: https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/down-terrace-2009-f9a1e0066cb This spoiler free review is also integral to volume 2 in my 7 volumes of "essential film reviews collection". Currently only available as an e-book, all 7 exhaustive volumes of multiple spoiler free film reviews are priced at £4.99 however, should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package you can read each and every volume for free. Volume 2 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4J1S1TL All 7 Volumes Series https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HZSTTH?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn https://www.patreon.com/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.paypal.me/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.buymeacoffee.com/steveblackford Thanks for watching! Please "like", subscribe, comment and consider supporting your favourite independent writer via the links above! Thank you.

“Pack your bags baby, we’re going to the future room”. With a cast of so few characters and many of which melt into the background and provide only minimal cameo appearances, it’s pivotal that the central and joint headline performances from Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams drive the film. And they do so magnificently in this heart breaking tale of loss, growing up and all consuming love in middle America. Written by Director Cianfrance alongside Joey Curtis and Cami Delavigne, the film explores the highs and lows of blossoming love through two deeply layered characters dealing with their personal demons and desperately seeking an almost old fashioned love, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer and for a love that will triumph over all. Presented in a non-linear narrative timeline, the film is rooted in the present as we see two parents already showing signs of their fractured and strained relationship in the film’s earliest scenes but through regular flashbacks we are drawn into their happier and loving times, through their sweet and affecting dating, of a man head over heels in love with a woman and their eventual marriage. There is far, far more but plot spoilers prevent me from elaborating. From these earliest, present day scenes of the film it quickly becomes evident that the now long married couple are struggling and at odds with each other. Tension and uncertainty fill the opening few minutes and there is an air of them living two distinct lives but anchored by their beautiful daughter “Frankie” (Faith Wladyka). Their entire approach to the coming day is separate from the other as “Dean” (Ryan Gosling) jokes around with his daughter and misjudges a joint attempt at rousing “Cindy” (Michelle Williams) from her sleep. Quickly they each drive to their respective jobs but again the differences between them couldn’t be more apparent, Dean already drinking and driving fast and Cindy far more circumspect and methodical. They remain outsiders and insular, as they were when they first met all those years ago. The above opening paragraphs are taken from my original spoiler free review of "Blue Valentine" penned and published nearly a decade ago, transferred to my Medium blog site on 28th January 2023 and which can also be read in full and for free via my Substack blog site and the link immediately below: https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/blue-valentine-2010-a74479f4157b This spoiler free review is also integral to volume 1 of my 7 volumes of "essential film reviews collection". Only available currently in e-book form, each exhaustive volume of spoiler free film reviews is £4.99 however, should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package, you can read each and every volume for free: Volume 1 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HHDL56 7 Volume Collection https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HZSTTH?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn https://www.patreon.com/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.paypal.me/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.buymeacoffee.com/steveblackford Thanks for watching! Please "like", subscribe and comment should you wish! Thank you.

To begin with, this is not a usual Kevin Smith film! Apart from very minor cameos there are no returning actors reprising previous roles or references to previous Smith films or Jay and Silent Bob. There is one major aside to this, the Director himself, so see if you can spot him! The other major difference is the camera work and editing (both by Smith), with the use of a Steadicam (or similar) for many scenes, up close scenes, chase sequences etc. This heightens the tension of the film and puts you as the viewer right in the middle of the film and is brilliantly and expertly done. There are numerous blurred or obscured shots (through a fence or wall or cage), deliberately and effectively so. The editing/cutting is also often between two opposing type images, giving a good versus bad, light versus dark effect, aptly demonstrated during Abin Cooper’s initial sermon, cutting from the Pastor to the congregation, often children playing or mumbling about being “a good climber”. Another departure is the lack of a cinematic score which is replaced, but only very fleetingly but very effectively with a haunting almost subconscious hum and perceptible heartbeat in certain scenes, but apart from this excellent use, there is no further score. There is also a minimal soundtrack with the stand outs being Michael Parks singing Abin Cooper’s religious songs on the organ. Regular collaborator and Director of Photography David Klein returns and deserves great credit, as does Cabot McMullen for Production Design. The Director himself deserves enormous credit for a number of reasons and certainly for getting his film, his vision and his picture made and distributed. It’s a tour de force of film making and an incredible film and Kevin Smith also deserves credit for the editing, which is sublime, tight and propels this 88 minute film along perfectly. #redstate #kevinsmith #starwars #religion #masterpiece #michaelparks #johngoodman #movies #moviereview #film #filmreview #reading #readalong #readaloud #audiobook #amazonkindle #unlimited #writing #writingcommunity #blogger The above opening paragraphs are taken from my original spoiler free review of "Red State" penned and published over a decade ago, transferred to my Medium blog site on 25th December 2022 and which can now be read in full and for free via my Substack blog site and original updated article linked immediately below. I've also linked my original opus blog article on the entire cinematic career of Kevin Smith too: https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/red-state-2011-62bcdac638ce https://medium.com/@stephenblackford561/kevin-smith-an-appreciation-1f1a3e272741 This spoiler free review is also integral to volume 5 of my 7 volumes of "essential film reviews collection". Currently only available as an e-book with each volume priced at £4.99, however each and every volume can be read for free should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package: Volume 5 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4N25YCW All 7 Volume Series https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HZSTTH?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn https://www.patreon.com/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.paypal.me/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.buymeacoffee.com/steveblackford Thanks for watching! Please "like", subscribe, and comment if you wish and perhaps consider supporting your favourite independent writer via the links above! Thank you.

Will you be conned by Guillermo Del Toro and his magnificent film noir? Guillermo Del Toro (Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth, The Shape of Water) returns to the cinema screen with a reimagining of a 1947 film of the same name and from the same source novel written by William Gresham a year earlier. I’d loosely describe it as a colourised film noir set just before the onset of World War II and as the film’s first Act ends we are transported two years later into 1941. As with the noir label above, and as with the films of Del Toro as a whole, it’s difficult to fully pinpoint a category or genre for this magnificent film, but with spoilers as always at a bare minimum, here’s a basic entry point and premise: Circling around the central character of “Stanton Carlisle” (see below) are a host of hardworking grifters, show people, hucksters and con artists who all inhabit a travelling circus and carnival of wonders akin to a historic Barnum and Bailey carnival. You have an “Electric Girl”, archetypal strongmen, dwarves, seers, soothsayers and rather distressingly, a caged and bedraggled human being known simply as the “Geek”. Ostensibly owned and run by “Clement Hoatley” (Willem Dafoe), he is surrounded by a seemingly loyal family within his carnival and star turns are provided by “Zeena Krumbein” (Toni Collette) as a clairvoyant or seer who is aided and abetted with cheat codes and notebooks full of lifelong cons by her husband “Peter Krumbein” (David Strathairn). Whilst our central character falls in love with the Electric Girl in the shape of “Molly Cahill” (Rooney Mara), a host of small supporting cameo roles fall to Richard Jenkins as “Ezra Grindle”, Mary Steenburgen as “Felicia Kimball” and Ron Pearlman as “Bruno”. There are two further characters worthy of a fuller introduction as they intertwine as the film begins its 2nd Act in 1941. The above two opening paragraphs are taken from my original spoiler free review of "Nightmare Alley" originally penned and published to my Medium blog site on 13th March 2022 and can be read in full and for free (please also consider subscribing for free too!) via my Substack blog site and original article linked immediately below: https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/nightmare-alley-2021-39e27635b9b0 This spoiler free review is also contained within volume 3 of my 7 volumes of "essential film reviews collection" (£4.99 per volume) or each and every volume can be read for free should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package: Volume 3 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4JTLRY1 7 Volume collection https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0C4HZSTTH?ref_=dbs_p_pwh_rwt_anx_a_lnk&storeType=ebooks Thanks for watching! Please "like" and subscribe! Thank you.

“Tell them there’s a suitcase full of money, and you don’t want it!”. So what could possibly drive a sane, intelligent and reasonable young man with a burgeoning career in chartered accountancy ahead of him to go and live in a loft and drill spy holes in the ceiling in the process? Maybe it’s that god damn telephone that won’t stop ringing? Or perhaps it’s the dead body and the suitcase full of money? Or has the exciting world of chartered accountancy finally driven the poor man over the edge? All is revealed in Danny Boyle’s first cinematic treat and twenty years on from it’s initial release it still remains a genuine treat that is still fresh and vibrant and if you’re not smiling broadly at the end when Andy Williams’ “Happy Heart” is playing to a conclusion, then you’ve clearly missed the point. Written by John Hodge in what was to become the first of many such collaborations with Director Boyle and funded by both Film 4 International and the Glasgow Film Fund, it’s a simple tale of friendship, split loyalties and how a totally unforeseen episode can change and destroy these friendships forever. “Juliet Miller” (Kerry Fox) is a straight ahead, fun loving Doctor whose tangled love life nominally includes her flatmate “David Stephens” (Christopher Eccleston), the aforementioned chartered accountant. They share a flat with “Alex Law” (Ewan McGregor) a journalist who takes nothing, including himself, seriously. The three are firm friends as well as flatmates and this is established immediately after the end of the Killing Zoe inspired opening credits, as Juliet, David and Alex interview potential new flatmates for their spare bedroom in their spacious Edinburgh flat. All three are professional, educated and enjoy their young lives, with Juliet constantly avoiding her tangled love life, David’s irreverent and sarcastic behaviour belying his staid professional career, brilliantly exemplified when describing himself as the anti-Christ to a prospective new flatmate, and Alex is the constant joker of the three and never taking anything seriously. After interviewing and accepting “Hugo” (Keith Allen) as their new flatmate, their lives will be changed forever. #shallowgrave #dannyboyle #ewanmcgregor #debut #cinema #moviereview #filmreview #film #reading #readalong #readaloud #amazonkindle #unlimited #writing #writingcommunity The above opening paragraphs are taken from my original spoiler free review of "Shallow Grave" penned and published over a decade ago, transferred to my Medium blog site on 6th December 2022 and which can now be read in full and for free via my Substack blog site and my original and updated article linked immediately below: https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/shallow-grave-1994-ef8514e196c7 This spoiler free review is also integral to volume 5 of my 7 volumes of "essential film reviews collection". Currently only available via e-book, each volume of exhaustive and numerous film reviews are priced at £4.99 however should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package you can read each and every volume for free: Volume 5 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4N25YCW All 7 Volume Series https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HZSTTH?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn https://www.patreon.com/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.paypal.me/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.buymeacoffee.com/steveblackford Thanks for watching! Please "like", subscribe, comment and consider supporting your favourite independent writer via the links above! Thank you.

For those reading this completely unaware of this all time classic film, here’s my cryptic premise for you: Clarence, obsessed by Elvis, comic books and films, falls in love with a Call Girl and obtains Dr Zhivago by accident. Looking to sell this masterpiece for a fraction of it’s price to a real film Director, he sells Dr Zhivago to enable his dream life with Alabama and Elvis. That’s all you need to know for now! For a myopic film fan such as myself, this film truly does have it all. A stellar all time cast list (fully detailed below) even down to minimal supporting roles from some giants of modern day cinema. A joy of a musical score from Hans Zimmer including the iconic “You’re So Cool” title track which is a lullaby of pure joy, and many more tracks throughout the film from Aerosmith “The Other Side”, Billy Idol “White Wedding”, Soundgarden “Outshined”, Big Bopper “Chantilly Lace” and The Shirelles “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” personal favourites. There are many more. The screenplay from Quentin Tarantino is unsurpassed, rich in pop culture references, coarse language and dialogue to die for. The characters created will long pass into cinematic history as with usual Tarantino panache the characters are rich, quickly back storied with multiple layers of intrigue, before being brilliantly depicted on screen by a wonderful cast that infuse so much into these characters. Director of Photography Jeffrey L Kimball again excels in a Tony Scott film, bringing to life and lighting some incredibly diverse settings throughout the film. In the opening minutes alone the short scenes outside the movie theatre, the restaurant (especially), the comic book store and outside Clarence’s apartment are brilliantly depicted, framed and shot, and this trend continues throughout. Joint Editors Michael Tronick and Christian Wagner also deserve great credit cutting this film to the perfect length of two hours. #trueromance #tonyscott #quentintarantino #christianslater #elvis #elvispresley #bradpitt #movies #moviereview #filmreview #film #musings #reading #readalong #readaloud #audiobook #substack #writing #writingcommunity #amazonkindle #unlimited #ebook #ebooks The above paragraphs are taken from my original spoiler free review of "True Romance" penned and published nearly a decade ago, transferred to my Medium blog site on 20th December 2022 and which can be read in full and for free via my Substack blog site and original article linked immediately below: https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/true-romance-1993-fe5c86a982fe This spoiler free review is also integral to my 7 volume series of "essential film reviews collection". Currently only available in e-book form, each substantial volume of numerous film reviews are priced at £4.99 per volume, however should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package you can read each and every volume for free: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HZSTTH?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn https://www.patreon.com/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.paypal.me/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.buymeacoffee.com/steveblackford Thanks for watching! Please "like", subscribe, comment and consider supporting your favourite independent writer via the links above! Thank you.

“If you want to make God laugh…….tell Him your plans”. I stumbled over "Amores Perros" late into an early morning and despite being completely in the dark with a subtitled foreign film, I was utterly transfixed. Over two decades on, this would have been seen as a somewhat risky film in 2000 reserved for the dead of night/early morning, but after immediately purchasing an American import of the DVD I’d truly started a cinematic love affair for a storyteller that’ll break your heart like no other! The first five minutes set the scene perfectly: A flash forward/flashback opening depict a frenetic car chase, bloodied fighting dogs shown explicitly and fully while introducing the majority of the main characters before a violent car crash brings the opening, breathless scene to a conclusion. Welcome to Amores Perros. Three very different stories interweave throughout, with differing time lines (a constant Inarritu theme), as we follow a main story for each Act of the film. However the remaining two are often woven into the main story, sometimes subtly, sometimes deliberately not so, but always to great effect, and always to engage in the narrative. #amoresperros #alejandrogonzáleziñárritu #mexico #movies #movie #moviereview #film #filmreview #cinema #reading #readalong #readaloud #audiobook #amazonkindle #unlimited #blogger #blogging #writing #writingcommunity #ebook The above opening paragraphs are taken from my spoiler free review of "Amores Perros" and one of my earliest forays into film writing and film appreciation over a decade ago. This review was transferred to my Medium blog site on 13th January 2023 and can now be read in full and for free via my Substack blog site and original updated article linked immediately below: https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/amores-perros-2000-63fc43e8f4dc This spoiler free review is also integral to volume 1 of my 7 volumes of "essential film reviews collection". Currently only available as an e-book, all 7 exhaustive volumes of multiple spoiler free film reviews are priced at £4.99 however, should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package you can read each and every volume for free. Volume 1 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HHDL56 All 7 Volume Collection https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HZSTTH?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn https://www.patreon.com/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.paypal.me/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.buymeacoffee.com/steveblackford Thanks for watching! Please "like", subscribe, comment and consider supporting your favourite independent writer via the links above! Thank you.

"With a slow moving camera, director Yorgos Lanthimos retreats the camera backward as an unseen doctor or surgeon begins to stitch the open wound as the simple black and white opening credits of “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” are displayed centrally on screen before, slowly, very slowly, disappearing. To the strains of an imposing and doom laden Operatic music soundtrack we cut to the still unseen doctor or surgeon removing his blood stained scrubs and gloves, shown entirely in slow motion, before a further cut now demonstrates the first of many shots of almost never ending straight hospital corridors. Here we find “Steven Murphy” (Colin Farrell) and “Matthew Williams” (Bill Camp) ambling along this almost never ending corridor but not talking of the successful heart surgery they have both performed but of the performance of their individual wristwatches and how resistant they are and how well they perform underwater. As is the custom in all Yorgos Lanthimos directed films, the conversation is deadpan, straight, matter of fact and strangely pointed, awkward and with no filter". The above is a brief excerpt from the beginning of my film review for "The Killing of a Sacred Deer" that I originally penned, posted and published to my Medium blog site on 10th April 2023 and forms part of my 7 volumes of "essential film reviews collection" that are free to read if you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package. Here follows links to my original article, the 7 volume collection of film reviews and other ways and means of supporting me, if you are able: https://medium.com/@stephenblackford561/the-killing-of-a-sacred-deer-2017-c9e2d353f418 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C4HZSTTH?ref_=dbs_p_pwh_rwt_anx_a_lnk&storeType=ebooks https://www.patreon.com/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.paypal.me/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.buymeacoffee.com/steveblackford Thanks for reading and indeed watching! Please "like" and subscribe! Thank you.

“I have seen, with wonder and awe, the strength of the great Red Dragon”. Based on the novel Red Dragon by Thomas Harris with a screenplay from Director Michael Mann, this is a film now familiar to millions following the far more critically acclaimed 1991 Silence of the Lambs (directed by Jonathan Demme) and it’s direct remake in 2002 Red Dragon (directed by Brett Ratner). For those unfamiliar with this iconic story, a very brief premise: Enjoying retirement and a life away from murder investigation, “Will Graham” (William Petersen) is coerced into returning to solve the “tooth fairy” investigation by long time friend and boss “Jack Crawford” (Dennis Farina). Will realises he has to deal with his past demons to solve the case and enlists the help of an imprisoned psychopathic killer “Dr Hannibal Lecktor” (Brian Cox) to get inside the mind of the “Tooth Fairy” killer. My appreciation of this cult, some say classic film, and screen debut of Dr Hannibal “The Cannibal” Lecktor (spelt correctly for this film, but revised to Lecter for all future films) will be to draw comparisons with both the 2002 re-make and the heavily influenced 1991 Silence of the Lambs. All three are stand alone films in their own right, but all are connected by narrative strands and characters familiar in all three films. This is also Michael Mann’s third feature film and by far and away his most stylish, accomplished, atmospheric and technically brilliant to date. #manhunter #redragon #silenceofthelambs #michaelmann #movies #masterpiece #cinema #moviereview #filmreview #film #reading #readalong #readaloud #amazonkindle #unlimited #writing #writingcommunity The above opening paragraphs are taken from my original spoiler free review of "Manhunter" penned and published over a decade ago and transferred to my Medium blog site on 21st February 2022 and which can now be read in full and for free via my opus blog article on the entire career of Michael Mann and my original and updated article linked immediately below: https://medium.com/@stephenblackford561/michael-mann-and-9-films-for-your-delectation-f0f745440765 This spoiler free review is also integral to volume 4 of my 7 volumes of "essential film reviews collection". Currently only available via e-book, each volume of exhaustive and numerous film reviews are priced at £4.99 however should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package you can read each and every volume for free: Volume 4 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4MG435K All 7 Volume Series https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HZSTTH?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn https://www.patreon.com/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.paypal.me/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.buymeacoffee.com/steveblackford Thanks for watching! Please "like", subscribe, comment and consider supporting your favourite independent writer via the links above! Thank you.

“When I started to follow people, specific people, when I selected a person to follow, that’s when the trouble started”. Christopher Nolan’s debut feature as director is a low budget thriller shot entirely in black and white and featuring just four main characters in a small cast list of just 26 actors. Sharp editing between the main characters enhances the tension, as does the longer/wider shots of “Bill” aka “The Young Man” (Jeremy Theobald) as he people watches and follows seemingly random people. During the early narration from Bill, he explains, to both an unseen character, then to the audience in general, how, as a budding writer, he uses the act of following people simply to observe their behaviours, actions and everyday life as inspiration for his writing. He narrates his simple rules for the audience, however as he admits during the first five minutes of the film, he breaks an early rule, that of never following the same person twice. As a result, he meets “Cobb”, a standout performance from Alex Haw, as a sharply dressed and self assured thief. Lucy Russell as “The Blonde” is quickly introduced as the third main character, a girlfriend of a local Club Owner and a fourth character “The Policeman”, with John Nolan (Christopher Nolan’s Uncle) in a cameo, yet crucial role. #following #christophernolan #reading #readalong #readaloud #audiobook #amazonkindle #unlimited #writing #writingcommunity #blogger #blog #blogging The above paragraphs are taken from my original spoiler free review of "Following" which was penned and published over a decade ago and was in fact the very first film review blog I ever wrote! The entire cinematic career of Christopher Nolan is contained within my original article linked immediately below and whilst this film is not contained within my "essential film reviews collection", I've linked the entire 7 volume series below too. Each volume is priced at £4.99 however, should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package, you can read each and every volume for free: https://medium.com/@stephenblackford561/christopher-nolan-and-his-entire-cinematic-catalogue-ed5c07e44a67 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HZSTTH?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn https://www.patreon.com/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.paypal.me/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.buymeacoffee.com/steveblackford Thanks for watching! Please "like", subscribe, comment and consider supporting your favourite independent writer via the links above! Thank you.

“It is not the violence that sets men apart. It is the distance he is prepared to go”. Based on the book “The wettest county in the world” by Matt Bondurant, and set against a highly recommended soundtrack and original music from Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, this is John Hillcoat’s gangster film, with hints of noir too. Nick Cave again deserves credit for both the screenplay and the soundtrack collaboration with Warren Ellis. Mainly incorporating tracks from The Bootleggers there are also original pieces from Cave and Ellis and “Midnight Run” from Willie Nelson. In 1930’s USA, with prohibition in force we follow the bloody and violent exploits of three brothers determined to make their mark, regardless of law enforcement and their burgeoning moonshine business. The film is mainly set in the small town of Franklin/Franklin County, in which the brothers own and control their territory. Although regular tips/bribes/moonshine is given to the local authorities, it’s clear early on in the piece that the brothers need to defend their illegal business and defend it they do, often with bloody and graphic violence. Combined with the Director’s use of wide shots (with customary brilliance) depicting the wide open rural town and landscape (returning Director of Photography Benoit Delhomme also deserves special praise) with a distinctive yet sometimes unintelligible “drawl” accent and some stunning performances, the scene is set for yet another brilliant John Hillcoat movie. #lawless #johnhillcoat #books #booktube #movies #movie #moviereview #film #filmreview #reading #readalong #ebook #amazonkindle #unlimited #usa #prohibition The above opening paragraphs are taken from my original review of "Lawless" penned and published nearly a decade ago, transferred to my Medium blog site and which can be read in full and for free via my original article linked immediately below: https://medium.com/@stephenblackford561/john-hillcoat-life-through-his-lens-9c9d5a88bf3b This spoiler free review is also integral to volume 3 of my 7 volume series of "essential film reviews collection". Currently only available in e-book format, each exhaustive volume of multiple spoiler free film reviews is priced at £4.99 however, should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package, you can read each and every volume for free: Volume 3 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4JTLRY1 All 7 Volumes https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HZSTTH?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn https://www.patreon.com/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.paypal.me/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.buymeacoffee.com/steveblackford Thanks for watching! Please "like", subscribe, and comment if you wish! Thank you.

Wes Anderson’s “Love Letter to Journalists”. As a fan of nearly 25 years since Rushmore blew my mind in 1998 and an obsessive for a decade after the release of Moonrise Kingdom in 2012, I’ve been rather excited to get my first glimpse of Wes Anderson’s new film. As the article linked at the bottom of the page will hopefully demonstrate, I truly obsess over seemingly every frame of Wes’ films and have long adored the quirky offbeat comedies of the aforementioned Rushmore or the more awkward and squirming nature as well as the immense comedic quotas in The Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou and The Darjeeling Limited. The attention to detail is paramount in Fantastic Mr Fox, The Grand Budapest Hotel and Isle of Dogs and the reason why I adore Moonrise Kingdom is perhaps because Wes wraps everything that so epitomises his films into his 2012 classic and absolutely smothers it with humanity, exploration, freedom and love in the process. If you’re new to a Wes Anderson film, the picture book nature or the seeming blend of both live action and animation may astound you on first viewing, and equally so the extreme close ups or the obvious blend of the real and the surreal and especially so the overhead shots of inanimate objects, maps, tasks, agendas or a photograph or even a cloakroom ticket. The regular screen ratio size changes (from 16:9 widescreen to 4:3 Letterbox) may befuddle newer viewers to a Wes Anderson film, as will the constant changes between Black and White and Colour which is especially prevalent in this, his latest surreal cinematic offering. If like me you were expecting these tropes to be very definitely to the fore, then you may also conclude like me that The French Dispatch is perhaps the most Wes Anderson film Wes Anderson has ever created, as it’s soaked to its very film marrow with the all of the above as well as Wes’ brilliant use of so many actors and actresses who cannot wait to return to work on a film with the meticulous master of the mesmerising. So if The French Dispatch is in fact the most Wes Anderson inspired film he has directed to date, why don’t I love it so? The above opening paragraphs are taken from my original spoiler free review of "The French Dispatch" originally penned and published to my Medium blog site on 24th February 2022 and can be read in full and for free (please also consider subscribing for free too!) via my Substack blog site and original article linked immediately below: https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/the-french-dispatch-2021-550a6e06e307 This spoiler free review is also contained within my 7 volumes of "essential film reviews collection" (£4.99 per volume) or each and every volume can be read for free should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0C4HZSTTH?ref_=dbs_p_pwh_rwt_anx_a_lnk&storeType=ebooks Thanks for watching! Please "like" and subscribe! Thank you.

I fell in love with M Night Shyamalan’s third cinematic offering when in 1999 Haley Joel Osment saw dead people, “they’re everywhere”, and whilst we as the audience were distracted with the constant drip, drip clues of the red colour scheme, we hadn’t realised that the calming, welcoming and smiling character inhabited by Bruce Willis was in fact dead all along. The Sixth Sense was a Zeitgeist film in every sense and especially so for this now 50 year old who looks back on the Prince inspired party year of 1999 with more than a little fondness. I had to travel out of my county/state a year later to see the fantastic follow up Unbreakable, a rarity here in the UK but my town/county wasn’t showing his Bruce Willis inspired tale of shattering comic book myths as well as fragile glass, and I love Signs far more than sniffy film critics ever will. Two years later the director created a real favourite of mine with The Village before we fell out for a few years as I largely ignored Lady in the Water in 2006 through three films later, After Earth in 2013. Then James McAvoy disturbed me greatly with his twisted and schizophrenic portrayal in Split and 2019’s Glass, M Night Shyamalan’s follow up to Unbreakable nearly 20 years earlier astounded and pleased me greatly. I cringed when I heard tales of a follow up/sequel/prequel to Unbreakable, but boy did he pull it off. The opening paragraph above is taken from my spoiler free review of "Old" I originally penned and published to my Medium blog site on 26th April 2022 and which can be read in full and for free (please also consider subscribing for free too!) via my Substack blog site and the article linked immediately below: https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/old-2021-7abf84548818 This spoiler free review is also contained within my 7 volumes of "essential film reviews collection" (£4.99 per volume) or every volume is free to read should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C4HZSTTH?ref_=dbs_p_pwh_rwt_anx_b_lnk&storeType=ebooks https://www.patreon.com/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.paypal.me/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.buymeacoffee.com/steveblackford Thanks for watching! Please "like" and subscribe! Thank you.

With simple opening credits interspersed with Black and White pictures of an Australia of the 1880’s and concentrating on the plight of the native aborigines, we break from the quiet opening and are immediately transported into a violent and bloody shootout and the introduction to three of our main characters, “Charlie Burns”, his brother “Mike Burns” and Police Captain “Morris Stanley”. The Burns brothers are wanted for an unseen gruesome killing and rape and Captain Stanley has a proposition for Charlie — Kill his older brother Arthur and he and his younger brother Mike will be pardoned. With at times minimal dialogue, but a tremendous and tight screenplay by Nick Cave, Nick also provides another delight in this film, the haunting and beautiful soundtrack with violinist Warren Ellis. This is also at times minimalist, but to great effect and accompanies the film perfectly. As does a whispering, barely audible narration. A special mention is also due to Director of Photography Benoit Delhomme, as with John Hillcoat’s direction, the Australian outback is perfectly shot. Lingering shots of the wide open, dirty and dusty outback set the tone, as does the frequent use of long distance shots of a sun setting on a barren, remote part of a barely inhabited world. There are numerous iconic shots of brilliantly framed setting sun’s, of Arthur Burns sitting atop his mountain retreat and especially of brothers Arthur and Charlie sitting on the same mountain peak, with a setting sun between them. The above opening paragraphs are taken from my original spoiler free review of "The Proposition" penned and published nearly a decade ago, transferred to my Medium blog site on 24th December 2022 and which can also be read in full and for free via my Substack blog site and the link immediately below: https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/the-proposition-2005-738061b53dab This spoiler free review is also integral to my 7 volumes of "essential film reviews collection". Only available currently in e-book form, each exhaustive volume of spoiler free film reviews is £4.99 however, should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package, you can read each and every volume for free: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HZSTTH?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn https://www.patreon.com/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.paypal.me/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.buymeacoffee.com/steveblackford Thanks for watching! Please "like", subscribe and comment should you wish! Thank you.

“I’m not a miracle worker. I’m a janitor”. From a blank opening screen and simple "Michael Clayton" we merge into slow cuts of an empty office complex late at night, with only occasional floors lit and occupied by cleaning staff. In the background is a panicky narration describing a long career, for one law firm, and how a recent re-birth had changed him after “being coated in a patina of shit for the best part of my life”. Containing three of my favourite actors, it’s quickly become a personal favourite film. So, starting with the star of the show: “Michael Clayton” (George Clooney) His first appearance comes after a long, moving camera shot (becoming a camera theme for the film) as it pans around a poker table. A “fixer” or Janitor of problems, he appears as per the picture below, assured and in control, a methodical professional. His persona is subtly different away from his profession and sometimes brilliantly underplayed by Clooney. A back story of brotherly debts and a love for his son “Henry” (an excellent Austin Williams) but extended close up’s and long lingering shots on Clooney steal the film. A brilliant assured performance. #michaelclayton #tonygilroy #georgeclooney #movies #moviereview #filmreview #film #musings #reading #readalong #readaloud #audiobook #substack #writing #writingcommunity #amazonkindle #unlimited #ebook #ebooks The above paragraphs are taken from my original spoiler free review of "Michael Clayton" penned and published over a decade ago, transferred to my Medium blog site on 14th December 2022 and which can be read in full and for free via my Substack blog site and original article linked immediately below: https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/michael-clayton-2007-f0c0c99a8b31 This spoiler free review is also integral to volume 3 of my 7 volume series of "essential film reviews collection". Currently only available in e-book form, each substantial volume of numerous film reviews are priced at £4.99 per volume, however should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package you can read each and every volume for free: Volume 3 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4JTLRY1 All 7 Volumes https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HZSTTH?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn https://www.patreon.com/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.paypal.me/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.buymeacoffee.com/steveblackford Thanks for watching! Please "like", subscribe, comment and consider supporting your favourite independent writer via the links above! Thank you.

“We record everything. Throughout all lifetimes”. To say it’s been five long years since There Will be Blood and that I have been eagerly awaiting this release since it was first mooted in 2009 would be an understatement. Add in to the mix a story loosely based on the beginnings of Scientology and it’s founder L Ron Hubbard, plus the supreme acting talents of Philip Seymour Hoffman and Joaquin Phoenix and it’s been a slow three years to arrive. But well worth the wait as Paul Thomas Anderson has again produced a truly wonderful film. Again Paul both wrote the screenplay and directed as well as producing but the first major change to note from his previous films is the choice of Cinematographer, with Mihai Malaimare replacing long term collaborative partner Robert Elswit. However this change doesn’t transmit in any way to the screen as you’re immediately struck by how vibrant, pinpoint sharp and colourful this film is despite it being slightly de-saturated of colour to reflect the 1940/50’s time setting. The vibrancy of the picture is a joy, as are the multitude of settings photographed so well by Cinematographer Mihai Malaimare, bringing to life numerous beach scenes, ocean views and desert plains with a typically long lens but equally quite brilliant each time. Inside shots are framed and lit brilliantly, often in a cramped room of a house or ship, with Director Paul Thomas Anderson reinforcing the claustrophobia with tight angled shots and a gently rolling camera to encompass and capture the scene. At this early stage, all of Amy Wells (Set Design), David Crank and Jack Fisk (Production Design) and Mark Bridges (Costume Design) deserve immense credit, as does Jonny Greenwood for another haunting, jaunty and eclectic film score and overall original music. A biased fan of Radiohead I may be, however Jonny Greenwood’s musical score is again sublime and follows on from his success with There Will be Blood. The score here is very similar in tone to that of There Will be Blood with climbing operatic pieces mixed with orchestral pieces that accompany the film perfectly but in an odd and sporadic way. There are eleven original pieces of music from Jonny Greenwood with stand out pieces such as “Overtones”, “Time Hole” and “Alethia” perfectly encapsulating the characters fractured minds as they bump and pop along in the background of the film, rising and falling gently along with the narrative. #themaster #paulthomasanderson #joaquinphoenix #philipseymourhoffman #movies #movie #moviereview #film #filmreview #cinema #reading #readalong #readaloud #audiobook #amazonkindle #unlimited #blogger #blogging #writing #writingcommunity #ebook The above opening paragraphs are taken from my spoiler free review of "The Master" and one of my earliest forays into film writing and film appreciation over a decade ago. This review was originally written just after the release of the film and transferred to my Medium blog site on 30th January 2023 and can now be read in full and for free via my original updated article linked immediately below: https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/the-master-2012-c45abd5d162e This spoiler free review is also integral to my 7 volumes of "essential film reviews collection". Currently only available as an e-book, all 7 exhaustive volumes of multiple spoiler free film reviews are priced at £4.99 however, should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package you can read each and every volume for free. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HZSTTH?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn https://www.patreon.com/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.paypal.me/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.buymeacoffee.com/steveblackford Thanks for watching! Please "like", subscribe, comment and consider supporting your favourite independent writer via the links above! Thank you.

“To my beautiful old oak — My Father”. Written by the Director with Armando Bo and Nicolas Giacobone, Biutiful (Beautiful) is a Spanish language film as we follow “Uxbal” (Javier Bardem) trying to find peace with life as he comes to terms with terminal cancer. Separated from his wife “Marambra” (Maricel Alvarez) and single Father to children “Ana” (Hanaa Bouchaib) and “Mateo” (Guillermo Estrella), his work is never fully explained and spans assisting with the illegal trafficking of Chinese workers, assisting African immigrant street vendors and (not fully explained) being able to speak with the dead. All strands are shown early in the film, but neither is fully detailed and purposely left vague. Beginning and ending with the same two merged scenes, an Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu theme of looping, non-linear narrative is again used, however this is the only occasion as the remainder of the film follows a traditional time line narrative. Javier Bardem is truly outstanding, is in every scene and commands the screen throughout. Ably supported by Maricel Alvarez as his separated Wife, her performance of a depressed, alcohol dependant spouse is as superb as it is heart breaking. A cast of supporting actors across family/work/health support are used sparingly, but the concentration is on Bardem as we follow his physical and mental deterioration. The only minor criticism are the few minor narrative strands that are either not fully explored, or fully resolved, but the positives far outweigh this. #biutiful #beautiful #alejandrogonzáleziñárritu #movies #mexico #barcelona #movie #moviereview #film #filmreview #cinema #reading #readalong #readaloud #audiobook #amazonkindle #unlimited #blogger #blogging #writing #writingcommunity #ebook #javierbardem The above opening paragraphs are taken from my spoiler free review of "Biutiful" and one of my earliest forays into film writing and film appreciation over a decade ago. This review was transferred to my Medium blog site on 21st December 2022 and can now be read in full and for free via my Substack blog site and original updated article linked immediately below: https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/biutiful-2010-91d1716e59be This spoiler free review is also integral to volume 1 of my 7 volumes of "essential film reviews collection". Currently only available as an e-book, all 7 exhaustive volumes of multiple spoiler free film reviews are priced at £4.99 however, should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package you can read each and every volume for free. Volume 1 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HHDL56 All 7 Volume Collection https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HZSTTH?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn https://www.patreon.com/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.paypal.me/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.buymeacoffee.com/steveblackford Thanks for watching! Please "like", subscribe, comment and consider supporting your favourite independent writer via the links above! Thank you.

“I did come into this world as Michael Peterson but I’ll go out with my fighting name”. “Charles Bronson” (Tom Hardy) Long before terrorising Gotham City as Batman’s nemesis “Bane” in Christopher Nolan’s epic re-imaging of the caped crusading Batman, a stunning performance in John Hillcoat’s criminally ignored Lawless and teaming up again with Christopher Nolan for the wonderful Inception, Tom Hardy shook the cinema screen with his portrayal of “Britain’s Most Violent Prisoner”, Charles Bronson. Born Michael Peterson, he soon took the moniker of Charles Bronson in prison but has now, as recently as this year (at the time of writing!) changed his name again, in deference to his favourite artist, to Charles Salvador. Hardy was obsessed with the tales and folklore of Charles Bronson growing up and together with two visits to meet the man himself, he was the obvious and only candidate to bring him to life on the big screen. In this often violent and dark twisted tale of his life, Hardy is pitch perfect in his portrayal of Bronson. His gait, walking style and especially the intonations in his fractured speech are sublime character acting of the highest regard, as is the frightening way he switches from his manic smile and laugh to an utterly threatening snarl. Spending just 69 days in the outside world since his original incarceration it is here that Hardy excels, portraying a slow, socially awkward and on edge character that the world left behind long ago. But naturally the prison scenes dominate, with Hardy constantly bloodied and bruised or stalking his cell like a caged lion in a truly shocking portrayal of a man who always wanted to be famous. Always notorious and forever in the public consciousness, countless books and this film later, Charles Salvador nee Bronson may now have that fame. The above opening paragraphs are taken from my original spoiler free review of "Bronson" penned and published nearly a decade ago, transferred to my Medium blog site on 28th January 2023 and which can also be read in full and for free via my Substack blog site and the link immediately below: https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/bronson-2008-b9b2ed79a985 This spoiler free review is also integral to volume 1 of my 7 volumes of "essential film reviews collection". Only available currently in e-book form, each exhaustive volume of spoiler free film reviews is £4.99 however, should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package, you can read each and every volume for free: Volume 1 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HHDL56 7 Volume Collection https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HZSTTH?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn https://www.patreon.com/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.paypal.me/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.buymeacoffee.com/steveblackford Thanks for watching! Please "like", subscribe and comment should you wish! Thank you.

“There is one kidnapping every 60 minutes in Latin America. 70% of the victims do not survive”. One of my personal all time favourite Tony Scott films, one which I was enchanted with immediately I watched for the first time and a film that continues to enchant me on regular re-watches even now. Not because of the fact it follows a Tony Scott guideline of stylised, gritty realism, or the fast paced and often manic editing as yet another long (146 minutes) Tony Scott film flies by in a whirl of great cinematic story telling. Nor is it because of the wonderfully diverse characters on display or the sublime cinematography from Paul Cameron. All of these plus points and many more are present in this fantastic film, however it’s the human story so very well told that enchant and engage me time after time. Although based on a novel of the same name by A J Quinnell, it’s the frightening reality portrayed, based on very real day to day fact that engages me, and two central performances that always touch my heart and grip my imagination: “Creasy” (Denzel Washington) In his second Tony Scott film, Washington is stunning as an ex CIA/Special Forces operative with a checkered history. Recruited as a bodyguard yet struggling to come to terms with day to day life and who drinks heavily to dull the pain. Socially awkward & reticent to make friends, both his character flaws and positive aspects run deep, with Washington bringing this multi levelled character to life absolutely brilliantly. One of the prized character actors of our generation he treads the fine line between professionalism and reckless abandon throughout the film, excellently displaying every side to his deep, dark character. #manonfire #tonyscott #denzelwashington #dakotafanning #mexico #kidnap #kidnapping #movies #moviereview #filmreview #film #musings #reading #readalong #readaloud #audiobook #substack #writing #writingcommunity #amazonkindle #unlimited #ebook #ebooks The above paragraphs are taken from my original spoiler free review of "Man on Fire" penned and published over a decade ago, transferred to my Medium blog site on 9th January 2023 and which can be read in full and for free via my Substack blog site and original article linked immediately below: https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/man-on-fire-2004-40208ab5c571 This spoiler free review is also integral to volume 3 of my 7 volume series of "essential film reviews collection". Currently only available in e-book form, each substantial volume of numerous film reviews are priced at £4.99 per volume, however should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package you can read each and every volume for free: Volume 3 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4JTLRY1 All 7 Volumes https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HZSTTH?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn https://www.patreon.com/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.paypal.me/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.buymeacoffee.com/steveblackford Thanks for watching! Please "like", subscribe, comment and consider supporting your favourite independent writer via the links above! Thank you.