Side Door Cinema

A while ago my work colleagues voted to pledge our fundraising efforts to an organisation that fights Alzheimer’s disease rather than to a well-known charity. It was a bit surprising because I knew little about the disease yet it clearly resonated with many. I figured I would do some research and watch a few films. It turns out there aren’t that many films about Alzheimer’s disease or dementia for that matter. The last decade has offered more than the previous 50 years at least in terms of mainstream cinema. I…read more

I stumbled across Lasse Hallstrom’s What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? sometime in early 1999.  The circumstances are still quite vivid: arriving back to my empty student house on a Sunday evening, I turned to the Culture magazine of the Sunday Times.  The aforementioned film was on the listings for that evening and I can still clearly recall the blurb… What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993).  Johnny Depp.  Whimsical drama. I had never heard of the film but it became apparent later on that it had been well received and Leonardo Di Caprio gained…read more

Over the past year I have been taking time to listen closer to those who craft the drama I enjoy. I have discovered the world of audio commentary. And it has been a revelation. Normally found in the extras or special features section the audio commentary often offers the chance to re-watch a full-length episode with a commentary. In essence we’re invited to listen in on a conversation with some of the passionate and creative people involved in the production.  We’re invited to listen in on a conversation. This new appreciation…read more