Contributor Paul Risker

Composite image of 5 people, with red and blue colouring over their faces.

A brief history of America according to Martin Scorsese

by Paul Risker

Across seven decades, Martin Scorsese has been constructing his own vision of the United States' bloodstained mythology.
Collage of pop culture characters: C-3PO, Ant-Man, Batman, Joker, shark monster

The long, complex evolution of the blockbuster

by Paul Risker

Nearly 50 years since Jaws changed the shape of cinema, the term 'blockbuster' has come a long way – but not always for the better.
Sketch of a peculiar, contorted figure with angular limbs and a grotesque, fish-like head.

Alexandre O Philippe on exploring the origins of Ridley Scott’s Alien

by Paul Risker

A new documentary reveals the untold secrets of this seminal sci-fi horror.
Illustrated portrait of a serious-looking man wearing glasses and a striped shirt, set against a floral patterned background.
Interviews

Richard Billingham: ‘I wanted to give a sense of what it was like to be there’

by Paul Risker

The British photographer and filmmaker opens up about his kitchen sink drama Ray & Liz.
Man with bloody face and distressed expression, standing against a red and textured background.

How Martin Scorsese’s faith informed his most iconic characters

by Paul Risker

Silence isn’t the first occasion when the director’s obsession with religion has been at the fore.
Elegant Victorian-era couple dressed in formal attire. Woman in frilly dress and hat holding parasol, man in suit and top hat.
Home Ents

Is this the most subversive femme fatale in movie history?

by Paul Risker

How a young actress named Googie Withers stole the show in British noir Pink String and Sealing Wax.
Two men in suits seated at a table, one gesturing as they converse in a dimly lit room with blinds visible in the background.
In Praise Of

Why Strangers on a Train is a masterpiece of suspenseful storytelling

by Paul Risker

A new film staring Oscar Isaac got us thinking about Alfred Hitchcock’s classic tale of duplicity and intrigue.
A man wearing a tan cowboy hat and shirt, standing in a desert landscape with hills in the background and a truck visible.

A brief history of America according to the Coen brothers

by Paul Risker

Hail, Caesar! is the latest entry into the directors’ career-long reframing of their country’s storied past.
A scowling man holding crumpled papers next to a sign reading "POSITIVELY NO GAMBLING".
Long Read

How Mean Streets changed the face of American cinema

by Paul Risker

With Martin Scorsese’s seminal crime drama finally out on Blu-ray, we gauge the film’s enduring influence.
A woman in a black robe standing at an altar with lit candles and books.
In Praise Of

Why Carl Theodor Dreyer is one of cinema’s greatest ever directors

by Paul Risker

To mark the release of the BFI’s new Blu-ray collection, revisit four works by the Danish master.

Accessibility Settings

Text

Applies the Open Dyslexic font, designed to improve readability for individuals with dyslexia.

Applies a more readable font throughout the website, improving readability.

Underlines links throughout the website, making them easier to distinguish.

Adjusts the font size for improved readability.

Visuals

Reduces animations and disables autoplaying videos across the website, reducing distractions and improving focus.

Reduces the colour saturation throughout the website to create a more soothing visual experience.

Increases the contrast of elements on the website, making text and interface elements easier to distinguish.