Greetings again from the darkness. The concept is interesting and relatable. A woman undertakes the solving of a mystery, and in the process, learns a great deal about herself. Writer-director Rebecca Zlotowski w-d (OTHER PEOPLE’S CHILDREN, 2022) and co-writers Anne Berest and Gaelle Mace have delivered a film that works on a couple of levels: […]
Continue reading “”
Greetings again from the darkness. Well, it’s not exactly a ‘good cop/bad cop’ scenario, since only one of them is a cop – and he’s suspended and out of his territory. It’s also not a traditional ‘Buddy comedy’ since these aren’t buddies, but rather estranged, grudge-holding half-brothers. Still, the premise is admirable, and the casting […]
Continue reading “”
Boundaries are crossed in After the Hunt, a film in which lies come back into play with disciplinary matters at hand. Directed by Luca Guadagnino, this film’s writing is disturbing yetrealistic in a fictional #Metoomovement scenario. This story paints a vivid portrait in a college setting. The film has moments which provide context around egotistical matters some of which get dismissed based upon harsh choices. After the Hunt reminded me of the characteristics of individuals who think they are untouchable. The film involves two professors, and a student. […]
Continue reading “”
It may be all style and no substance, but there is never a dull moment in Edward Berger’s psychological drama, with the over-the-top visuals and Colin Farrell’s electric and incredibly sweaty performance keeping me hooked throughout.
The only place Wagner Moura is safe is in this great review. Don’t let the title “The Secret Agent” fool you. This isn’t a spy movie. It’s a Brazilian drama about a man who is in danger and hides out in his hometown, only to find out he might not be safe there, either. We’ll […]
Continue reading “The Secret Agent”
From Boogie Nights to There Will Be Blood and now, One Battle After Another, films by Paul Thomas Anderson have defined decades. The anticipation for a new Paul Thomas Anderson film matches the heights of a new Christopher Nolan or Martin Scorsese project. Audiences know the cast of characters’ll entertain them, but […]
Continue reading “‘One Battle After Another’ Review”
Park Chan-wook dazzles once again with his striking visuals and wickedly sharp humour in this darkly satirical thriller, though it never quite captures the pulse-pounding urgency of his greatest films.
Continuing on with the gala showings at the London Film Festival this year, the next film I decided to go for was The Mastermind. I have a passing familiarity with the work of Kelly Reichardt, I’ve seen a few of them, really liking Meek’s Cutoff and First Cow, but I’m not overtly familiar with her […]
Continue reading “”
Greetings again from the darkness. What is true human nature? Is there even such a thing? Are we preprogrammed to do the right thing, or is it our nature to hold grudges, seek revenge, and take advantage of every situation? This superb film from Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi explores the topic, and it’s important to […]
Continue reading “”
Jennifer Lawrence already had a billion-dollar franchise, an Academy Award, and worldwide acclaim to her name before turning 30. Now fully transitioned into adult roles, Lynne Ramsey’s singular and challenging Die My Love might be the defining performance of Lawrence’s career.
Continue reading “”
Colin Farrell brings every bit of his charisma and charm to his latest film, “Ballad of a Small Player”, a perplexing psychological drama that has so much going for it starting with it’s fully committed star. It’s directed by Edward Berger who is coming off of back-to-back Best Picture Oscar nominations for “All Quiet on […]
Continue reading “Ballad of a Small Player”
The mind of Guillermo del Toro finds creative connections in a powerhouse effort which includes wonders of cinematic imagination unlike any other. From the worlds of Pan’s Labyrinth, The Orphanage, and Pinocchio, he creates new meaning with Frankenstein, one where an emergence of lights evolves, but the political aspects regarding humanistic value fall in the middle. To provide context, this is not your common Halloween-type Frankenstein film. This one has a storyline with emphasis which gives the monster meaning.
Continue reading “”
Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone, one of the most fruitful director-actor partnerships of recent times, are back for the third time in as many years (and the fifth time overall) with Bugonia and, wouldn’t you know, it’s another knockout. Though I was less keen on 2024’s Kinds of Kindness, both The Favourite and Poor Things […]
Continue reading “Bugonia”
Follows Korean independence activists who launched a daring attack in Harbin against the Japanese to gain their country’s independence. […]
Continue reading “Harbin”
A brilliant idea to set a ‘warring gangs’ action film in the iconic if long-demolished Kowloon Walled City, but this comic book adaptation feels numbingly empty with its stylistic excesses a tonal mismatch with the more sobering space of marginality and exploitation.
Continue reading “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In”
Halina Reijn challenges simplistic morality and puritanical standards about human interaction through this delightfully risqué erotic drama.
Continue reading “Babygirl”
This filmic narrative needs to be counted among the classics of Japanese cinema
Continue reading “The Shape of Night (1964)”
Out of the many features premiering this Fall movie season, few have peaked my curiosity quite like Justin Kurzel’s “The Order”. Based on the 1989 non-fiction book “The Silent Brotherhood” by Kevin Flynn and Gary Gerhardt, Kurzel’s period crime thriller sets out to tackle some potent subject matter. And with Jude Law, Nicholas Hoult, Tye Sheridan, and […]
Continue reading “REVIEW: “The Order” (2024)”
A Mexican cartel leader undergoes gender-affirming surgery in Jacques Audiard’s really bad musical Emilia Pérez.
Continue reading “Film Review: Emilia Pérez”
If you’ve been watching the movies coming out of China over the past few years, you’ve no doubt noticed that many… okay, most… of them have a patriotic bent. Gone are subjects that the government has deemed to undermine national security, and that means no more movies about corrupt cops or government officials because they […]
Continue reading “Only the River Flows 河邊的錯誤”
