Steve Melling – Keys To The Upper Story

My short review published online in One Hundred Words magazine:- Throughout his illustrious career the remarkable British jazz pianist Steve Melling has played with some of the greats, including Stan Tracey, Elvin Jones, Phil Woods, and Alan Skidmore.   With his latest release, Keys To The Upper Story, we get the chance to enjoy the …

Neil Brand: The Silent Pianist Speaks

This is an expanded version of my short review published online in One Hundred Words magazine [no longer available]. An appreciative audience in Welwyn Garden City were treated to Neil Brand’s hugely entertaining one man show, ‘The Silent Pianist Speaks’, when he brought it to the Hawthorne Theatre, Campus West last week. With his charismatic …

The Turin Horse

An expanded version of my short review published online in One Hundred Words Magazine:- I feel very fortunate to live near such an inspirational cinema as the Arts Picturehouse in Cambridge; a venue always keen to bring the best in cinema to its appreciative audience. As a huge (though not uncritical) fan of Bela Tarr, …

…minor observations on Le Havre and things Kaurismaki

My short review of Le Havre published online in One Hundred Words magazine [no longer available]:- To step into an Aki Kaurismaki film is to enter a unique, peculiar, intriguing and quite extraordinary universe. It’s one where dialogue is sparse, acting as muted and inexpressive as possible; where the colours have a distinctly retro feel; there …

Geoff Dyer’s ‘Zona’

My short review of the book published online in One Hundred Words Magazine [no longer available]:- For anyone interested in Russian director Andrei Tarkovsky’s classic art-house film ‘Stalker’, Geoff Dyer’s fascinating book ‘Zona: A Book About a Film About a Journey to a Room’ is a must read. Dyer takes the reader through the film, …

Blue Touch Paper – Stand Well Back

My short review of this CD published online in One Hundred Words Magazine [no longer available]:- Colin Towns – composer, arranger, pianist – is back with a new band called Blue Touch Paper. Their album, Stand Well Back, explodes into life with thrilling music which is not afraid of taking exciting, unexpected directions. More familiar …

Once Upon A Time In Anatolia

My short review published online in One Hundred Words Magazine [no longer available]:- Nuri Bilge Ceylan is one of the most gifted directors in the world; Once Upon A Time In Anatolia is his latest magnificent creation. What seems a simple police procedural is in fact a fascinating, intricate character study and philosophical essay, full …

Carancho

My short review published online in One Hundred Words Magazine [no longer available]:- Carancho, the latest film from talented Argentinean director Pablo Trapero, is a bleak, severe drama which takes the audience on an unsettling but hugely rewarding cinematic journey. In a Buenos Aries rife with casual corruption and extreme violence, Sosa is one of …

The Passion of Joan of Arc

My short review published online in One Hundred Words Magazine [no longer available]:- Amongst the many gems on offer in the BFI Southbank’s complete retrospective of the films of master Danish director Carl Dreyer is this silent masterpiece. The Passion of Joan of Arc portrays the final days of the tragic and deluded heroine. It …

The Kid With A Bike

My short review published online in One Hundred Words Magazine [no longer available]:- The Kid With A Bike – a Special Jury Prize winner at the Cannes Film Festival – is an intense and moving story of a troubled boy, rejected by his father, whose life begins to change when he meets a caring stranger. …