Matt Damon in “The Informant!”: charmingly odd
The Steven Soderbergh movie mafia rolls on with his quirky industrial thriller “The Informant!” Like the “Insider” with laughs, the film focuses on the cutthroat world of corporate...
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Michael Caine as “Harry Brown”: drugs, thugs and Daily Mail fantasy
Michael Caine is Harry Brown. The opening credits tell us so. No fanfare, no explosion, just simple fact: Michael Caine is Harry Brown. This is a statement of intent from the filmmakers. They know...
“Survivor Samoa” episode IX: immunity means life
The last episode of "Survivor Samoa" ended with a vicious blindside when the newly merged tribe voted out Erik. It was the first time this season that the women have gone on the offensive after being...
Looking back: Michael Caine and the England of “Get Carter”
With the recent release of "Harry Brown" in the UK, Mark Farnsworth is taking a look back at the classic Michael Caine revenge film: "Get Carter." Launched like a British Rail heat-seeking missile,...
“Protektor”: of Nazis and Faustian bargains
Marek Najbrt’s superior Second World War drama begins with a crisp montage of bicycle chains, spokes and gears. A pedal powered score wheels the audience into 1942 and the aftermath of the...
“Nowhere Boy”: not lovable, but definitely all Lennon
The subtle beauty of “Nowhere Boy” has to do with how it works on so many levels at once. Are you a Beatles or a Stones fan? Who was your favourite Beatle, John or Paul? Do you think John was a...
What really matters about “American: The Bill Hicks Story”
I’m going to break my golden rule and write this in first person. I figured I owe Bill Hicks this much. I’d been a massive fan since I saw him on Channel 4 years ago. I loved him the same way I...
“Survivor Samoa” episode VIII: the women finally get it together
This particular episode began with tribe Foa Foa strategising about the possibility of a merge. They decided to approach the merge with a divide and conquer mentality. Russell, of course, made sure...
London Film Festival: “Giulia Doesn’t Date At Night”
By blurring the audience’s focus right from the opening shot, director Giuseppe Piccioni starts as he means to go on. As we adjust our vision, we realise we are in a swimming pool. The dazzling...
London Film Festival: “Glorious 39” doesn’t inspire much empathy
Mark Farnsworth is currently reviewing selected films from the London Film Festival. As a child, British director Stephen Poliakoff would drive around with his father at night, looking into rich...