The phenomenon of "true crime" as entertainment is disturbing. What we are saying when we subscribe to watch these compellingly morbid shows is that, of course, we don't "enjoy" or condone the crimes themselves. But, we do increasingly expect that without the grotesque detail of primary crime scene evidence, documented visually, we can switch over … Continue reading True Crime Trio.
As Ricky Gervais cheekily crow-barred in to his opening speech at the 2020 Golden Globes a few weeks ago, it is possible to watch all of After Life series one in less time than it takes to watch The Irishman. And that is exactly what I did; binged the whole thing on autoplay until it … Continue reading After Life
January can be a hard month. Brexit is coming, the Bills are piling high, it's freezing cold, dark, and everything feels uphill. There is only one solution: Go to your happy place! As always, this list is a starting point in the conversation, not a definitive rundown. Please feel free to comment and suggest something … Continue reading 12 of the best… Feel Good Movies.
Billie Eilish wins 5 Grammys Congratulations to The Wasteland's favourite new artist for sweeping 5 awards at yesterday's Grammy's. I hate to say I told you so, but I kinda did, a long way out. It just makes sense to me, that if you have a musical ear, this is the best pop music that … Continue reading Such a Bad Guy!
Those of a certain age, like myself, will realise wistfully in 2020 that the music we loved the most is now half a lifetime away, and an entire generation behind us. This list celebrates the CDs we cherished and played till they broke, long before MP3 and Spotify was even a thing. Back then, you … Continue reading 12 of the Best… 90’s Albums
Pretentious. Is a word that sends shivers down my spine much more than any pseudo horror movie. It conveys the idea that the creator of a work is out of control, resorting to shock value over intelligent content. If the creator meant it all, then it is not pretentious, only dangerous. Aronofsky is a difficult … Continue reading Mother!
Sweeping up a few older films that I wanted to see but missed at the cinema in the last few years. My current IMDb watch list sits at 488, and, unlike this movie, never seems to shrink! There is a lot to keep up with. Bad reviews have kept me away from Alexander Payne's Downsizing … Continue reading Downsizing
Over a year on from this novelty being the first fully interactive film released by Netflix there is still no evidence of a similarly user controlled show out there. The streaming service had promised, after scooping a primetime Emmy for outstanding TV movie, that it was commissioning many more like it. But as of January … Continue reading Black Mirror: Bandersnatch
I love a list. I know it's wrong. Art should not be compared. Each thing exists on its own merits, right? Well, it is a guilty pleasure of mine to try and sort something into a "best ever" and score it anyway, I can't help myself! So, let's do it for Gangster Movies! Inspired by … Continue reading 12 of the best… Gangster Movies
If anyone tells me they didn't enjoy The Irishman, I would have to say, fair enough. There are reasons not to. As an entertainment it isn't Goodfellas, as a thriller it isn't The Departed, and as a classic gangster tale it isn't anywhere near The Godfather, of course. It sags in the middle, ends morbidly, … Continue reading The Irishman
The Wasteland 