April 2004

Please view our back issues page for more information about obtaining previous months issues, dating back to 1995.

Features

#Iranian House Style

The release of At 5 in the Afternoon and Joy of Madness sees the Makhmalbaf machine in full swing. Hannah McGill profiles Iran's premier film-making family.

#Warmonger Blues

In The Fog of War former US defense secretary Robert S.McNamara examines his role in Vietnam. Or does he, asks J.Hoberman.

Hell In Jerusalem

Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ has been lambasted for its historical portrayal of the Jews. But does it work as a film, asks Nick James. Plus Stephen J. Brown surveys the career of Jesus the movie star.

Forgiven

Kevin Costner's Open Range is a triumphant return to the classical Western - except its crusty cowboy heroes get to talk. By Jim Kitses

Keeping Up Appearances

The Good Old Naughty Days is a collection of 1920s French porn that pulled in punters in present-day Paris. Jann Matlock peeps into the history of the genre.

Books Special

Ian Christie asks if pictorial surveys of cinema still deserve a place on our coffee tables. Plus the first comprehensive guide to British cinema, L.A. Confidential, the British Film industry in the 1950s, talking to von Trier.

Selected reviews

#Film of the Month: Capturing the Friedmans

Capturing the Friedmans mixes three generations of home movies to give a raw portrait of a family riven by charges of child abuse. By Xan Brooks.

#The Good Old Naughty Days

#The Passion of the Christ

Reviews in this issue:

  • Against the Ropes
  • At 5 in the Afternoon
  • Film of the Month: Capturing the Friedmans
  • Carandiru
  • Carnages
  • Charlie
  • Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat
  • Fear X
  • The Fog of War Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S.McNamara
  • The Girl Next Door
  • The Good Old Naughty Days
  • Gothika
  • Grand Theft Parsons
  • Honey
  • House of Sand and Fog
  • Imaginando Argentina
  • The Last Kiss
  • Leo
  • Man Dancin'
  • Monster
  • One Last Chance
  • Open Range
  • The Passion of the Christ
  • The Perfect Score
  • Radio
  • Sex Lives of the Potato Men
  • Spare Parts
  • The Station Agent
  • Torque
  • Under the Tuscan Sun
  • Vizontele Tuuba
  • Wonderland
  • Zatoichi
Last Updated: 20 Dec 2011