Left Field Cinema

Pen-Ek Ratanaruang may have employed parts of his team from Hong Kong and Japan, but this is most assuredly a Thai film in every way that counts.

In many ways Bob Rafelson's 1970 feature film represents the start of the second golden age of American cinema, coming at the very start of the decade famous for it's subversive and intellectual stature movie making, this represents one of the first American films made with a deliberately European flavour. A film which mirrors the works of Ingmar Bergman in particular.

The Kieslowski series continues, this time examining his 1991 masterpiece and arguably greatest feature film, a study of the invisible connections between human beings.

Carl Franklin's 1995 Neo Noir doesn't garner the same level of plaudits as the likes of China Town or L.A. Confidential, but it is an overlooked gem worthy of your attention.

The last of my five favourite directors, starting this series with his four hour in length 1975 Brechtian masterpiece The Travelling Players.

Al Pacino is probably best known for his film acting in 1970's classics like The Godfather and Dog Day Afternoon. What might surprise you is that he also directs and what might surprise you more is the sort of film he likes to direct.

For the 100th episode of Left Field Cinema, a special extended examination of Andrei Tarkovsky's greatest masterwork, the 1975 feature film, Mirror. A miracle of a film by the fact of its very existence, a film which may well change the way you perceive the physical boundaries of cinema, a paradoxically personal yet universal film that will haunt you for years to come. Mirror is here examined in relation to my own memories of the film and my memories of cinema in general.

Joss Whedon's film adaptation of the flop TV series Firefly had to both inform new viewers of its complex context whilst avoiding potential alienation of the die-hard fans. This edition examines the perfectly balanced pre-title sequence of the film moment by moment.

John Cassavetes' crime thriller is one of the forgotten classics of 1970's American cinema. A brilliant central performance from Ben Gazzara and a intense naturalistic presentation of events make this an unmissable masterpiece.

Shinji Aoyama's visually stunning three and a half hour meditation on the nature of trauma. One the finest Japanese films of the decade.

Peter Brook's 1971 screen adaptation of William Shakespeare's famous tragedy. This relentlessly brutal film is an almost perfect merging of Shakespeare and Ingmar Bergman.

The second installment of the Left Field Cinema series examining the films of America's greatest living film maker, this time his Richard Gere staring sophomore subversion of the Western genre.

Mike Figgis' 1990 cop thriller maybe the most highly sexualised film of its genre, this edition tackles the many facets of sexual conduct, insecurities and associative connections explored within the film.

The Brothers Dardenne's realistic and bleak story of a young man who sells his own child is a masterpiece of European cinema and the finest example of their work to date.

Stacy Titles' 1995 black comedy is a rare gem of a film which satirises political ideology rather than politics in general. Featuring great gags and a thought provoking central premise.

Rainer Werner Fassbinder was one of the German "Mad House" directors of the 1970's. Whilst there are dozens of his films to be seen - this remains his most accessible and poignant work.

The second part of Left Field Cinema's David Lynch double bill, this week examining one of his most critically hated films. Often regarded as an incoherent mess, there is actually an underlining simplicity to Dune which most critics in 1983 seemed oblivious to.

The first of a David Lynch double bill, this episode centering on his 1980's masterpiece and arguably his greatest film. Twisted homages and ironical referencing to the past works of the Hollywood mainstream, with a dark and mysterious but ultimately coherent story line.

Tomas Alfredson's highly successful Swedish vampire tale is one of the very best films of 2009 so far - this episode attempts to decipher why.

James Cameron's high profile sequel to Alien is more complex than it's predecessor and as such is open to interpretive possibilities including the view that the film is actually a Vietnam War metaphor.

Masahiro Shinoda should be as highly regarded as the 1950's Japanese greats if this 1971 masterpiece is anything to go by. Soon to be remade my Martin Scorsese, this exploration of religious devotion under the most unbearable circumstances makes for compelling if disturbing viewing.

Comparing and contrasting the differing approaches to a shared subject matter as found in the films of Michael Winterbottom and Anton Corbijn which surround Joy Division and Factory Records.

Miklos Jancso's 1966 excellent film about Hungarian prisoners unwittingly engaged in a deadly game of chess with their captors. A forgotten gem which has now resurfaced and has prompted a new evaluation of the directors works.

Paul Greengrass and Oliver Stone directed two of the first 9/11 feature films. This week we take an extended look at the fundamental differences between their cinematic approaches and the drastic difference in quality which resulted.

The first adaptation of Stanislaw Lem's novel, produced in 1972, it was Tarkovsky's third feature film and his first attempt at directing an anti-science fiction film.

Surprisingly the first and latest Star Trek feature films have a lot in common. From Robert Wise's slow and thoughtful odyssey to J.J Abrams sexed up high octane action bonanza.

The final film in the epic gangster saga explores the missing chapter in the tragedy of Michael Corleone. Left Field Cinema examines this most wrongfully chastised of films, its numerous flaws are weighed up against its numerous strengths.

Part two of two tackling a mini-series of ten one-hour films each examining one of the ten commandments, this edition of Left Field Cinema looks at the second five episodes, and tries to clarify what makes the second half of this ten hour masterpiece so compelling.

Examining one of David Fincher's most under rated films. Is this chamber piece thriller actually a black comedy in disguise? This episode also features an extended look back at Fincher's career thus far.

An examination of Veiko Ounpuu's feature film debut and the first Estonian cinematic masterpiece. You can read an exclusive interview with Ounpuu on leftfieldcinema.com/articles. If you wish to purchase a copy of Autumn Ball (Sugisball) it is available from CD Market at http://www.cdmarketengland.co.uk/en/shop/dvdvideo/detail/867639/Movie-S__gisball

Three reviews of three films from three writers. This is the second edition of the Left Field Cinema listener review series where you get to write the episode. Also details of the new feature film funding scheme are explained this week.

The magnificent BBC adaptations of John le Carre's Cold War novels, released in 1979 and 1982. The greatest television productions to ever come out of the UK. Their existence provides a shameful contrast with the hollow and sensational nonsense produced today.

Part three of The Faith Trilogy, Bergman's theologically centered films which question the existence of a silent God in a post World War II Europe.

Part two of The Faith Trilogy, Bergman's theologically centered films which question the existence of a silent God in a post World War II Europe.

Part one of The Faith Trilogy, Bergman's theologically centered films which question the existence of a silent God in a post World War II Europe.

An extended examination of Bela Tarr's modern masterpiece about the boundaries between civility and barbarism. Also featuring a look back at the first eight feature films of Tarr's career.

Michael Cimino's critical and commercial disaster from 1980. The biggest movie flop of all time, in the form of an epic Western staring Kris Kristofferson, Isabelle Huppert and Christopher Walken.

A shot by shot, moment by moment analysis of the first five minutes of John McTiernan's 1988 action movie classic Die Hard. What do these moments establish for the remainder of the film?

An examination of Abel Ferrara's bleak, metaphysical vampire film - a great example of 1990's American Independent cinema. Also featuring a look back on Ferrara's roller-coaster career.

Jim Sheridan's biopic following the life of Irish painter and poet Christy Brown and his search for romantic love. Featuring a power-house performance from Daniel Day-Lewis which would establish him as one the worlds greatest performers.

Takeshi Kitano's 2002 meditation on unconditional devotion - boasting a multi-stranded narrative, slow pace, and the absence of Kitano as performer. This is one of Kitano's finest films and a clear member of the Japanese Avant Garde.

Genre is examined in relation to this cult classic from 1980, John Landis' critically disastrous but culturally successful screw-ball comedy is tonally erratic which is both its greatest strength and its greatest weakness.

Aku Louhimies excellent hidden masterpiece, this Finnish film is based on Leo Tolstoy's short story The Forged Coupon.

The first in the Left Field Cinema Documentary Milestone series. Up for examination is Errol Morris' extended interview with the former U.S. Secretary of Defense, Robert Strange McNamara.

An examination of Michael Haneke's trilogy from the late 1980's and early 1990's. Three films which tackle social ills within modern Europe, The Seventh Continent (1989), Benny's Video (1992) and 71 Fragments of the Chronology of Chance (1994).

An examination of this 1940's hidden British classic from legendary writer Noel Coward. This episode starts with a look back at the career of the films director David Lean.

Michael Mann's 2006 film adaptation of his 1980's TV show is a victim of its own marketing and the expectation built-up by the reputation of its origins, making it a piece of misunderstood modern cinema.

Find out which films make numbers 5-1 in the concluding part of the Left Field Cinema top ten films of 2008.

Find out which films make numbers 10-6 of the Left Field Cinema top ten films of 2008. Part two to follow in the next episode.

A special episode this week examining the weakest film of 2008. Asking the question is the worst film of the year also the most unwatchable or the least entertaining?

Part 02 of Left Field Cinema's preview for next year, this week six new films are reviewed. Something for everyone, horror, drama, thriller, comedy, all coming in the next twelve months.

Part 01 of Left Field Cinema's preview for next year, this week six new films are reviewed. Something for everyone, horror, drama, thriller, comedy, all coming in the next twelve months.

To celebrate the first birthday of Left Field Cinema, we have the first edition of the Listener Reviews. Three reviews of three different films from three different listeners.

Continuing the exploration of the works of Andrei Tarkovsky, this episode examines his second feature film as director, the frustrating but impressive historical epic about Russia's greatest iconographer.

One of the many Asian films to be remade by Hollywood, this week the examination exposes the expansions and the retractions which are involved in taking Infernal Affairs out of Hong Kong and moving it to Boston as The Departed.

Victor Sjostrom's silent 1921 film was described by Ingmar Bergman as "the film of all films". This week Left Field Cinema examines the "film of all films" and asks if it deserves such a revered status.

Part six of the misunderstood modern cinema series. This week examining Christopher McQuarrie's 2000 directorial debut, under rated on release by critics and unfairly compared to Quentin Tarantino's films and The Usual Suspects.

An examination of all six of the pop culture king's directorial efforts, Reservoir Dogs (1992), Pulp Fiction (1994), Jackie Brown (1997), Kill Bill Vol.1 (2003) Kill Bill Vol.2 (2004) and Death Proof (2007).

The first in a series of episodes examining all of Terrence Malick's films, starting here with his 1973 debut which features Martin Sheen in a career best performance as Kit, the cold blooded killer.

One of sixty six filmed versions of the Bard's greatest tragic play, this is the first sound version produced in 1948 and as such it has remained definitive, winning major awards for its director and star Laurence Olivier. It is arguably the best British film of the 1940's.

The first in the new Overlooked Gems series examining excellent films which although praised on release have fallen into obscurity in the years since. First up for examination is Hector Babenco's 1985 feature film which went on to win William Hurt numerous awards for his portrayal of Luis Molina.

Part five of five in a series asking whether horror movies are the modern day equivalent of the classical morality tales from the years before cinema. This week draws conclusions from the content discussed in the previous episodes and through comparisons with the Science Fiction genre.

Bela Tarr's seven and a half hour feature film. A beautiful, difficult, infuriating, disturbing exploration of the death of communism through the microcosm of a small Hungarian village.

South Korea maybe the current leader in unorthodox contemporary cinema, and Joon-ho Bong is one director helping his nations success in this sense. This week Left Field Cinema examines his sophomore film which forges its own unique genre - a serial killer comedy.

This weeks episode examines Francis Ford Coppola's under appreciated masterpiece, the film which gave Gene Hackman a career defining turn as the surveillance expert Harry Caul. We also take an extended look back at the long and varied career of Coppola.

Part four of a five part series asking whether horror movies are the modern day equivalent of the classical morality tales from the years before cinema. This weeks episode examines the question in relation to the 1970's and 80's slasher movies Halloween and Friday the 13th with special attention paid to the numerous and frequent sequels which were spawned from these most formulaic of horror movies. Part four will follow in a few weeks time.

Part five of the misunderstood modern cinema series. This week examining the 2003 sequel to the 1999 smash hit The Matrix. In order to appreciate this film you must be aware of it's context and at the same time, paradoxically, dismiss the other films in the series.

Part one of two tackling a mini-series of ten one-hour films each examining one of the ten commandments, this edition of Left Field Cinema looks at the first five episodes, and tries to clarify what makes first half of this ten hour masterpiece so compelling.

A special extended episode this week examining all five seasons of David Simon and Ed Burn's excellent Baltimore set series The Wire. For the uninitiated; this is an examination of the series as a whole, and does not reveal major plot points.

Part three of a five part series asking whether horror movies are the modern day equivalent of the classical morality tales from the years before cinema. This weeks episode examines the question in relation to Jonathan Demme's 1991 award winning horror The Silence of the Lambs and David Fincher's dark and moody 1995 sophomore feature Se7en. Part four will follow in a few weeks time.

Comparing two notable science fiction films, Ridley Scott's terrifying classic Alien (1979), and Danny Boyle's highly derivative but utterly engaging Sunshine (2007). Exploring the differences, the similarities, the sub genre as a whole and both films place within it.

Left Field Cinema examines Julio Medem's 1998 feature film Lovers of the Arctic Circle, with special attention also paid to his inferior 2001 follow-up Sex and Lucia.

This week Left Field Cinema continues a series of episodes examining the greatest work of Ingmar Bergman. Looking back at his unrelentingly bleak 1968 war film Shame.

Part two of a five part series asking whether horror movies are the modern day equivalent of the classical morality tales from the years before cinema. This weeks episode examines the question in relation to William Friedkin's 1973 horror classic. Part three will follow in a few weeks time.

Celebrating the David Lean centenary, this episode of Left Field Cinema reviews a hidden classic from earlier in his career. The thematic sister film to Brief Encounter, featuring outstanding performances from Claude Rains and Trevor Howard. 

This weeks episode compares Michael Haneke's breakthrough feature Funny Games with its now notorious shot for shot english language remake Funny Games U.S.

Part four of the misunderstood modern cinema series.  This week an examination of Stanley Kubrick's final film. Often unfairly dismissed as his worst, this episode will argue that it is an excellent contortion of male fantasies and narrowly survives being crippled by its own notoriety and celebrity.

Part one of a five part series asking whether horror movies are the modern day equivalent of the classical morality tales from the years before cinema. This weeks episode examines the question in a general sense, introducing the concept which will be explored more thoroughly in the subsequent parts. Part two will follow in a few weeks time.

This weeks show examines two Kar Wai Wong masterpieces, and takes a look back at the films and themes of his career.

An analysis of the new Matt Reeves film Cloverfield. Is it a 9/11 analogy or simply a monster movie informed by the current political climate?

The first episode in a series which will examine all the fiction films of Krzysztof Kieslowski, another of Left Field Cinema's top five directors. This week is an examination of his third feature film.

This weeks episode examines Christopher Nolan's 2000 film Memento with special attention to reception theory.

The first in the British masterpiece series, this week examining the Mike Hodges version of Get Carter.

The first of the Asian Avant-Garde series; this week examining Takeshi Kitano's samurai oddity, Zatoichi. Also including a look back at the career of the director.

An examination of Robert Rodriguez's segment of the ill fated Grindhouse in relation to other exploitive horror of the 70's and 80's.

Another Hidden Classic, this week examining Carol Reed's excellent Northern Ireland set thriller Odd Man Out.

Part three of Misunderstood Modern Cinema, this week examining the most underrated of the Star Trek films.

The first in a series of episodes which will examine all seven Tarkovsky feature films, beginning here with his debut - the Russian war film Ivan's Childhood.

The first in the comparative examination series, this weeks episode take a look at the similarities and differences of two 1950's Japanese classics.

The first in the American Masterpiece series, this week examining Stephen Daldry's 2002 film The Hours.

A general analysis of Orson Welles' American classic with special regard to its critical position.

An examination of Werner Herzog's 1974 obscurity and a look back at the career of the director.

The latest edition of the Left Field Cinema Analysis series.

First of a new series of episodes examining the work of Swedish film making legend Ingmar Bergman.

A look back at the career of Sidney Lumet and a review of his latest film.

A look back at the career of Susanne Bier and her new film at the cinema this week.

Part two of the misunderstood modern cinema series, this week examining the Bond franchise.

The first episode in the Left Field Cinema Contemporary Obscurity series. This week is a review of the Polish film Interrogation.

A look back on the work of the Coen Brothers and a review of their latest feature film.

This week is an examination of Jean Vigo's influential film L'Atalante - a true masterpiece of world cinema.

The first in the Left Field Cinema Analysis series.

Find out which films make numbers 5-1 as the best films of the year for Left Field Cinema.

Find out which films make numbers 10-6 as the best films of the year for Left Field Cinema.

First in the Hidden Classics series, examining the 1920's Danish documentary.

New film review. This week Brad Pitt's latest offering at the cinema.

Welcome to the very first episode of Left Field Cinema. The first movie up for analysis is Alien 3.