Category Archives: Film

TIFF FILM REVIEW: Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Prisoners’

Posted on September 10, 2013 by admin

By Ray Bennett TORONTO – The positive reviews of Canadian director Denis Villeneuve’s second film, a police procedural titled “Prisoners”, are a puzzle since “Criminal Minds” has done this stuff better week in and week out on TV for a … Continue reading →

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TIFF FILM REVIEW: Jude Law in ‘Dom Hemingway’

Posted on September 9, 2013 by admin

By Ray Bennett TORONTO: Petite and cultured Jude Law in his new film “Dom Hemingway” aspires to become a tough-guy London gangster type and fails risibly. He’s bulked up and balding but he’s more Phil Collins than Jason Statham in … Continue reading →

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TIFF FILM REVIEW: ‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’

Posted on September 9, 2013 by admin

By Ray Bennett TORONTO – “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” is altogether earnest and honourable with fine performances by Idris Elba and Naomie Harris but its natural home appears to be television rather than the movies. Director Justin Chadwick is … Continue reading →

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TIFF PREVIEW: Awards season kicks off

Posted on September 3, 2013 by admin

By Ray Bennett The Toronto International Film Festival, which kicks off on Sept. 5, has a long record of spotting films destined for prizes and commercial success. This year will be no different. Veteran Time Magazine film critic Richard Corliss … Continue reading →

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FILM REVIEW: Woody Allen’s ‘Blue Jasmine’

Posted on September 2, 2013 by admin

By Ray Bennett TORONTO: Woody Allen’s “Blue Jasmine” is the work of a seasoned filmmaker in full command of his considerable gifts as he tells of two sisters who each in their way rely on the kindness of strangers. Cate … Continue reading →

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FILM PREVIEW: ‘Rush’ – the hunt for F1 glory

Posted on August 25, 2013 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Although car chases are the backbone of most action adventure movies, few Hollywood directors have braved the circuits of real racing but now Ron Howard steps up with “Rush”. Due in the UK from StudioCanal … Continue reading →

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World Soundtrack Awards noms, Desplat set for concert

Posted on August 16, 2013 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Concerts at the World Soundtrack Awards are among the best film music events in the business – Hans Zimmer’s performance of his “Inception” score a couple of years ago (pictured) was one of the best. … Continue reading →

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Raymond’s Revue Bar and the music of Henry Mancini

Posted on April 28, 2013 by admin

By Ray Bennett For all I know, the late London land baron Paul Raymond might have been the “porn king” of Soho but what I recall is that he published innocuous nudie magazines and ran a strip club called Raymond’s … Continue reading →

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My picks for the 2013 Academy Awards

Posted on February 24, 2013 by admin

By Ray Bennett Anticipation of this year’s Academy Awards was a pleasure with many great films and terrific performances but then came the nominations for the prizes that lead up to the Oscars and it all went pear-shaped. Inexplicable awards … Continue reading →

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FILM REVIEW: Kathryn Bigelow’s ‘Zero Dark Thirty’

Posted on January 25, 2013 by admin

By Ray Bennett Kathryn Bigelow’s taut and exciting “Zero Dark Thirty” tells how a single-minded CIA officer drove the decade-long hunt for Osama Bin Laden and does not stop for politics or personal lives. Unlike Ben Affleck’s CIA film “Argo”, … Continue reading →

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