Gabriel García Márquez (1927-2014) – affectionately known as “Gabo” – started his career as a journalist, but is famous for the novels and short stories that earned him the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982. Alongside Peruvian author Mario Vargas Llosa and the Mexican Carlos Fuentes, he was the best-known member of the triumvirate that… Continue reading Gabriel García Márquez’s last novel is a moving testament to his genius
William Blake’s Universe, the new (free) exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, is a celebration of work by the Romantic artist, writer and visionary. Famous now but little known in his lifetime, Blake (1757-1827) has been given star billing by Tate Britain recently. But at the Fitzwilliam, he is made to share the spotlight… Continue reading William Blake exhibition: making a European out of the poet and artist who never left England
People tend to rejoice in the disclosure of a secret. Or, at the very least, media outlets have come to realize that news of “mysteries solved” and “hidden treasures revealed” generate traffic and clicks. So I’m never surprised when I see AI-assisted revelations about famous masters’ works of art go viral. Over the past year alone articles have… Continue reading How AI is hijacking art history
2001: A Space Odyssey is a landmark film in the history of cinema. It is a work of extraordinary imagination that has transcended film history to become something of a cultural marker. And since 1968, it has penetrated the psyche of not only other filmmakers but society in general. It is not an exaggeration to… Continue reading 2001: A Space Odyssey still leaves an indelible mark on our culture 55 years on
After the success of “Dune: Part II,” Denis Villeneuve is taking a breather from the world of Arrakis before diving into the third installment, “Dune: Messiah.” According to THR’s Bory Kit, Villeneuve has already chosen his next project, and it’s going to be a “smaller movie.” Kit suggests that “Messiah” won’t be happening anytime soon.… Continue reading Denis Villeneuve to Direct “Smaller Movie” Before “Dune: Messiah”
It’s the centenary of the cinema premiere of the German horror film Nosferatu. Now recognised as a classic of the silent era and one of the first examples of cinematic horror, it used elements of Gothic style to present a dark dreamworld. Ripe with undertones that link it not only to contemporary troubles, it also… Continue reading Nosferatu at 102: how the seminal vampire film shaped the horror genre
Renowned director Greta Gerwig has been chosen to lead a new reboot of “The Chronicles of Narnia,” signaling the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the beloved fantasy series. Based on the iconic young adult novels by C.S. Lewis, “The Chronicles of Narnia” takes audiences on an enchanting journey through a world filled with… Continue reading Greta Gerwig’s ‘Narnia’ Starts Production in August with seven months of shooting
The history of cinema as an art parallels its history as a technology. Ever wondered why the colour in The Wizard of Oz is so saturated? Well, it wasn’t the first technicolor film, but it was the first to effectively advertise MGM’s new 3-strip colour process to a global audience. Why advertise something at half mast?… Continue reading Films made for Netflix look more like TV shows — here’s the technical reason why
The first trailer for “Joker: Folie à Deux,” the musical sequel to the hit film “Joker,” starring Oscar winners Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, has been unveiled. In the sequel, Joaquin Phoenix reprises his role as Arthur Fleck, the aspiring stand-up comedian turned villain, while Lady Gaga portrays Dr. Harleen Quinzel, a psychiatrist assigned to… Continue reading TRAILERWATCH: Joker: Folie à Deux
It’s one of the most famous climactic scenes in film: a tense and shocking denouement that sees a series of brutal assassinations intercut with the central character calmly renouncing Satan as he becomes godfather to his nephew. Considered one of the great classics of American cinema, the triple Oscar-winning Godfather turns 50 on March 14.… Continue reading The Godfather at 52: celebrating the mob saga that raised the bar for gangster films
