Shock Corridor

Last weekend I watched films…I’ll give you a couple of minutes to compose yourself. Ok? Ok. I did this at – well I did it at home as usual but I also toddled along with the lovely Hannah to the rather fine GFT . It was here that I was treated to a brace of non-fiction cinematic offerings: a preview of Project NIM , the new film from James Marsh ( Man on Wire (2008) and Wisconsin Death Trip (1999)) and Cave of Forgotten Dreams by Werner Herzog (a chap I personally admire) in 3D because you just need all the D’s you can get. In short, this was thoroughly pleasant way to spend a Sunday and if you'll allow me to indulge myself I'll let you into why I think...y'know...why. In Project NIM James Marsh has sewn together newly shot interviews with stock footage from the 1970s and created a piece of film that is thoughtful, funny and highly emotional – it is impossible not to love the star, he’s like people! They call him Nim Chimpsky! And this is perhaps (part of)...

Lessons learned from watching films… 1.     If you don’t want to look foolish ensure you buy a French loaf and a green leafy vegetable of some sort anytime you have to carry a brown paper grocery bag 2.     Small children properly trained in a martial art can floor any adult regardless of comparative size and/or strength 3.     If involved a war for pities sake do not show anyone a picture of your ‘sweetheart’ 4.     Bars in the old west never give change, so please make sure you have the exact amount 5.     Nighttime is blue 6.     If a monster/serial killer is floored it will remain motionless for many minutes, please do not return to a floored evil 7.     Attractive women should always wear gloves, knee and elbow pads, as they will invariably fall over when chased (particularly if they are otherwise scantly clad) 8.     It is just polite if you are par...

The continuing comparison of The Day the Earth Stood Still (Robert Wise, 1951) and…ehh…well – The Day the Earth Stood Still but the one by Scott Derrickson in 2008 In last the post I blabbered on about my thoughts on the original films New Testament references and the remake’s tendency towards the Old Testament. What I would like to try and do now is argue that because of this the original movie was perhaps subversive where as the new one just plain isn’t. 1951 or 2008? Have a guess, go on! In 1951 America found itself entrenched in a Cold War, and the politics of the time awash with anti-communist sentiment. This was driven in the main by Senator Joseph McCarthy and backed by the House of un-American Activities commission. 1947 they successfully blacklisted the ‘Hollywood 10’; screenwriters, directors and producers believed to be communist and therefore a threat to the American way of life. The suspicion of communism was widespread in...