Articles and Lists

By Michael McNulty Henri-Georges Clouzot’s 1955 horror thriller Les Diaboliques was based on the novel by Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac, (more commonly recognized by their nom de plume Boileau-Narcejac) Celle qui n’etait pas. One of two of their novels that was snapped up and turned into a film, the other, D’entre les morts, was adapted by Alfred Hitchcock and became the basis for one of his masterpieces, Vertigo. Much of Les Diaboliques’ power comes from the film’s twists and...

By Michael McNulty Jack Clayton’s horror classic The Innocents, released in 1961 and based on (by way of William Archibald’s play) Henry James’ 1898 novella The Turn of the Screw, is a mysterious and haunting classic Victorian ghost story. The script, which passed through a number of hands, finally ended up in those of Truman Capote who helped to deliver it in its final form. Miss Giddens, played with a subtle restraint that belies an underlying sexual repression by an...

By Michael McNulty Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist - 2008 Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist may rub many the wrong way, primarily because seeing Michael Cera play yet another straight edge, hipster, sad-sack geekily fumbling through adolescence is a test of patience. But, let it test you. Nick (Michael Cera), bassist and only straight member of all gay rock band, The Jerk Offs, pining after evil ex-girlfriend Triss, spends a Manhattan night chasing elusive, super-cool, secret gig playing band, Where’s...

By Michael McNulty Location, location, location! Here are five films in which the city plays an integral part. 25th Hour – New York City, New York Monty Brogan, a midlevel drug dealer, spends his final hours before beginning a seven year prison sentence for possession and dealing, with his with his girlfriend and friends. This is as much a film about loyalty, betrayal, missed opportunity and consequences as it is a film about New York. New York is familiar territory...

By Michael McNulty Luis Buñuel’s film Belle de Jour, released in 1967, took the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and stands in film history as one of the most, if not the most, erotic films of all time. Based on Joseph Kessel’s, a Russian who lived in Argentina and wrote in French, novel of the same name, Belle de Jour may not seem as salacious now as when it first appeared, both in print and on the silver...

By Michael McNulty Released in 1960 and based on José Giovanni’s novel of the same name, which chronicled his involvement in a real life escape plan from Parisian prison La Santé, Le Trou was Jacques Becker’s 13th and final film. He died during the films post-production leaving his son, Jean, to finish the project. Claude Gaspard (Marc Michel), a mild mannered car salesman pending conviction for allegedly attempting to murder his wife, is introduced into a new cell occupied by...

By Michael McNulty A searing yellow sun sits in the deep oranges of the Australian sky, the dark red earth below it. Moments later we see the reflection of a man in the rear view mirror of his car as he falls in and out of sleep. The vehicle swerves off the road, into the brush and flips onto its back, before a man crawls out through an open window, unscathed. This is Foley, a “gun” sheep shearer, larrikin and...

To celebrate the release of A Dog's Purpose in cinemas May 5th (with preview screenings over the bank holiday weekend) we're offering dog loving TLE readers the opportunity to win some very special A Dog's Purpose merchandise!! The packs include a ball-thrower, a doggie bowl, a themed blanket, a waste-bag dispenser and a dog-treat jar! (See pic below) We have three packs to give away and all you have to do is tweet us @TLE_Film with a picture of your loveable four...

By Michael McNulty It’s Forgotten Film Friday, here’s this week’s instalment. Gus Van Sant’s 2003 film Elephant won both the Best Director and Palme d’Or awards at Cannes. It’s a piercingly quiet, stunningly effective, nightmarish film based on the Littleton, Colorado Columbine school shooting of 1999 which left 12 students and 1 teacher dead. Unlike the media storm that surrounded the Columbine shooting, desperate to explain and assign blame, Elephant is unafraid to leave questions unanswered. It doesn’t try to...