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.