Reviews in a nutshell
Beneath Clouds (2002) writer-director Ivan Sen has found a pitch-perfect niche in the crime-thriller genre with his new film Mystery Road, set in the Australian outback. This marvellously atmospheric and sumptuous-looking film has all the mellow attitude of a western, pausing to take in panoramic, burnt-orange sunrises and sunsets, while punctuated by bursts of action …
By describing If I Stay as ‘bland’ (as some critics have) falls into the same category as lazily dismissing the Twilight saga films – they serve a purpose for the hormonal young. Sure, watching loved-up teens looking and acting awkward can be a little on the dreary, lagging side for us older and ‘wiser’ (ahem) …
We’ve become blasé about our sci-fi stories – anything goes that initially seems crackers but gets persuasive as things progress. Luc Besson has combined a sci-fi passion with that of one of his strong, kick-ass women in Lucy, starring Scarlett Johansson. You would be forgiven for thinking it was another Malick The Tree Of Life …
Daniel Radcliffe is trying all kinds of film projects in an attempt to shake off the boy wizard label once and for all – and understandably so. This time, it’s rom-com territory, but not just any old rom-com, one of those quirky indie ones that seem to embrace oddball characters and allow them to find …
The novelty of ‘found footage’ films is starting to wear thin. Not only does it always have certain shots that couldn’t possibly have been captured by any of the characters – hence rendering the status quo questionable, but also it expects us to arrogantly take it a little more seriously, which in this case is …
Waltz With Bashir animator Ari Folman takes on the advancing techno nature of the Hollywood film industry in his hybrid (live action/animation), political sci-fi The Congress. It’s hard to distinguish whether the film itself or the myriad of ideas it boldly flags deserve the true credit. Debate aside, Folman uses animation to illustrate the ‘death …
If you think you’ve got/had it rough you haven’t experienced God’s Pocket. Mind you, don’t let any of the locals hear you snigger because only they are qualified the kick their crumby situation and location. This is a story directed by Mad Men’s John Slattery, based on a novel by Peter Dexter about a working-class …
It’s compulsive viewing, like America’s Got Talent, not because anything groundbreaking is going to happen in the latest Step Up instalment, but because we’re secretly fascinated by how the choreographers will up their game in version 5, All In. There’s also that respect and awe we hold for such nubile young things without an ounce …
If incredibly imagination alone were the key to a successful film, then writer-director Michel Gondry’s L’écume des jours or Mood Indigo would be a guaranteed box-office smash. It’s like an animated delicacy that ignites the creative juices with every scene, beautifully crafted to help tell a delicate story of loss. However, as much as fans …
