A personal journal of film and documentary reviews, and reviews of anything else that intrigues me.
British Films, French and French-language Films
Mike Leigh, “Mr Turner” (2014) I confess I always have the time of day for the under-rated British actor Timothy Spall who always had the talent…
Michael Haneke, “Funny Games (English language version)” (2007) Austrian director Michael Haneke originally had wanted to make “Funny Games” as an American film due to his…
North American Films, Russian and Soviet Films
Miguel Francis Santiago and Alexander Panov, “Donetsk: An American Glance” (RT Documentary, 2014) Cheerful LA film graduate and investigative journalist Miguel Francis Santiago, fresh from filming…
North American Films, Russian and Soviet Films
Miguel Francis Santiago, “Crimea for Dummies” (RT Documentary, 2014) A unique and interesting film by Los Angeles film school graduate Miguel Francis Santiago, “Crimea for Dummies”…
Artyom Somov, Pavel Burnatov, “Crimea: Unmasking Revolution” (RT.com, 2014) Powered entirely by interviews with Crimean Russians in the street and following people about as they rouse…
“Through Sherlock’s Eyes: The Letter M” (EZ Productions, 2014) Presented by Russian actor Vasily Livanov, known in the West for playing Sherlock Holmes in a highly…
Ingmar Bergman, “Fanny and Alexander” (1982) In part an autobiographical film based on his own childhood experiences of growing up with a severe Lutheran pastor father,…
“Exposing Browder / Spisok Braudera” (Rassledovaniye, 2014) At last this Russian documentary exposing the shady activities of the investment fund manager Bill Browder has an English-language…
British Films, North American Films
Christopher Nolan, “Interstellar” (2014) “Interstellar” managed to hold my attention for most of its 169-minute duration which was quite a feat as the plot is quite…
Essays, Multi-media Presentations
Vladimir Putin’s Valdai Speech at the XI Meeting (Final Plenary Session) of the Valdai International Discussion Club (Sochi, 24 October 2014) – Part 2: Q&A Session…