TheBlackfordBookClub

“Dad, how big a Take That fan are you?” “Well son I have two answers to that particular question. Why do you ask?” From this brief text exchange came the subtle hint that my beautiful son wanted to see this musical inspired by five musicians from the north of England named Gary, Mark, Robbie, Jason and Howard, otherwise known as “Take That”, and with more than a slice of resignation, we headed today for the cinema and a rather hearty sing-song. My sigh of resignation was largely misplaced as I rather enjoyed this fan inspired romp back into the 1990’s and whisper it, I am a fan of Take That, but only a passing fan and for many and varied reasons. The obvious reason is that individually (especially so Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams) as well as collectively, they have a happy knack of writing incredibly catchy pop tunes that have seen their stars rise into the stratosphere since the mid 1990’s before Robbie Williams and Jason Orange left, the band broke up, only to re-form (with and without the wantaway renegade spirit that is Robbie Williams) and the three-piece of Gary, Mark and Howard remain in the band to this very day. Take That were arguably one of THE bands of the 1990’s who even at the height of their immense powers were undergoing a transformation from pop band to more serious fare and with many of the chart topping songs that appear in the film. Pray, Back For Good, Babe, Never Forget, Could It Be Magic, Everything Changes and It Only Takes A Minute — A lucky seven from “The Boys” (as they are known in the film) and we haven’t even escaped the clutches of the 1990’s yet". The above is an opening extract from my film review of "Greatest Days" penned and posted to my Medium blog site on 22nd June 2023 and as you might expect from a not so secret Take That fan, I might have a little sing song at the end! The review is reproduced in full below together with a link to my "essential film reviews collection" (free to read if you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package) and other ways and means of supporting me to continue fooling around in front of a video camera...... .....or to continue self-publishing books and thumbing the eye of traditional publishers who refuse to read my original manuscripts! https://medium.com/@stephenblackford561/greatest-days-2023-2c23dfcc905c 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 watching! Please "like" and subscribe! Thank you.

“Fred Friendly” (George Clooney) This is another quiet, in the background role for Clooney as Fred Friendly, a CBS News Producer and close confidant of Edward R Murrow. Both a stylish and understated performance from actor Clooney as well as a stylish film for which he as director was nominated for an Oscar, quite the achievement in only his second directorial film. Clooney was also nominated alongside fellow screenplay writer Grant Heslov for an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, with the film as a whole receiving a total of six Oscar nominations. Again, quite an astounding achievement in only his second film as Director. Another George Clooney film that became an instant favourite with me, the film is bookended with a speech made by “Edward R Murrow” (an incredible performance from David Strathairn) at a Gala Evening in his honour in 1958. A salute to his incredible achievements in television broadcasting and one in which he makes this telling pronouncement “We are currently wealthy, fat, comfortable and complacent. We have an inbuilt allergy to unpleasant or disturbing information. Our mass media reflect this. But unless we get up off our fat surpluses and recognise that television in the main is being used to distract, delude, amuse and insulate us, then television and those who finance it, those who look at it and those who work at it, may see a totally different picture too late”. From this early speech in 1958 the film reverts back to 1953 and the main premise for the film is set: In the midst of the Cold War against Russia, Republican Senator Joe McCarthy is trying to root out “card carrying” Communists from the United States of America. A media war is brewing and Edward R Murrow together with Fred Friendly and his CBS News team uncover shockingly one sided attacks on American citizens whereby they are accused of being a Communist without a fair trial or evidence. From 1953 onward the film continues with a straight forward timeline until it loops back to bookend the film with a continuation of Murrow’s Gala speech. The above paragraphs are taken from my spoiler free review of "Good Night, and Good Luck" which was originally penned and published some years ago, transferred to my Medium blog site on 11th 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 original article linked immediately below: https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/good-night-and-good-luck-2005-c8c9bc2cb6fc This spoiler free review is also integral to Volume 2 of my "essential film reviews collection". Each volume and e-book is £4.99 however, should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package, all volumes are available to read for free: Volume 2 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4J1S1TL 7 Volume Collection 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.

“I have to go and find Sparky!” Based on Tim’s own 1984 short story/film of the same name, now with a screenplay written by Leonard Ripps and infused with yet another joyous musical score from Danny Elfman, the opening minutes of this sweet homage to the Frankenstein films of the 1930’s is layered in Tim Burton, the man and the myth. We drift from watching a home made film with his faithful friend Sparky the dog, we follow Victor as he spends obsessive hours alone tinkering and mending the broken film amidst references of him being a loner, without friends and that he “should be playing outside”. To school, and Mr Rzykruski, the Salvador Daliesque moustache and mannered teacher who inspires Victor, instils in him ideas and desires outside of the perceived norm. His school friends, a bizarre mix all beautifully created and brought to life by Burton, and voiced by a great cast of acting talent. This time Tim Burton resists leaning on his tried and trusted formula of Johnny Depp and wife Helena Bonham Carter but instead employs further cinematic greats for this film, with the voice talents on display coming from Martin Short, Martin Landau, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Robert Capron, Conchata Ferrell and Atticus Shaffer. Fresh to a Tim Burton film for many, they all bring a depth to the characters they voice, particularly the returning, modern great of cinema, Martin Landau as the Dali inspired teacher! #frankenweenie #timburton #salvadordali #movies #moviereview #film #filmreview #audiobook #ebook #reading #readalong #readaloud #blogger #writing #writingcommunity #amazonkindle #unlimited The above opening paragraphs are taken from my spoiler free review of "Frankenweenie" penned and published over a decade ago, transferred to my Medium blog site and which can now be read in full and for free via my career long and huge opus blog article on the films of Tim Burton below: https://medium.com/@stephenblackford561/the-magic-of-tim-burton-680403373369 This spoiler free review is also integral to volume 2 of my 7 volumes of "essential film reviews collection". Currently only available as e-books on Amazon and priced at £4.99 per volume however should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package you can read each and every exhaustive volume of numerous spoiler free film reviews 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.

Following black and white credits through heavily falling snow against a snow globe type backdrop and an imposing mansion house on the hill, we fade through a window and into full colour and onto an older lady telling a bedtime story to a very young girl. The story is about a man called Edward and the Inventor who created him. Quickly cutting to present day and a vibrant coloured, almost picture postcard type housing estate, immaculately clean and tidy with multi coloured individual houses. A picture of domestic serenity. Sometime later, mid way through the first Act comes “Edward Scissorhands” (Johnny Depp) first appearance. Arriving at a large gate overgrown with weeds, “Peg” (Dianne Wiest) enters to encounter a beautifully manicured and colourful inner grounds surrounding the house. Peg marvels at the colourful beauty, of the manicured shrubs in the shape of various animals and as the camera shoots her from below and up at the imposing gothic style house, we see a brief glimpse, a shadow of a figure crossing in front of the window. Another brief shot before Peg enters the house is through a manicured shrub in the shape of an archway. Entering the Mansion with an “Avon Calling” intentional tension breaker, the Mansion itself is a dusty, desaturated grey interior and with a short panning shot we see unused contraptions and machinery, all of which will become clearer later into the film. Throughout these early scenes is Danny Elfman’s haunting, almost ethereal musical score. Reaching the top of the stairs and entering the loft, a huge gaping hole in the roof is immediately evident as we follow Peg to an unused fireplace which is full of paper cuttings of a “miracle boy” and images of Mary and Jesus, whereby she hears the faint sound of scissors grinding together. Seen now for the first time in the film, Edward emerges slowly from the shadows, startling Peg who turns to leave to which Edward responds “Don’t Go”. #edwardscissorhands #timburton #johnnydepp #movies #moviereview #film #filmreview #audiobook #ebook #reading #readalong #readaloud #blogger #writing #writingcommunity #amazonkindle #unlimited The above opening paragraphs are taken from my spoiler free review of "Edward Scissorhands" penned and published over a decade ago, transferred to my Medium blog site and which can now be read in full and for free via my Substack blog and original and updated article linked immediately below. I've also linked my career long and huge opus blog article on the films of Tim Burton below too: https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/edward-scissorhands-1990-26a676c16513 https://medium.com/@stephenblackford561/the-magic-of-tim-burton-680403373369 This spoiler free review is also integral to volume 2 of my 7 volumes of "essential film reviews collection". Currently only available as e-books on Amazon and priced at £4.99 per volume however should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package you can read each and every exhaustive volume of numerous spoiler free film reviews 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.

“Greetings, my friends! You are interested in the unknown. The mysterious. The unexplainable. That is why you are here. And now, for the first time, we are bringing you the full story of what happened. We are giving you all the evidence based only on the secret testimony of the miserable souls who survived this terrifying ordeal. The incidents, places. My friends, we cannot keep this a secret any longer. Can your heart stand the shocking facts of the true story of Edward D. Wood Jr.?” #edwood #timburton #johnnydepp #movies #moviereview #film #filmreview #audiobook #ebook #reading #readalong #readaloud #blogger #writing #writingcommunity #amazonkindle #unlimited The above opening paragraph is taken from my spoiler free review of "Ed Wood" penned and published over a decade ago, transferred to my Medium blog site and which can now be read in full and for free via my Substack blog and original and updated article linked immediately below. I've also linked my career long and huge opus blog article on the films of Tim Burton below too: https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/ed-wood-1994-216bdce84e06 https://medium.com/@stephenblackford561/the-magic-of-tim-burton-680403373369 This spoiler free review is also integral to volume 2 of my 7 volumes of "essential film reviews collection". Currently only available as e-books on Amazon and priced at £4.99 per volume however should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package you can read each and every exhaustive volume of numerous spoiler free film reviews 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.

“I’m not a cowboy Pam…….I’m a Stuntman!”. Initially concepted as part of a Grindhouse double bill with good friend and “brother” Robert Rodriguez’s Planet Terror (which is also highly recommended, naturally), early negative critical reaction saw both films released separately. Both fans of 1970’s Grindhouse cinema whereby the theatres themselves were less than salubrious and the quality of the film print poor and decayed, this is also Tarantino’s singular homage to stuntman orientated films of the period, of muscle cars too but primarily another exploitation film. In relation to Grindhouse itself, it became infamous for the poor quality, crackling sound, badly edited and distorted picture the theatres would provide and in my own amateur homage to this I’ve reviewed this fantastic film by concentrating on this as you’ll see. I’ve also picked and briefly described my three favourite scenes from each Act. A brief premise: “Stuntman Mike” (Kurt Russell) is a psychotic killer who derives sexual pleasure from car crashes, especially if they involve beautiful women. #deathproof #quentintarantino #kurtrussell #movies #moviescenes #moviereview #cinema #film #filmreview #reading #readalong #readaloud #ebook #amazonkindle #unlimited #writing #writingcommunity #blogger The above opening paragraphs are taken from spoiler free review of "Death Proof" penned and published over a decade ago, transferred to my Medium blog site and which can now be read for free and in full via my Substack blog site and updated original article linked immediately below. I've also linked my opus blog articles on the cinematic career of Quentin Tarantino below too: https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/death-proof-2007-68351d9f8c00 https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/the-genius-of-quentin-tarantino-7d8df84138ee https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/the-genius-of-quentin-tarantino-vol-2-a4b299a510c0 This spoiler free review and love-in appreciation is also integral to volume 2 of my 7 volumes of "essential film reviews collection". Currently only available as an e-book on Amazon and 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 2 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4J1S1TL 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 perhaps consider supporting your favourite independent writer via the links above! Thank you.

“I love you Victor, but you are not mine”. This joy of a film and first time Oscar nomination for Director Tim Burton seeps into the consciousness. Only 77 minutes of sublime screen time but from the original music score of Danny Elfman which is a real joy and really engages you in the wonderful story, to the surreal otherworldly and bizarre aspects of the characters and the world they inhabit. Tim Burton at his most flamboyant? Probably! A Stop motion animated film, Burton creates all of his characters with love and care despite their frailties and their often bizarre appearances. Each character is truly unique in appearance, elongated faces, tall spindly characters to obese, to small almost indistinct characters, all are created with definition and care. Voiced by a wealth of the finest actors and actresses our generation, each Burton creation is wonderfully brought to life. From regular collaborators Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and Christopher Lee, through to Emily Watson, Paul Whitehouse, Tracey Ullman, Albert Finney, Joanna Lumley and Richard E Grant. #corpsebride #timburton #johnnydepp #movies #moviereview #film #filmreview #audiobook #ebook #reading #readalong #readaloud #blogger #writing #writingcommunity #amazonkindle #unlimited The above opening paragraph is taken from my spoiler free review of "Corpse Bride" penned and published over a decade ago, transferred to my Medium blog site and which can now be read in full and for free via my Substack blog and original and updated article linked immediately below. I've also linked my career long and huge opus blog article on the films of Tim Burton below too: https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/corpse-bride-2005-87a2efd72955 https://medium.com/@stephenblackford561/the-magic-of-tim-burton-680403373369 This spoiler free review is also integral to volume 1 of my 7 volumes of "essential film reviews collection". Currently only available as e-books on Amazon and priced at £4.99 per volume however should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package you can read each and every exhaustive volume of numerous spoiler free film reviews for free. Volume 1 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HHDL56 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.

"After seeing the trailer for this “based on true events” tale from 1985 on every trip to my local cinema during the past few months I didn’t hold out much hope of enjoying this bizarre romp into a surreal past, but I’m allowed to be wrong on occasion. From the 1980’s inspired musical soundtrack and a beginning dripping with TV news segments, stock footage of the day and the laughable adverts of the day featuring either Nancy Reagan and her “Just Say No” campaign or the “This is your brain on drugs” comparison to an egg (yes, an egg!) that so inspired the mighty Bill Hicks in his comedy routines of the early 1990’s, I was in from the beginning to the very end, and an end credits brilliantly accompanied by a remix of “White Lines” (Don’t Do it) by Melle Mel. Are you the hunted or the hunter? That particular rhetorical question is especially apt as Cocaine Bear has both, and on either side of the white dividing line, as the hunters and the hunted go in search of 70Ibs of football sized packages of cocaine dropped from an aeroplane over Knoxville, Georgia, and scattered all across the appropriately named “Blood Mountain”. Almost immediately you have two tourists, two children, two hapless drug smuggling hoodlums and one very amorous Park Ranger caught up, whether they wish to be or not, in the finding and hunting of the illegal treasure and, naturally, a giant black bear with a taste for cocaine as well as human blood". The above is an extract from my spoiler free review of "Cocaine Bear" that I originally penned and published to my Medium blog site on 26th March 2023 and the review can be read in full here: https://medium.com/@stephenblackford561/cocaine-bear-2023-cd1f837fe669 This film also forms part of my 7 volumes of "essential film reviews collection" that are currently only available in E-Book or Kindle form but, should you have a Kindle "Unlimited" package, you can read any and every one of the 7 volumes for free: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C4HZSTTH?ref_=dbs_p_pwh_rwt_anx_b_lnk&storeType=ebooks Four self-published books this year, two planned for 2024 so far and the seven volumes of film reviews above, if you are able, here are three further ways and means of supporting me: https://www.patreon.com/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.paypal.me/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.buymeacoffee.com/steveblackford Thanks for watching! Please "like" and subscribe! Thank you.

The third remake (or re imaging) in Tim Burton’s cannon of work and based on the original book of the same name by Roald Dahl. This is an entirely new take on the 1971 original. And save your is it better/worse than the original, please! Accompanying Danny Elfman’s sublime musical score, a brief narration follows the opening credits and straight into a short backstory on the history of Willy Wonka and his world famous chocolate. The premise is well known: Five Golden Tickets have been inserted into Wonka chocolate bars, with the resultant winners granted a tour of the most famous chocolate factory in the world. Now mainly sealed from the outside world, both the factory itself and a reclusive Willy Wonka, the competition to find the golden tickets seem to be the ultimate prize. Immediately you’re drawn into Tim Burton’s world, from the saturated grey colour of present day, to the full colour of the numerous flashbacks and especially when inside the chocolate factory itself. Both worlds are distinct from each other, the cold, grey dilapidated home Charlie shares with his family which extends into the outside world, to the zesty colours and opulence of living within the factory. Both worlds are equally as bizarre and surreal as each other, and the juxtaposition between the locations is key. A house riddled with holes and seemingly on the verge of collapse is set against a towering factory, of chocolate rivers, endless chocolate and a maze of delights and treats. #charlieandthechocolatefactory #wonka #timburton #johnnydepp #movies #moviereview #film #filmreview #audiobook #ebook #reading #readalong #readaloud #blogger #writing #writingcommunity #amazonkindle #unlimited The above opening paragraphs are taken from my spoiler free review of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" penned and published over a decade ago, transferred to my Medium blog site and which can now be read in full and for free via my career long and huge opus blog article on the films of Tim Burton below: https://medium.com/@stephenblackford561/the-magic-of-tim-burton-680403373369 This spoiler free review is also integral to volume 1 of my 7 volumes of "essential film reviews collection". Currently only available as e-books on Amazon and priced at £4.99 per volume however should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package you can read each and every exhaustive volume of numerous spoiler free film reviews for free. Volume 1 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HHDL56 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.

"As is so often the case, I watched this film without any prior knowledge, trailers, reviews, preconceived ideas as to what the film may be about and centrally on the basis of the marquee headliner. At the time of release two years ago, this was the 42nd feature length acting credit for Liverpool born Stephen Graham and a continuation of a career that has seen the incredibly talented Liverpudlian become a called upon stalwart for Martin Scorsese as well as working with the calibre of directors such as Guy Ritchie (Snatch), Shane Meadows (This is England), Tom Hooper (The Damned United), Michael Mann (Public Enemies), Tomas Alfredson (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) and all whilst becoming arguably even more famous and recognisable on the smaller screen in the fantastic television series Taboo as well as portraying Al Capone in the phenomenon that was Boardwalk Empire. In short, I’m a big fan. After watching Boiling Point, my admiration has grown immeasurably". The above is an extract from my spoiler free review of "Boiling Point" that I originally penned and published to my Medium blog site on 26th March 2023 and the review can be read in full here: https://medium.com/@stephenblackford561/boiling-point-2021-4ce67bf9b5 This film also forms part of my 7 volumes of "essential film reviews collection" that are currently only available in E-Book or Kindle form but, should you have a Kindle "Unlimited" package, you can read any and every one of the 7 volumes for free: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C4HZSTTH?ref_=dbs_p_pwh_rwt_anx_b_lnk&storeType=ebooks Four self-published books this year, two planned for 2024 so far and the seven volumes of film reviews above, if you are able, here are three further ways and means of supporting me: https://www.patreon.com/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.paypal.me/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.buymeacoffee.com/steveblackford Thanks for watching! Please "like" and subscribe! Thank you.

“Are you gonna bark all day little doggie, or are you gonna bite?”. 9 minutes and 40 seconds into this stunning debut classic from Quentin Tarantino and all seems in order. Shooting the shit around a coffee house table are mainly sharply dressed guys in black suits discussing various topics of the day, from the meaning of Madonna’s “Like a Virgin”, the merits or otherwise of tipping and the contents of the Boss’ address book. Cue Steven Wright and his sublimely distinctive voice, “K Billy’s Super Sounds of the 70's”, and one of the most iconic movie introductions of recent history. The first 9 minutes give no indication to the tour de force you are about to watch. A time line that jumps back and forth with dialogue to die for and a screenplay that has gone into movie history. A soundtrack with hit after hit that is brilliantly effective and takes the film to even greater heights. A twist that if you’re unfamiliar with the film will genuinely surprise you and, as with all Quentin Tarantino films, characters that are rich, layered, brilliantly written and played by some of the greatest actors of our generation. #reservoirdogs #quentintarantino #stevebuscemi #timroth #harveykeitel #michaelmadsen #debut #movies #moviescenes #moviereview #cinema #film #filmreview #reading #readalong #readaloud #writing #writingcommunity #blogger #blogging #amazonkindle #unlimited The above opening paragraphs are taken from my original spoiler free review of "Reservoir Dogs" penned and published over a decade ago, transferred and updated on my Medium blog site and which can now be read in full and for free via my Substack blog site and original article linked immediately below. I've also added my opus blog article on the entire cinematic career of Quentin Tarantino below too: https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/reservoir-dogs-1992-e90c774eef2e https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/the-genius-of-quentin-tarantino-7d8df84138ee 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 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 5 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4N25YCW 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 perhaps consider supporting your favourite independent writer via the links above! Thank you.

“The truth is, I didn’t see anything of myself in my Father”. Based on Daniel Wallace’s novel “Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions”, this was a Tim Burton film I avoided for too many years. From the trailers and the reviews it was clear I’d find it hard to watch as I lost my Father when I was young and unfortunately, watched his slow disintegration and passing. It was harrowing at times and seemingly replicated within this film. However, after avoiding the film for so long I can more happily report that I needn’t have avoided for so long. It certainly resonates deeply with me, but it’s such a heart warming and uplifting tale and more importantly, a truly stunning film. Narrated throughout, but primarily by the three main characters, after a gentle back story driven opening, we frequently cross timelines and generations and the flashbacks used are key to the film. Present day is approximately 25% of the film, whereas the remaining 75% is flashback driven, brilliantly and expertly so by Burton. The flashbacks themselves often dissolve from present day and the juxtaposition is also key. This is very much a story of storytellers and of people telling stories, and very tall tales. Are they real? Are they embellished to tell a story? Are they a fantasy from reality? This film is all this, and much much more. #bigfish #timburton #ewanmcgregor #movies #moviereview #film #filmreview #audiobook #ebook #reading #readalong #readaloud #blogger #writing #writingcommunity #amazonkindle #unlimited The above opening paragraphs are taken from my spoiler free review of "Big Fish" penned and published over a decade ago, transferred to my Medium blog site and which can now be read in full and for free via my career long and huge opus blog article on the films of Tim Burton below: https://medium.com/@stephenblackford561/the-magic-of-tim-burton-680403373369 This spoiler free review is also integral to volume 1 of my 7 volumes of "essential film reviews collection". Currently only available as e-books on Amazon and priced at £4.99 per volume however should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package you can read each and every exhaustive volume of numerous spoiler free film reviews for free. Volume 1 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HHDL56 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.

“I’m The Dude. So that’s what you call me. You know, that or, His Dudeness, or Duder, or El Duderino if you’re not into the whole brevity thing”. Following a tumbleweed through an open Los Angeles, “The Stranger” (Sam Elliott) narrates an opening monologue about “The Dude” (Jeff Bridges) and we’re immediately introduced to the world of Jeffrey Lebowski aka The Dude. A stoner and carefree attitude to match, he is mistaken for “The Big Lebowski” (David Huddleston) a multi millionaire with a life and attitude vastly differently to The Dude. A urinated on rug “they pee’d on the rug, Walter!” he demands compensation from the intended target. A stolen rug later, not to mention the offer of a blowjob from The Big Lebowski’s wife “Bunny” (Tara Reid) and The Dude is embroiled in a kidnap payoff that goes disastrously and hilariously wrong! #thebiglebowski #coenbrothers #comedy #oscars #movies #moviescenes #moviereview #film #filmreview #reading #readalong #readaloud #audiobook #ebook #amazonkindle #unlimited #writing #writingcommunity #blogger The above opening paragraphs are taken from my original spoiler free review of "The Big Lebowski" penned and published over a decade ago, transferred to my Medium blog site 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 career of the Coen Brothers below too: https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/the-big-lebowski-1998-e9b482eae2f6 https://medium.com/@stephenblackford561/the-world-according-to-the-coen-brothers-f033b11d957d This spoiler free review is also integral to my 7 volume series of "essential film reviews collection". Currently only available in e-book form on Amazon and priced at £4.99 per volume, should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package you can read each and every exhaustive volume of multiple film reviews 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 perhaps consider supporting your favourite independent writer via the links above! Thank you.

“I think that what Keane has done is just terrific. It has to be good. If it were bad, so many people wouldn’t like it” — Andy Warhol Based on the incredible true story of 1950’s/1960’s painter Margaret Keane and written for the screen by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, all the regular elements of a Tim Burton creation are present: A number of superb central performances especially from Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz, Danny Elfman’s bubbly and retro musical score, Colleen Atwood’s pin point attention to detail with her period costume designs and a story that with a little added Tim Burton twist becomes ever more bizarre. In the realm of truth being stranger than fiction “Margaret Keane” (Amy Adams) bucks the conventional trend of the conservative 1950’s and runs away from her inattentive husband, taking her young daughter Jane to the hip and modern city of San Francisco. An accomplished portrait painter of young children and especially her young daughter, her distinctive style of painting them with larger than normal eyes goes largely unnoticed until she meets fellow painter “Walter Keane” (Christoph Waltz) who aside from being an amateur painter and real estate agent is a quick witted cad, bounder type, the teller of tall tales and archetypal salesman. Seduced by early success, a loose agreement is reached whereby the outgoing Walter promotes and sells the various child portraits as his own with the slightly neurotic and nervous of the outside art world Margaret taking a silent but heavily productive back seat as she is completely overwhelmed and consumed by the passion and verve of her now new husband, Walter. #bigeyes #timburton #christophwaltz #amyadams #movies #moviereview #film #filmreview #reading #readalong #readaloud #blogger #audiobook #amazonkindle #unlimited #ebook #writing #writingcommunity The above opening paragraph is taken from my original spoiler free review of "Big Eyes" penned and published over a decade ago, transferred to my Medium blog site and which can now be read in full and for free via my original career opus blog article on the first 18 films in the cinematic career of Tim Burton below: https://medium.com/@stephenblackford561/the-magic-of-tim-burton-680403373369 This spoiler free appreciation is also integral to volume 1 of my 7 volumes of "essential film reviews collection". Currently only available as individual e-books from Amazon and priced at £4.99 however (1) these volumes are exhaustive with numerous spoiler free film reviews contained and (2) 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 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 do "like", subscribe, comment and perhaps consider supporting your favourite independent writer via the links noted above! Thank you.

“When you get to hell John, tell them Daisy sent you”. Ever the Cinema fan and Master Craftsman, the premieres and special initial screenings of Tarantino’s latest film were an event in themselves. The film was shot in 70mm Ultra Panavision being both the widest angle lens possible and a nod to films of cinema’s past and where available, The Hateful Eight was projected in this format and nowhere more so than his own cinema, The New Beverly, in Los Angeles. Adding to the pomp and ceremony on opening night(s) and special screenings around the world, The Hateful Eight was also an event cinema night with live music before curtain up and an actual Intermission halfway through the three hour run time but as Samuel L Jackson’s character “Major Marquis Warren” states so eloquently just past the half way point of the film: “Let’s slow it down. Slow it way down”. At just over three hours this is a long, epic of a western, the second western of Tarantino’s career following Django Unchained and even the third if you include Kill Bill Volume 2. Ever the cineaste, Tarantino is often at pains to acknowledge and even proclaim the number of his film’s (this was proclaimed to be the “8th Film by Quentin Tarantino”) when it is in fact his 9th (again if you include the two volumes of Kill Bill) and could even be classified as his 10th if you include his unreleased first film My Best Friend’s Birthday. Being a myopic fan of the master I am not one to argue with him but he has however stated that he intends to complete a trilogy of westerns before he retires and indeed will retire when he reaches his tenth film, so I’d rather he ceased numbering his films and simply continued making breath taking, beautiful and sublime films rather like The Hateful Eight here. #thehatefuleight #quentintarantino #samuelljackson #kurtrussell #timroth #movies #moviescenes #moviereview #cinema #film #filmreview #reading #readalong #readaloud #writing #writingcommunity #blogger #amazonkindle #unlimited #ebook The above opening paragraphs are taken from my spoiler free review of "The Hateful Eight" originally penned and published nearly a decade ago, transferred to my Medium blog site on 6th January 2023 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 career opus blog articles on Quentin Tarantino too: https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/the-hateful-eight-2015-1d4ba4fe6c5a https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/the-genius-of-quentin-tarantino-7d8df84138ee https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/the-genius-of-quentin-tarantino-vol-2-a4b299a510c0 This spoiler free review is also integral to my 7 volumes of "essential film reviews collection". Currently only available as individual e-books on Amazon and 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 perhaps consider supporting your favourite independent writer via the links above! Thank you.

“I’ve seen the Exorcist ABOUT A HUNDRED AND SIXTY SEVEN TIMES, AND IT KEEPS GETTING FUNNIER EVERY TIME I SEE IT!”. “Beetlejuice” (Michael Keaton) Not seen until well into the second act of the film and then for a minimal amount of screen time, but what a performance from Keaton. Balancing the persona of the deranged and obnoxious ghost exorcist perfectly, the only criticism is he doesn’t figure more prominently in his own film! What screen time there is is pure gold. His brief introduction is thus: Approaching a “Betelgeuse” sign, “Barbara” (Geena Davis) and “Adam” (Alec Baldwin) begin digging at the foot of the grave, accompanied by Danny Elfman’s hurried and hectic cinematic musical score which is a joy throughout. After much digging, rising from his grave, arms outstretched in wonder, delight and triumph is Beetlejuice. Kissing Barbara, then grabbing Adam, before finally settling in between them and enquiring as to the romantic availability of Barbara, it is a wonderfully bizarre and surreal introduction. Always seemingly in the middle of the three, arm in arm, Beetlejuice enquires “who do I have to kill?” as he hands Barbara a live rat and throwing his voice to her! #beetlejuice #timburton #michaelkeaton #alecbaldwin #movies #moviereview #film #filmreview #reading #readalong #readaloud #blogger #audiobook #amazonkindle #unlimited #ebook #writing #writingcommunity The above opening paragraph is taken from my original spoiler free review of "Beetlejuice" penned and published over a decade ago, transferred to my Medium blog site on 24th December 2022 and which can now be read in full and for free via my Substack blog site and updated and original article linked immediately below. I have also linked my original career opus blog article on the first 18 films in the cinematic career of Tim Burton below too: https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/beetlejuice-1988-b05bd304f7d4 https://medium.com/@stephenblackford561/the-magic-of-tim-burton-680403373369 This spoiler free appreciation is also integral to volume 1 of my 7 volumes of "essential film reviews collection". Currently only available as individual e-books from Amazon and priced at £4.99 however (1) these volumes are exhaustive with numerous spoiler free film reviews contained and (2) 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 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 do "like", subscribe, comment and perhaps consider supporting your favourite independent writer via the links noted above! Thank you.

Set in 1949 and completely in Black and White, this is film noir in every sense, from the constant use of light and dark shadows throughout the story of “Ed Crane”, and a disaffected and alienated character at odds with the world that surrounds him. “Ed Crane” (Billy Bob Thornton) A career high performance from Billy Bob Thornton as the disaffected and apathetic barber Ed Crane. A slow, methodical and still performance perfectly encapsulating Ed’s distance from a world he doesn’t understand and from a world he doesn’t want to be a part of. Against a busy backdrop of people and chattering conversations his vacant stare is continually evident at a world in general he simply seems to have given up on despite a successful career and seeming home life. This is Billy Bob Thornton’s film from start to finish as we follow his every move and he’s in nearly every scene of the film. He is captivating as Crane, cigarette perennially dangling from his mouth, blank, cold expression, so alienated from the world. Thornton’s performance is mesmerising. #themanwhowasntthere #coenbrothers #billybobthornton #blackandwhite #noir #movies #moviescenes #moviereview #filmreview #film #reading #readaloud #readalong #audiobook #amazonkindle #unlimited #writing #blogger #writingcommunity #ebook The above opening paragraphs are taken from my original spoiler free review of "The Man Who Wasn't There" penned and published over a decade ago, transferred to my Medium blog site and which can now be read in full and for free via my Substack blog site and original updated article linked immediately below. Also linked below is my original opus blog article on the cinematic career of the Coen Brothers. https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/the-man-who-wasnt-there-2001-f5915dd47cae https://medium.com/@stephenblackford561/the-world-according-to-the-coen-brothers-f033b11d957d This spoiler free review is also integral to my 7 volumes of "essential film reviews collection". Currently only available as an ebook on Amazon, all 7 volumes are priced at £4.99 each however, should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package you can read each and every exhaustive volume full of spoiler free reviews 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 perhaps consider supporting your favourite independent writer via the links above! Thank you.

“You ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?”. With Danny Elfman’s iconic theme in the background and the Batman motif slowly being unveiled, we cut to a wide shot of Gotham City and it’s cartoon like feel, the hustle and bustle of a busy city below and we’re immediately in a Tim Burton film and Burton’s very individual take on Batman. 23 years on the effects may look a little dated compared to today’s standards, even the repertoire of “toys” so synonymous with Batman are a little dated too, but it remains a benchmark for others to follow and a triumph for the Director. On it’s release 23 years ago I loved this film for it’s closeness and homage in many ways to the TV series, for Michael Keaton as a superb and underrated Batman, for Tim Burton bringing Gotham City to life so brilliantly, and for Jack Nicholson! His portrayal of The Joker still resonates all these years later. It’s sublime, pitch perfect and as the character unravels, Nicholson balances the fine line between psychopathy and madness excellently. #batman #timburton #michaelkeaton #jacknicholson #thejoker #dccomics #gothamcity #movies #moviereview #film #filmreview #reading #readalong #readaloud #blogger #audiobook #amazonkindle #unlimited #ebook #writing #writingcommunity The above opening paragraph is taken from my original spoiler free review of "Batman" penned and published over a decade ago, transferred to my Medium blog site on 15th January 2023 and which can now be read in full and for free via my Substack blog site and updated and original article linked immediately below. I have also linked my original career opus blog article on the first 18 films in the cinematic career of Tim Burton below too: https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/batman-1989-7e8a173eecf8 https://medium.com/@stephenblackford561/the-magic-of-tim-burton-680403373369 This spoiler free appreciation is also integral to volume 1 of my 7 volumes of "essential film reviews collection". Currently only available as individual e-books from Amazon and priced at £4.99 however (1) these volumes are exhaustive with numerous spoiler free film reviews contained and (2) 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 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 do "like", subscribe, comment and perhaps consider supporting your favourite independent writer via the links noted above! Thank you.

“If you guys were the inventors of Facebook, you’d have invented Facebook”. Not a fan of Facebook? Come and join my club! We serve biscuits! Not even vaguely aware of Facebook and the phenomenon it has become? Please don’t let that stop you watching this fast paced, character driven expose’ on it’s creation and it’s after effects on all concerned. At it’s core it’s a story of the development and success story that is Facebook. However it’s far more than that. Via quickly edited flashbacks, we see the historical context of the early creation of FaceMash, the development into TheFacebook and it’s eventual final guise of simply Facebook. These flashbacks come from two separate, present day court cases, both of which portray the anguish, the highs and lows and loss of friendships the development of this social network has wrought in it’s wake. Based on Ben Mezrich’s book “The Accidental Billionaires”, Aaron Sorkin deserves great credit for adapting a tight, tense and excellent screenplay which perfectly encapsulates the time, place and achievements of this premier social networking site. He also deserves the Oscar win for his screenplay, as do Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for Best Original Score and Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall for Best Editing. I have referenced the musical choices used throughout this brief appraisal but it bears repeating as this film and time period is still fresh and relevant that tracks from Super Furry Animals, Bob Marley and the Dead Kennedy’s also appear throughout the film, in addition to the superb music throughout and the tracks already mentioned by personal favourites The White Stripes and The Beatles. The music soundtrack is highly recommended as a stand alone piece regardless of the film. #thesocialnetwork #davidfincher #facebook #jesseeisenberg #andrewgarfield #rooneymara #justintimberlake #davidfincher #movies #moviescenes #moviereview #cinema #film #filmreview #reading #readalong #readaloud #writing #writingcommunity #blogger #blogging #amazonkindle #unlimited The above opening paragraphs are taken from my original spoiler free review of "The Social Network" penned and published over a decade ago, transferred and updated on my Medium blog site and which can now be read in full and for free via my original article linked immediately below: https://medium.com/@stephenblackford561/david-fincher-22-years-in-film-130c6dc5075f This spoiler free review is also integral to my 7 volumes of my "essential film reviews collection". Currently only available via 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: 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.

“I’ll show you the life of a mind”. Number 3 in my personal all time favourite Coen Brothers film is this absolute classic. An all star cast again, however it’s the two central performances from a stunning John Turturro as troubled writer “Barton Fink” and his erstwhile friend “Charlie Meadows”, a performance of sublime intrigue and perfection from John Goodman. Before Charlie’s introduction we see the torn life of Barton Fink, standing backstage as his play is drawing to a close with the audience baying for the writer and warmly showing their appreciation, Barton takes his bow. But he looks strangely unfulfilled. More appreciation follows and with the unfulfillment growing, Barton is invited to Hollywood to write larger, bigger productions. #bartonfink #coenbrothers #johnturturro #johngoodman #movies #moviescenes #moviereview #filmreview #film #reading #readaloud #readalong #audiobook #amazonkindle #unlimited #writing #blogger #writingcommunity #ebook The above opening paragraphs are taken from my original spoiler free review of "Barton Fink" penned and published over a decade ago, transferred to my Medium blog site and which can now be read in full and for free via my Substack blog site and original updated article linked immediately below. Also linked below is my original opus blog article on the cinematic career of the Coen Brothers. https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/barton-fink-1991-82153ae74e00 https://medium.com/@stephenblackford561/the-world-according-to-the-coen-brothers-f033b11d957d 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 on Amazon, all 7 volumes are priced at £4.99 each however, should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package you can read each and every exhaustive volume full of spoiler free reviews for free: Volume 1 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HHDL56 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.

“I am not the Zodiac. And if I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you”. A “based on a true story” tale of The Zodiac, and a serial killer in San Francisco of the 1970’s and 1980’s. Set mainly within the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper to whom The Zodiac sends his cryptic codes and cyphers, whilst also cutting away to additional evidence (for the audience in the main), and to the often very violent multiple killings of the mass murderer. But what’s crucial here is the time span involved, the frustration at the inability to solve the murders, to the character’s individual lives falling apart and failing, and often as a result of their failure to catch The Zodiac killer. A stellar supporting cast to the three stand out roles briefly noted below are Anthony Edwards who excels as local Police Inspector “William Armstrong”, Brian Cox as “Melvin Belli”, Elias Koteas as “Sergeant Jack Mulanax” and Chloe Sevigny as “Melanie”. There are numerous further supporting and cameo roles, notably Dermot Mulroney as “Captain Marty Lee” and Philip Baker Hall as “Sherwood Morrill”. The three main characters are each dissected, slowly and surely with layer upon layer of detail which is painstaking at times, but this is very much a character film detailing their choices, decisions and actions sometimes at odds, often contradictory, but triumphantly so in the hands of Fincher, and his three stand out actors. #zodiac #davidfincher #jakegyllenhaal #robertdowneyjr #markruffalo #truecrime #truecrimecommunity #serialkillers #reallife #sanfrancisco #movies #moviescenes #moviereview #cinema #film #filmreview #reading #readalong #readaloud #writing #writingcommunity #blogger #blogging #amazonkindle #unlimited The above opening paragraphs are taken from my original spoiler free review of "Zodiac" penned and published over a decade ago, transferred and updated on my Medium blog site 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/zodiac-2007-a86805382b74 This spoiler free review is also integral to the 7th and final volume of my "essential film reviews collection". Currently only available via 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 7 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4WX4CGD 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 perhaps consider supporting your favourite independent writer via the links above! Thank you.

“The new Babylon film isn’t so much singing in the rain as a golden shower of utter disappointment” Stephen Blackford, 1st February 2023. The opening 9 minutes as laid out before you presently will hopefully give you a flavour for the debauchery, hedonism and a Hollywood of the golden age on the cusp of flowering and morphing into innumerable historic futures pictured here through the lens of Damien Chazelle (Whiplash, First Man, La La Land) in his fifth all time cinematic release. Then for the next 180 minutes you’re on your own! Bel Air 1926, and in the midst of the “Roaring Twenties” we immediately find our of Coen Brothers inspired hero in the middle of the madness all around him, “Manuel Torres” (Diego Calva). Soon to be Americanised and affectionately known more simply as “Manny” by everyone in the Hollywood community, first he must push an elephant sized stone up a hill to the mansion that sits atop it. Sisyphus may not have succeeded, but as the elephant’s trunk distracts a helpful driver as he deposits pile after streaming pile of watery excrement over a fellow helpful soul, Manny sure does". The above opening extract is from my spoiler free film review of "Babylon" which I originally penned and published to my Medium blog site on 1st February 2023 and which can be read in full via the link below: https://medium.com/@stephenblackford561/babylon-2022-9d09b059d4e1 This review also features in Volume 1 of my "essential film reviews collection" linked below and all 7 volumes can be read for free if you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C4WX4CGD 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.

A re-read from the 27th and final chapter of my first self-published book and a day-by-day diary from the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Here's an extract from the chapter itself together with a link for a book I'm immensely proud of and ways and means of supporting me and putting the thumb in the eye of traditional publishers who refused to read any of my original manuscripts! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C2SG69L3 https://www.patreon.com/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.paypal.me/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.buymeacoffee.com/steveblackford "But it wouldn’t be Argentina if the wheels didn’t fall off! From nowhere, and in a game they had securely in their back pocket and their captain dreaming of lifting that golden trophy in just 10 minutes time, a sloppy defensive challenge from Nicolás Otamendi on France’s best player this evening, Randal Kolo Muani, presented a gift of a penalty for Kylian Mbappé to score and mere seconds later chaos reigned as sublime football ruled. Mbappé played a one-two with Marcus Thuram before crashing a brilliant volley past the despairing dive of Emiliano Martínez in the Argentina goal, and from nowhere, France were level. Mbappé was arguably only really involved in four passages of play, scored every single time including a hat-trick, and still lost a World Cup Final. I could go on. The double substitution of Ousmane Dembélé and Olivier Giroud on just 40 minutes by French coach Didier Deschamps as he could see his midfield constantly overloaded, outgunned and outplayed by the addition of Ángel Di María on the Argentinian left hand side. His return to the team from injury gave Argentina a constant extra body in midfield and crucially, his first half performance was out of this world. I have no footballing love for Ángel Di María but he was exceptional this evening. As was Manchester City’s Julián Álvarez with his tireless running, forward press and defending from the front, and let us not overlook the supreme “Goal of the Tournament” that was Argentina’s second goal. Goal line to goal line in seconds. Messi’s touch. Álvarez’s through ball. Mac Allister’s run and pass. Di María’s sweeping finish. Utterly sublime. Randal Kolo Muani was easily France’s best player and the energy and footballing desire injected into the game by fellow substitutes Kingsley Coman, Eduardo Camavinga and Marcus Thuram transformed the game and arguably could have created THE greatest comeback ever as France threatened to score the winner after Mbappé’s improbable brace of goals on 80 and 81 minutes. My Red Liverpool heart is a little torn at Ibrahima Konaté’s defeat, but I pleasingly and selfishly know that colossus of a young central defender will be winning major honours again soon enough. It should also be noted that Polish referee Szymon Marciniak was exemplary this evening. I still feel Argentina’s penalty award was soft but aside from this, and with the added bonus of not having to consult with the dreaded VAR, I thought he was superb. But the night and the world belongs to Lionel Messi and I couldn’t be more pleased. He has, to use an odious phrase so popular within today’s societal vernacular, “completed football” and I guess the little genius has now done just that. He’s won every possible honour imaginable and I’m not going to call him “The Goat” as goats live in fields and Messi lives amongst the stars. I’m a football romantic and I’ve loved the evocative white and blue stripes of Argentina since a photo from 1978, their horrible snarky team of 1982 and the maelstrom of madness that surrounded Diego Armando Maradona. The little genius has joined the little master". Thanks for watching! Please like and subscribe! Thank you.

After 27 daily diary entries and a book I'm immensely proud of, here's a final sign off and the epilogue in full, reproduced below. Here's a link to the book itself together with other ways and means in which to support me and thumb the eye of the traditional publishers who refused to read any of my original manuscripts! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C2SG69L3 https://www.patreon.com/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.paypal.me/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.buymeacoffee.com/steveblackford "On 23rd March 2023, 83,214 feverishly excited Argentines packed into the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires for a friendly fixture with Panama. But this was no ordinary friendly. Over three months had now passed since one of, if not THE greatest football game of all time had seen their heroes win the World Cup for the third time in their nation’s history and to state they gave their conquering footballing heroes an incredible reception would be to express the grandest of all understatements. With the players and manager Lionel Scaloni all joined on the pitch with their extended families and the World Cup trophy sitting proudly on a plinth pre-match, the adulation was as palpable as it was expected and as were the tears that flowed from many of the players, Messi and manager Scaloni included, who looked around the stadium in utter bewilderment at the incessant singing and adulation ringing out constantly all around them. Messi scored. Of course he did! His 800th career goal too. “I always dreamed of this moment, celebrating with you” Messi told the baying crowd. “To come to my country and lift a Copa America, the Finalissima and the greatest of all the trophies, the World Cup. I know this is our day to celebrate but I don’t want to forget all the teammates who were here before, who also put everything on the field to achieve this and we were very close before. They deserve all the recognition of the Argentine fans because they always did their best for these colours”. “Eternal gratitude to these players. Football belongs to them, and without them we wouldn’t have won the World Cup” echoed an incredibly emotional and clearly overcome manager Scaloni “Everyone who wears this shirt gives their all and sometimes the results don’t come. But this time we got it and it’s incredible”. Gracias por los recuerdos de Lionel Messi. Thank you for the memories, Lionel Messi". Thanks for watching! Please like and subscribe! Thank you.

Chapter 25 from my first self-published book, and some rambling musings from the FIFA World Cup of 2022. This is part 4 in a mini-series of 6 of readings from a self-published book I'm immensely proud of and should you wish to help me poke the eye of the traditional publishers who refused to even read my manuscript, here's a link to the book itself, a brief extract from the chapter being read here, and other ways in which to support me: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C2SG69L3 https://www.patreon.com/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.paypal.com/TheBlackfordBookClub https://www.buymeacoffee.com/steveblackford "Well the footballing world at large have their dream Final, the defending Champions still have the chance to retain their crown and be repeat Champions, and Lionel Messi has one final pun intended opportunity to be formally recognised as the greatest there has ever been. It’s La Albiceleste versus Les Bleus or if you prefer, the white and light blues or the blue and whites, versus the darker blues with the red and white accoutrements. It’s the dream Final the world has been waiting for! A ruggedly determined Argentina against a physically imposing France. The grit and dark art determination of the South Americans. The joie de vivre and unbeatable look of the Europeans. It’s Argentina versus France in the biggest of all possible games in the footballing world, and it’s the dream Final for everyone that isn’t English. If the referee is German I believe this tiny island on which I reside may well spontaneously combust with collective fury, but we can’t be selective in wishing to see countries competing for the greatest prize in all sport that we haven’t fought a war with as, well, it would be a very short and limited competition". Thanks for watching!