Nick Bartlett

Freelance Writer

Blog

FILMHOUNDS Magazine •

Corny But Charming - Willow (Blu-ray Review) - FILMHOUNDS Magazine

The eighties were a golden era of specific, idiosyncratic fantasy films. While they lacked the epic scale and depth of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, they offered unique charm and creativity, and most importantly, personality. Among these, Willow stands out as an oddity: darker than Labyrinth, more coherent than Legend, and less niche than Krull. Though it may not be as iconic as Dragonslayer, Willow deserves far more credit than its reputation suggests.

Exclusive Interview: Katherine Ferguson on her new intimate, engrossing film on the life of Humphrey Bogart

Released this week, Humphrey Bogart: Life Comes In Flashes takes what is quite a well-documented life and makes it feel refreshing and new, largely due to the perspective that writer/director Kathryn Ferguson and co-writer Eleanor Emptage bring to the material. A thoughtful, candid look at Bogart’s life, the documentary is told through the lens of his relationships with the women in his life (beginning with his
harsh mother and ending with his marriage to Lauren Bacall).
Filmhounds Magazine •

From Page to Screen: The Ongoing Struggle to Adapt Salem’s Lot - Filmhounds Magazine

Stephen King's works have always had a mixed track record on screen. Despite being a master of horror, only a few adaptations have truly done his books justice (The Shining is a horror classic, though King famously hated Stanley Kubrick's version). Salem's Lot is one of King's most iconic novels—often hailed as one of the best vampire stories ever written, blending small-town Americana with existential terror.
Critical popcorn •

The Third Man 4K review: Dir. Carol Reed (1949)

How do you find something new to say about a film like The Third Man? Voted by the BFI as the best British film of all time, and more importantly, my own favourite film, it must be among the most written about films of all time. I was fortunate enough to attend a screening last week to celebrate the film’s 75th anniversary, along with a wonderfully insightful introduction and Q&A with Script Supervisor Angela Allen.
Critical popcorn •

Risky Business Blu-ray review: Dir. Paul Brickman [Criterion Collection]

When people think of Risky Business, chances are the first image that pops into their head is the now-iconic moment where Joel (Tom Cruise) dances round his parent’s empty mansion miming to Bob Seger’s Rock n’ Roll Music. While this moment proved iconic, it’s a scene that is at odds with the often subdued nature of the rest of the film. A subversive, 1980s version of The Graduate crossed with Wall Street, Risky Business is a scathing commentary on American wealth and capitalism.
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