Film critic Calum Cooper reviews Georgia Oakley’s directorial debut “Blue Jean”, a triumphant Indie film that is quietly scathing of prejudice, and proudly celebrant of the LGBTQ+ community. Continue reading Blue Jean (2022) – Review
In this special feature for In Their Own League, various writers from the league come together to share their thoughts on Sarah Polley’s “Women Talking”, in celebration of the film’s themes and structure. Continue reading Women Talking (2022) – A Roundtable of Reviews
Film critic Calum Cooper reviews one of the highlights of this year’s London Film Festival, Martin McDonagh’s newest film “The Banshees of Inisherin” Continue reading LFF2022 Review: The Banshees of Inisherin
Film Critic Calum Cooper reviews one of the many offerings from this year’s London Film Festival; a documentary that uncovers the cultural richness of Haiti. Continue reading LFF2022 Review: Kanaval: A People’s History of Haiti in Six Chapters
Year: 2021 Runtime: 99 minutes Director: Ari Folman Writer: Ari Folman Starring: Ruby Stokes, Emily Carey By Calum Cooper Anne Frank is a girl whose story everyone has heard; a Jewish teenager whose life was taken far too soon by the evils of the Holocaust. Yet her diary, published by her father, has ensured that her creative talent and emotional insights have lived on for … Continue reading GFF2022 Review: Where is Anne Frank
ven attempt to predict what will happen to this beautiful country and it’s brave citizens. Instead, I want to focus on a celebration of Ukrainian cinema and the country’s very talented and intelligent filmmakers as well as celebrating Ukrainian stories and the country’s people. Continue reading Ukraine: More Than Just A News Headline
Year: 2020 Runtime: 81 Minutes Director: Barry Avrich By Joan Amenn As a jazz lover, I had an Oscar Peterson shaped hole in my heart I never knew of. Thankfully, director Barry Avrich has contributed to my complete recovery with this beautiful “docu-concert” about the legendary pianist. Along with the commentary of friends, family and fellow musicians, we get to hear the astonishingly complex sound … Continue reading Black History Month Review: Oscar Peterson: Black + White
By Joan Amenn Few actresses are indelibly linked to the genre of film noir as Lauren Bacall. Thanks in no small part to her falling in love with her co-star Humphrey Bogart while making her film debut in “To Have and Have Not” (1944) Bacall became the female counterpart to his noir “tough guy” image. Their chemistry was so electric they were teamed up two … Continue reading The Big Sleep and the Femme Noir: #Noirvember Retrospective
With it’s strong message of female empowerment and the power of seduction and exploitation, it’s hard to imagine that a film like “Baby Face” was actually released in 1933. This was long before Cardi B exploded on to the scene with her 2020 post me-too feminist anthem “WAP” , the song includes lyrics that state the following: “I don’t cook, I don’t clean. But let me tell you how I got this ring” and “Pay my tuition just to kiss me”. One can only imagine Lily Powers grinning to herself hearing this.) It’s interesting to deconstruct and analyse “Baby Face” in this day and age, when feminine sexuality is so mainstream. You only have to look at the rise in popularity of cam girls and OnlyFans to see how women have gone from being slaves to becoming masters. Continue reading Pre-Code April: Baby Face
For this Women’s History Month, I have decided to focus on creating some top ten lists which discuss films, biopics and documentaries about women in history that will hopefully inspire and inform readers about the accomplishments of women throughout history. For this piece I am focusing on ten women who deserve their own biopics and will be discussing who I think should star in the film, who could possibly direct the film and why their stories deserve to be seen on the big screen. Continue reading Women’s History Month- 10 Inspiring Women Who Deserve Their Own Biopic
In Their Own League 