A personal journal of film and documentary reviews, and reviews of anything else that intrigues me.
French and French-language Films
Mia Hansen-Løve, “Un Beau Matin” / “One Fine Morning” (2022) One fine morning in Paris … a woman’s life unexpectedly changes when, while visiting a park…
British Films, North American Films
Sam Mendes, “SPECTRE” (2015) As James Bond films go, “Spectre” looks gritty and stylishly in a minimal way all at once, but that’s as much as…
French and French-language Films
Alice Diop, “Saint Omer” (2022) At first presenting as a dry courtroom drama cum psychological character study, “Saint Omer” turns out to be a compassionate work…
Chris McKay, “Renfield” (2023) A cheerfully cheesy vehicle for Nicolas Cage to finally fulfil his life’s ambition to play Count Dracula, “Renfield” shifts the focus away…
Brandon Cronenberg, “Infinity Pool” (2023) Take away the extreme violence, the scenes of sleazy sex and the over-acting and what we end up with is a…
William Crain, “Blacula” (1972) In 1780, a noble African Prince (William Marshall), known as Mamuwalde, visits Transylvania with his wife Luva to solicit the help of…
Eastern European Films, French and French-language Films
Jerzy Skolimowski, “EO” (2022) Inspired by Robert Bresson’s 1966 film “Au hasard Balthazar”, this Polish film follows the adventures of circus donkey EO after the circus…
French and French-language Films
Louis Garrel, “L’Innocent” (2022) A very clever comedy combining romance and a heist plot, “L’Innocent” works thanks to the excellent performances of its four lead actors…
Simon Napier-Bell, “George Michael: Portrait of an Artist” (2022) For a documentary whose narrative is based completely on interviews with people who knew or were acquainted…
Hirokazu Kore-eda, “Broker” (2022) A young woman brings her baby to a church’s baby box and leaves her child in front of it. She is unaware…