Knives Out: superficial examination of class and privilege in crime comedy whodunnit
Rian Johnson, “Knives Out” (2019) At times playing like a spoof of the classic whodunnit murder mystery that takes place in a palatial mansion and the…
Comedy
French and French-language Films
Royal Madness: a fun cartoon on finding a new purpose in life
Mriganka Bhuyan, Romain Couderette, Eunbyeol Ko, Sean Lewis, Milan Salmona, Wenkai Wang, “Royal Madness” (2019) Not one of the better offerings from the 2019 Gobelins graduation…
French and French-language Films
Dejeuner sur l’herbe: a character study that skewers intellectual and religious arrogance
Jules Bourges, Jocelyn Charles, Nathan Harbonn Viaud, Pierre Rougemont,”Déjeuner sur l’herbe” (2019) A droll character study of a scientist called Etienne initially dedicated to pursuing truth…
O Lucky Man! – a blackly comic odyssey criticising capitalist ideology and values
Lindsay Anderson, “O Lucky Man!” (1973) A satirical allegory that exposes life in Western capitalist society and the values and beliefs needed to survive successfully in…
Clean Cut: short whimsical sci-fi black comedy of an unlikely serial killer in the making
Andrew Hunt, “Clean Cut” (2015) From DUST, an online channel specialising in screening science fiction films made by up-and-coming film-makers comes this very amusing and cheeky…
Chinese and Chinese-language Films, North American Films
The Farewell: thin plot, poor characterisation should have farewelled this film
Lulu Wang, “The Farewell” (2019) As a character study of an individual torn between her parents’ Chinese culture and the Western culture she has grown up…
Hail Satan? – fun film about a Satanic movement with a serious message about social justice and religious hypocrisy and oppression
Penny Lane, “Hail Satan?” (2019) Funny and serious at the same time, tight and well made with plenty of information on the history of religious freedom…
Parasite: tale of two families is a stinging attack on capitalism and social hierarchy
Bong Joonho, “Parasite / Gisaengchung” (2019) A stinging attack on capitalism in South Korean society and its effects on people’s thinking and actions, “Parasite” pits two…
British Films, North American Films
Rocketman: the rise and fall and rise again of a beloved British rock / pop icon, with no reference to social and music trends
Dexter Fletcher, “Rocketman” (2019) Rather than playing as a straight biopic – a template that felled “Bohemian Rhapsody” – this comedy drama portraying the life and…
The Chaperone: preferring a character stereotype over portraying the life of a real revolutionary cultural icon
Michael Engler, “The Chaperone” (2018) A film of self-discovery and self-transformation leading to personal freedom, “The Chaperone” is a fictional account of real-life silent movie icon…