Italian and Italian-language Films
Bad Tales: voyeuristic survey of dysfunctional families in alienation
Damiano and Fabio d’Innocenzo, “Bad Tales / Favolacce” (2020) A survey of three families living
Tag: Film Noir
French and French-language Films
Hors Saison: a powerful character study of consequences arising from rash actions and interpersonal tensions
Nicolas Capitaine, Celine Desoutter, Lucas Durkheim, Leni Marotte, “Hors Saison / Out of Season” (2017)
French and French-language Films
Parfum Fraise: a short and terse film on the impossibility of escaping violence
Alix Arrault, Martin Hermane, Samuel Klughertz, Jules Rigolle, “Parfum Fraise” (2017) You can renounce a
Roman J. Israel, Esq.: character study of a fallible human being trying to live authentically in an inauthentic world
Dan Gilroy, “Roman J. Israel, Esq.” (2017) Once in a while an intelligent and worthy
Loveless: a character study and thriller that criticises Russian society as stagnant, self-absorbed and materialist
Andrei Zvyagintsev, “Loveless” (2017) As with previous films of Andrei Zvyagintsev that I’ve seen, “Loveless”
Lady Macbeth: a disturbing character study told in a minimalist, understated style
William Oldroyd, “Lady Macbeth” (2016) Adapted from Nikolai Leskov’s 1865 novel “Lady Macbeth of the
Inherent Vice: a faithful if meandering and flat adaptation of a Thomas Pynchon neo-noir comedy
Paul Thomas Anderson, “Inherent Vice” (2014) Director Paul Thomas Anderson must be commended for daring
Serpico: a character study of how one police officer’s personal crusade against corruption destroys him
Sidney Lumet, “Serpico” (1973) As character studies go, “Serpico” is very good indeed: based on
Blade Runner 2049: an absorbing and leisurely film on future societal trends despite a thin plot and lack-lustre characters
Denis Villeneuve, “Blade Runner 2049” (2017) In its own leisurely way, “Blade Runner 2049” is
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