‘Down Below’ is a soon to be released Grindhouse horror-film by director Spyder Dobrofsky. It doesn’t fully outshine its predecessors in the horror-genre, but it does manage to deliver a viewing exp. that proves to be quite a heap of fun — if you like a heavy serving of “kitsch” with your scary movies.

‘Down Below’ is a low-budget gem (albeit with some imperfections) providing standout performances from Doug Jones, Bai Ling, Alexis Knapp, and David Steen as the mysterious “Mr Monday”. The narrative is somewhat Lynchian in its approach, reminiscent of the director’s smaller pictures: ‘Mulholland Drive’, and ‘The Lost Highway’ – in that it gives the viewer visually disconnected scenes in an attempt to construe the apprehension and confusion the characters are going through. Flashbacks, dream sequences, and nonlinear storytelling are all utilized to abandon.

‘GoldenEye’, is the 17th installment in the James Bond film series, a post-cold war action/spy-thriller that capitalizes on the real world tensions left over from the collapse of the USSR. ‘GoldenEye’ – the first film to dispense with reliance on Ian Fleming’s literary works for source material, and it had the near impossible job of revitalizing a franchise that many thought to have lost its mass appeal.

Martin Campbell directed this feature, it stars Pierce Brosnan in the lead role as the charismatic and dangerous secret agent – 007. Sean Bean stars as well: playing the part of Alec Trevelyan/006  – a turncoat MI6 agent, the main villain of the film. Judi Dench takes over for Robert Brown in the role of “M”, and we’re introduced to Isabella Scaruptco as Natalya Simonova — a hacker turned Russian defector — and eventually, Bond’s love interest and ally. 

Famke Janssen is stunning as Xenia Onatopp: a salacious JANUS agent working against Bond, who is shown to be more than capable as an assassin. And finally, Desmond Llewelyn reprises his role as series stand-by “Q”, the man who provides Bond with his equipment and state-of-the-art gadgets.

So, is “real” cinema destined to “go the way of the dinosaur” in the age of digital media and streaming platforms?

Yes, it seems highly likely. 

“In a groundbreaking moment, Sony Pictures Entertainment has acquired Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in a deal that puts a major Hollywood studio back in the business of owning a movie theater for the first time in more than 75 years with certain exceptions.”

Jun 12, 2024

The Hollywood Reporter [1]

Judging by this recent move, fiduciary projections are not looking good for Cineplex, Odeon, and other major cinemas. These larger chains are going to have to find some miraculous cost-cutting measures or face reality – streaming media is winning.

The Big Lebowski (1998)

If there’s a better film with Jeff Bridges in the leading role — I’m absolutely sure — I don’t know what it is. ‘The Big Lebowski’ is a mind-bending, hilarity inducing, neo-noir crime-dramedy with nihilistic and absurd overtones, and some pretty absurd nihilists as well. 

What I mean to say is this; the movie is bizarre – in the best kind of way. 

The Coen. Bros directed this underground hit, which went on to become one of the most popular cult films ever made. ‘The Big Lebowski’ may even have spawned an entire culture of hipsters, ushering in the era of beard wax and men’s shaving clubs. It’s a film that screams “quirky” in a way that lets you know it’s not f**cking around. If you expected a straight-up narrative with formulaic characters and archetypes, look somewhere else.