Gasland: intelligent and unassuming documentary on fracking
Josh Fox, “Gasland” (2010) Written, filmed, narrated and directed by Josh Fox, this documentary is a personal journey investigating the nature and environmental impact of the…
Australian and New Zealand Films
Balibo: forcing viewers to think and ask questions about tragic fate of six news reporters
Robert Connolly, “Balibo” (2009) Imaginatively constructed as three stories that initially fit into one another like Russian matryoshka dolls, of which two more or less spread…
Strangers on a Train (dir. Alfred Hitchcock): film labours under director’s favourite themes and obsessions
Alfred Hitchcock, “Strangers on a Train” (1951) As with many other films made by English-American director Alfred Hitchcock, “Strangers on a Train” plumbs the theme of…
German and German-language Films
Downfall: masterly if flawed fictional account of Adolf Hitler’s last days
Oliver Hirschbiegel, “Downfall” (2004) This is an incredible and masterly fictional dramatisation of the last 14 days in the life of Adolf Hitler over April –…
Members of the Funeral: interesting film about a dysfunctional family of self-absorbed isolates
Baek Seungbin, “Members of the Funeral” (2008) An interesting little gem from South Korea that’s flown under the radar of many movie websites, this film probes…
Princess Mononoke: flawed epic with ambition and good intentions
Hayao Miyazaki, “Princess Mononoke” (1997) When I first saw this movie about a decade ago, like everyone else I was bowled over by the stunning animated…
The 39 Steps (dir. Alfred Hitchcock): the movie with the secret code that cracked success for Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock, “The 39 Steps” (1935) Very loosely based on John Buchan’s novel “The Thirty-Nine Steps” – it’s best if you don’t read the novel first…
Milestone of 100 Films reviewed – and thanks to everyone for comments
Hi all, Wow, I’ve racked up reviews of over 100 films on this little blog site already! I’ve been fortunate enough to find a lot of…
French and French-language Films
Band of Outsiders (dir. Jean-Luc Godard): pop culture, the art of film and existential philosophy in one pulp crime film
Jean-Luc Godard, “Bande à part” aka “Band of Outsiders” (1964) Once upon a time, the French had a knack for making gangster and pulpy crime movies in…
German and German-language Films
M (dir. Fritz Lang): an ordinary film with sharp social comment
Fritz Lang, “M” (1931) During the 1920’s and early 1930’s, Germany played unfortunate host to some extremely vicious serial killers, one of whom, Peter Kürten, inspired…