Articles Tagged violence

Plato’s Couch – NEAR DARK (1987)

Kathryn Bigelow’s Near Dark (1987) is the subject of the first episode of Plato’s Couch. Here I explore issues of genre, gender, violence and the film’s production history.

PODCAST: ABC 774 – 22nd May

In this week’s Friday Film segment I chat with Raf about Wild Tales, an anthology of short films from writer/director Damián Szifron, and the gender-espionage-spoof film Spy, starring Melissa McCarthy. Plus, talkback on ‘revenge cinema’ on Drive with Rafael Epstein on 774 ABC Melbourne.

PODCAST: ABC 774 – 6th February

Friday Film returned for 2015 this week with a discussion of the Clint Eastwood-directed American Sniper starring Bradley Cooper. Plus, talkback on the ‘politics of the War film’ on Drive with Rafael Epstein on 774 ABC Melbourne.

PODCAST: ABC 774 – March 28th

In this week’s Friday Film, I discuss director Gareth Evans’ The Raid 2and the Oscar-nominated documentary, Blackfish. Plus, talkback on ‘best sequels of all-time’ on Drive with Rafael Epstein on 774 ABC Melbourne.

PODCAST: Plato’s Cave – July 23rd

In this week’s edition of Plato’s Cave the crew turn a critical eye over This is the End, Nicolas Winding Refn’s Only God Forgives and the classic Kenji Misumi film Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance (DVD). With Josh Nelson, Thomas Caldwell and Tara Judah. Plato’s Cave – July 24th Episode (.MP3)

PODCAST: ABC 774 – March 22nd

On this week’s Friday Film Raf and I discuss the Academy Award-nominated War Witch (Rebelle) and the latest adaptation of Great Expectations directed by Mike Newell, plus we take talkback on ‘standout performances by child actors’ on Drive with Rafael Epstein on 774 ABC Melbourne. ABC 774 – March 22nd Episode (.MP3)

PODCAST: ABC 774 – January 25th

In this week’s Friday Film, I chat to Lindy Burns about director Quentin Tarantino and some of the controversy surrounding the release of Django Unchained on Drive with Lindy Burns on 774 ABC Melbourne. ABC 774 – January 25th Episode (.MP3)

FEATURE: The Perils of Pop Culture Politics

Hollywood cinema has long occupied a space along the fault lines of America’s political divide; producing films that occasionally challenge, but more commonly reinforce various dominant ideological beliefs. It is, after all, the town that practically invented the ‘happy ending’, an industry founded on an unwavering belief that no matter how bad things get, good […]

FEATURE: The Spectre of Violence

Violence in cinema has often provided a reliable wellspring for political controversy, religious condemnation, and served as an easy target for public outrage. While it may have passed under the radars of most politicians and moral guardians (at least for the moment ‘real’ violence seems a much more profitable cite for political gain), the release […]