Quo Vadis, Salvatores?
Wednesday, June 1st, 2005“I was really fed up, after 12 films” says Oscar winning Italian director Gabriele Salvatores “that at the end of every debate, punctually, a girl would get up and ask ‘Excuse me, I’ve a question: why don’t you make a film with a woman?'”. His comment is both playful and serious. Best known, outside of [...]
Eugene O’Neill, the Monkey, and Adrien Brody
Sunday, May 1st, 2005Adrien Brody is looking the worse for wear. The Oscar winning star is normally and rightly regarded as one of Hollywood's most elegant leading men. He's so smart and chic in fact that Esquire Magazine named him America's best dressed man and he's often seen modelling top of the range designer gear. Today however 31 [...]
Moulding a Monster – Peter Jackson talks about King Kong
Friday, April 1st, 2005PETER JACKSON has gone from making rough figures out of plasticine to moulding some of the biggest movies in film history. The bearded, bespectacled, tousle haired 43 year-old Kiwi defied convention when he determined to do Tolkein's epic Lord of the Rings his way. It seemed an enormous gamble to film the tales of Middle [...]
Playing Fay Wray – Naomi Watts on the set of Peter Jackson’s King Kong
Friday, April 1st, 2005Naomi Watts discovered that there is a price to pay for starring as iconic heroine Ann Darrow in Peter Jackson's majestic, multi-million dollar version of King Kong. The slender English-born actress illustrates the physical wear and tear of being hurled into the prehistoric world of Skull Island when we meet the day after she's filmed [...]
Identity correction – Yes Men style. Interview with Andy Bichlbaum.
Tuesday, February 1st, 2005It's disconcerting to have a conversation with Andy Bichlbaum of the Yes Men, through no fault of Bichlbaum's. Well, then again, it is his fault. After having seen The Yes Men movie, and Bichlbaum's various poker faced media stunts, there's always the suspicion in the back of your mind that he's somehow, to put it [...]
The Corporation as a psychopath. Film-maker Jennifer Abbot in interview
Monday, November 1st, 2004The Corporation – a film by Mark Achbar, Jennifer Abbott & Joel Bakan – has been almost obscenely successful, for a documentary on an economic and legal subject, having grossed over three million dollars to date and scooping up rave reviews and awards left, right, and centre. Indeed, such has been the success, that film [...]
Dogville – a review
Friday, October 1st, 2004In medieval times, it was said that the poet or songwriter was a man of great power. If a king angered him, he would pen a scathing lyric about the unfortunate monarch, and show it to everyone. Obviously, his majesty could then have relieved the poet of his head, but by then the lyric would [...]
A set of moving paintings – Making The Bridge of San Luis Rey. An interview with Director Mary McGuckian.
Wednesday, September 1st, 2004Bridge of San Luis Rey Over ten years ago Irish film director Mary McGuckian first became interested in adapting Thornton Wilder's novel The Bridge of San Luis Rey for the screen. “It's strange. I'm more comfortable in a literary Cinema environment, but they're not very easy films to get off the ground. It was originally [...]
Identity Crisis? Spiderman 2 a review.
Wednesday, September 1st, 2004Every so often, a blockbuster sequel comes along that succeeds in deepening and improving on its predecessor. Most notable in this regard has been The Empire Strikes Back, along with Superman II and Aliens. Now we have Spiderman 2, a film which blends action-packed adventure with a thoughtful exploration of identity. There is much more [...]
Political Tragedy. The Navigators by Ken Loach
Sunday, August 1st, 2004One of the joys of the summer time in Bologna, and many would say there are few as the city becomes extremely hot and humid between the months of June and September, is the profusion of open air cinemas that spring up, between some of the cities parks, and the big screen in the impressive [...]
