Posts by Susannah
The Scarlet Blade (1963)
The Scarlet Blade Writer/Director: John Gilling A zombie-like performance from Jack Hedley is the only hint that The Scarlet Blade originates from the legendary Hammer Film Productions. Released on DVD for the first time, this English Civil War adventure is … [Read the Rest]
Sam Ashby: Graphic Designer, Magazine Publisher and Movie Fan
Filmgoers may not know the name of London-based designer Sam Ashby, but they’ve probably seen his work. He created the posters for acclaimed independent releases like Archipelago, A Prophet and Weekend, British director Andrew Haigh’s microbudget gay romance. … [Read the Rest]
SOS Staff Gateway Films: Susannah Straughan – ‘Sunset Blvd.’
Throughout November, SOS staffers will be discussing the movies that made them into film fanatics. (click here for the full list) Sunset Blvd. Directed by Billy Wilder Written by Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder 1950 – USA You must remember … [Read the Rest]
55th BFI London Film Festival: ‘Monk’ held together by a towering performance from Vincent Cassel
The Monk (Le Moine) Directed by Dominik Moll Written by Dominik Moll and Anne-Louise Trividic, from the novel by Matthew Lewis France, 2011 Dominik Moll’s The Monk is so redolent with Gothic gloom, overweening piety and suppressed lust that it’s … [Read the Rest]
55th BFI London Film Festival: ‘Hunky Dory’
Hunky Dory Director: Marc Evans Writer: Laurence Coriat If Marc Evans’ Hunky Dory is anything to go by, the long hot summer of 1976 was a lot more exciting in South Wales than in North London. My memories are mainly … [Read the Rest]
Nanni Moretti at the 55th BFI London Film Festival
The lady from the BBC World Service was very persistent. Nanni Moretti had just spent more than an hour talking to us about his new film, We Have a Pope/Habemus Papam, and he was late for a Gala Screening. Now … [Read the Rest]
55th BFI London Film Festival: ‘Better this World’ – How far would you go to help a friend?
Better this World Directed by Kelly Duane de la Vega and Katie Galloway If Michael Moore had made Better this World we’d probably know Sarah Palin’s recipe for mixing the perfect Molotov cocktail – Alaskan style. But this sobering documentary … [Read the Rest]
55th BFI London Film Festival: ‘The Kid with a Bike’ another brilliant example of no-frills Dardennes film-making
The Kid with a Bike / Le Gamin au Vélo Directed by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne Written by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne France/Belgium/Italy, 2011 The style of brothers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne might not sound immediately appealing to someone who … [Read the Rest]
55th BFI London Film Festival: Masterclass: Barry Ackroyd
Masterclass: Barry Ackroyd “The most peaceful place you can be on a film set is when you put your eye to the camera.” On Monday night at the BFI, British cinematographer Barry Ackroyd talked to Screen International Editor Mike Goodridge … [Read the Rest]
55th BFI London Film Festival: ’50/50′ aptly balances the tragic and the comic
50/50 Directed by Jonathan Levine Written by Will Reiser USA, 2011 Will Seth Rogen ever grow up? His contribution to Jonathan Levine’s comedy drama 50/50 is peppered with expletives and those trademark looks of disbelief at the failure of women … [Read the Rest]
55th BFI London Film Festival Opening Gala: ‘We Have a Pope’ toothlessly takes on the Vatican
We Have a Pope / Habemus Papam Directed by Nanni Moretti Written by Nanni Moretti, Francesco Piccolo and Federica Pontremoli Italy / France, 2011 We Have a Pope gets off to a colourful start, with the masses in Saint Peter’s … [Read the Rest]
55th BFI Film Festival: ‘She-Monkeys’ a budding lesbian romance that extends into psychological thriller territory
She-Monkeys Director: Lisa Aschan Writers: Lisa Aschan, Josefine Adolfsson In Spartacus, Crassus and Antoninus coyly discuss sexual preferences in terms of snails and oysters. When it comes to Sapphic teen dramas centred on the world of sport, it might simply … [Read the Rest]
55th BFI London Film Festival: ‘The Bird’ depicts life after loss with sensitivity
The Bird (L’Oiseau) Written by Yves Caumon Directed by Yves Caumon 2011, France A decade ago Sandrine Kiberlain starred in Claude Miller’s thriller Alias Betty, as the bereaved mother at the centre of a bizarre kidnap plot. Her character in … [Read the Rest]
BFI 55th London Film Festival: ‘Early One Morning’ builds slowly towards an inevitable but still shocking conclusion
Early One Morning / De Bon Matin Writer/Director: Jean-Marc Moutout 2010, France / Belgium Are work-related problems driving you over the edge? Just minutes into Jean-Marc Moutout’s Early One Morning, a middle-aged businessman starts his day by coolly gunning down … [Read the Rest]
BFI 55th London Film Festival: ‘Americano’ is a bit of an oddity
Americano Written by Mathieu Demy Directed by Mathieu Demy France, 2011 As a first-time director, the last thing you want to be is forgettable. One way to avoid that is to emulate Orson Welles by taking on the additional roles … [Read the Rest]
Susannah Straughan is a freelance copywriter, film reviewer and fan of good grammar and all things noir. The biopic of her life would (ideally) be written by Joseph L Mankiewicz, directed by Billy Wilder, photographed by Raoul Coutard and star Julianne Moore, George Clooney and Humphrey Bogart. 
