Contributor Justine Smith

An elderly Asian man in a dark coat and hat pointing a pistol at the camera.
In Praise Of

Why Death Wish’s pro-gun politics are just as complex as ever

by Justine Smith

The film’s glamorisation of vigilante justice resonated with an increasingly paranoid audience in 1974.
Crowd of people gathered at an outdoor event, with a man in a white shirt raising his fist in the air.
In Praise Of

How When We Were Kings enshrined Muhammad Ali’s legacy

by Justine Smith

Leon Gast’s award-winning 1996 film portrays the heavyweight champ as an artist, philosopher and poet.
A young man playing an acoustic guitar in a dimly lit room, wearing a casual outfit. The image is in black and white.
In Praise Of

Why King Creole is Elvis Presley’s best movie

by Justine Smith

This hit musical, released 60 years ago, remains the pinnacle of the American singer’s film career.
Two people, a woman with blonde hair and a man in a flat cap, standing by a wooden structure in a rural setting.

The stories behind the best film lists of 1967

by Justine Smith

We’ve delved into the archives to find out which films were topping critics’ charts 50 years ago.
A smiling woman in a frilly white dress pirouettes on an ice rink, surrounded by a crowd.

Remembering Sonja Henie: Hollywood’s first (and only) skating superstar

by Justine Smith

The Olympic figure skater turned actor was a huge celebrity in her day – but controversy was never far away.
Monochrome image of a man standing on a road with a street sign in the background, surrounded by a desolate landscape.
Interviews

Travis Wilkerson: ‘There’s a tremendous opportunity for social change right now’

by Justine Smith

The radical director of Did You Wonder Who Fired the Gun? talks race and legacy in America.
Salim Shaheen in a desert setting with arms outstretched, wearing a white coat and sunglasses.

Searching for Salim Shaheen: Afghanistan’s Z-movie king

by Justine Smith

The so-called ‘Prince of Nothingwood’ is his country’s zero-budget answer to Steven Spielberg.
Two elderly individuals riding a red mobility scooter in a garden setting with lush greenery and buildings in the background.
Festivals

Is this the world’s sexiest film festival?

by Justine Smith

Montreal’s Festival du Nouveau Cinéma presented erotic tales from around the world this year.
Black and white image of a man and woman in conversation, both wearing formal attire.
Festivals

Why Jacques Tourneur is a filmmaker for our troubled modern times

by Justine Smith

The French master’s work mirrors today’s climate of social anxiety, as revealed in a recent retrospective.
A woman's serious face is illuminated by the glow of a lamp in a dark room.
Women In Film

Why the future of genre cinema is female

by Justine Smith

At the 2017 Fantasia Film Festival, women directors once again took centre stage.

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