Announcement: NEW PROJECTS

You might have noticed that 24FPS has slowed down a little recently, and I wanted to explain why that is. I have a couple of new projects, the first I'm going to keep under wraps for now, except to say that I've started work on a book. Specifics will be forthcoming, but probably not for some time yet.

My other new project is one I've been wanting to let you all (again, Hi, all three of you) in on for some time. A few weeks ago I began working at HorrorMovies.ca as a critic and feature writer. Most of my genre reviews will run there in the future, hence 24FPS' recent recruitment of horrorspondent Steve Chandler (cheers Steve).

At HorrorMovies I am writing a weekly series that will see me watch and review all 74 of the films that were on the so called 'Video Nasties' list, as well as writing reviews and more besides (watch this space for an exciting upcoming feature). My author page at HorrorMovies is in the process of being built, but until then here is the work I've done over there so far.

VIDEO NASTIES
I Spit on Your Grave ('78)
Gestapo's Last Orgy
Fight For Your Life
Tenebrae

REVIEWS
City of the Living Dead [DVD]
Hobo With a Shotgun
The Devils: Director's Cut
Tony
Red State
Fright Night [3D]

So, check me and the many other excellent writers out at HorrorMovies, and hold your breath (and your wallets, if you don't mind) for more on that book.

Thanks always for reading.

Ad-pologies

As some of you have doubtless spotted by now I have, finally, decided to put a few advertisements on 24FPS. I hope that you find them, as I do, to be unobtrusive enough not to interfere with your browsing experience here.

I have also joined the Amazon Associate programme, and I want to let you know a little about a couple of things you'll start to notice at 24FPS because of this. From now on many posts (including older ones, as I get round to editing them) will have an Amazon purchase link. If you buy the linked product through that link then, though there will be no extra cost to you, a little of the purchase price will go into my pocket.

I've been writing 24FPS for over two years now, and in that time I've written more than 450 regular reviews along with many features and other articles. Overall I've written several novels worth of content for this site, and so far I haven't seen (or asked) any return for it. As writing is now becoming a full time occupation I would ask regular visitors and fans of the site, every now and then, click on an ad and, if you're wanting to buy it anyway, buy a DVD through one of my links. Every little will help, and be much appreciated.

As for my side of the bargain... here it is. You'll still get all the same reviews and articles at 24FPS, and they will always be free and you'll NEVER see a purchase link for a film I wouldn't buy myself. That seems fair to me.

I hope you won't mind these small changes at 24FPS. Thanks for listening, and thanks in advance for your help.

Sam

24FPS on VYou

VYou is a video site that allows users to answer questions submitted by readers with short video messages. I've just started an account, and I'd welcome any questions you guys might have. I'm happy to talk about almost any topic (though I'll quite likely draw the line at the most personal questions) so if you've anything you want to ask me be it about movies, about criticism, about blogging, or about something else, drop me a line and I'll do my best to give you an answer. You can see the answers I've given so far and submit questions below, or you can click HERE to visit my VYou page.

24FPS at MultiMediaMouth

Monday means a new Why Haven't You Seen...? article for MULTIMEDIAMOUTH, and this week I've chosen Swedish exploitation classic Thriller: A Cruel Picture. It's a tremendously cool film, and well worth tracking down. You can check out the article HERE, or see a list of all the articles in the Why Haven't You Seen...? series HERE.

In the last week I also posted a review at MultiMediaMouth, so if you want to know how I have suffered, watching Gulliver's Travels [3D] so that you don't have to, click HERE.

There's plenty of exciting film content on the way at MultiMediaMouth including new Disturbingly Cheap Review, a Shortlist on supporting actors who should be getting lead roles and, hopefully very soon, a couple of new contributors.

24FPS at MultiMediaMouth

This week, with Michel Gondry's THE GREEN HORNET hitting cinemas, fellow MMM contributor Michael Ewins and I have both turned our attention to superhero movies. In this week's Why Haven't You Seen...? I take a look at the criminally underrated 1991 flop ROCKETEER. You can read that article HERE, or you can click HERE to see the WHYS...? archive.

Be sure to check MMM again on Friday for Mike's superhero Shortlist feature.

24FPS at MultiMediaMouth

As you may be aware, I've been Film Editor at WWW.MULTIMEDIAMOUTH.COM for a couple of months now, and I write a series for them recommending obscure films called Why Haven't You Seen...?. The latest WHYS...? is on French serial killer film ROBERTO SUCCO, and you can read it HERE.

You can also see all of the WHYS...? articles to date HERE

24FPS in 2011

24FPS had a great 2010, and if all continues to go to plan then it's only going to get more exciting in 2011. I'll be trying to bring you more reviews than ever before, with two projects running throughout the year. First off I'll be playing catch up; I've got hundreds of films on DVD and VHS that I've never got around to watching, and I'm going to try and watch one of those every day of 2011. Even more exciting, I think, is my other big project for the year, called SILENCE IS GOLDEN? Every week of 2011 I'll be watching and reviewing two silent movies, in an effort to educate myself on early cinema.

I'll also continue (and finish) counting down the 24FPS Top 100, sorry it's taken so long.

In order to keep bringing you coverage of what is new and exciting in cinema I'm hoping to attend a lot of Festivals this year, leading up to the year's centrepiece; LFF. Hopefully I'll have news on at least a couple for you in the coming weeks. With increased Festival presence I'm hoping that I'll also be able to bring you more interviews with actors, directors and other people from the film world.

Outside 24FPS I'm very busy, writing content for and editing the Film section at WWW.MULTIMEDIAMOUTH.COM. Over there you'll likely find a handful of exclusive reviews, alongside my WHY HAVEN'T YOU SEEN...? series on obscure films and a lot of other exclusive content by me and other writers. You should also soon be able to see and hear me there via planned podcast and vodcast series. I hope I'll also continue to be a relatively regular presence with Marcey, Bede and others on SUPERPODCAST.

It's looking like a busy year. I hope you guys will enjoy it as much as I suspect I will.

Bloggers Top 50 of 2010

Last week I got an email from Saam over at FADED GLAMOUR, asking me to contribute my Top 10 theatrical releases of 2010 for his poll of online critics. You can see the full list HERE at FADED GLAMOUR. Thanks to Saam for asking me to parrticipate.

24FPS is two

Tomorrow 24FPS begins toddling forth into the future, as it reaches its second birthday. I feel a bit like a proud dad; it feels like I've been doing this forever, but also like it has gone by in a flash. Before I get a bit misty eyed and remeniscent, I wanted to say thanks to the people who really make this site work, which is you guys, yes you reading this now.

Thanks, really. When I started this I imagined I would just be one more blogger, essentially using his keyboard to shout at the internet (and perhaps three people, two of them related to him) about movies. But it's grown into a little more than that, okay I'm a small fry by web standards, but the fact that month after month more than 7000 unique visitors are choosing to come to 24FPS seems fucking unimaginably huge to me. You guys are from all over the world; The US, the UK, Australia, but also India, China, Korea, even Iraq has got in on the act. So, whoever and wherever you are; cheers, I'm really pleased that you take time out to read my ramblings.

The site really took off this year, as people began to notice it. In May I found myself browsing in HMV and seeing one of my own quotes staring out from the back of a DVD. That was odd. I've also embraced social media, and through that gained access to this year's London Film Festival (which is still paying dividends and ought to make 2011 very exciting round these parts).

To finish off I thought I'd pick a couple of highlights, the stuff I enjoyed most and am proudest of from the year.

POSITIVE REVIEWS: Le Refuge / Toy Story 3

NEGATIVE REVIEWS: The Twilight Saga: Eclipse / A Nightmare on Elm Street

And just before I go, largely so that this post doen't consist entirely of me blowing my own trumpet, here's something awesome. Enjoy.

December at 24 FPS

After taking a break in November, the themed months will be making a return in December with the first in a two month series called Sinema. I'll be looking at the depiction of controversial subjects and acts, and next month we'll be covering Sinema Part 1: Sex.

Hopefully this will take in all kinds of depictions of sex from all through cinema history; from racy pre-code Hollywood to It Happened One Night's 'walls of Jericho' and from (hopefully) the hardcore musical version of Alice in Wonderland to more recent boundary pushers like Baise Moi and Nine Songs.

There should also be a Cinematters to tie in with the series, and perhaps more besides.

We'll still have all the regular reviews, more Top 100 entries, and the review of the year, taking in 2010's best and worst films, and my awards for the year. And we'll be back in January with Sinema Part 2: Violence.

24FPS expands

Over the last couple of years, thanks to you guys who have been reading my increasingly long and ranty reviews and other assorted ramblings here, I've tried to build 24FPS from a typical little blog - one guy typing in his living room - into something a bit more ambitious, adding content and new ways to interact with the site along the way.

Now there are two new ways you can stay up to date with what I'm writing at 24FPS... and beyond.

First off, 24FPS is now on Facebook. It's a page for the site, not for me, and that's the way it's going to stay, but once I figure out exactly how much I can do with it will hopefully become something of a hub for site news, a feed of updates on my writing, and whatever else I can think to throw up on the wall. Here's the link: 24FPS on Facebook

Even more exciting for me is that I'm branching out. During the London Film Festival I was asked to become Film Editor for MultiMediaMouth. Along with the site's editor I'm working at putting together a team of critics, and I'll be writing regular reviews and features for the site. Don't worry, it won't cut into 24FPS updates, I'll just have to work harder. Anyway, my first MMM review, of DESPICABLE ME was posted last night and you can check it out here.

Thanks, as ever, for reading. I hope you'll stick with me on these new ventures.

Big News

It has been an exciting couple of weeks here at 24FPS. Actually, the last couple of weeks of September are always exciting, as I get to plan my viewing at the London Film Festival. I was already going to be able to bring you expanded coverage of the festival compared to last year, but thanks to both a little luck and a little networking, I'm going to be able to bring you much more coverage than I had hoped.

For the first time, 24FPS has got press access to the London Film Festival. This means that I'll be able to see and review many more films, and hopefully secure some interviews and press conference reports as well. So... keep your eyes peeled for LFF coverage next month. I hope you enjoy it as much as I think I will.

LFF 2010: Schedule

I've got my LFF Tickets (my first batch anyway). I was able to get almost all my films (the Kristin Scott Thomas film IN YOUR HANDS was full) but most exciting is the fact that I'm in for BOTH Huppert films. I'm praying that she'll turn up to the first screening of COPACABANA (and taking my copy of THE PIANO TEACHER, just in case).

I'll probably get some more tickets next week, and I want to do at least one random day, but here are the 11 films I've got confirmed.


All dates October

14th
3:45 BLESSED EVENTS

20th
12:45 AT ELLEN'S AGE
3:15 DARK LOVE

21st
12:30 NOTHING'S ALL BAD
4:15 JOY

24th
1:00 DEEP IN THE WOODS
4:00 SUPER BROTHER
9:00 COPACABANA

25th
12:45 MY JOY
4:15 HUNTING & SONS

27th
1:00 SPECIAL TREATMENT

Already this is my busiest ever LFF, and I want to try to add more in the first week yet.

September: The Greatest?

Martial Arts Month is winding down, and despite getting sidetracked when I was under the weather, it's been fun and I think we've covered a lot of interesting films (and there are a few more to come, including SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD and a couple of Sammo Hung films). I'm going to attempt to run a special series every month, so here's September's



In September I'm going to try to answer, for myself, the question of who is the greatest working actress. Now I can't spend the whole month going through contenders, I'd never watch enough films for it to be a fair choice. But that's not really a problem. To me it is pretty clear that there are only two real contenders.

From France there is Isabelle Huppert. She's 57 years old, and next year marks her 40th anniversary as an actress. She first came to notice in the mid 1970's, and though she's not especially famous otside of France she's generally regarded as one of the world's finest actresses, and works constantly on film and on stage.

From America there is Jennifer Jason Leigh. A decade younger at 48, she's currently in her 30th year as an actress, and first gained acclaim at 19 as an anorexic teenager in TV Movie THE BEST LITTLE GIRL IN THE WORLD. She's an acclaimed actress, hugely respected in the industry and famous for her incredibly detailed research for roles.

It's interesting to me that Huppert and Leigh have a lot in common. Both shun the limelight, giving only rare and often reluctant interviews, and both are extremely reticent to talk about themselves or their private lives (Huppert won't even confirm whether she is married, or her exact date of birth). Both, too, are breathlessly acclaimed by critics and peers alike, and neither has ever even been nominated for an Oscar.

So, I'm going to look at ten films featuring Isabelle Huppert and another ten with Jennifer Jason Leigh (it's a crying shame they've never worked together, but I guess I can dream). That will make twenty new reviews, and hopefully by the end of the month I'll have a better idea of just who really is the greatest actress working today. I'm going to enjoy September. I hope you will too.

Cinematters: A Reply From the Culture Secretary['s staff]

You may remember that, a couple of weeks ago, I published a letter I had written to Jeremy Hunt, the new Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport detailling my issues with his closure of the UK Film Council (you can read it here). Yesterday evening I had the following reply...

Dear Mr Inglis

Thank you for your letter of 9 August to the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, following the recent review of DCMS’ Arm’s Length Bodies. I have been asked to reply on his behalf.

I can assure you that the Government is wholly committed to supporting the UK film industry, especially in these tough economic times. It will maintain the film tax credit, currently worth over £100 million a year; Lottery funding, including the film production fund, which currently stands at about £27 million a year, will remain and will increase after the Olympics. The Government is now considering options to transfer the distribution of these Lottery funds to other existing bodies, with a view to reducing administrative costs; and it will maintain key priorities such as strengthening the sustainability of the UK film industry and supporting its diversity. Going forward, this Department will ensure that support and guidance remain in place during any period of transition.

You may also be interested to know that the Government is committed to the long-term future of the British Film Institute (BFI), which of course plays an important role in our cultural heritage. Over the summer DCMS officials will discuss with the BFI the setting up of a direct, less bureaucratic relationship with this Department.

Although going forward the Government will want to consider policy priorities for Lottery funding, it recognises that First Light – to take one example you mention – is an important and successful programme that contributes to audience development and helps find tomorrow’s talents – two areas seen as priorities.

The Government is also very clear that one of its top priorities is to have a robust and more coordinated strategy to promote the UK as the best place to invest for film-making. Inward investment has been a massive success over the last few years, generating value for film makers from around the world, for audiences, and for the UK economy. The Government remains fully committed to its promotion and will engage with the industry in the coming weeks to discuss these points as well as others.

I hope this is of reassurance to you.

Yours sincerely

For me, this reply is a mixed bag. The BIG problem is that it doesn't address my major concern about the disollution of the Film Council... Who will decide what gets funded? There's nothing here to counter my concern that these decisions (currently made by people with years of experience in the film industry) will end up in the hands of a board made up largely of MPs and/or policy wonks. What's the use of having money available - more money, even - if the people deciding how it's spent have little or no relationship to the film industry (and, if precedent holds true, are likely to be much more conservative in their outlook on art as a whole)?

In terms of the smaller programmes that the Film Council funded (some of which I addressed in my letter) I am heartened to hear that the First Light programme will retain its funding, but it is perhaps telling that none of the other smaller programmes; the Festival Development Fund and the FILMCLUB initiative and most vitally the Prints and Advertising fund, recieve similar promises.

Overall, there's a lot of nice language here; "Over the summer DCMS officials will discuss with the BFI the setting up of a direct, less bureaucratic relationship with this Department." "The Government remains fully committed to its promotion and will engage with the industry in the coming weeks." We'll just have to keep an eye on how things unfold to see how true those words are.

All this said, however much I like or dislike this Government and their policies, at least they have shown a willingness to engage in some discussion on this issue. I like living somewhere where that's possible.

Two to watch

The excellent indiemoviesonline posts a huge variety of movies that you can watch for free, in full, and completely legally on their website. Unlike most free movie sites we're not just talking about old out of copyright films, and they've just posted two really interesting recent movies.

There's Home (reviewed here) with Isabelle Huppert as a mother whose unwillingness to move house, even when a motorway is built right next to the home she shares with her family, becomes ever more extreme. Huppert is, as ever, spectacular and the film is unusual and compelling.

I haven't seen the other film myself, but thanks to the presence of Deborah Francois (of The Page Turner, among others) Unmade Beds has been on my radar for some time. It's got a young international cast, all of whom apparently end up living in an artist's squat in London.

I'll be chaecking out Unmade Beds, I suggest you have a look at both these films, as well as the rest of the indiemoviesonline selection.

Best news ever?

I'm just going to let this picture say a thousand words.



EDIT: I hope the pic is now showing for everybody. Let me know of any problems, thanks.

Any Questions?

Just a quick note to let you guys know that I'm now on Formspring. If you haven't heard of it (I hadn't until this week) Formspring is a social networking site that allows you to ask questions of users, you can even ask them anonymously (though, if I'm honest, I'd prefer you gave a name of some sort, even if it is an alias).

You can ask anything, and I'll answer all but the most personal questions (I'm not getting into my family or relationships, so don't bother asking). So, ask about criticism, about the site, about what movies to watch. Ask about my favourite genres, actors and directors. Ask who in the film industry I'd most enjoy punching in the face. Ask about albums and gigs, ask about politics, ask about books, ask about the best place to see a movie in London if you want... just ask away.

I'm looking forward to the questions, if this takes off I'll compile some of the best Q and A into a post. To ask a question you can go to my formspring page HERE, where you can also see the questions I've answered to date, or you can use the widget in the sidebar (under the Twitter widget).

August at 24 FPS: Martial Arts Month

In addition to speeding up the Top 100 posts (hopefully to 4 entries a week, at least) and the usual reviewing load this month I'm going to be running a special feature here at 24FPS. Every day in August I'll be looking at, and posting at least a mini review for, a different martial arts movie. There will be a mix of classic and new films, some I've seen a dozen times before, some I'll look at for the first time. We'll look at movies with Jackie Chan, Tony Jaa, Bruce Lee, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Lam Ching Ying, Jeeja Yanin, Michelle Yeoh, Cynthia Rothrock and more. So, throughout August you can get your kicks (oh what, you thought I'd leave that pun alone?) right here at 24FPS.

Podcast

Here's my third guest spot on Supermarcey's Superpodcast. It's a longer show than before, but then there are four people and we cover close to 30 movies. I'd say that's bloody good value in 104 minutes. Enjoy the STINKERS OF THE 90'S and, as ever, chime in on the comments with any thoughts you have on the show or my picks.

You can listen to the show below or here at Marcey's site