Emma Simmonds

The Secret Policeman’s Balls

By Emma Simmonds

The seemingly smutty and initially baffling title is the collective moniker for a series of Amnesty International benefit concerts, held in London. [11 March 2009]

People Like Us

By Emma Simmonds

This series acted as a springboard for an astonishing plethora of British talent such as Julia Davis, Tamsin Greig, Robert Webb, David Tennant and Bill Nighy. [20 November 2009]

The Last House on the Left

By Emma Simmonds

The whole endeavour feels curiously sanitised, relatively speaking, of course. [15 September 2009]

London to Brighton

By Emma Simmonds

In this nuanced and exhilarating debut by Paul Andrew Williams, budgetary limitations are thriftily turned to their advantage as a captivating tale of sin and redemption is spun. [27 August 2009]

High Hopes

By Emma Simmonds

Leigh takes on ordinary and infuses blinding colour, broad comedy, crude monikers and flamboyant performances. [6 July 2009]

Une Femme Mariee

By Emma Simmonds

An erudite, somewhat autobiographical, handsome and twisted examination of female infidelity. [25 June 2009]

Empire of Passion

By Emma Simmonds

For all his visual flair, Oshima has failed to construct a coherent, emotionally engaging piece and I fear these failings may cause this film to alienate viewers. [21 May 2009]

Pulling: The Complete First Season

By Emma Simmonds

Both a product of a society which rabidly consumes such sewer-brow idiocy and a hilarious, exquisitely-acted, original British comedy. [7 May 2009]

Hobson’s Choice (Criterion Collection)

By Emma Simmonds

Director Lean toys with the audience’s expectations with regards to his well-established directorial style. [19 March 2009]

Agatha Christie’s Poirot: The Definitive Collection

By Emma Simmonds

The petit Belgian brainbox Hercule Poirot, master sleuth of Agatha Christie’s sophisticated and ingeniously plotted whodunit novels, is in a league of his own. [25 November 2008]

Alfresco

By Emma Simmonds

The inconsistent early '80s British comedy sketch show, while not quite an embarrassment to all concerned, is of interest only to fans of the actors or '80s comedy completists. [8 October 2008]

Extasis

By Emma Simmonds

Javier Bardem sometimes appears a mere hair’s breadth away from growling and licking the lens. [11 September 2008]

Heartbeat Detector

By Emma Simmonds

This film confronts its audience with uncomfortable connections, philosophical musings and disorientating amalgamations of genre and style. [18 August 2008]

Vincent Price

By Emma Simmonds

Price will forever be associated with wicked offings and projects injected with more than a syringe full of silliness. [25 January 2008]

My Name Is Earl: Season 2

By Emma Simmonds

The second season of My Name is Earl is a series of refreshing warmth, essentially dealing in redemption, whilst carefully sidestepping the pitfall of schmaltz. [2 January 2008]

Night on Earth

By Emma Simmonds

Night on Earth consists of a pleasingly varied collection of tales yet each is infused with the director’s own brand of subtle affection, offbeat musings and wit. [9 November 2007]

Stranger Than Paradise

By Emma Simmonds

Stranger Than Paradise is a sedate and captivating antidote to bombastic contemporary Hollywood cinema. Who knew the boredom of others could be so fascinating? [11 October 2007]

Zodiac

By Emma Simmonds

Bonds are fleetingly forged then broken, comradeship and honour are largely absent and, like the Zodiac himself, everyone emerges as a rather lost and damaged soul. [15 August 2007]

The Errol Flynn Signature Collection, Volume 2 (1948)

By Emma Simmonds

This second volume of the Errol Flynn Signature Collection spans the first decade of Flynn's career, offering considerable variety and a reasonable glimpse at the fabled lothario's on-screen range. [3 August 2007]

Dark Corners (2006)

By Emma Simmonds

A schlocky, hackneyed, more dim than dark thriller. [23 May 2007]

The History Boys (2006)

By Emma Simmonds

This may be a misguided venture on the whole but there are a handful of moments to treasure. [1 May 2007]

The Last King of Scotland (2006)

By Emma Simmonds

Based on Giles Foden’s novel of the same name this bold, visceral cinematic-bodyblow takes a political maelstrom and a maniacal dictator and squeezes them into the mould of a genre-picture. [20 April 2007]

Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006)

By Emma Simmonds

Borat is a comedy of errors, in more than one sense, but certainly not one without merit. [12 April 2007]

Holiday (1938)

By Emma Simmonds

Boasting a script packed full of acerbic gems, Holiday also has a tremendous visual energy. [23 March 2007]

Running With Scissors (2006)

By Emma Simmonds

Director Ryan Murphy lacks the requisite wicked flair for black-comedy, the levity is mishandled, and completely at odds with the intensity of performance and direction. [4 March 2007]

This Filthy World (2006)

By Emma Simmonds

The 'Pope of Trash' may look like a fiend, but he has the authority and enthusiasm of a professor – the kind who can pack the auditorium. [12 December 2006]

The Seduction (1981)

By Emma Simmonds

The Seduction hauls its tired story from opening sequence to conclusion in the manner of the diabolical Derek dragging an adversary’s bloody corpse from Jacuzzi to grave. [1 December 2006]

Changing Times (2004)

By Emma Simmonds

Changing Times consistently rings true. It is gripping, thoughtful and concise. [27 October 2006]

Land of the Blind (2006)

By Emma Simmonds

Perhaps only upon repeat viewings will audiences become convinced that this film is not merely a stale piece of bread, if you will, but in fact something more meaty. [14 September 2006]

Consuming Consumables: Agatha Christie’s Poirot [14 December 2008]