A personal journal of film and documentary reviews, and reviews of anything else that intrigues me.
Alfred Hitchcock, “Psycho” (1960) This movie is a good psychological horror thriller with excellent performances from its two leads Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates and Janet Leigh as…
James Cameron, “Aliens” (1986) Sequel to Ridley Scott’s “Alien”, this is a very different movie: “Alien” is basically a haunted-house horror story with ordinary civilian worker…
Bong Joonho, “The Host” (2006) Often billed as a horror film, “The Host” actually has as much comedy, drama and suspense thriller as it has horror.…
Hana Makhmalbaf, “Buddha Collapsed out of Shame” (2007) Charming and delightful with two small child actors playing the main parts, this film carries a sombre message…
Alfred Hitchcock, “Frenzy” (1972) Coming at the tail-end of the UK film director’s illustrious career, “Frenzy” is a straightforward murder thriller set in London in the…
Ridley Scott, “Alien” (1979) In the wake of news that Ridley Scott has started work on “Prometheus”, the movie prologue to “Alien”, it’s timely to revisit…
Brazilian Films, Portuguese-language Films
Jose Padilha, “Elite Squad” (2007) An examination of corruption and brutality in a special forces unit of the Military Police of Rio de Janeiro state in…
Latin American Films (Spanish language)
Walter Salles, “The Motorcycle Diaries” (2004) A film about two guys in their 20s riding on a motorcycle through South America in the 1950s should have been…
French and French-language Films, West African Films
Jean-Stephane Sauvaire, “Johnny Mad Dog” (2008) A film of child soldiers set in an African country experiencing a long and protracted civil war, “Johnny Mad Dog”…
Charles Ferguson, “Inside Job” (2010) For many people, this incisive documentary on the immediate origins of the 2007 – 08 Global Financial Crisis will prove a…