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Reviews
Kona fer í stríð (2018)
Stunning, mesmerizing, wholly original film
I've watched this film three or four times now (it's often on SBS in Australia) and it is absolutely amazing. I love it. Original plot, incredible acting, stunning scenery - and the story is all show, no tell. Long stretches of no dialogue where action drives the plot. The actress who plays both main female leads is brilliant. The way the two plots intertwine is really moving and the end is very emotional. One of the best elements is the soundtrack which is completely embedded in the film. That oompah-band and the trio of female singers are wonderful and as so much to this quirky film's intimacy and success. Cannot recommend it more. An unexpected delight; one of those fantastic indie movies they don't really make much any more.
Deadloch (2023)
Magnificent tv - very funny
Deadloch is the sweariest show on TV since Deadwood and it is as good as Deadwood - feminist noir comedy that is uniquely Australian. I adore it. Kate Box and Madeleine Sami are absolutely magnificent as unlikely buddy cops, one of whom has the most offensive lines on television and makes me laugh out out at least three or four times each episode. Supporting cast are quirky and the setting is, well, Tasmania, the Scotland of Australia. The best part is the fact that the whole gender premise and convention has been flipped and it works spectacularly well. This is the show I've been waiting for for years and I'm so happy it's this good. Hope Deadloch turns into Australia's Midsomer. Highly recommended.
Tár (2022)
Powerful tragedy
The tragedy of Tár is that the ambition monster exists in us all; it's just most of us can keep our ego in check. Lydia Tár is almost the inverse of a sexual predator like HW: someone whose ego allows them to get away with what everyone knows... until one day, it doesn't. Several repeated motifs in this movie were stunning, most powerfully that of violence against women. The screams in the woods, the trope of Tár's run through a seedy part of Berlin, lying about being attacked, the idea her home has been invaded: the irony is, in this case, all the emotional violence is purveyed by a woman, and making the actual violence of Tár's final act even more stunning. Also, the wood paneling interior sets of the Berlin Philharmonic juxtaposed with the cheap cupboard ply of her family home - a stunning detail.
I saw this film in a regional cinema in Australia today and much of the audience was unfortunately left perplexed. The low dialogue volume (to accommodate the loud orchestra scenes) made it difficult to hear important dialogue and several patrons, alas, had no idea what was going on. Several also struggled to reconcile the relevance of Tár's comeuppance and fate of the film's end to what had come before. I thought it was funny and poignant; when you rediscover who you are and the big Why of what you do, you do it where you can - Berlin, the Philippines, wherever - knowing you can't outrun who you really truly are.
The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)
Cannot stop thinking about this film.
Was COMPLETELY UNPREPARED for the emotional heft of this amazing, original film. Colin Farrell, Kerry Condon and AMAZING Barry Keoghan are phenomenal. It's Joycean, Beckettesque, very sad and deeply moving. It's probably an allegory about Ireland. It's about friendship, personal knowledge, small community, the intellectual life, the value of art, guilelessness, and the terrible paradox of knowledge of the human condition. I desperately want to see it again *for the first time* but if I watch it again I will cry from tbe beginning. Jessie 💔. Dominic. 💔💔 Padraigh 💔💔💔 Stunning writing and acting.
A Private War (2018)
This film is extraordinary and exceptional
This film is so good that I'm parts it's like a documentary- it's more than a biopic. The audience is witness to the disintegration of one of the most talented correspondents of all time. Rosamund Pike is exceptional and she absolutely nails Marie Colvin's distinctive voice. Jamie Dornan is also excellent. The film packs a lot in and it is worth reading the Vanity Fair article 'Marie Colvin's Private War' by Marie Brenner (on which the film is based) to get more context about her personal and working relationships. The final set piece around Homs and her final broadcast and communications is very powerful. Five stars.
Glass Onion (2022)
Entertaining and fabulous
This is pure, escapist fun from start to finish - from the allocations to the fashion to the cameos to the plot and the amazing set - and a great script, with everyone involved clearly having a fabulous time. Loved the whole thing and hope there's more in the pipeline. Daniel Craig is better in this than he was in the first Knives Out - his accent is more settled and his character is more substantial and less flibbertygibbet. Janelle Monae is wonderful. Katheryn Hahn needs to be in everything. Like The White Lotus and Top Gun: Maverick ,it's the escapism we've been craving for three years. Next one better be soon.
Ghosts: Bump in the Night (2020)
Ten stars for one perfect joke that took a season and a half to set up
No joke I have ever heard/seen has had made me laugh as hard - for days afterwards now - as the ROYGBIV mneumonic joke in this episode. The character development, lead-up and payoff were impeccable - just saying 'very light blue' has my whole family in stitches. This show is consistently hilarious. I love the people who make it. They are excellent humans.
On the Verge (2021)
This show is hilarious
I love Julie Delpy's work and this series does not disappoint - love the characters and all their foibles, and it's truly funny. Like, snort-laugh funny. I hope there's more eps in the pipeline. I wish there were more tv shows like this.
Ted Lasso: Beard After Hours (2021)
One of the great standalone episodes
Everything about this episode is rich and rewarding - the acting, script, cinematography, lighting, episodic nature, the pacing and subsequent dreamlike strangeness of the odyssey, the emotional payoff. Perfectly pitched and executed and a great homage to Martin Scorsese's 'After Hours'. With a few killer, hilarious lines. Anyone who's had a night or two like that - though not for a long time - will get it. Brilliant television.
Relatos salvajes (2014)
CRAAAAZY AMAAAZING
Jaw-dropping, hilarious, hugely entertaining, brilliantly shot/told stories - utterly unforgettable.
Mulan (2020)
A great family movie
This is a great family movie - while it is a bit slow in some places, the story is strong and the action is great. It's a very good Hero's Journey story too. Great to see a live-action version that exceeds the original so well. (No singing either, which is a bonus).
The Personal History of David Copperfield (2019)
Inventive, joyful, and very funny
A delight to watch from start to finish. This is an inventive, joyous film that breathes newness and freshness into what could have been another staid costume drama. The costumes and set colours are brilliant and the both the lush outdoor scenes and and the squalor of the cities give a great sense of the wildness of life that is at the heart of Dickens' storytelling. It's a really new way of Telling this kind of story in British film and I'm really sad I didn't get to see it on the big screen, where I'm sure it was amazing. The script is great - and the inclusion and reverence ofDickens' language is very well done. My favourite scene is the kite scene with David and Mr Dick - beautifully written and shot, accompanied by a beautiful score. I watched it with a smile from start to finish. Highly recommended.
The Call of the Wild (2020)
One of those amazing family movies they don't make any more
Captivating from start to finish. Visually stunning and truly excellent use of CGI that never gets in the way of the storytelling. Harrison Ford is fantastic, as is Buck. So good it makes me want to re-read the book.
Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood (2019)
A truly magnificent piece of cinema
I loved this film for about 100 reasons. I love that it's a classic western in many respects and still an innovative story. I love the pace and how we all just ease into the story. I love that it is all show and no tell. I love how QT is so joyous about his love for the movies and movie theatres and LA and the weight that the mythology of movies and old LA has for him. I love Brad Pitt in this movie and love got so much screen time and that he spoke so clearly. I actually enjoyed watching LDC for the first time in any film ever. I love how QT uses audio and sound so unexpectedly. I love how every single thread got tied up in the last half hour. I sincerely dislike the last flame-thrower scene but hey, that's me, and I know what I'm getting when I see a QT film.) I loved the dog. I loved Brad Pitt and the dog. I love Margot Robbie and the utterly unexpected ending.
Late Night (2019)
Whipsmart writing
Emma Thompson should do more of these roles. She's brilliant. Mindy is great - funny, sweet - a great script. What continually struck me over and over again about this movie is the blandness and ultimate forgettability of the 'male writing staff' - the gaggle, the 'crew' that are normally women - but in this movie are men. The two strong female leads obliterate them. It's great writing and great casting. (And the menopause joke is a killer.)
The King (2019)
Sweeping epic and cinematic production values made for TV
As a big budget epic ultimately made for a smaller screen, the lighting balance was bang on - even dark scenes were discernible mid-afternoon in my living room. Additionally, the sound was *excellent*. All dialogue - even the thick accents - was clear and evenly balanced, and I didn't have to adjust the sound wildly to not be deafened by battle scenes or strain to hear TC's Hal's sotto voce tones. The cinematography was great - no pixeated blurring when the camera panned quickly - and the colours looked gorgeous. In short: cinematic production values exceptionally well employed for television viewing. Chalamet & Sean Harris very good. Pattinson hilariously villainous - as intended.
Paris est à nous (2019)
A metaphor for trauma and grief - really interesting.
Haven't seen a film like this since the early 90s - hand held camera, loose narrative style; all show, no tell. I like films that provoke the viewer to actively engage with the storytelling. Really interesting, though not for everyone. As a metaphor for trauma, coping with trauma and grief and the senselessness of life and death, it is provocative and thought-provoking.
Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé (2019)
Stunning
We are watching the work of an artist at the peak of her powers and will never see the likes of a performance or production like this for many years to come.
Le bureau des légendes (2015)
If you love Le Carré, this show is for you
ALERT: if you're a fan of the espionage genre, then check out The Bureau (aka Le Bureau des Legendes, the best tv show title in history) - it is MAGNIFIQUE. Le Carré -level mastery storycraft and characters. It's *quiet* in the way that many spy shows are not - which equals proper suspense. The Bureau leaves Homeland for dead and makes Spooks ( which I also loved) look over-produced and somewhat clumsy.
Dogs of Berlin (2018)
Last two episodes are outstanding
A solid build over the series; great performances. The last two episodes are fantastic. The shoot-out sequence in 'Overtime' rivals the 10 min shot in True Detective Season 1. Loved it.
Press (2018)
Topical and well made
Ben Chaplin is fantastic as the soulless, black-eyed red-top editor. Reminds me of 'Party Animals' but for journosc
Mary Poppins Returns (2018)
Treds a fine line very well - a fantastic peoduction
I'm a fan of the original and I'm a fan of this sequel. It's so, so well done - visual and audio references to the original, a good story, visually amazing, and some excellent song and dance routines. Thoroughly entertaining and highly enjoyable.
Mapp & Lucia (2014)
Fabulous
Just the most hilarious comedy about two busybody social climbers. Costumes are to die for. Lightweight but perfectly executed. I wish there were more episodes.
Berlin Station (2016)
Gets better with each episode and each season
Great stories, well told; fabulous locations; acting improves as the seasons unfold. Started as a star vehicle for Richard Armitage but has a more ensemble feel in S2 and is all the better for it. Rhys Ifans is fantastic.
Paris etc (2017)
Unusual and revealing show; compelling characters
Love this show. The loosely connected characters are all different and the actresses are fantastic at highlighting their flaws and vulnerabilities. A really interesting cultural insight too; I want to keep watching. I like these women characters; I relate to them.