BLACK BAG (2025, UK, 94m, 15) ***½ Thriller dist. Focus Features (USA), Universal Pictures (UK); pr co. Focus Features / Casey Silver Productions; d. Steven Soderbergh; w. David Koepp; pr. Gregory Jacobs, Casey Silver; ph. Steven Soderbergh (Colour | 2.39:1); m. David Holmes; ed. Steven Soderbergh (as Mary Ann Bernard); pd. Philip Messina; ad. Adam…
Tag: Spy
Film Review – BILLION DOLLAR BRAIN (1967)
BILLION DOLLAR BRAIN (1967, UK, 111m, PG) **½ Adventure, Drama, Thriller dist. United Artists; pr co. Jovera Pictures AG/SA; d. Ken Russell; w. John McGrath (based on the novel by Len Deighton); pr. Harry Saltzman; ph. Billy Williams (De Luxe | 2.35:1); m. Richard Rodney Bennett; ed. Alan Osbiston; pd. Syd Cain; ad. Bert Davey….
TV Review – THE IPCRESS FILE (2022)
THE IPCRESS FILE (2022, UK, 6 x 45m, 15) **½ Drama, Thriller dist. ITV (UK); pr co. Altitude Television/Turbine Studios; d. James Watkins; w. John Hodge (based on the novel by Len Deighton); exec pr. Will Clarke, John Hodge, Sanford Lieberson, Andy Mayson, Steven Saltzman, Hilary Saltzman, James Watkins; pr. Paul Ritchie; ph. Tim Maurice-Jones…
Film Review – NO TIME TO DIE (2021)
NO TIME TO DIE (2021, UK/USA, 163m, 12) ***½ Action, Adventure dist. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (USA), Universal Pictures International (UPI) (UK); pr co. Eon Productions / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) / Universal Pictures / Danjaq / B25 / Cinesite; d. Cary Joji Fukunaga; w. Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Cary Joji Fukunaga, Phoebe Waller-Bridge (based on a story by…
Book review – FOREVER AND A DAY (2018) by Anthony Horowitz
FOREVER AND A DAY (2018) ***½ by Anthony Horowitz This paperback edition published by Vintage, 2019, 304pp (283pp) First published by Jonathan Cape in 2018 © Ian Fleming Publications Ltd. and The Ian Fleming Estate, 2018 ISBN: 978-1-784-70638-8 Blurb: A British agent floats in the waters of the French Riviera, murdered by an unknown hand. Determined to…
Book Review – COLONEL SUN (1968) by Kingsley Amis (writing as Robert Markham)
COLONEL SUN (1968) ***½ by Kingsley Amis (writing as Robert Markham) This paperback edition published by Vintage, 2012, 344pp (317pp) First published by Jonathan Cape in 1966 © Ian Fleming Publications Ltd., 1968 Introduction by Kingsley Amis (5pp) ISBN: 978-1-784-87145-1 Blurb: Lunch at Scott’s, a quiet game of golf, a routine social call on his chief M, convalescing in…
Book Review – OCTOPUSSY AND THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS (1966) by Ian Fleming
OCTOPUSSY AND THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS (1966) *** by Ian Fleming This paperback edition published by Vintage, 2012, 126pp First published by Jonathan Cape in 1966 © Ian Fleming Publications Ltd., 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966 Introduction by Sam Leith (10pp) ISBN: 978-0-099-57702-7 Short Stories: Octopussy (1965, 46pp) *** The Property of a Lady (1963, 34pp) **½ The…
Book Review – THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN (1965) by Ian Fleming
THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN (1965) **½ by Ian Fleming This paperback edition published by Vintage, 2012, 238pp (214pp) First published by Jonathan Cape in 1965 © Ian Fleming Publications Ltd., 1965 Introduction by William Boyd (8pp) ISBN: 978-0-099-57699-0 Blurb: ‘Mister, there’s something quite extra about the smell of death. Care to try it?’ After a…
Book Review – YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE (1964) by Ian Fleming
YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE (1964) ***½ by Ian Fleming This paperback edition published by Vintage, 2012, 320pp (288pp) First published by Jonathan Cape in 1964 © Ian Fleming Publications Ltd., 1964 Introduction by Tony Parsons (10pp) ISBN: 978-0-099-57698-3 Blurb: You only live twice: Once when you are born And once when you look death in the face’ Doctor…
Book Review – ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE (1963) by Ian Fleming
ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE (1963) ***** by Ian Fleming This paperback edition published by Vintage, 2012, 368pp (339pp) First published by Jonathan Cape in 1963 © Ian Fleming Publications Ltd., 1963 Introduction by Stella Rimington (7pp) ISBN: 978-0-099-57697-6 Blurb: Ernst Stavro Blofeld, head of the terrorist organization SPECTRE, is holed up in his Alpine base, conducting…