I have loved the work of René Magritte ever since I first encountered it as a teenager at the start of the 1970s; indeed, one of the very first books on art that I bought, in 1974, was Suzi Gablik’…

I have loved the work of René Magritte ever since I first encountered it as a teenager at the start of the 1970s; indeed, one of the very first books on art that I bought, in 1974, was Suzi Gablik’…

Good movies about jazz or set in the jazz milieu are far from common, so if you’ve any interest in the musical form – or, needless to say, if you’re a fan of the titular pianist  – you should certa…

Good movies about jazz or set in the jazz milieu are far from common, so if you’ve any interest in the musical form – or, needless to say, if you’re a fan of the titular pianist  – you should certa…

My tardiness in posting a brief tribute to the late, great film producer Jeremy Thomas – who died last Friday, aged 77 – was due not only to the fact that, at the time of his death, I myself was ju…

Ben Delo was convicted in US for failing to implement adequate anti-money laundering controls but pardoned by Trump

If you’re tired of superhero fantasies (and yes, I do include Nolan’s The Odyssey) and often disappointed by what now seems to pass for a substantial art-movie – think Almodóvar’s elegant, intellig…

If you’re tired of superhero fantasies (and yes, I do include Nolan’s The Odyssey) and often disappointed by what now seems to pass for a substantial art-movie – think Almodóvar’s elegant, intellig…

I may not have written here before about Éric Rohmer, but anyone familiar with my writings for Time Out and Sight & Sound or my programming for the BFI will probably be aware that I’ve long hel…

I may not have written here before about Éric Rohmer, but anyone familiar with my writings for Time Out and Sight & Sound or my programming for the BFI will probably be aware that I’ve long hel…

The Beast Must Die (Chabrol, 1969): BFI Southbank, NFT2, 6.10pm This is part of the Claude Chabrol season at BFI Southbank with the film ...

There’s been a great deal of discussion about Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, so why shouldn’t I join the fray? While I like to keep an open mind before I see a movie, in this case I suspected I’d…

There’s been a great deal of discussion about Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, so why shouldn’t I join the fray? While I like to keep an open mind before I see a movie, in this case I suspected I’d…

I’ve arrived, sadly but inevitably, at that age where one keeps hearing that friends and former colleagues have passed on. Just a week or two ago, it was Tony Rayns; now, another person I encounter…

It is incredibly hard to write these words so soon after my remembrances of Tony Rayns and Brian Case, especially since I learned of the death of the film programmer, festival director and producer…

I’ve arrived, sadly but inevitably, at that age where one keeps hearing that friends and former colleagues have passed on. Just a week or two ago, it was Tony Rayns; now, another person I encounter…

It was with great sadness that I learned yesterday of the recent death of Tony Rayns, one of the most important, insightful and influential figures in international film culture during the last hal…

June 1st saw the centenary of the birth of Norma Jeane Mortenson, far better known as Marilyn Monroe, whose iconic status remains as vital and widespread today as it was at the time of her sad, pre…

June 1st saw the centenary of the birth of Norma Jeane Mortenson, far better known as Marilyn Monroe, whose iconic status remains as vital and widespread today as it was at the time of her sad, pre…

YouTube video by Peter Stefanovic

There are two exhibitions which recently opened in London that have a connection with Diego Velázquez – for me, as for so many, one of the very greatest painters in the history of art. The first – …

There are two exhibitions which recently opened in London that have a connection with Diego Velázquez – for me, as for so many, one of the very greatest painters in the history of art. The first – …

I’ve been listening to some very interesting new music recently (more about which soon-ish, I hope), but nothing has been more welcome than a Carla Bley double CD entitled Joyful Noise – a somewhat…

I’m not about to explain, once more, my reasons for always wanting to catch any new movie (or any small screen fare, for that matter) by Steven Soderbergh; I already wrote about my enduring interes…

I’m not about to explain, once more, my reasons for always wanting to catch any new movie (or any small screen fare, for that matter) by Steven Soderbergh; I already wrote about my enduring interes…

West Midlands Labour MPs write to borough Reform leader after alleged posts by Stuart Prior

It was with considerable sadness that I learned of the death, a few days ago, of the great composer, bandleader, pianist and occasional horn-player Mike Westbrook, just weeks after his 90th birthda…

Regular readers will probably be aware of my high regard for the ECM label – its disdain for the limitations of musical borders, the roster of musicians, the pellucid sound, the readiness to releas…

Regular readers will probably be aware of my high regard for the ECM label – its disdain for the limitations of musical borders, the roster of musicians, the pellucid sound, the readiness to releas…

Regular readers will probably be aware of my high regard for the ECM label – its disdain for the limitations of musical borders, the roster of musicians, the pellucid sound, the readiness to releas…

Protect Kensal Green Cemetery from Irreversible Harm

One of the pleasures I derived last year from visiting the National Gallery’s ‘Radical Harmony’ exhibition devoted to the neo-impressionists was the opportunity it afforded to reassess the work of …

One of the pleasures I derived last year from visiting the National Gallery’s ‘Radical Harmony’ exhibition devoted to the neo-impressionists was the opportunity it afforded to reassess the work of …

John Huston’s latter-day western exerts a doomy, morbid fascination that goes beyond what we see on the screen. Our hindsight knowledge of the stars — Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable and Montgomery Clift

The first time I encountered Peter Howden was shortly after I moved to London in the autumn of 1976. I had moved into a seedy basement flat in Westbourne Park, and the similarly seedy Electric Cine…

These days, each and every year I get to thinking that the state of the world can’t get any worse, then something comes along to prove me wrong. I needn’t give examples here; suffice to say that, f…

These days, each and every year I get to thinking that the state of the world can’t get any worse, then something comes along to prove me wrong. I needn’t give examples here; suffice to say that, f…

Because he hadn’t appeared in a film for around half a decade, the death of Michel Piccoli (1925-2020) at the age of 94 came as no surprise; I had actually been wondering about his health only last…

I’ll confess that when I first read that Tate Britain was to mount an exhibition entitled Turner and Constable: Rivals and Originals, I wasn’t exactly filled with excitement. Don’t get me wrong: Tu…

I’ll confess that when I first read that Tate Britain was to mount an exhibition entitled Turner and Constable: Rivals and Originals, I wasn’t exactly filled with excitement. Don’t get me wrong: Tu…

December again. For some years, I’ve posted recommendations for recent BluRay/DVD releases, CDs and books that might be of use for anyone wondering what Christmas gifts to buy. (I find choosi…

December again. For some years, I’ve posted recommendations for recent BluRay/DVD releases, CDs and books that might be of use for anyone wondering what Christmas gifts to buy. (I find choosi…

Until the recent release of a three-disc BluRay set on Criterion’s ‘Eclipse’ series, most of the films by the late, very great Iranian writer-director Abbas Kiarostami made before his 1986 breakthr…