A personal journal of film and documentary reviews, and reviews of anything else that intrigues me.
Todd Solondz, “Dark Horse” (2011) A bleak comedy expressing despair over the human condition, “Dark Horse” revolves around life’s losers, those who for various reasons are…
Ridley Scott, “Alien: Covenant” (2017) British director Ridley Scott must have taken all the criticisms of “Prometheus” to heart as he has delivered a new chapter…
Liza Johnson, “Elvis & Nixon” (2016) Based on an actual incident in which the famous rock singer Elvis Presley turned up unannounced at the White House…
French and French-language Films
Marcel Carné, “The Children of Paradise / Les Enfants du Paradis” (1945) Made under difficult conditions in Vichy France, this sumptuous film is rich in character…
Jordan Peele, “Get Out” (2017) Jordan Peele’s comedy horror film, his first as a director, about an interracial relationship that goes awry can be seen as…
Sinan Saeed and Tom Duggan, “Aleppo Renaissance” (2017) Here’s a very welcome documentary on Aleppo and its significance in Syria’s history, culture and economy, and why…
Craig Zobel, “Compliance” (2012) Based on a series of incidents over a decade from the mid-1990s to 2004, in which a prank caller convinced the staff…
Chinese and Chinese-language Films
Zhang Yimou, “Raise the Red Lantern” (1991) This is a beautiful film of minimal, even severe and classic simplicity, that lets the cruelty and jealous passions…
Dean Parisot, “Galaxy Quest” (1999) Conceived as a homage to and spoof of the famous science fiction TV series “Star Trek” and of the obsessive fan…
Werner Herzog, “Queen of the Desert” (2013) Renowned German film director Werner Herzog, maker of classics like “Aguirre: Wrath of God” and “Fitzcarraldo” could have done…