About | Meet the team | Daniel Lammin | SWITCH.
SWITCH.
 JOIN  SIGN IN 
Keep up-to-date on your favourite artists and movies, track gig and release dates, and join in the conversation.
SEARCH RESULTS FOR
OUR CONTRIBUTORS
DANIEL LAMMIN
SWITCH Contributor / Ink & Paint Host

Daniel Lammin has worked extensively as a theatre director, playwright and actor, and his passion for storytelling recently led to him graduating from the post-graduate Directing course at NIDA (2011). His very candid approach to film critiquing comes from his high standards in all creative pursuits, and love of movies from an early age.

TOP 3 ARTISTS: David Ford, Bob Dylan, Death Cab For Cutie
TOP 3 MOVIES: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Zodiac
BEST CONCERT: London Symphony Orchestra with Jean-Yves Thibaudet - 2010
FIRST MEMORY OF A FILM: Seeing 'The Neverending Story' recorded from the TV onto a VHS when I was 3 or 4.

daniel@maketheswitch.com.au
www.twitter.com/DanielLammin
www.instagram.com/DLammin

Napoleon - A sprawling, messy epic that never quite knows what it wants to say
NAPOLEONA sprawling, messy epic that never quite knows what it wants to say
A sweeping, sprawling mess of a film, like a table after an enormous feast. There's a bunch of bits everywhere and you know the whole meal would probably have been more satisfying, but you can't deny how tasty all the leftovers are. How grateful we are that destiny has delivered them to us.
The Royal Hotel - A taut, terrific nightmare in the last swill of a beer glass
THE ROYAL HOTELA taut, terrific nightmare in the last swill of a beer glass
A worthy addition to the canon of great Australian films questioning the idea we have of who we are.
Thanksgiving - A tepid horror meal that’s a bit too slick and not enough sick
THANKSGIVINGA tepid horror meal that’s a bit too slick and not enough sick
For all the memorable moments, 'Thanksgiving' feels amorphous, toothless, unsure of itself, unwilling to commit one way or the other.
Grindhouse - The definitive release of Rodriguez and Tarantino’s crazy experiment
GRINDHOUSEThe definitive release of Rodriguez and Tarantino’s crazy experiment
The best thing about the weird beast that is 'Grindhouse' is its refusal to play it safe, to push its tropes to its limits and to demand that a standard of quality be maintained. In a time now where nostalgia is an easy way to a quick buck and a lasting legacy is the last thing on anyone's mind, 'Grindhouse' feels all the more radical.
All Of Us Strangers - An astonishing ghost story of infinite beauty, sadness and wisdom
ALL OF US STRANGERSAn astonishing ghost story of infinite beauty, sadness and wisdom
This is a miracle, maybe even a masterpiece, a statement on love to last the ages, perhaps the best film of the year.
Poor Things - The glory of the unhinged and the delight of discovery in Yorgos Lanthimos' latest
POOR THINGSThe glory of the unhinged and the delight of discovery in Yorgos Lanthimos' latest
It's a phantasmagorical marvel, a film that literally squeals with delight at every ridiculous detail and revels in the power of discovery. Its brain may be unhinged, but the heart of 'Poor Things' is mighty.
The Killer - Basking in the banal in David Fincher’s latest meticulous marvel
THE KILLERBasking in the banal in David Fincher’s latest meticulous marvel
A deliciously banal, outrageously pedantic slice of preposterous pulp, so meticulously constructed that it transcends to the ridiculous.
Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed - An enigmatic portrait of one of the most enigmatic Hollywood stars
ROCK HUDSON: ALL THAT HEAVEN ALLOWEDAn enigmatic portrait of one of the most enigmatic Hollywood stars
For fans of Hollywood history, this is a wonderful watch, but for those interested in the history and legacy of queer history, I'd say it's a necessary one.
Foe - An uncertain future ill-portrayed in an uncertain film
FOEAn uncertain future ill-portrayed in an uncertain film
All the pieces are certainly there to make it work - a terrific cast, a talented creative team and an intriguing central premise - but the whole thing seems to be beyond Garth Davis' skills to bring it all together as a cohesive whole.
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 - Celebrating 20 years with the first act of Tarantino’s sublime revenge odyssey
KILL BILL: VOL. 1Celebrating 20 years with the first act of Tarantino’s sublime revenge odyssey
It leaves you in a state of elation, of ecstasy, buzzing with an energy you can barely contain. Even after 20 years, there's still just nothing remotely like it. For an hour and 50 minutes, it holds you enraptured, dazzled by its bravura and shaken by its brutality.
The Exorcist: Believer - The devil is in none of the details in this terrible legacy sequel
THE EXORCIST: BELIEVERThe devil is in none of the details in this terrible legacy sequel
'The Exorcist: Believer' is the best example of how insipid and insidious this whole "legacy" media obsession has become. If we see a worse film this year than 'The Exorcist: Believer', it will be very surprising. Send it back to Hell where it belongs.
The Red Shoes - A dance of death towards the sublime
THE RED SHOESA dance of death towards the sublime
Powell and Pressburger's 'The Red Shoes' is a film of impossible beauty and overwhelming tragedy, expressing the inexpressible in ways that still revelatory. It is cinema at its purest and its most impossible.
Cleopatra - Defending one of the most beguiling Hollywood epics
CLEOPATRADefending one of the most beguiling Hollywood epics
It's among the richest of meals from this golden era of Hollywood historical epics, an era the film essentially brought to an end. It has all the best qualities of its contemporaries, mixed together in a melting pot that was just brought to the boil too quickly.
Oppenheimer - Bearing witness as the world splits itself apart
OPPENHEIMERBearing witness as the world splits itself apart
A monumental achievement, a rendering of history in a monolithic fashion. The devastating weight of it presses slowly and slowly upon you with each passing second, and it ranks as one of Christopher Nolan's finest films.
Akira - Staring into the heart of a groundbreaking anime masterpiece
AKIRAStaring into the heart of a groundbreaking anime masterpiece
Even 35 years later, it’s impossible not to be floored by ‘Akira’, by the scale of its vision and the scope of its ambition. It’s an artistic triumph and a spiritual cataclysm, reaching towards the unanswerable questions of the role we play in the greater fabric of the universe.
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One - Another stupendous entry from the greatest action franchise of all
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - DEAD RECKONING PART ONEAnother stupendous entry from the greatest action franchise of all
These are enormous expectations to meet, and 'Dead Reckoning Part One' easily meets them. I cannot imagine how any action film this year, or even until 'Part Two' arrives, could possibly match it.
The New Boy - Warwick Thornton delivers another landmark Australian classic
THE NEW BOYWarwick Thornton delivers another landmark Australian classic
An incandescent, beguiling and quietly devastating fable on how even the most well-meaning of intentions can be complicit in furthering the devastating effects of colonialism. Warwick Thornton weaves this shimmering film with great care and great humanity.
WALL-E - Celebrating Pixar’s greatest achievement
WALL-ECelebrating Pixar’s greatest achievement
We're now 15 years on from the release of 'WALL-E', and even now, the film still feels like a miracle. It's hard to believe something so delicate, so purposeful, so careful, so perfect could possibly exist.
Elemental - An uninspired mess of ideas in Pixar’s latest misstep
ELEMENTALAn uninspired mess of ideas in Pixar’s latest misstep
The problems with 'Elemental' are foundational and extensive - it's a flimsy premise rendered into one of the most frustrating and unsatisfying Pixar films we've seen yet. The synopsis doesn't even scratch the surface of the multiple plot threads running through the film, tangling themselves up into a mess.
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry - Jim Broadbent shines in this delicate and moving odyssey
THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRYJim Broadbent shines in this delicate and moving odyssey
This isn't a piece of pap sentimentality about living your best life but a considered, honest and generous meditation on how we reconcile the life we have led as that life starts to come to an end.
Reservoir Dogs - A gorgeous restoration of Tarantino’s seminal debut
RESERVOIR DOGSA gorgeous restoration of Tarantino’s seminal debut
Of his nine films to date, 'Reservoir Dogs' is still one of Quentin Tarantino's most powerful. There's no indulgence, no swagger, no arrogance; just supreme confidence and startling specificity, a symphony of moral ambiguity and splintering integrity.
Wolf Creek - The limited edition release of an Australian horror classic on Blu-ray
WOLF CREEKThe limited edition release of an Australian horror classic on Blu-ray
Rather than diminishing into a relic from an uncomfortable period of horror filmmaking or a pastiche of Australia's exploitation cinema past, 'Wolf Creek' has only grown richer and darker with time.
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi - Celebrating the bombastic third entry in the Star Wars saga for its 40th anniversary
STAR WARS: EPISODE VI - RETURN OF THE JEDICelebrating the bombastic third entry in the Star Wars saga for its 40th anniversary
40 years later and countless tired outings into the 'Star Wars' universe since, its idiosyncrasy feels like something to celebrate.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie - A missed opportunity to bring a beloved franchise to the screen
THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIEA missed opportunity to bring a beloved franchise to the screen
A tremendous amount of care has been taken to translating these worlds to the screen, but is accompanied by an almost empty screenplay. What could have been a bombastic, rollercoaster fun ride is instead little more than a shrug.
Allelujah - A truly baffling film with confusing side-effects
ALLELUJAHA truly baffling film with confusing side-effects
For most of the run time, it's a forgettable but charming distraction, the kind of film you watch late on a Sunday afternoon. What should have been a bit of fluff is instead overwhelmed by one of the most calamitous final acts in recent memory.
Till - Danielle Deadwyler roars in a film that can’t roar with her
TILLDanielle Deadwyler roars in a film that can’t roar with her
There's so much to appreciate and admire in 'Till', not just its craft and performances but also its compassion. By peddling back in its climax towards a gentler, more inspirational approach, the question is should a film have been made about the lynching of Emmett Till?
8½ - Celebrating the 60th anniversary of Fellini’s giddy masterpiece
8½Celebrating the 60th anniversary of Fellini’s giddy masterpiece
'8½' is an admission of guilt, an acknowledgement of fault and a statement of responsibility. It is Federico Fellini's act of atonement, his journey to forgiveness and his statement on the artist he was, the artist he had become and the artist he wanted to be.
Magic Mike's Last Dance - Not a pony worth riding on
MAGIC MIKE'S LAST DANCENot a pony worth riding on
This is a dull, joyless and boring film, convoluted and almost never sexy. 'Magic Mike's Last Dance' is already slipping from my memory.
Close - Grappling with difficult questions with this accomplished yet problematic film
CLOSEGrappling with difficult questions with this accomplished yet problematic film
As impressive as 'Close' is, the experience of watching it is not an enjoyable one, and the question remains what point filmmaker Lukas Dhont was trying to make other than leaving you feeling completely awful.
My Old School - An imaginative documentary on the strangest of teenage dramas
MY OLD SCHOOLAn imaginative documentary on the strangest of teenage dramas
One of the most entertaining and heartwarming documentaries of the past few years, like having a reunion with a bunch of friends you've never met before.
The Fabelmans - Family, childhood, art and the best film of the year
THE FABELMANSFamily, childhood, art and the best film of the year
This artist who means so much to so many of us reflecting on how he became that artist, revealing the secrets and memories that have driven some of the greatest films ever made. Never has his communion with us felt more intimate, more personal and more necessary.
Dirty Dancing - Having the time of my life for the first time
DIRTY DANCINGHaving the time of my life for the first time
It is the real deal, the ultimate crowd pleaser, the dream romance, the perfect dance.
Bones and All - Finding love in a hopeless place
BONES AND ALLFinding love in a hopeless place
A sincere love story between two young cannibals like this shouldn't work, but somehow It manages to preserve that sincerity without resorting to self-awareness. This is a beguiling, breathtaking film, made with great care and generosity by one of the great filmmakers working today.
Strange World - A giddy & gorgeous sci-fi delight from Walt Disney Feature Animation
STRANGE WORLDA giddy & gorgeous sci-fi delight from Walt Disney Feature Animation
Watching 'Strange World' brings back the joy you had as a kid watching films that took you to new and exciting realms. It's a giddying delight that will keep you enthralled from the moment it begins.
She Said - A lacklustre dramatisation of the major investigation of our time
SHE SAIDA lacklustre dramatisation of the major investigation of our time
This isn't the kind of film you want to walk out of feeling ambivalent. What we have though is a film that's mostly forgettable, one that leaves very little impression as you leave the cinema. When it comes to a story as monumental and essential as the one this film is trying to tell, that's the last thing you want your audience to be doing.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever - A rocky yet ultimately worthy return to Marvel’s greatest achievement
BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVERA rocky yet ultimately worthy return to Marvel’s greatest achievement
As a eulogy for Chadwick Boseman, a man who should still be here and whose loss is almost incalculable, it handles this responsibility with care and grace. And as a landmark in the continued need for representation in major Hollywood filmmaking, it's another significant step in the right direction.
The Banshees of Inisherin - How can you mend a broken heart?
THE BANSHEES OF INISHERINHow can you mend a broken heart?
You leave wanting to sit in the calmness of the film's sadness, the echoes of these extraordinary characters ringing in your ears, the weight of their lives heavy in your heart. Ridiculous and witty, beautiful and heartbreaking, we are left enraptured.
Tár - An infernal, magnificent marvel on the corrupting power of genius
TÁRAn infernal, magnificent marvel on the corrupting power of genius
Todd Field has finally returned to us with a startlingly immediate, wickedly funny, deeply unsettling and ultimately awe-inspiring primal roar, with a performance from Cate Blanchett that feels pulled from the depths of the earth itself, bloody and spitting and monumental.
Aftersun - A delicate and devastating debut that lingers in your soul
AFTERSUNA delicate and devastating debut that lingers in your soul
It's like an earthquake to the heart. You don't realise the ground is shaking beneath your feet until everything starts crashing down around you.
Halloween Ends - A bang, a whimper and a shrug of an ending
HALLOWEEN ENDSA bang, a whimper and a shrug of an ending
The end has come, and to be honest, it couldn't have come soon enough. The mask of Michael Myers is looking pretty tired and worn out by now. Maybe it's time to leave him on the shelf for a while.
 
NEXT ▶
© 2011 - 2023 SWITCH.
All rights reserved

Support SWITCH | Disclaimer | Contact Us!