The Promise: a slurpy romantic melodrama overshadows significant historic events
Terry George, “The Promise” (2016) A film about the Ottoman Turkish genocide of Armenians and other Christian minorities (1915 – 1918) is probably never going to…
The Mummy (directed by Alex Kurtzman): action thriller / horror film with no horror, few thrills and silly action
Alex Kurtzman, “The Mummy” (2017) Somewhere in this hokey action blockbuster film is a story about flawed humans acting for purely selfish reasons and the consequences…
Masquerade: a historical drama inspired by a bizarre episode in a Korean king’s reign becomes an inquiry into good government and social class
Choo Chang-min “Gwanghae: Wang-i Doen Namja / Masquerade” (2012) Korean actor Lee Byung-hun may be better known for his gunslinger roles in flicks like “The Good, the…
Latin American Films (Spanish language)
Neruda: an exploration of how stories are created and shaped by those who exercise political power
Pablo Larraín, “Neruda” (2016) Very loosely based on an episode in Chilean poet-politician Pablo Neruda’s life, when he and his wife Delia were forced to go…
Australian and New Zealand Films
David Bowie Iconic: an unedifying trio of interviews with rock star legend
?, “David Bowie Iconic” (2016) From the packaging, I thought this DVD was supposed to be a documentary about the British rock / pop legend but…
Australian and New Zealand Films
Tudawali: biopic of Australia’s first Aboriginal film star, torn between two worlds and their values
Stephen Jodrell, “Tudawali” (1988) Made as a TV movie, “Tudawali” shines a light on the Australia’s first major indigenous film star Robert Tudawali, played outstandingly by…
Topkapi: an uneven and slight heist film possessed of zest, colour and joy
Jules Dassin, “Topkapi” (1964) His heist film “Rififi” proved to be such a classic that it ended up being spoofed as well as imitated so US…
Dark Horse: a bleak and surreal comedy satire on dysfunctional middle class suburban families
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…
Mash-up of all previous Alien franchise flicks delivers an uneven story in “Alien: Covenant”
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…
Elvis & Nixon: amusing and light-hearted comedy of the meeting between rock star legend and the most powerful politician in the world
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…