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…
French and French-language Films
The Children of Paradise: a sumptuous melodrama rich in character, the complexities of human nature and the grandeur of life
Marcel Carné, “The Children of Paradise / Les Enfants du Paradis” (1945) Made under difficult conditions in Vichy France, this sumptuous film is rich in character…
Get Out: social criticism and philosophical inquiry in amongst a bizarre plot and interracial politics
Jordan Peele, “Get Out” (2017) Jordan Peele’s comedy horror film, his first as a director, about an interracial relationship that goes awry can be seen as…
Aleppo Renaissance: after war, looting and destruction, a city determined to regain its rightful place as a major Middle Eastern industrial hub
Sinan Saeed and Tom Duggan, “Aleppo Renaissance” (2017) Here’s a very welcome documentary on Aleppo and its significance in Syria’s history, culture and economy, and why…
Compliance: sneering at naive workers exploited by a culture that treats them as robots and brutes
Craig Zobel, “Compliance” (2012) Based on a series of incidents over a decade from the mid-1990s to 2004, in which a prank caller convinced the staff…
Chinese and Chinese-language Films
Raise the Red Lantern: criticising the abuse of power by those tasked with upholding tradition
Zhang Yimou, “Raise the Red Lantern” (1991) This is a beautiful film of minimal, even severe and classic simplicity, that lets the cruelty and jealous passions…
Galaxy Quest: affectionate homage and spoof maintains the values of altruism, quest for knowledge and defending the underdog
Dean Parisot, “Galaxy Quest” (1999) Conceived as a homage to and spoof of the famous science fiction TV series “Star Trek” and of the obsessive fan…