Category Archives: Comment

MEMORY LANE: On being British

Posted on September 19, 2021 by admin

By Ray Bennett (November 1999) LONDON: We British cherish our loonies and it it’s no surprise that the House of Lords has lasted so long. Only last week, a bill was passed in the House of Lords than deprives hereditary … Continue reading →

Posted in Comment, Memory Lane | Tagged , | Comments Off on MEMORY LANE: On being British

BFI celebrates the films of Robert Altman in major season

Posted on May 3, 2021 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Robert Altman movies spanning five decades are to be screened in a major season at the British Film Institute. Running from May 17 to July 31, the programme will present 34 films in chronological order … Continue reading →

Posted in Comment, Film, News | Tagged , , | Comments Off on BFI celebrates the films of Robert Altman in major season

My wish list for the 2020 Oscars: ‘Little Women’

Posted on February 9, 2020 by admin

Best Picture My favourite film of the year is Greta Gerwig’s ‘Little Women’ with its splendid filmmaking, intelligent update of the story and wonderful performances. The film I admire most is Bong Joon-ho’s ‘Parasite’ with its biting satire, great comedy, … Continue reading →

Posted in Comment, Film | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on My wish list for the 2020 Oscars: ‘Little Women’

‘The Go-Between’ and ‘The Criminal’ restored for Blu-ray

Posted on September 12, 2019 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Blacklisted American film director Joseph Losey was a major force in British cinema in the 1960s and ’70s and two of his best pictures – ‘The Go-Between’ and ‘The Criminal’ – will be released on … Continue reading →

Posted in Comment, Film, News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on ‘The Go-Between’ and ‘The Criminal’ restored for Blu-ray

Film Review Brief: Trevor Nunn’s ‘Red Joan’

Posted on April 19, 2019 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Trevor Nunn’s slightly old-fashioned espionage drama ‘Red Joan’, which opens in the United Kingdom today, won’t set any box-office records but it is an absorbing drama. Sophie Cookson (pictured above with Stephen Campbell Moore) is … Continue reading →

Posted in Comment, Film | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Film Review Brief: Trevor Nunn’s ‘Red Joan’

On Stanley Kubrick’s ‘A Clockwork Orange’

Posted on April 5, 2019 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Stanley Kubrick’s controversial ‘A Clockwork Orange’ starring Malcolm McDowell is re-released in the United Kingdom today. As always with Kubrick, it is a striking combination of visual power, evocative music and powerful drama. Now controversial … Continue reading →

Posted in Comment, Film | Tagged , , | Comments Off on On Stanley Kubrick’s ‘A Clockwork Orange’

‘The Favourite’ set to clean up at the Bafta film awards

Posted on January 9, 2019 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – This year’s Bafta Film Awards nominations are predictably conventional but it hardly matters as the immensely popular ‘The Favourite’ (pictured) is a shoo-in for many of its 12 nominations including the actress prizes, Brits Christian … Continue reading →

Posted in Comment, Film, News | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on ‘The Favourite’ set to clean up at the Bafta film awards

A critic’s lament: Do you see what I see?

Posted on January 2, 2019 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Do you see what I see? Do you hear what I hear? Those imponderables challenge a critic with every review. For me, Alfonso Cuaron’s ‘Roma’ is the best film of 2018 but a friend has a … Continue reading →

Posted in Comment, Film | Tagged , | Comments Off on A critic’s lament: Do you see what I see?

‘Roma’, ‘Cold War’ lead my Top 10 film picks of 2018

Posted on January 1, 2019 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – One of the great advantages of being a member of the Critics’ Circle and BAFTA is that distributors send out dozens of screeners of films for which they seek consideration in the annual awards. It means … Continue reading →

Posted in Comment, Film, TIFF Toronto International Film Festival | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on ‘Roma’, ‘Cold War’ lead my Top 10 film picks of 2018

Make stars accept awards for action-film crafts winners

Posted on August 11, 2018 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – The American Motion Picture Academy has made a foolish error by introducing a condescending award for popular films. The thinking appears to be that fans of blockbuster action, super-hero and animated films will flock to … Continue reading →

Posted in Comment, Film | Tagged , | Comments Off on Make stars accept awards for action-film crafts winners