A personal journal of film and documentary reviews, and reviews of anything else that intrigues me.
Rob Ager, “The War on Bugs” (2012) Researched, written, edited and narrated by Rob Ager, this documentary examines the themes of the science fiction film “Starship…
Multi-media Presentations, North American Films
Ray Younis, “On Meaning and Purpose: ‘Blade Runner’ Frame by Frame” (The University of Sydney / Centre for Continuing Education, Saturday 8 February 2014) Not often…
British Films, North American Films
Steve McQueen, “12 Years a Slave” (2013) British director Steve McQueen’s third film “12 Years a Slave” is a harrowing study of the institution of slavery…
Elísabet Ýr Atladóttir, “Memoria” (2013) A creepy psychological character study, “Memoria” is very depressing to watch. The single protagonist, Vincent, is a young alcoholic and drug…
Bo Mathorne, “The Backwater Gospel” (2011) In a total running time of just over nine minutes, this raw and stark animation is a superb comment on…
Tomek Baginski, “The Kinematograph” (2009) Here is a bittersweet story of a lone inventor labouring to produce the first moving picture with sound and colour only…
Martin Scorsese, “The Wolf of Wall Street” (2013) Adapted from the 2007 memoir by the former convicted stockbroker swindler and current motivational speaker Jordan R Belfort,…
Australian and New Zealand Films
Christopher Kezelos, “Zero” (2011) A heart-warming little short that could have been a lot more than it was with a bigger budget and more ambition, “Zero”…
Ethan and Joel Coen, “Inside Llewyn Davis” (2013) Inspired by and based loosely on the life of Dave van Ronk, “Inside Llewyn Davis” follows a week…
Ivan Ramadan, “Tolerantia” (2008) An animated 3D short made in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 2008, “Tolerantia” is a plea for religious tolerance. Set at the end of the…