Category Archives: Spies

James Bond 007: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

October 30, 2012 flawintheiris

I couldn't dub this the George Lazenby era. He was only in one film, after all. But he does have the honour of playing Bond in one of the best in the canon — all quite separate from the issue of casting. And what of that casting? In a franchise where EON producers Albert R.…Read More

James Bond 007: The Sean Connery Era

October 27, 2012 flawintheiris

"Bond. James Bond." And so goes the classic line. Sean Connery was the first actor to play Bond in the long-running film series, and, for many, he's never been bettered. I feel I should offer a caveat: I've been watching James Bond 007 since I was a kid. It's probably my favourite movie franchise. For…Read More

50 Years of James Bond 007

October 6, 2012 flawintheiris

Fifty years ago (yesterday) Dr. No opened in cinemas, and movies were never quite the same. That was years before I born: James Bond has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. My parents enjoyed the movies and they let me watch anything they were watching. It's kind of funny…Read More

A Cult of One: The Russia House

September 8, 2012 flawintheiris

Welcome back to this irregular feature on Flaw In The Iris, where I revisit an unheralded or underloved movie in my vault. I'm hoping to explain why the film works and why it deserves a fanbase. I'm also willing to accept I may be the only person to really appreciate the film in question... feel…Read More

The Bourne Legacy review

August 15, 2012 flawintheiris

Directed by Tony Gilroy Written by Tony and Dan Gilroy, from a story by Tony, inspired by the Robert Ludlum novels. Tough act this one is following. The first three Bourne movies are that rare popular franchise without a weak link. Each of the films has something to recommend it, the second and third strongly…Read More

Revisiting the Bourne Trilogy

July 30, 2012 flawintheiris

I decided to rewatch the immensely popular and influential Universal Pictures action franchise this weekend in advance of its relaunch August 10 with The Bourne Legacy. I say "relaunch" because it's not just another sequel — the director of the second and third film, Paul Greengrass, chose not to return, as did the lead, Matt…Read More

Page Eight and London River reviews

March 12, 2012 flawintheiris

Two very different but very London-centric political thrillers now on DVD: Page Eight | Written and Directed by David Hare (BBC) Pravda playwright and The Reader screenwriter David Hare returns to directing for the first time in years with this John le Carré-style British spy drama. Johnny Worricker (Bill Nighy) plays a straight-arrow MI5 man,…Read More

London Boulevard and The Double reviewed

February 14, 2012 flawintheiris

Just in case you think I've not been seeing anything lately, here are two new reviews of films I caught up with on DVD. (It's almost too cold in Halifax to go out to the movies, I'm just sayin'.)London Boulevard, the review up at The Coast, offers another sterling Colin Farrell performance. And The Double,…Read More

Haywire review — Terrific spy thriller delivers wall-to-wall action

January 21, 2012 flawintheiris

Directed by Steven Soderbergh | Written by Lem Dobbs | 93 min | Hoopla Oh, how much fun is Haywire? It's from Steven Soderbergh, who is always an interesting director—I'm a big fan of The Limey, Out of Sight, sex lies and videotape and Solaris, with much respect for Traffic, last year's Contagion, Erin Brockovich…Read More

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol review

December 19, 2011 flawintheiris

Directed by Brad Bird Written by Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec, based on the TV series Mission: Impossible created by Bruce Geller | Netflix People talk about how the Bourne movies updated the espionage action thriller for the new century, in the feel and the look of the thing. Just consider how the director of…Read More