With its cosmic collision of (arguably) popular culture’s biggest superheroes Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice was supposed to be the ultimate nerdgasm, Star Wars notwithstanding. The internet frenzy preceding Dawn of Justice has been as intense as that leading up to The Force Awakens. The result, however, is an oddly uninvolving movie that succeeds neither as a Batman nor
Read moreAmerican Hustle is an intoxicating mix of 1970’s nostalgia, slow-burn crime drama and comedy that probes themes of deception and identity and constantly asks the question “who’s playing who?” American Hustle is, along with Silver Linings Playbook director David O. Russell’s second film of 2013 and together they reassert him as one of American cinema’s most important contemporary auteurs. Set
Read moreTime once again to break out the earplugs and the Panadol as another pop-cultural icon undergoes an oppressively loud and visually frenzied cinematic re-birthing. Here it’s Superman in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel. This film is sure to divide audiences between those who applaud its fidelity to the original Superman comic, youngsters who love the way it mimics the mass
Read moreBaseball films have a unique place within the sports film genre as they seem to embody American culture and mythology like no other. Even for those who don’t like the sport itself, baseball films seem to have at least some sort of folksy appeal. So it is with Clint Eastwood’s latest film (this time just as an actor) Trouble with
Read morePaul Thomas Anderson’s films are full of charismatic psychopaths and charlatans who rule crazy corrupt mini-empires and use twisted faith to exploit the emotionally fragile. It seemed inevitable, therefore, that Anderson would tackle the world of cults. His latest film The Master which is set in 1950 takes us within a strange organisation known as The Cause which may or
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