The Lost King: real people and events lost in identity politics stereotypes
Stephen Frears, “The Lost King” (2022) A breezy and light film, “The Lost King” depends very largely on its lead actor Sally Hawkins’s energetic and impassioned…
British Films
British Films, French and French-language Films
Triangle of Sadness: a perilous navigation through class warfare, power struggles and a plot that falls apart
Ruben Östlund, “Triangle of Sadness” (2022) Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip … er, sorry, this won’t…
The Simulation: light-hearted comedy and kitsch look hide a dark heart
Faye Fillingham, “The Simulation” (2021) Initially this short seems light-hearted and amusing but on repeated viewings its dark heart is gradually revealed. A young woman, Agatha…
Mrs Harris Goes to Paris: a fantasy nostalgia world where good deeds and kindness are rewarded and bad gets its just punishment
Anthony Fabian, “Mrs Harris Goes to Paris” (2022) A light and lively film harking nostalgically back to an idealised vision of post-WWII Paris, “Mrs Harris Goes…
British Films, North American Films
See How They Run: a light-hearted comedy mystery crime caper plays with crime genre elements to question the notion of authenticity
Tom George, “See How They Run” (2022) Here is a fun and light-hearted comedy mystery crime caper which pays homage to Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap” and…
The News-Benders: a troubling view of news media as propaganda outlets carrying out an agenda
Rudolph Cartier, “The News-Benders” (1968) Entertaining yet troubling and provocative, “The News-Benders” was one of nearly 300 episodes of a BBC television series “Thirty-Minute Theatre” that…
House of Maxwell (Episode 3): vague and confused end to a dishonest series
Daniel Vernon, “House of Maxwell (Episode 3)” (2022) Finally we reach the third and last episode of this sorry series supposedly investigating the scandals surrounding past…
House of Maxwell (Episode 2): pension fund scandal not treated with the importance deserved
Daniel Vernon, “House of Maxwell (Episode 2)” (2022) As with the opening episode of this three-part documentary series on the scandals surrounding Robert Maxwell and his…
House of Maxwell (Episode 1): a bad start to a series on Robert and Ghislaine Maxwell’s crimes
Daniel Vernon, “House of Maxwell (Episode 1)” (2022) First in a three-part series purporting to examine and connect the scandals surrounding British newspaper publisher Robert Maxwell…
The Gate: elegant and polished sci-fi body horror critical of politics and neoliberal capitalism
Matt Westrup, “The Gate” (2011) Deriving its title from a couple of lines in the seventh chapter in the Book of Matthew in the Bible (“……