Reviews in a nutshell
Iranian writer-director Asghar Farhadi’s Nader and Simin, A Separation (Jodaeiye Nader az Simin), or A Separation for short, is an illuminating and moving drama from the heart of one of the Middle East’s most guarded nations, Iran. Farhadi gives a truly fascinating and contemporary picture of the tensions brewing at the heart of its society, …
The biggest mistake you can make is to dismiss Paul Feig’s Bridesmaids as yet another pre-wedding ‘chick flick’, along the lines of 27 Dresses. An even bigger one is writing it off as simply a ‘female Hangover’ – even though contrary to critic sentiment, the lads in Bangkok are riding high at No.2 slot in …
Good documentary film-making informs and provokes debate, and hopefully, addresses all sides of the argument. So in recent times, we’ve had some highly emotive big-screen subject matter (Inside Job’s banking crisis, for example) that’s naturally one-sided to stir up a hornet’s nest of public outrage. It seems film-makers need to find a common concern to …
You can hear the fanboys/girls buzzing away with anticipation at yet another comic-book adaptation bursting onto the big screen this week – with more ticket-hiking 3D promises. Indeed, Hal Jordan aka Green Lantern is probably one of the most down-to-Earth (pardon the pun) and human of the majority of superheroes in the DC world, so …
Think the opposite of sweet Mary, as Diaz is a very naughty, potty-mouthed broad in Walk Hard Jake Kasdan’s new comedy, Bad Teacher. Even though it co-stars a decent bunch of comedy talent in Jason Segel, Lucy Punch and John Michael Higgins, make no mistake; this is a Diaz ogle fest, pure and simple. So, …
Without sounding like Trainspotting’s Renton, writer/director Oren Moverman and co-writer Alessandro Camon’s poignant new drama, The Messenger, is about ‘choosing life’. But it’s not enough to simply be alive; you need to have a purpose, too – something anyone can relate to. The unique situation dealt with in the much delayed film – originally completed …
Mention Mel Gibson’s new film The Beaver, and the standard retort is, “who wants to see that?” after what the actor’s said in public. Reminiscent to loathing a political party, based on a figurehead’s opinions and actions, fallen star Gibson has a lot of campaigning to do. But putting all the less-than-attractive Gibson character traits …
The reluctance that some non-French mainstream markets have in promoting a foreign-language film is thankfully subsiding year on year, considering the abundance of talent these films bring – take Point Blank/ À bout portant most recently, and the international crossover of their stars and themes. In fact, a film like François Ozon’s Potiche should translate …
As everyone knows from nature programmes alone, ‘Hell hath no fury like a Mummy scorned’. After creeping out audiences back in 1992 in The Hand That Rocks The Cradle, then-maternal Rebecca De Mornay proves she’s still got the superior chill factor to scare the living daylights out of you in Saw director Darren Lynn Bousman’s …
