Category Archives: Film

FILM REVIEW: Michael Keaton in ‘Birdman’

Posted on December 26, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett Alejandro González Iñárritu’s “Birdman (or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” is a scintillating evocation of artistic crisis. It’s a surrealistic black comedy about the creative fears of a movie star whose career in comic-book blockbusters has long … Continue reading →

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Upcoming movies: The winners

Posted on December 22, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett A snapshot preview of some of the movies to be released over the holiday period and into the New Year. These are the ones that work.

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Upcoming movies: The losers

Posted on December 18, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett A snapshot preview of some of the movies to be released over the holiday period and into the New Year. These are the ones that don’t work.

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How I helped keep Bill Murray subversive

Posted on December 5, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett I had a bone to pick with Bill Murray. It was 1990, and all the rebellious early comedians on “Saturday Night Live” appeared to have lost their way. From radical satire they’d moved to mainstream comedy and … Continue reading →

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When Ricardo Montalbán killed off Frito Bandito

Posted on December 4, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett Chris Rock’s question “Is Hollywood Mexican enough?” in his essay about race in the current edition of The Hollywood Reporter reminded me of what the late Ricardo Montalbán told me a long time ago about the image … Continue reading →

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FILM REVIEW: ‘American Sniper’ and ‘Unbroken’

Posted on December 3, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett Upcoming Hollywood war films “American Sniper” and “Unbroken” are long and grim with a great deal of violence and suffering and they just seem … empty. Directed by Clint Eastwood, “American Sniper” tells of Chris Kyle (Bradley … Continue reading →

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FILM REVIEW: Tommy Lee Jones’s ‘The Homesman’

Posted on November 21, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett Tommy Lee Jones told me at a recent Bafta screening that he would not want to make a movie without composer Marco Beltrami and when you see his new film “The Homesman”, you can see why.

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Rock Hudson and the Hollywood AIDS scare

Posted on November 17, 2014 by admin

Rock Hudson, who would have been 90 years-old today, had a more significant impact on Hollywood when he died than in a long acting career that included “Giant” (pictured), 1960s comedies with Doris Day and TV series “McMillan & Wife”. … Continue reading →

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FILM REVIEW: Christopher Nolan’s ‘Interstellar’

Posted on November 6, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett Christopher Nolan’s entertaining sci-fi epic “Interstellar” is a swashbuckling adventure set in the far reaches of space with a mix of scientific fact and flimflam, and lots of black holes, wormholes and plot holes.

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Orchestra rules at World Soundtrack Awards

Posted on October 27, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett GHENT, BELGIUM – One of the great things about the World Soundtrack Awards is the Ghent Film Festival’s commitment to orchestral music and this year was no different as the annual event showcased the work of Cliff … Continue reading →

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