Dramatisations of the life of Princess Diana have usually been misfires, the most notorious being the 2013 film Diana which, despite the star power of lead Naomi Watts, wound up as a fluffy costume drama and borderline turkey. Pablo Larrain’s Spencer, however, is a very different take on Diana’s story and while limited in scope, it’s a much more impressive
Read moreRidley Scott’s Alien is rightly regarded as a classic fusion of sci-fi and horror. Not surprisingly this film has led to countless imitations. While taking inspiration from a masterpiece is understandable, imitation jeopardises a film’s individuality and overall impact. This is the case with the latest Alien-inspired sci fi thriller Underwater. From its story of a working-class crew in a
Read moreWith his latest film, Personal Shopper writer/director Olivier Assayas uses the supernatural horror medium as a way of externalising his lead character’s anxieties. This makes for an occasionally perplexing film but also an intriguing and genuinely spooky one. Kristen Stewart is Maureen, the eponymous shopper who works as a personal assistant to famous French fashion designer, Kyra (Nora von Waldstätten).
Read moreThrough the adventures of would be writer Sal paradise and his crazed buddy Dean Moriarty, Jack Kerouac’s largely autobiographical 1957 novel On the Road attempted to articulate the restlessness of intellectually ambitious but disillusioned post-war American youth. The film adaptation by Walter Salles (Motorcycle Diaries) turns the story into a weird bromance as Sal (Sam Riley) and Dean (Garrett Hedlund)
Read moreThis week on Built For Speed we return to more art house fare with reviews of Cate Shortland’s World War 2 drama “Lore” and the long awaited adaptation of the Jack Kerouac classic “On the Road” which stars Kristen Stewart, Kirsten Dunst and Sam Riley. There’s also plenty of new music from The Vaccines, Jeff the Brotherhood and Alabama Shakes.
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