Whenever the question of favourite actors working today comes around, I have stock answers which come straight out of my mouth. Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Tadanobu Asano are among the first names. The immediacy with which I produce these answers doesn’t make them any less true, quite the opposite. I believe it so much, … Continue reading
It’s criminal that Hiroshi Inagaki is not better known in the West. He directed some of the best, and best known, Japanese films in the world and even won an Academy Award. He’s commanded samurai and ninja, shown fantasy and history. Yet he’s almost completely forgotten in conversation about great Japanese directors. Today I’d like … Continue reading
Just a quick mention about the state of modern festivals. The internet is a powerful tool for communicating about films, but it’s a little unfocused. Without the internet, millions of people would never have heard of Miike, for example. But, on the other hand, would that be so bad? What has that mainstream appeal wrought … Continue reading
Thanks to everyone who has stuck with this article over the past two days. In today’s final part, I’ll be covering the final 3 classic Marx movies. At The Circus (1939) – Jeff Wilson played by Kenny Baker At The Circus was the first attempt at an MGM Marx movie since Irving Thalberg passed away … Continue reading
Today we’ll cover four of the most well known and successful movies, and look at two of the most notable male leads to appear in the Marx Brothers pictures. The only two who ever made a repeat performance, in fact! Monkey Business (1931) Zeppo played by Zeppo MarxHorse Feathers (1932) Frank Wagstaff played by Zeppo Marx … Continue reading
Almost every movie the Marx Brothers appeared in had some kind of love story element, copying the successful format laid down by their first film The Cocoanuts, which I wrote about yesterday. When the boys moved to MGM, Irving Thalberg also considered the romantic drama element important to the Marx Brothers formula. Duck Soup, which had … Continue reading
I have a terrible memory in general, but one thing I have a great recall of are the various routines of the Marx Brothers. As a very young child, I was a fan of Laurel and Hardy or Abbott and Costello, who I’d watch after school. It took me a few years to graduate to the Marx … Continue reading
Since there hasn’t been an Indiana Jones movie in almost 20 years, it’s understandable that there would be a lot of hoo-ha about it on the internet. One of my sick fascinations are ‘Best Of’ lists. Half of the internet is currently made out of lists, and I think I read them just to get … Continue reading
Earlier today I saw a trailer for the modern blaxploitation picture Black Dynamite, which you can find on the official website. In fact, you not only can find it there, but you almost certainly should go and watch it there right now. Because when I say modern blaxploitation picture, I only mean modern in that … Continue reading
I’m sure everyone enjoyed, on one level or another, Stephen Chow’s Shaolin Soccer. It was the film that rightfully brought him to the world stage and, even though the picture was exceptionally augmented with CGI tricks, it fairly represented the brand of humour that had made him a star. Stephen went on to capitalise with the … Continue reading