The Movies That Made Me… Episode 6: Trial By Jury
Luke Sorba wrote and directed his first movie on Super 8 when he was 18 years old. "The Mirror Within" won in the Novice Category at Streatham and Norwood Amateur Film Club's Annual Awards. He only made one more (apart from some YouTube sketches) but he has since watched 6000 movies made by other people and owns 1600 on DVD. He spent more teenage hours at the National Film Theatre and the Electric Cinema than anywhere else, and is currently on first name terms with staff at Peckhamplex.
Over two hundred books on cinema fill his shelves and he has a complete collection of Monthly Film Bulletin magazines (incorporated in Sight and Sound since 1990) going back to 1964. As an actor and writer, as well as a teacher of story telling Luke brings professional experience to his observations but it his status as a super-fan that sets him apart.
He is rare among enthusiasts in that there is no period nor genre nor country whose movies he is not curious about. From Intolerance to Inception, The St Valentine's Day Massacre to The Belles of St Trinian's, Do the Right Thing to Dr Dolittle, Zombieland to Nomadland, Superfly to Superman, Tod Browning to Todd Haynes, Federico Fellini to The Fast and Furious, Monika Treut to Monica Bellucci, there is a place for everyone in The Movies That Made Me.
Luke Sorba and Andrew Paine previously collaborated on the online improvised comedy show "Unmute". Together they make up Picard Productions.
Lee Apsey is an award-winning writer, director, producer and performer across film, theatre and digital media. His accomplishments range from critically acclaimed feature films and TV pilots to multiple sold-out runs at the Edinburgh Fringe, Brighton Fringe and Leicester Square Theatre atop a multi-million viewership across online projects.
As an improviser he has taught and performed in the UK, Europe, Asia and United States for over a decade.
He is the co-founder of CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation (“A Spectacular must see” - ☆☆☆☆☆ Bunberry Magazine) as well as currently performing Your Flaws: The Musical and freestyle rap show Slice of Rhyme.
Susie Labinjoh is a civil liberties and human rights solicitor. She specialises in: civil actions against the police and other public bodies; related human rights claims; compensation claims for victims of miscarriage of justice and public law challenges related to these areas. In her spare time she enjoys film, theatre and podcasts amongst other things!
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (2000) d Gale Edwards
Possibly the most famous miscarriage of justice, this time presented as a rock opera. Made washing your hands in public a trope 2000 years before Covid.
Contrasts: Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) d Norman Jewison; The Passion of the Christ (2004) d Mel Gibson; The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) d Martin Scorsese
MRS DOUBTFIRE (1993) d Chris Columbus
Alongside Aladdin. and Good Morning Vietnam a fantastic platform for the comedic talent of Robin Williams. And by no means as sentimental as some of Williams’ subsequent films.
Contrasts: Kramer vs Kramer (1979) d Robert Benton; Tootsie (1982) d Sydney Pollack
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962) d Robert Mulligan
A classic movie (adaptation of Harper Lee’s classic book) which is particularly interesting to revisit with a post-Black Lives Matter perspective. Racism, justice, community – all through the gaze of a child.
Contrast: In the Name of the Father (1993) d Jim Sheridan
JUST MERCY (2019) d Destin Daniel Cretton
Jamie Foxx reminds us how incredibly versatile he is in this searing true story about a black man falsely convicted of a murder that takes place in the Harper Lee’s home town.
Contrast: A Few Good Men (1992) Rob Reiner
A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH (1946) d Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
A wonderfully rich film that is both truly of its time – just after World War 2 – and yet its playing with form and dealing with diversity are so relevant today.
Contrast: The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) d Robert Wise
TWELVE ANGRY MEN (1957) d Sidney Lumet
The quintessential movie about a jury which actually started out as a TV drama ( and you can literally see why). The group is all ready to condemn and to punish… until a single individual quietly suggests they take one more look.
Contrast: Lord of the Flies (1963) d Peter Brook
Andrew Paine: Producer & Audio Engineer
