Review: A Good Woman Is Hard To Find

Over the years, genre cinema has had a lot of examples of crime dramas from the female perspective. We have had stellar examples further in the past like Kathryn Bigelow’s sharp “Blue Steel” (1990) and F. Gary Gray’s “Set It Off” (1996) and just recently, we had Lorene Scarafia’s vibrant “Hustlers” (2019) and Andrea Berloff’s problematic “The Kitchen” (2019). On the more ambitious side, we have had crime films that meld with other genres like Park Chan-wook’s artistic “Sympathy for Lady Vengeance” (2005), Carol Morley’s “Out of Blue” (2018) and Harmony Korine’s “Spring Breakers” (2012).

In the case of Abner Pastoll’s “A Good Woman Is Hard To Find” (2019), we have that perspective alongside other promising notions that make the film look great on paper. Firstly, it is a British film; and British cinema is well-known for their intensity within crime stories like James Watkins’ “Eden Lake” (2008) and Daniel Barber’s “Harry Brown” (2009). Continue reading Review: A Good Woman Is Hard To Find

ITOL Top 50 Films of the Decade, Entry 37: Blinded By The Light

The screening I attended showed the making of this film and the journey of the director (Gurinder Chadha) and the man whose life influenced this film (Sarfraz Manzoor). I was moved and utterly sucked in just watching the preview! I enjoyed the making of this film; from the director reading Sarfraz’s memoir and instantly wanting to make the film to both of them anxiously waiting to hear back from Springsteen after sending him the screenplay.

Based on the memoir of Sarfraz Manzoor, the majority of the topics are universal, making them easier to relate. Chadha manages to capture the difficulties individuals endure on a day to day basis all while successfully allowing the music to aid in the narration. Although the story takes place on a different continent to the one I live, it resonated with me. Political issues, social tensions, identity issues, family dynamics, friendships, and many more topics are situations we’re are currently experiencing. Continue reading ITOL Top 50 Films of the Decade, Entry 37: Blinded By The Light