Nick James
Nick James is Editor of Sight & Sound.
He studied at St. Martin’s School of Art and was a singer in rock bands from the late 1970s until the mid 80s.
He joined the listings magazine City Limits in 1989 and by 1991 was Editor of the Film Section. James has written on film, literature and art for the Guardian, the Observer, the Independent, US Vogue, Time Out, the London Review of Books and The Literary Review.
His book on Michael Mann’s Heat was published in 2002, and he was the presenter of the BBC documentary British Cinema: The End of the Affair that same year. In 2011 he received the Telluride Film Festival’s special medallion on behalf of Sight & Sound for its outstanding work.
Follow him on Twitter @filmnickjames
Online articles
Cannes Film Festival 2012
The Sight & Sound blog
Follow Nick James and our correspondents on the Croisette. Read the collated entries, or see the index of individual posts. Web exclusive, May 2012
Berlinale 2012 Festival blog
Nick James and S&S contributors report from the unknown quantity that is this year’s Berlin film festival. Web exclusive, February 2012
The films of 2011 Poll
In a strong year for arthouse cinema, Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life emerged as the clear winner of the S&S poll of international critics’ best films of 2011, says Nick James. from S&S January 2012
The Ms-fits Comment
This year’s Best Actress race inspires Nick James’s best clairvoyant impersonation.
Web exclusive, December 2011
It’s a wrap
London Film Festival blog post
Our writers tally their best discoveries, on- and off-screen moments and personal encounters of the festival.
Web exclusive, October 2011
Persona non grata: Lars von Trier’s Nazi rebellion Behind the news
Lars von Trier’s controversial outburst in Cannes this year was not entirely out of character, finds Nick James. From S&S October 2011
On the road to Telluride Report
Nick James on bringing home Sight & Sound’s ‘Special Medallion’ from the Telluride Film Festival, “given to a hero of cinema that preserves, honors and presents great movies”. Web exclusive, September 2011
Midnight Sun: let there be light Postcard
Nick James investigates a wonderful blend of cinema and mild carousing with luminaries including Aki Kaurismäki, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Atom Egoyan and cinematographer Michael Chapman.
Web exclusive, June 2011
Cannes Film Festival 2011
The Sight & Sound blog
Follow Nick James and our correspondents on the Croisette. Web exclusive, May 2011
San Francisco filmgrimage:
Falling from Nob Hill Postcard
Nick James takes the Vertigo tour.
Web exclusive, May 2011
The Rotterdam conundrum Postcard
It used to a festival that prided itself on bringing to light overlooked world cinema curios but not any longer. Nick James ponders what’s going wrong at Rotterdam.
Web exclusive, February 2011
Peter Yates, 1929-2011 Obituary
Transatlantic genre specialist, from Summer Holiday to Bullitt and The Friends of Eddie Coyle. Web exclusive, January 2011
The films of 2010 Poll
The Social Network and Uncle Boonmee Who Can Remember His Past Lives head our round-up of the films and highlights of the year, as voted by 85 critics and curators. from S&S January 2011
It’s a wrap: we tally our festival experiences
London Film Festival blog post
The Sight & Sound team sum up their best discoveries, on- and off-screen moments and personal encounters of the festival. Web exclusive, October 2010
Venice: storm in a bottle Postcard
After Miike Takashi’s ferocious 13 Assassins, this year’s festival ended on the lows of Monte Hellman’s Road to Nowhere and Julie Taymor’s The Tempest, says Nick James. Web exclusive, September 2010
Venice: waft breezily Postcard
Nick James enjoys the momentum of new films from Larraine, Ozon, Reichert, Woo and Hark.
Web exclusive, September 2010
Sarajevo: changing trains Postcard
Nick James writes home from a friendly, growing Sarajevo Film Festival. Web exclusive, July 2010
The end of prestige? Comment
The UK Film Council may be dead. Miramax is pensioned off. Nick James reads the entrails of ‘quality’ cinema in the Digital Age. Web exclusive, August 2010
Peter Brunette, 1944–2010 Obituary
Nick James remembers the late writer, critic and professor. Web exclusive, August 2010
Alberto Cavalcanti: Britain’s secret Brazilian Feature
More than any director bar Hitchcock, Cavalcanti had a profound influence on British filmmaking in the 1930s and 40s. But he remains an unjustly overlooked figure, says Nick James. From S&S August 2010
Rough cuts Comment
Nick James reacts to news of the abolition of the UK Film Council, and warns against axing our already struggling art-film sector. Web exclusive, July 2010
The best film books Survey
Which are the best five books about film ever written? This was the question Sight & Sound asked leading critics and the results might surprise you. Revealing his ideal film bookshelf, Nick James introduces our special poll. from S&S June 2010
Cannes: big stories, or the bigger picture? Postcard
This year’s Cannes mounted a fine survey of the art of modern cinema, writes Nick James.
Web exclusive, May 2010
Cannes: doom, chills and bewilderment Postcard
Nick James finds abnormal life in Cannes’ second-string selection. Web exclusive, May 2010
Cannes: time for TV? Postcard
Nick James finds respite from a predictable programme in Olivier Assayas’ television epic Carlos.
Web exclusive, May 2010
Cannes: brotherly love Postcard
Nick James sees a gentle tide for Xavier Beauvois’ Of Gods and Men. Web exclusive, May 2010
Berlinale: We have the stars Postcard
Nick James wonders if dreaming of a festival without instant ratings is asking for the moon. Web exclusive, February 2010
Syndromes of a new century Poll
How have the first ten years of the 21st century changed cinema? From Argentina to Romania, from Almodóvar to Weerasethakul, Nick James introduces our selection of the 30 key films of the past decade. From S&S February 2010
Rotterdam: Smoke gets in your eyes Postcard
James Benning’s slow-gaze Ruhr provides sights for Nick James’ sore eyes at Rotterdam. Web exclusive, January 2010
Toronto: Shoot him again Report
Returning to Toronto with trepidation, Nick James enjoys Claire Denis’ latest and a Cage-Herzog pairing. Web exclusive, September 2009
Who needs critics? Survey
Critics need to show more passion and conviction if they’re still to matter in the internet age, argues Nick James. From S&S October 2008