Fantastic Voyage: call for the doctor, this film of inner space has no vital signs!
Richard Fleischer, “Fantastic Voyage” (1966) Set during the Cold War in the 1960s – or was it the 1990s? – “Fantastic Voyage” has a wonderful premise…
nausika
French and French-language Films
La Belle et La Bête: a visually sumptuous film both clear in its themes and ambiguous in its details
Jean Cocteau, “La Belle et La Bête” (1946) A beautiful and sumptuous film, this interpretation of the famous fairy tale by surrealist writer / film-maker Jean…
Electronic Labyrinth THX1138 4EB: experimental sci-fi short already layered with allegory and critique
George Lucas, “Electronic Labyrinth THX1138 4EB” (1967) Precursor to “THX1138”, this short film was made by Lucas while he was a student at the University of…
THX1138: surprisingly intelligent dystopian sci-fi film serving as both allegory and social criticism
George Lucas, “THX1138” (1971) Before he became famous for his “Star Wars” series of films, George Lucas was noted chiefly for his dystopian sci-fi flick “THX1138”…
French and French-language Films
Black Moon: surreal film on death and rebirth that satirises political, cultural and social issues of 1970s
Louis Malle, “Black Moon” (1975) A curious film this is, based on Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland”, in which Alice figure Lily (Cathryn Harrison) is fleeing…
British Films, French and French-language Films
The Yes Men Fix the World: taking down predatory global corporate fascism with hilarious pranks and comedy
Kurt Engfehr, Andy Bichlbaum and Mike Bonanno, “The Yes Men Fix the World” (2009) Well no, actually they don’t but that was a pretty good little…
O Brother, Where Art Thou? – a layered film of renewal and redemption aiming at easy targets for comedy
Joel Coen, “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” (2000) An amusing road film based on Homer’s The Odyssey, “O Brother …?” takes viewers on a quick and…
Australian and New Zealand Films, British Films
Murdoch (Part 2): slap-dash documentary with racy tone is a damp squib
Janice Sutherland, “Murdoch (Part 2)” (2013) As I suspected, the second half of this series turns out to be a damp squib: it’s basically a rundown…
Spring Breakers: surprisingly well-made and sarcastic film about the search for a meaningful life
Harmony Korine, “Spring Breakers” (2012) Contrary to most reports I’ve seen or heard about this film, “Spring Breakers” is actually a very well-made piece with a…
Australian and New Zealand Films, British Films
Murdoch (Part 1): the rise and rise of outsider newspaper owner turned media empire king-maker
Janice Sutherland, “Murdoch (Part 1)” (2013) Here be the story of the rise and rise of the global media mogul Rupert Murdoch and his empire News…