Whiplash raises some interesting questions about why we go to the movies and what we expect from them. From even the most cursory glance at any writing by anyone who knows their jazz, it becomes obvious the film has no interest in portraying what it takes to become a great jazz musician – something neither […]
Author Archives: lisathatcher
January
06
Life Itself – A broad brushtroke over a fascinating life. (Film Review)
posted by lisathatcher
When a man who devoted such a large and important part of his life to examining our relationship to the image, it is no small thing that he allows a documentary to be made that broadly and intimately exhibits his later-in-life deformity as a result of massive thyroid surgery. In fact Life Itself remains quite […]
January
02
Films I missed in 2014: Starred Up (Film Review)
posted by lisathatcher
A film that is probably getting a little more love than it deserves, Starred Up is a 2013 made film released here in 2014 that is gaining some momentum by appearing on quite a few year-end lists. It’s popularity resides firmly in three performances; an astoundingly good Ben Mendelsohn, raw stripped back direction from David […]
January
01
2014 in Theatre. The best plays I saw last year.
posted by lisathatcher
I keep telling people we’re in an exciting time for Australian Theatre here in Sydney, and for the most part I’m met with incredulity, and a gentle smile at my enthusiasm for which everyone is generally grateful, even if a little dubious. For a theatre critic who deliberately doesn’t see everything, and preferences marginal, indie […]
January
01
2014: An interesting year in film. The best films I saw last year.
posted by lisathatcher
Well, I hate lists, because they are always about the list maker and project the kind of misplaced authority grading always implies. I spend a great deal of time trying to work out why I like or don’t like a film, examining my initial responses against my always evolving barometer for integrity, and searching for […]
January
01
The Imitation Game – How many copies do you want? (Film Review)
posted by lisathatcher
Think of all the worst clichés about mad scientists, the “driven genius” and closeted homosexual males consumed by intense frustration resulting in profound works of greatness and you have The Imitation Game, a clumsy, frustratingly banal film more interested in preserving the mythology around masculine genius (complete with tics, physical awkwardness, ugliness and a delightful […]
December
29
Great movies I (almost) missed in 2014: Under The Skin (Film review)
posted by lisathatcher
Jonathan Glazer has established himself as one of the most interesting directors working today with Under the Skin bringing his peculiar talent for the unsettling under a stark spotlight, where it existed more as background noise in his previous two features, Sexy Beast and Birth. Both Sexy Beast and Birth explore complexities in female sexuality […]
December
16
Women in Film in 2014
posted by lisathatcher
I wrote a comprehensive review of women and/in film for 2014 for The Essential. I’ll list part of it here, and you can check it out by following the links. Read the full article here. It’s been an interesting year for women in film, with no prizes for predicting huge improvements in the margins […]
December
16
‘Tis the Season – Die Hard and Lethal Weapon use Christmas to promote white values and the LAPD.
posted by lisathatcher
I wrote an article for The Essential recently on the use of two of our most beloved cop films as positive promotion of white LA cops at the height of their notoriory. Check it out here: In 1986, the LAPD purchased a fourteen-ton armored breaching vehicle the use of which was essential to smashing […]
December
11
The Legend of King O’Malley – An Australian classic given new breath by Don’t Look Away. (Theatre Review)
posted by lisathatcher
The Legend of King O’Malley Seymour Centre 26 November – 13 December You can grab your tickets here. Bob Ellis is one of Australia’s best male political writers, recent problematic books not withstanding. He’s been regaling us with tales of his position of privilege and access for decades, and I confess to many hours of great […]
Lisa Thatcher 