The Man with the Golden Gun: surface glamour obscuring an interesting plot and themes
Guy Hamilton, “The Man with the Golden Gun” (1974) Mainly memorable for the scene in which the stunt people managed to get a red coupe sports…
nausika
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service: a surprising sleeper film that packs a punch
Peter R Hunt, “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” (1969) Fifty years after its cinematic release, this James Bond film may look dated but its plot and…
Bad Black: car chases, kung fu, vengeance, the plight of orphans in poverty and social injustice all rolled into one film
Isaac G G Nabwana, “Bad Black” (2016) Despite the tiny budget – even less than its predecessor, “Who Killed Captain Alex?”, apparently being about US$85 –…
Elite commandos, Tiger Mafia gangsters and Ugandan Shaolin Temple monks go head to head in “Who Killed Captain Alex?”
Isaac G G Nabwana, “Who Killed Captain Alex?” (2010) Reputedly made on a budget of US$200 (though American-born Ugandan producer Alan Ssali Hofmanis admits the budget…
Attack on Nyege Nyege Island: mini action thriller short featuring killer King Kong kung-fu kicks
Isaac G G Nabwana, “Attack on Nyege Nyege Island” (2016) The tiny but already globally famous Ugandan film industry (known as Ugawood, taking after the manner…
Australian and New Zealand Films
Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears: cliched Hollywood treatment of an Australian heroine
Tony Tilse, “Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears” (2020) Filmed as an addition to the television series about the 1920s flapper / private detective Phryne…
Control: a character study on isolation, mental breakdown and psychological assault
Carroll Brown, “Control” (2019) Filmed on a tiny budget, this science fiction horror short is an intense character study detailing the effects of long isolation in…
A tale of alienation, dehumanisation and exploitation in “Upload:U”
Samuel E Mac, “Upload:U” (2017) A creepy little short made in very sparing minimalist style, “Upload:U” may be viewed as a metaphor expressing the alienation and…
The Professor and the Madman: a deeply emotional film about obsession, suffering, forgiveness and redemption
Farhad Safinia (P B Shemran), “The Professor and the Madman” (2019) Adapted from the novel “The Surgeon of Crowthorne: A Tale of Murder, Madness and the…
Awakenings: a spooky Gothic retelling of the classic Henry James story
Bhargav Saikia, “Awakenings” (2015) Inspired by and closely based on Henry James’ famous novella “The Turn of the Screw”, this short film is conventional in its…