The Shape of Water: a magic realist mash-up of several genres lays on the identity politics and self-indulgence thickly
Guillermo del Toro, “The Shape of Water” (2017) Inspired by the famous Hollywood classic “The
Tag: Fantasy
Downsizing: an uneven satirical science fiction comedy commenting on various social, economic and political issues
Alexander Payne, “Downsizing” (2017) For most viewers, perhaps the more interesting part of this long
Batman: The Movie – a cult bad-movie masterpiece with a daring and subversive edge
Leslie H Martinson, “Batman: The Movie” (1966) In an age when comic book superheroes were
Blade of the Immortal: one wearying bloodbath after another in a film on obsessive vengeance, duty and the hell of immortality
Takashi Miike, “Blade of the Immortal” (2017) Condensed from 30 volumes of manga into a
Zatoichi: a colourful package of comedy, violence and drama masks an unoriginal plot and characters not always worthy of sympathy
Takeshi Kitano, “Zatoichi” (2003) Based in part on the television and film series revolving around
French and French-language Films | Middle Eastern Films
The Congress: good ideas and astute criticism of Hollywood and technology undone by a confused narrative
Ari Folman, “The Congress” (2013) Partly based on Stanislaw Lem’s novel “The Futurological Congress”, in
Masquerade: a historical drama inspired by a bizarre episode in a Korean king’s reign becomes an inquiry into good government and social class
Choo Chang-min “Gwanghae: Wang-i Doen Namja / Masquerade” (2012) Korean actor Lee Byung-hun may be better
Latin American Films (Spanish language)
Neruda: an exploration of how stories are created and shaped by those who exercise political power
Pablo Larraín, “Neruda” (2016) Very loosely based on an episode in Chilean poet-politician Pablo Neruda’s
Dark Horse: a bleak and surreal comedy satire on dysfunctional middle class suburban families
Todd Solondz, “Dark Horse” (2011) A bleak comedy expressing despair over the human condition, “Dark
Elvis & Nixon: amusing and light-hearted comedy of the meeting between rock star legend and the most powerful politician in the world
Liza Johnson, “Elvis & Nixon” (2016) Based on an actual incident in which the famous