If super heroes were rock stars Green Lantern would be the drummer from The Smiths. Apart from those who attend comic conferences, most people don’t know who the hell he is. The producers of the Green Lantern movie seem, therefore, to be pinning their hopes on the current buzz around the superhero comic adaptations to lure the crowds. In this
Read moreIf ever a sporting team deserved to have a film made about it, it’s the West Indies cricket team of the 1970’s and 80’s. They were exciting, charismatic world beaters who dramatically altered the face of cricket. With infectious passion, the documentary Fire in Babylon recounts the West Indies’ ascendancy from an unsuccessful team derided as happy go lucky calypso
Read moreThis week, Built for Speed rounds out its coverage of the Melbourne International Film Festival with a look at cricket doco Fire in Babylon and Sci Fi drama Another Earth. We’ll also preview the upcoming Bayside Film Festival. In our classic album series we look at My Morning Jacket’s 2003 cosmic alt country epic It Still Moves. We’ll also give you
Read moreThe illusionist is a bittersweet French animated film based on a script by famed comic movie maker Jacques Tati. It tells the story of a middle-aged French sideshow magician who embarks on a forelorn tour of Britain in the early 60’s. There he meets a poverty-stricken young woman whom he takes under his wing. As she begins to flourish and explore
Read moreMost films that try to encapsulate the Australian identity are about rugged blokes and doughty women battling the intractable landscape but some, such as the latest Aussie film release Red Dog, are more concerned with our four legged friends. When young truck driver (Luke Ford) arrives in the WA mining town of Dampier in the late 70’s to deliver a
Read moreIn a stunning afront to public taste it’s Dr Nick solo on Built for Speed this week. He’ll be reviewing the latest Aussie movie Red Dog and French Animated flick The Illusionist. For fans of American indie rock there’s a big centrepiece of classic American alternative music from the 80’s. We also explore some different shades of Aussie rock. As if
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