A personal journal of film and documentary reviews, and reviews of anything else that intrigues me.
British Films, French and French-language Films
Coralie Fargeat, “The Substance” (2024) It may be called “The Substance” but this film’s style – in its boldly colourful (and confrontational) visual style, its minimal…
British Films, North American Films
Rose Glass, “Love Lies Bleeding” (2024) A surprisingly entertaining film, spoilt only by a cartoonish climax of wishful female empowerment in which love, even lesbian love,…
British Films, German and German-language Films
Jonathan Glazer, “The Zone of Interest” (2023) As films about the Nazi Holocaust go, “The Zone of Interest” is one of the most disturbing I have…
British Films, North American Films
Yorgos Lanthimos, “Poor Things” (2023) A visually sumptuous feast, set in an alternative late Victorian steampunk world, “Poor Things” is a science fantasy concoction revolving around…
British Films, North American Films
Lee Tamahori, “Die Another Day” (2002) For the twentieth movie in a film franchise celebrating 40 years, the scriptwriters were tasked to come up with a…
British Films, North American Films
Emerald Fennell, “Saltburn” (2023) Arriving in Sydney with little fanfare, “Saltburn” initially presents as a more contemporary variation of “Brideshead Revisited” with the latter’s hints of…
David Lane, “Thunderbird 6” (1968) Despite the box office failure of “Thunderbirds Are Go”, United Artists had enough faith in the British television show’s creators Gerry…
David Lane, “Thunderbirds Are Go” (1966) Based on the famous British children’s television puppet action adventure series “Thunderbirds”, this film could have garnered an international audience…
British Films, North American Films
Christopher Nolan, “Tenet” (2019) For an example of how not to make a blockbuster sci-fi thriller, Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” must surely rate as the number one…
Christopher Nolan, “Oppenheimer” (2023) Aside from all the Hollywood fanfare fluff surrounding its release, Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” is actually an intriguing character study and legal drama…