politics – cinemescope

100 Word Review – Trumbo (2015)

February 1, 2016February 1, 2016Posted in 100 Words...Tagged Bryan Cranston, Classic Hollywood, communism, Dalton Trumbo, Helen Mirren, Hollywood, Hollywood Ten, Oscar, political, politicsLeave a comment

Based on the life of the Oscar-winning screenwriter Dalton Trumbo (Roman Holiday, Sparticus) and his time on the Black List as one of the infamous Hollywood Ten.

Brilliantly cast and put together, the film breathes a new life into antime of constructed fear and censorship that holds up a mirror to politics throughout the ages. Despite the heavy content, it retains a levity and humanity that is truly brilliant.

Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) is superb in the title role and his co-stars all shine just as bright. It’s unsurprising that he’s been nominated for an Oscar for his performance.

100 Word Review – The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2012)

November 28, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Drama, F-RatedTagged 9/11, adaptation, Drama, Kate Hudson, Kiefer Sutherland, Liev Schreiber, Mira Nair, Mohsin Hamid, political, politics, Riz Ahmed, warLeave a comment

After 9/11, you could choose your side. I had my side chosen for me.

– Changez

Adapted from the extraordinary novel by Mohsin Hamid and directed by the wonderful Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding, Vanity Fair), this film should be compulsory viewing for everyone living in the 21st Century.

A journalist (Liev Schreiber) interviews a suspected terrorist (Riz Ahmed) about how his life, his family and his current situation.

Co-starring Kiefer Sutherland and Kate Hudson, this film is exciting, dramatic and hauntingly understandable.

Ahmed is spectacular in his role as Changez, brilliantly capturing all the dimensions of a truly complex and intriguing character.

100 Word Review – Red Army (2014)

November 11, 2015November 10, 2015Posted in 100 Words...Tagged 1970s, 1980s, BFF2015, documentary, Gabe Polsky, hockey, politics, Russian, sports, USSRLeave a comment

The power of sports in politics.

This brilliantly constructed documentary tells the story of the Red Army hockey team which was the pride of the Soviet Union. Told through the eyes of the players it offers unparalleled insight into the role the team played in the Russian propaganda machine.

Directed by Gabe Polsky, it has already picked up awards at AFI Fest, Chicago and Zurich. It is full of archive footage as well as interviews with the people involved. It’s a truly compelling piece of history, complete with spies and scandals, that will keep even the least sports-orientated viewer captivated.

100 Word Review – Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)

May 16, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., F-Rated, Sci FiTagged Action, animation, Anime, eco-friendly, eco-warrior, Hayao Miyazaki, IMDb, Japanese, Nausicaa, pokemon, politics, Sci Fi, Studio GhibliLeave a comment

From the makers of Howl’s Moving Castle, comes a fantastic piece of Japanese animation.

Following the eco-theme familiar to Studio Ghibli narratives, this film is about Nausicaä, a pacifist princess, who turns warrior in an attempt to save her planet.

It has Sci Fi for genre fans, including some wonderful creatures not dissimilar to Pokemon, and some epic battles and alien international politics.

As with all Miyazaki’s work, this is beautiful as well as being emotionally meaningful. It sits comfortably within the top 250 films on IMDb. Don’t let the fact you haven’t heard of it stop you from watching it.