Left Field Cinema

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.