Hype has it that Monsters is this year’s District 9. Well, forget about that comparison. Alien monsters aside, there’s not much in common between the two movies. District 9 had allegorical pretensions that I found obvious and tedious, but at least there was a bit of thought invested in it – and the aliens were impressively original. Don’t expect any such saving graces outta Monsters. Continue reading ‘Monsters’ – Movie Review
‘Gasland’ – Movie Review
In September 2006, a natural gas drilling company offered Josh Fox $100,000 – a good price at the time – for his family’s property in the pristine Delaware River Basin area in upstate New York. Many neighbours saw the offer as a windfall and accepted, but Fox was less ready to take the bucks and run. The verandah of his family’s rustic cabin overlooks unspoiled forest and a sparkling river – the site of many a childhood adventure, and of the lovingly shot footage with which Fox opens this extremely disturbing documentary. Continue reading ‘Gasland’ – Movie Review
‘The Social Network’ – Movie Review
I confess, I don’t see the appeal of Facebook. But with over 500 million users worldwide, who cares what I think? Da people have spoken and spoken emphatically. That’s one hell of a demographic – an unmissable and irresistible marketing target for Hollywood.
It comes as no surprise, then, that The Social Network, which tells the story of Facebook’s beginnings, has been a box office smash in the States, topping takings in its first two weeks and already recouping production costs. Good business, clearly, but what about the film?
Oh, it’s good alright. Continue reading ‘The Social Network’ – Movie Review