A personal journal of film and documentary reviews, and reviews of anything else that intrigues me.
French and French-language Films, Northern European Films
Aki Kaurismäki, “Le Havre” (2011) A heartwarming comedy drama that focusses on deception and the plight of illegal migrants, “Le Havre” features characters, a plot and…
Australian and New Zealand Films
Sally Aitken, “Seduction in the City: the Birth of Shopping (Episode 1: A Genius Idea)” (2011) Ah, shopping – the bane of modern life or the…
French and French-language Films
Marcel Duchamp, “Anémic Cinéma” (1926) Here’s an intriguing 7-minute animated film that consists of a sequence of spiralling patterns, either of actual spirals or concentric circles…
French and French-language Films
René Clair, “Entracte” (1924) This film’s title derives from its originally being an interlude between two acts of a ballet. Director Clair deliberately sought to make…
French and French-language Films
Louis Feuillade, “Les Vampires (Part 10: Les Noces Sanglantes)” (1916) Some time after the events of Part 9, star reporter Phillipe Guérande and Jane Bertonnier have…
French and French-language Films
Louis Feuillade, “Les Vampires (Part 9: L’homme des Poisons)” (1916) With the death of Satanas, a new Grand Vampire, Venomous, a chemist with expertise in concocting…
French and French-language Films
Louis Feuillade, “Les Vampires (Part 8: Le Maître de la Foudre)” (1916) Skipping a couple of episodes of this crime-thriller serial, I arrive at Episode 8…
David Cronenberg, “A Dangerous Method” (2011) Adapted from Christopher Hampton’s stage play “The Talking Cure” which itself is based on John Kerr’s book “A Most Dangerous…
Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, “28 Weeks Later” (2007) On paper it looked like a good idea: a sequel to the original zombies-on-the-run flick “28 Days Later” by…
Australian and New Zealand Films
Mitchell Hawkes, “Heavenly Pop Hits: the Flying Nun Story” (2002) A long overdue and welcome survey of a particular music scene at a particular time in…