Dave’s Movie Diary

In this episode I revisit At Close Range (1986), James Foley’s powerful crime drama starring Sean Penn and Christopher Walken. More than a story about criminals, it’s a film about fathers and sons, temptation, belonging and the difficult process of becoming your own person. I explore Sean Penn’s remarkable early career, Christopher Walken’s unforgettable performance as the charismatic and dangerou...

Sidney Lumet’s The Offence (1973) is a dark psychological drama that shows a very different side of Sean Connery. Far removed from James Bond, Connery plays a troubled detective carrying the weight of years spent confronting violence and suffering. This isn’t a traditional crime thriller, but a powerful study of trauma, memory and what happens when someone spends too long surrounded by the worst o...

I revisit Semi-Tough (1977), a film that promised a lot on paper — Burt Reynolds, Kris Kristofferson, Jill Clayburgh, professional football, romance and self-help gurus. What surprised me was that the story itself wasn’t what stayed with me. Instead, it became a fascinating time capsule of late-1970s America, from the fashions and music to the changing attitudes and search for self-improvement. Wh...

I revisit Lenny (1974) and came away even more convinced that this is one of Dustin Hoffman’s finest performances. Whether or not it perfectly captures the real Lenny Bruce almost doesn’t matter—Hoffman completely inhabits the role, taking us through the comedian’s wit, anger, vulnerability and eventual collapse. Bob Fosse’s understated direction and striking black-and-white cinematography create...

In this episode of Dave’s Movie Diary, I revisit River’s Edge (1986), a film that still feels incredibly unsettling nearly forty years later. The murder itself happens before the film even begins — the real shock comes from watching how casually many of the teenagers respond afterwards, with some more concerned about protecting the killer than dealing with what has happened. I look back at my firs...

In this episode of Dave’s Movie Diary, I revisit John Milius’ Dillinger (1973), a crime film that feels less like a Hollywood gangster movie and more like a gritty historical reconstruction. I talk about Warren Oates’ outstanding performance, the incredible supporting cast including Richard Dreyfuss, Ben Johnson and Harry Dean Stanton, and why the film captures the end of the American outlaw era s...

I revisit Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), a science-fiction classic that I think deserves to be mentioned alongside the very best dystopian films ever made. Even knowing the famous ending, the film is just as gripping because it’s the journey that counts. I talk about Philip Kaufman’s brilliant direction, Donald Sutherland and Brooke Adams’ performances, the eerie atmosphere created by Jerr...

Revisiting Paths of Glory nearly 30 years after first seeing it, I found Stanley Kubrick’s early masterpiece just as powerful as I remembered. More than a war film, it’s a devastating examination of leadership, injustice and the human cost of impossible decisions. I also take another look at Kirk Douglas’s outstanding performance, Kubrick’s emerging filmmaking style, and why this remains one of th...

Today I’m revisiting Secretary, a film I first saw around the time of its release and remembered as something completely different from anything else around. What surprised me this time is how much it’s really a story about two people finding acceptance in a relationship that doesn’t fit conventional expectations. Maggie Gyllenhaal gives an incredible breakthrough performance, with James Spader pe...

Erskineville Kings turned out to be much more than a nostalgic trip back to Sydney in 1999. I revisit this gritty Australian drama and explore why it captures a version of inner-city Sydney that no longer exists, while arguing that Hugh Jackman delivers one of the finest performances of his career as a deeply conflicted man carrying enormous guilt and grief. It’s an honest, emotionally raw film th...

In this episode of Dave’s Movie Diary, I revisit Kiss the Girls (1997), a film that arrived during what I still think was one of the greatest years at the movies. The late 90s were full of serial killer thrillers, and this was one of the better examples of the genre, with Morgan Freeman bringing Alex Cross to life and Ashley Judd delivering a fantastic performance as a survivor fighting to escape....

I revisit Malice (1993), a 90s thriller I barely remembered but found much more clever and entertaining than expected. With a great cast led by Alec Baldwin, Nicole Kidman and Bill Pullman, the film keeps you guessing with its twists, red herrings and shifting loyalties. Baldwin is perfectly cast as the confident, charismatic surgeon who may not be exactly what he seems, while Kidman shows the ran...

I revisit Carlito’s Way (1993), a film I absolutely loved when I first saw it at 21. I made a copy on VHS, watched it repeatedly, and was completely drawn into its world — the 1970s New York setting, the Puerto Rican influence, Al Pacino’s magnetic performance as Carlito Brigante and Sean Penn’s wild, unpredictable Kleinfeld. Coming back to it years later, I found a very different experience. It’s...

In this episode I revisit François Ozon’s Swimming Pool (2003), a beautifully understated mystery set in the South of France. I talk about the wonderful performances from Charlotte Rampling and Ludivine Sagnier, the film’s playful blend of reality and fantasy, and why I think it features one of the most underrated twists of this century. It’s a quiet, intelligent film that stayed with me long afte...

I revisit Death Wish (1974), the film that helped define the vigilante genre and gave Charles Bronson one of the most memorable roles of his career. Watching it now, I was struck by how much more thoughtful it is than its reputation suggests. Beneath the controversial violence is a film that asks difficult questions about crime, justice and what happens when ordinary people feel abandoned by socie...

In this episode of Dave’s Movie Diary, I revisit The Breakfast Club (1985), the John Hughes classic that strangely never connected with me the way Ferris Bueller’s Day Off or Planes, Trains and Automobiles did. I look at the memorable performances, the iconic dialogue and soundtrack, and why I think the film works better as a series of observations about teenage life than as one completely satisfy...

I revisit Romper Stomper (1992), one of the most confronting films to come out of Australia. Seeing it again more than 30 years after first watching it in the cinema, I found myself reacting very differently to the violence, the racism and the performances. I also look at Geoffrey Wright’s direction, Russell Crowe’s breakthrough role, and why this controversial film remains as powerful and relevan...

I revisit Christopher Guest’s Waiting for Guffman (1997), a small-town mockumentary that I had almost no memory of seeing before this rewatch. What starts as a simple story about a community theatre production becomes a hilarious and surprisingly affectionate look at ambition, ego and the desire to feel special. With an incredible ensemble cast including Christopher Guest, Catherine O’Hara, Eugene...

I revisit Paul Schrader’s Cat People (1982), a stylish and undeniably strange cult film I’d been wanting to see again for years. With memorable performances from Nastassja Kinski and Malcolm McDowell, an atmospheric Giorgio Moroder score and David Bowie’s iconic title song, it’s a film that’s often more fascinating than satisfying. I explore what still works, what doesn’t, and why this unusual rem...

I revisit Smoke (1995), Wayne Wang’s beautifully understated character drama written by Paul Auster. Built around a Brooklyn cigar shop and the lives of the people who pass through it, the film is less about plot and more about memory, connection and the stories people tell each other. Harvey Keitel gives one of his warmest performances as Auggie Wren, while William Hurt is outstanding as a grievi...

I revisit Stanley Kubrick’s The Killing (1956), a tightly constructed crime thriller that shows the early signs of the filmmaker he would become. Following a meticulously planned racetrack robbery, the film unfolds with a precision and efficiency that feels years ahead of its time. With its documentary-like narration, sharp structure and cynical view of human nature, it’s a fascinating look at Kub...

A Fish Called Wanda (1988) remains one of the funniest comedies of the decade. In this episode, I revisit a film I first saw with my dad at the cinema, look at the brilliant performances from John Cleese, Kevin Kline, Jamie Lee Curtis and Michael Palin, and explore why its sharp script and perfect comic timing still hold up after all these years. Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and the Dave’...

I revisit Andrea Arnold’s Fish Tank (2009), a film that completely blew me away when I first saw it and feels even more powerful on rewatch. It’s a raw and incredibly realistic portrait of a teenager trying to find her place in the world, surrounded by circumstances and adults that often fail her. Katie Jarvis gives an extraordinary debut performance as Mia, while Michael Fassbender delivers one o...

I revisit John Sayles’ Passion Fish (1992), a beautifully made character drama about two damaged people who slowly learn to understand each other. Mary McDonnell and Alfre Woodard are fantastic as two women dealing with their own struggles, while the Louisiana bayou setting gives the film an incredible sense of place. A quiet, thoughtful film about pride, addiction, forgiveness and finding a way f...

Francis Ford Coppola’s Rumble Fish (1983) might just be his forgotten masterpiece. In this episode, I revisit its stunning black-and-white cinematography, mythic performances from Mickey Rourke and Matt Dillon, and the dreamlike atmosphere that makes it unlike anything else Coppola directed. I also explore the film’s place in Coppola’s remarkable 1980s career, its themes of identity and growing up...