Even though it’s at times too content to cost by on it’s interesting concept and beautiful imagery, and lags a little bit in the second act (perhaps because it has more of an idea than a story), Renoir is still a most enjoyable film that with its account of Jean Renoir’s emergence of passion for cinema, movie buffs won’t want to miss.
Also featuring some truly beautiful picturesque imagery, Once Upon A Time In Vietnam is a decent enough movie, it just doesn’t live up to the pedigree of its title, being more Once Upon A Time In Mexico than Once Upon a Time In The West.
This new release seems more concerned with the story of the two lovers, rather than the punch-dunk feeling of being in love. Without a doubt, Mood Indigo is one of Gondry’s best offerings to date, especially if you can get your hands on its original draft.
I must admit to being consistently charmed by the Studio Ghibli films of Japan over the years. I have enjoyed the beautiful cell animation,…
One of the most notable elements of the film, is its aside from the well-told political tension of the region; opting in favour to sway away from politics and instead pull focus on the every day and social interactions of Israel and its people. The World is Funny is not only a terrific Israeli film, but also a universal and intrinsically humanistic one.
Screening alongside classics like Dario Argento’s Deep Red (a masterpiece, and still arguably the high point of the genre) and Tenebrae, as well as Lucio Fulci’s seminal early work Don’t Torture A Duckling, are more obscure items like The Pyjama Case (set in Sydney of all places and starring Ray Milland) and A Quiet Place In The Country.
Ultimately this haunting Darwinian tale of violence and morality is a social commentary on the normality of violence and crime in the region. One can only hope the extreme brutalisation against children from the police force is an exaggeration of current times in Kazakhstan, rather than a reality.
The audience knows where the film is headed long before it gets there, very much like watching a trail slowly derail. As the title indicates, Death For Sale doesn’t provide any happy endings. These men are a product of their society, which unfortunately doesn’t elevate them to fulfil any kind of potential.
Beautifully filmed by Sophia Olsson, with a clear Scandinavian influence, the aesthetics might obscure the story a little at times but this is a minor trifle. Adrian’s life is anything but straightforward (I’ll say it again; it’s just very bleak) and so the plot can be forgiven for swaying every now and then.
A World Not Ours gives us a unique look at a corner of the world we would be unlikely to encounter otherwise, adding a jazzy score and humour throughout to perk up an otherwise grim subject. Informative and grounding, this film shows us how frequently we take identity for granted.