Favorite films

Recent reviews

• 

  Psycho 1960

  ★★★★★ Rewatched 16 Mar 2025

  Alfred Hitchcock’s slow-burning, monochrome drama defied both cinematic convention and the censors with the memorable, then-graphic murder of its supposed protagonist less than halfway through its running time. Bernard Herrmann’s tense score underpins the rising sense of unsettling dread as the horrifying truth of Norman Bates’ lonely life is eventually peeled apart. Janet Leigh is very fine as troubled, impulsive thief Marion Crane, but Anthony Perkins is so perfect as the nervous and awkward Norman, you really can’t blame him for making all those sequels. And when Mother stares maniacally into your soul at the very end of this classic film, watch very carefully… 5/5.

• 

  Sing Sing 2023

  ★★★★ Watched 14 Mar 2025

  I have never before seen a film where the credit “As Himself” has carried so much importance, so much meaning, as in this truly uplifting, life-affirming and hopeful film. 4/5.

Popular reviews

• 

  Amadeus 1984

  ★★★★★ Rewatched 28 Feb 2025

  Anyone who claims there is no such thing as the “perfect film” has clearly never seen Amadeus. 5/5.

• 

  The Monkey 2025

  ★★½ Watched 04 Mar 2025

  Darkly humorous and the gore is inventive and suitably over-the-top,  but the pacing is off and some of the performances come across as strained. And the ending unsurprisingly screams “The Monkey 2”. 2.5/5.