Review: King Richard

As a person who watches Tennis virtually every week and has done for the past 15 years or so, the story of the Williams sisters as well as their father Richard is one I know fairly well.

I've seen enough of their numerous documentaries to feel that there's nothing else I need to know.

So with a film coming out about those three, I was intrigued to see what direction it would go. I was also unsure how I may approach this film. I was therefore a bit nervous I would put my nose up to it as it may not give me anything new.

I was actually quite surprised in the end at how they made a familiar story for followers of the sport still be very engaging and refreshing.

From a film perspective, I liked how it went for the 'Rocky' route of story-telling as its the type of story we don't often see in Sports films and I felt it fitted well with the people and events it was focusing on.

As a Tennis fan, I thought it was pretty strong in its accuracy and how they used other moments in Tennis at the time to enhance the main plot. I also liked how much they covered the Williams family and how strong they are as a unit and how important that was to their success.

I was honestly never a big fan of the Williams sisters. But I always appreciated and respected them and seeing this film further proves why they should be.

This was mainly thanks to the performances. They were all amazingly on point. It really was like seeing the actual people.

The star is of course Will Smith, who perfectly transforms into the infamous Richard Williams. From the voice, to the mannerisms, to the peculiar actions we've seen in archive footage. It was the perfect portrayal of the man himself. I was astonished at how well Smith did with his role. I didn't think I would ever see Richard Williams portrayed on the big screen. But I totally believed I was seeing him.

I also have to give props to Saniyya Sidney and Dem Singleton, who like Smith portrayed their characters perfectly. The hard work of even playing like Venus and Serena Williams was noticeable to this Tennis fan and I was expecting to see that.

Jon Bernthal was a surprising stand out as a support. Like the performances, it felt very believable With it being a role that would not see Bernthal play, this made it a more impressive showing.

From a technical perspective, the production and costume design was on point also. They matched the archive footage as well as the time period perfectly. So props to everyone involved that helped with the authenticity of this story. It will certainly please my fellow Tennis fans.

I was surprised at the duration being close to 2hrs 30mins. Thankfully, the length was never noticeable and the pacing was pretty smooth. Even if I tried to trim this film down, I would struggle to know what I would cut.

Films where I know the story inside out before seeing it is always tough to rate. But knowing where it was going, I was pleasantly surprise at how this turned out. People that don't know this story will most likely rate this higher than I will and that gives me great confidence in how general audiences will view this.

I have to give props to director Reinaldo Marcus Green and his team for giving us an entertaining and engaging piece of work that I hope gets an audience. The performances are great, Will Smith could possibly be an awards contender, and the entire look of the film was faultless. 

There are not many Tennis films out there. But this could well be the best one in all aspects. That is if you don't count Strangers On A Train.

If you're going into this film expecting it to be about the Williams sisters, there is a reason why the film is called 'King Richard'. If you already know their story, you know exactly why their dad Richard is the main character in this story.

Rating: 7/10

Review: Encanto

Producing a 60th feature film should be commended, and it hasn't been the easiest ride for Walt Disney Animation Studios.

But despite a few moments in its almost 100 years of history where it almost went out of existance, it continues to bring smiles to people of all ages and give that sense of wonder and imagination.

This current era of Disney animation is pretty strong. Since its resurgence in the late 2000's, almost every feature film release has been an instant classic. So that expected quality and satisfaction can bring an almost unfair amount of pressure. Especially when we get to its 60th feature. Like myself, there are many dedicated fans that want that Disney magic that Walt himself would still approve of.

It felt a bit of a chaotic start for me. There is a lot to introduce in the opening act. But if you can keep up, it will give you a rather interesting concept with a lot of potential as the accompanying visuals are so dazzling and help us understand our characters. The songs also add some strong positive vibes to what is a very vibrant production design.

The development gives us some solid depth, we've got lots of characters to know about, there all having a good enough amount of screen-time to at least give us an idea and I felt pretty invested and intrigued with this idea.

Plus, the themes of empowerment within yourself, family, community, pressures of family expectation I felt would resonate well with its target audience. I felt on the whole it was well executed. But also a bit on the nose and predictable on some occasions.

Towards the end of the second act and the whole of the final act was where it was partially losing me as I was starting to feel unsure about the story as being a complete package. The threat and stakes involved felt a bit rushed and just there for the sake of seeing our main characters at a low point. I felt I never had time to feel the impact as before I knew it, it was resolved, we were back to the bright colours and music and the credits rolled.

But with even with my issues, there's still a good amount to like that I feel audiences will eat up.

It truly amazing to look at. The colour palette is so bright and the animation is wonderfully creative and the level detail continues to amaze me. With how animation is right now, I cannot believe it continues to still up its game. How far can this genre go?

The voice work is solid. They all gave great personalities to their characters. There's plenty to find a favourite in and the added singing will give this film a soundtrack that will be on repeat in many households.

So while I'm not calling this an instant classic in my book, it's still an entertaining piece of work that the studio can be proud of. I like ideas it has and the mix of South American culture and fantasy worked well. I can see crowds enjoying this. This is pleasant viewing with a lot of positivity to warm your heart. 

If I ranked it with other films from the studio that were released over the last 10 years, I would honestly put it near the bottom. That just shows how successful this studio has been lately and this release I feel will continue to keep the momentum going.

I must mention that like a lot of other recent releases, there is a short before the main film. It's a delightful story that teaches you the dangers and rewards of parenting.

Rating: 7/10

Review: Ali & Ava

It's not often I get to see films set in Yorkshire. But I usually enjoy them as the stories are interesting and well told. They also portray the Yorkshire lifestyle rather well, whether it be in the city or in the countryside.

For this film, we'll be using the former as our backdrop.

It's directed by Clio Barnard, who has also made 'The Selfish Giant' back in 2013, which is also set in Bradford centred on the working class.

I think it's safe to say that this setting is Barnard's wheelhouse. It shows Bradford in a very honest way and it gives you a similar vibe that I got out of the city whenever I've been there.

The story itself is one of those romance films we've seen before. But I think what made this worth watching was the performances and chemistry of our two leads. While the experienced Claire Rushbrook gives us the emotion, Adeel Akhtar gives us the comedic relief and feel-good and together they work.

The supporting cast do a good job and just add those little touches that complete the entire mood of the film.

It touched on moments that are topical and relevant in that part of the world and dirty colour palette was the right choice.

While I did enjoy it, it barely did anything new to the genre and you could see where it was going. But sometimes, you need films like this to remind you of those supposed tired story archs that can still work with the right people. That for me what is makes film successful for a general audience.

Overall, this is a solid romantic drama with a feel-good vibe that makes it a rewarding crowd-pleaser.

As mentioned, the two performances by the leads work well.. The pacing does feel slightly uneasy at times. But it never detracted my overall view of the film.

As someone who has visited Bradford enough times to get a sense of the vibe and culture, it portrays that part of the world rather well. The noticeable passion showed that the filmmakers wanted to do the city proud with an honest working class story. I hope the director makes another so we can have a Barnard Bradford film trilogy.

Rating: 7/10

Review: You Resemble Me

It's not often when a film takes multiple turns in its shifts in tone. But this film did do things that took me by surprise.

The way it started showed some promise of a story of determination, redemption, freedom and the power of sisterhood etc.

But with themes of identity looking to be centre stage as the film goes on, I was a bit unsure how this would end.

When it suddenly took a major shift in its story, I felt almost uncomfortable where we potentially were going. Then came another twist that reminded me of American Animals in its style. That final change in tone and structure made the film as a whole better to relate and engage with after briefly thinking it was going down a route that I fear would lose the audience.

However, I feel they could have stretched the emotion of the final given what was involved.

The performances are fairly solid. The stars were child actors and real life sisters Lorenzo and Ilonna Grimaudo. Their natural bond and charm really worked and became really infectious by the end of it.

Dina Amer did a decent job with what she was given. But I feel I would have liked more out of her given what this film ended up being about.

Despite some of the revelations, I think this remained a decent watch overall that surprised me and I think it is best to go in not knowing anything.

However, I think under different hands, this could have gone into depth and been more impactful given the subject matter involved. I would like to now see a remake of this.

Rating: 7/10

Review: The Souvenir: Part II

I don't remember enjoying much of the first Souvenir to be brutally honest. I recall it being quite flat in its general vibe and strangely structured for me. But I know it found an audience and there is enough evidence to warrant a sequel out of it.

To my surprise, I really enjoyed Part II. I'm not sure what's happened that has won me over. But it's like almost every aspect has been given some life and colour.

Whilst things such as that bright hazy tint to its shots, smaller screen ratio and random pockets of music dropped in is still there, it felt as if they've been somewhat reinvented.

It feels like more chances were taken with this one. The content feels richer, the imagery feels more ambitious and certain sequences are quite gripping to listen to and the imagery is more adventurous.

The cast do a great job with the script given. Honor Swinton Byrne carries the film well. The way she explains her emotions through her face without saying anything is all you need.

Notable supporting performances came from Tilda Swinton and Richard Ayoade. Swinton is great as always. That country estate way of life oozes out of her character and it makes it pleasant to watch and hear.

As for Ayaode, you can tell he had fun with this role. I definitely don't remember his contribution from the first film. But this portrayal of demanding director was great to see. The eccentricness and energy he put into his character was the right amount this film needed.

The transformation between the two films is quite astonishing. In fact, the way they execute Part II means you don't even need to watch Part I to be fully invested in this.

This is a surprisingly gripping story about grief, moving on and also gives you a great insight into student filmmaking.

It's not for everyone as the style may alienate some demographics. But if you like your indie and arthouse films, you will agree that not a minute of this is wasted.

Props to director Joanna Hogg and her team for this installment. This won me over in the most dramatic way. I live being proved wrong, and this achieved it and then some.

Rating: 8/10

Review: Ghostbusters: Afterlife

While I don't hold the Ghostbusters franchise as high as the majority, I do agree they were fun films with good re-watchability.

I actually prefer Ghostbusters II and this was probably caused by me seeing the sequel before the original.

In a weird twist of fate, I didn't mind the all-female reboot. It felt like a Ghostbusters film for me, and it was passable entertainment.

For this latest installment, I was apprehensive more than excited as I just didn't feel confident it would capture the same magic or even do something interesting with the concept.

My fears were kind of met.

The first two acts are pretty solid. We have some engaging characters with interesting backstories and plenty of nostalgia to keep the fans happy.

The homage I was felt was overflowing before the final act and plot development kind of went out the window and decided to go full nostalgia.

Sometimes, they just weren't even trying and virtually did identical scenes from the original.

The only thing I felt they struggled to match, was the comedy. It's hard to match the writing of Ivan Reitman and style of Bill Murray and Harold Ramis. It did give me some chuckles. But sadly a few lead balloon moments.

While the fan service was a bit much for me, I was thankfully having fun with it. The pacing is rampant enough to make the action and dialogue flow nicely.

One big reason that made it fun was the performances by the young cast. I was happy to see McKenna Grace take the lead as I've always enjoyed her performances, ever since I first encountered her in the really good 'Gifted'.

Finn Wolfhard felt underused as I don't feel he was given enough development to be memorable.

Logan Kim was good comedic relief and Carrie Coin was serviceable support.

Paul Rudd I feel could have been better utilised as he was heavily featured in the marketing.

There are a numbers cameos in the final act. One was a very random and proper confused me. It involved a very minor sub plot that never went anywhere as soon as it got introduced.

Another cameo I was proud to notice as they are fairly unrecognisable.

The other cameos I don't really need to say as you should know who I'm referring to.

While I did have fun watching this, I was also somewhat disappointed by this. It relied too much on its nostalgia and went for a safe storyline that neither expanded the franchise nor diminished it.

I will say though they pay great tribute to a certain Ghostbuster.

So with that in mind, fans will obviously enjoy this as it just does everything that will make them remember why they enjoyed the 1984 original and sequel in 1989. If you're expecting a fine balance of the film being a standalone whilst paying homage, you will flat out not get that. It wouldn't surprise if they make a sequel and just give us Viggo The Carpathian, the pink slime and a moving Statue Of Liberty all over again.

There is a mid credits scene that both pay more homage and hint at where we're going next.

Rating: 7/10

Review: Paris, 13th District

While I have had love-hate relationship with French cinema, one talented filmmaker has got me having this country in my good books for now. The person in question is Celine Sciamma.

With her success in directing attracting my attention, this particular feature has Sciamma solely in the writing department.

I can directly see that Sciamma isn't the director, as the pacing is a lot more frenetic than her works and the style is totally different, but equally impactful.

It's a very modern look at relationships and dating, and we get great performances from a strong young cast that make this story very believable.

Lucie Zhang gives a breakthrough performance. She showed great maturity and strength in her character and gave authenticity that made her very watchable.

The same goes for Makita Samba. His performance felt very natural and real with solid development.

Following on from her success in 'Portrait Of A Lady On Fire', Noemie Merlant continues to show what a talent she is. Her story was probably the most interesting, and her performance really helped made this story work and her chemistry with the underrated Jehnny Beth may have stolen the show late on in the film. Despite being more known for her music, Beth's contribution to this film gave it that edge that I think made this more than just good.

So with the strength of the performances as well as it's slick style, efficient pacing and a high energy soundtrack made this a very enjoyable viewing experience.

This is very well made modern love story that covers the topic of modern dating rather well and gives such style that makes it addictive viewing and great re-watchability. It was almost like watching a modern Woody Allen as it certainly captures the spirit of his style. It will be interesting to see if director Jacques Audiard goes for more romance films.

Rating: 8/10

Review: What Do We Do When We Look At The Sky?

I honestly don't recall any film from Georgia. So I was intrigued to see this to what stories come from Georgia.

This was honestly a peculiar one, and yet it had something that I found rather charming and mystical to it.

For the most part it plays out like fairytale. Then every so often, random sequences and subplots intertwined that gave an idea of the vibe and atmosphere of a community proud of its traditions, but also hopeful of the future.

There was an unexpected subplot around Football that played out like one of those official FIFA World Cup films from the 50's or 60's.

The ending didn't go as I expected. It seemed to focus more than it's themes and all plots as one rather than main plot. Which considering the themes involved kind of makes sense.

While none of the performances were outstanding, they all played their part in a more ensemble fashion to fulfill the directors vision.

I was surprised how enchanting the location was. Despite it being in Eastern Europe, it felt more like central or Western Europe. A very enchanting setting it was.

It's definitely not for everyone as the duration will test people. But if you give a chance, you can get absorbed in this one without realising. The way it changes its vibe, genre and even audience participation which I have never seen before makes this this stand out and I'm sure will give it some longevity over time.

Rating: 7/10

Review: Lingui

I can now tick Chad off my list of productions from that country.

It's not often that I see African films and I still feel this part of the world is trying finding its own identity and style to the industry.

I hope to see this continent flourish as there's probably countless stories that the world deserve to know about.

For this one, it's covers topics that many are aware and has been covered in films before. But with the added customs of this country, I was intrigued to see how this would work.

It ends up being surprisingly straight forward and standardised in its execution. I wasn't sure if it was the directing, acting, writing or all three. But something was missing to give this something to stand out or at least be memorable.

What I did like was the look of it. The bright colour palette thanks to lovely costumes, nice mix of desert and jungle surroundings made this a pleasing film to look at.

Sadly, I had issues with almost every other aspect.

I wasn't sure if the acting was purposely subtle or I just wasn't buying it. Achouackh Abakar and Rihane Khalil Alio were solid for the most part. But I'm not sure if it was the directing or editing that seemed to make them feel amateurish.

The dialogue they were given wasn't great. It just felt as if they were given the necessary information to move the plot along without giving it any weight or emotion.

It started to become noticeable towards the end.

Also, a lot of the scenes felt abrupt and never gave the audience chance to get invested with it. So despite a promising start, the execution of the film seemed to be getting clunky and messy.

With all those issues, I sadly cannot give this a pass.

I hope all the people involved learn from this film and go on to make more impressive pieces of work. Despite the underdevelopment, lots of aspects have people with potential to go far in this industry.

Rating: 6/10

Review: Compartment Number 6

It's not often these days that we get that simple classic story in new releases.

But I feel the less we see of those type of stories, the more refreshing they become when they do get used.

That's the type of feeling I got seeing this Russian-Finnish production. On paper, it sounds like 'Before Sunrise', but with a Russian touch. For the most part, we get that.

It's a more off beat than your usual romantic drama and the surroundings make the story feel more grounded and authentic.

What makes the film work is the natural chemistry with leads Seidi Haarla and Yuriy Borisov. Their development is strong, natural, touching and consistently funny. Seeing people from totally different backgrounds and interests catch fire makes it a charming watch.

Almost a character themselves is the Russian setting. The brutal temperatures and roar of the winds makes you find a few more layers of clothes to wear to make it to the end.

It is hard to disassociate this film with 'Before Sunrise'. So to compare it in my conclusion, it's not the gold standard quality of the 1995 Richard Linklater feature, but there is plenty to enjoy.

Despite the frozen setting, the comradery between Haarla and Borisov is the warmth that is much needed. A very sweet and funny watch.

Rating: 7/10

Review: Ascension

This managed to be both a fantastically gripping watch, whilst also being terrifying viewing.

Seeing how China work economically at ground level was just fascinating from start to finish.

The content they were showing in the first half had me thinking this should should have been renamed 'Made In China: The Movie'. Just seeing how they all worked really gives an idea of the juggernaut that is the Chinese economy.

There are some surreal sequences with the added choice of shots used to further enhance those moments.

We also get an idea of the Chinese way of working in all aspects, such as seeing how militarised everything seems to be.

When it comes to the more terrifying side of the story, seeing how much as a society we as a species consume but also waste was startling on a scale of China's level.

I liked how the camerawork just observes and never makes the audience choose how to judge what we're seeing.

Lots of wide shots from angles that make it very pleasing for the eyes could well be the films strongest aspect.

While it doesn't have the depth some other documentaries have with its conventional talking head structure. It's visual style felt refreshing and rewarding to see and it I felt director Jessica Kingdom and her team did what they set out to do. Surprisingly enjoyable.

Rating: 8/10

Review: The Justice Of Bunny King

Having a film with Essie Davis with support from Thomasin McKenzie is enough to sign me up to check this out.

These are two of the best female actors out there right now and I feel they could make any story turn into gold.

While the narrative is something we've seen before, it is one of those that when done right can still be an effective watch.

Making it still feel refreshing I felt was Davis' energy and commitment to her role. Portraying that love and determination of a mother doing the best for her kids made her an easy character to root for.

The support of McKenzie was solid when it needed to be and I hope she has gained valuable experience from Davis if how to lead a film.

As mentioned before, it is a story we have seen before. But every aspect still made entertaining, gripping, tense and funny when required.

This has relatable themes that makes this film very accessible and is a satisfying watch.

Rating: 7/10

Review: Faya Dayi

It's always interesting seeing a film from a particular country for the first time.

It could give you an idea on that country's style of filmmaking. It could also show off that country if the film is set there. That is the case for not just this film, but it's narrative.

This documentary-drama hybrid tries to immerse you into this part of the world with an almost Terrence Malick-esque dreamlike approach.

It felt like the closest thing to a poem manifesting into a feature film.

While the imagery was hypnotic, and the dialogue scenes giving you an idea of the mood Ethiopia's society, the pacing was a bit sluggish for me.

With a duration of 2 hours, I would liked a shift in the pace every now and then. But it remained the same throughout.

That drawback did not quite effect my overall view of the film. But in terms of re-watchability, it's not strong.

Overall, this is an atmospheric and dreamlike look at life in remote Ethiopia.

I will praise it for its craft, themes of isolation, vibe and imagery.

It certainly gave me an idea of that part of the world and the struggles of trying to get out of it for a better life.

Rating: 7/10

Review: Alien On Stage

I don't know much if anything about amateur dramatics. I'm not sure how amateur it is in all aspects. But when I read the synopsis of this, it sounded so crazy that I just had to check out what's what.

From the very beginning, you can already tell how amateur it is and the cast and crew are just regular people with ordinary jobs and on paper it sounded like something from a sitcom.

Whilst consistently laughing at their realisation of how ridiculous this all is, and cringing at how awkward the scenes are, I was also incredibly nervous. When it suddenly becomes so real, you just can't help but want them to succeed so much.

As the credits rolled, I instantly wanted to watch it again.

It was like 'This Is Spinal Tap' but for real. Seeing just how ordinary the people involved are gave them some such a natural presence that they were all so endearing.

This is a hilarious and heartwarming watch. My face was so sore after laughing and cringing so much. That and along with the strong feel-good vibes it gives off makes this such a rewarding viewing experience that makes this a wonderful accompanying feature to the actual 'Alien'.

Rating: 8/10

Review: Junk Head

It's not every day that you encounter that took 7 ears to make and is literally a one-man show. Yes, every aspect was made by one person.

Of all the type of films for one person, it had to be stop-motion animation, the style of filmmaking that takes the longest to create.

This achievement alone has to be commended and thankfully the film is as crazy.

The setting is very impressive, the character design is inventive and almost child-like and the general creativity makes it a really fun watch.

It actually reminded me of watching Rex The Runt mixed in with In The Night Garden.

It's not for everyone that's for sure. Some demographics will just see this as total nonsense. But if you open yourself up to this, you can find a fun narrative with engaging characters that you just can't help to be invested with.

The ending is abrupt as I felt it wasn't va complete story. But after reading afterwards, that creator Takahide Hori is tending to make this a trilogy.

With that being said, I will give it the benefit of the doubt. I also fear if it making the second and third installments will take the same time to create. If so, we may have to wait a while before we see the conclusion of this mad story.

For now, I hope you can check this out. It needs to be experienced mainly to show what can be done by one person.

It's an impressive piece of work that you can't help but get sucked into and enjoy.

Rating: 8/10

Review: The Eyes Of Tammy Faye

Seeing this film as someone who was born and raised in the UK reminds how America uses the media. I've always felt it more political and religious driven than our TV. Also, the style comes across more brainwashing and cooperate that as an adult feels too much. I didn't even know that they channels dedicated to Christianity which feels insane for an outsider like me.

So my viewing experience I feel could be different compared to someone who was fully aware of this story or saw it happen in front of their eyes.

I even think depending whether you lived through this or are discovering this story for the first film could also determine what genre you would fit this under.

Some would go a by-the-numbers biographical drama that twists some bits to help the film. But others could see this almost as a crime drama with a satirical touch.

It really is quite the story and with the film almost making fun of itself made it consistently funny, but in more of amazement then actual comedy. It also raises the questions, that were the people involved highly gullible and believing they were doing God's work, or were they were getting rich through blind faith and abusing how America uses religion in the media.

What makes this a very entertaining watch is the performances and the costume design and makeup.

It's a very 'hair and makeup' film and through all of that may see an Oscar contender emerge in the form of Jessica Chastain.

They really got lost in the performance and truly transformed into the titular character. Once you get into the second half and as the makeup gets heavier, it's really hard to see Chastain. It's almost as if she has been replace by someone else. It's quite the transformation and the commitment she gave to the role deserves to be awards contention.

Andrew Garfield is also a big standout. His character reminded of Mr. Rogers or Ned Flanders if he was consumed by greed. Much like Chastain, it's another transformation performance and their chemistry was great value.

While the rest of the cast do a great job with what they were given, it really is all a out Chastain and Garfield.

The look of the film fitted the period and tone of the film well of bright colours and everything looking fake.

As biopics go, I think it does everything on a surface level really well. They don't go in enough depth in certain aspects of their story for me to make it more then what some people already know. This felt more like an introduction for people like myself and a reminder for people who lived through it.

That drawback only stops it from being great rather than good.

This is a fascinating story that is made into an entertaining film. Chastain deserves all the praise for a highly memorable performance.

In a nutshell, this is Christianity's answer to the Wolf Of Wall Street and while it's not as crazy as Scorsese's modern epic, the story still needs to be seen to believe.

Rating: 7/10

Review: In My Own Time: A Portrait Of Karen Dalton

The best thing about film documentaries, is that it can help you discover supposedly infamous stories or people that you're not aware of.

Seeing documentaries like this can shock you, move you and most definitely get you asking friends or family if they were aware of this story or person.

In this case, I know nothing about Karen Dalton. So I was intrigued to see what her story is.

It's a very interesting story of a person that only seems to have grabbed the attention she deserved in recent years. Hearing similar stories is always sad to watch as they never got their fame when they were alive. Obviously the best example of this Vincent Van Gogh.

For Dalton, it is interesting that her style within the music industry was perfect for the time period. But in the end, it almost seemed too perfect and authentic.

Hearing interviews describing how it just didn't quite work for our central subject was quite surprising.

I enjoyed the style used as it perfectly matched the heavy archive footage used.

For someone who knew nothing beforehand now feels they can hold a conversation about this topic. What they covered felt thorough and complete.

With the structure being straight forward, it was enough to stop me from calling it great rather than pretty good.

But it's still definitely worth watching. I'm sure fans of Dalton, folk music and 60's music in general will feel this to be a definitive account of her career and life.

Rating: 7/10

Review: Final Account

With their being countless films and documentaries around about World War II, it's hard to find that hasn't been told before.

For me personally, I can't recall seeing any where it's from the German perspective. So I was intrigued to see what would be covered and said.

While the first two-thirds of the film documentary is more on the informative, it's the pay-off is where it gets juicy and raises many discussions.

Seeing some interviewees continue to flat-out deny the actions of the Nazi's shows the power that organisation were at brainwashing their nation from an early age. But it also shows the fine line of feeling like a criminal as you knew deep down what was happening was wrong or not as you felt the actions were just and you felt part of an efficient team and representing your country.

This ended up being deeply fascinating thanks to some well chosen people to interview as some gave a lot of passion that was resonated well on screen.

But I feel with a stronger editor and more hard-hitting questions early on, this could have been more.

I would still recommend this, as it raises a lot of interesting discussion topics and at times is a tough watch in an eye-opening way.

For someone of my generation, seeing how the power of the Nazi propoganda still work for those survivors is the stuff of nightmares.

Rating: 7/10

Review: Valentina

Its only natural that certain films get made due to particular topics being in hot circulation in society.

This new release feature from Brazil is no exception. But while it does send an inspiring message in the end, it just felt a bit too predictable and straight forward for me.

However, it is the performances that make this watchable. Standing out was lead Thiessa Woinbackk who gave a believable performance, carried the film and had a natural charm that made her easy to root for.

There was solid support from Ronaldo Bonafro in particular.

So while everything is done to a serviceable quality, it was all done on a surface level and therefore lacked depth.

I've seen similar films go deeper in it's themes and be more adventurous in its technical side.

Despite all that, it still gets a pass from me. As mentioned before, it is a functional piece of work that does everything to a serviceable and very little felt like bad filmmaking.

Rating: 7/10

Review: Zahori

I don't often see films from Argentina. It is a country that does interest me and I make the most of any film from this part of the world that comes my way.

I felt this was a fairly enjoyable watch. I wasn't sure what to expect at first. But I got themes of isolation, breaking barriers and coming of age.

The performances across the board worked really well the tone of the film and have some standouts. Most notably, lead child actor Lara Tortosa. This is a very mature performance and she had a very natural screen presence that was very effective. This is made even better given the fact that this is their acting role of any kind.

Santos Curapil gave a memorable subtle performance. That feeling of loneliness was perfectly portrayed and became an unexpectedly memorable character.

From a technical side, I must commend the cinematography that made the most of its surroundings and the choice of soundtrack used to give the story a Western touch.

I don't have many gripes with it. It could have been a more impactful and slightly faster paced.

But other than that, I felt this was a solid coming-of-age story that turned the almost baron landscape into a dreamlike setting.

The performances are pretty good, and the child actors shine the most. It gives you a glimpse of isolated life in that part of the world and is given more of a spiritual vibe.

Rating: 7/10

Review: Titane

Going into a film knowing that they won the Palme d'Or has me somewhat cautious. The variety of their winners have been really unpredictable. You could get something slow, arty and subtly vmeaningful. But you could also get something that is loud, relentless and totally bonkers.

For the most part, this strange film is more of the latter. The start really throws everything at the screen and sees what sticks. With the amount of shock factor involved, I wasn't sure if I was watching a Paul Verhoeven flick.

But despite the amount of brutality,  random set-pieces and random Cronenbergesque body horror I was seeing, there was something about it that had me emotionally invested.

There was a decent amount of effective comedy and whatever my view was going to be in the end, I was certainly not bored throughout.

In terms of performances, this film is all about Agathe Rousselle. It's a very physical performance and she dominated the screen from the very beginning and created quite a presence that fitted the vibe perfectly. It is hard to imagine that this is her first film. This has surely given her the building block of being in a major action blockbuster.

Her chemistry with Vincent London is what gave the emotional investment that this film needed to make it more than just brutal violence and body horror.

Thanks to these two, they made this film work for me.

What I got from it was showing multiple dysfunctional people learning to accept themselves for who they are and find their place in this world. It explores childhood trauma and the love mankind has had for machine.

It's shot beautifully by Ruben Impens, the soundtrack makes it fun and the practical effects were well constructed and utilised.

I'm still a bit unsure about this one. But it sparked a reaction out of me, in a way that may make it a bit of a cult film.

There's definitely an audience for it. But mainstream might not be one of them.

I admired it for its commitment in all aspects and it went for the big swings. It got enough for me to give it a pass via benefit of the doubt.

Rating: 7/10

Review: Clara Sola

If I was to compare this film to another, this will sadly give the game away.

So all I'll say is that it felt less unsettling and not as allegoric as the unsaid comparison.

What I got in the end was an interesting metaphor for breaking away from your family or your religion.

While it isn't as impactful as the material and themes suggest it to be, it is still a solid piece of work.

Wendy Chinchilla Araya gives a strong performance as the lead. That mysterious presence she constantly gives off as well as her natural chemistry with nature made her a very engaging character to watch and easy to root for.

The camerawork is solid and executed the chaotic scenes well with very intimate zooms. This was particularly well utilised in the final act.

So as mentioned, it's not as strong as it could have been. But it's message it's putting across is well communicated and certain demographics will enjoy it.

Rating: 7/10
 

Review: Memoria

Any film with Tilda Swinton as the lead is an instant attraction for me. Her screen presence is quite something and I cannot recall a bad performance she has ever made.

With the film also being billed as having Sci-Fi elements, I was excited to see what this has to offer.

Sadly, I left disappointed, confused and yet I remained intrigued.

The film contains a lot scenes that essentially shows nothing happening. Whether it's the style of the director, or those lingering shots are meant to say something, it felt unnecessary for the most part.

The most interesting aspect of the story did make those lengthy parts have me pretty tense that something dramatic was about to happen. But the longer the film went, the less interested I became.

It does start with some promise. There are some solid set-pieces that pose potential ideas and topics that will be explored. But by the end, it lost me.

I thought Swinton did a solid job with what she was given. It was a convincing performance that certainly made me feel that there is something there in this story. But unfortunately, I couldn't quite grasp it.

I can see certain critics going nuts for this. But I think my feelings are what I I hear from praised art installation pieces where it is liked despite not knowing what it is saying to you at all.

Liking something for the sake of it being strange is not for me I'm afraid.

I will praise it for its cinematography, sound design and Swinton's performance. But I cannot give it a pass I'm afraid.

It was only until after seeing it, that I realised that director Apichatpong Weerasethakul was the same director who did 'Uncle Boonemee Who Can Recall His Past Lives'. If I had known about this going into it, then it is possible I may have been a bit more lenient on certain aspects.

But with an unclear narrative, it was a tough watch. I hope over time I can find something in this film that will make this watchable. For now, I cannot recommend this.

Rating: 6/10

Review: Intregalde

This was a bit of a strange watch overall. But nevertheless, there is stuff admire about this.

A part of me feels this was only half a story. But another part of me thinks was an interesting portrayal of how humans behave in these particular situations, and makes the audience think of what they would do.

It even teases us at time that it this break into a horror with dashes of comedy.

There are some good performances by the main cast. I can see Maria Popistasu being the next 'Ripley' like character in a major franchise as the character she portrayed felt strong-willed and very determined. The support by Ilona Brezoianu and Alex Bogan made them a memorable trio.

Stealing the scenes however, was Luca Sabin. Walking a fine line between annoying and hilarious made him stand-out for better and worse.

The imagery is solid and the landscape effectively transports you.

All in all, I'll give it enough of a pass despite me feeling it could have been much more. The strong engagement of the characters make this film work. But the tussle with the story and being undecided if it's good or not, stops me from going any further with my praise.

I cannot see it being a boring watch for a lot of people, but I don't think it has good re-watchability.

Rating: 7/10

Review: Mr. Bachmann And His Class

When a film is over 3hrs long, it is already facing an uphill struggle.

Certain demographics get put off by films with durations this length. So the question posed before the film, is does the film warrant its length?

I won't beat around the bush, as I'll say it's totally worth it.

Showing what seems like a year of a school group while focusing on a particular teachers classes sound so simple with great potential of being effective viewing.

A teacher's greatest part of their job is seeing the progress of a student and seeing them learn right in front of them. This films gives that and more.

This is such a heartwarming watch that took me back to my primary school days.

Seeing the personalities of all the different pupils, how certain ones connected well with others and how they were unknowingly such a strong group. 

It all just reminded me of the group I was in at primary school, where most of us where there from nursery all the way through to year 6.

Seeing them develop and learn was such rich content and makes you so happy as the way you see them in class and interact makes you want them to succeed as much as Mr. Bachmann wants them to.

For a film that is 3hrs 37mins long, this has to be recommended. It flew by, and that alone shows that the film clearly works.

Rating : 8/10

Review: Drive My Car

When I think of Japanese films, I think of anime, horror and crime thrillers. It's not often that I discover meaningful dramas outside of the 1950's and 60's.

While this one is most definitely a drama, it makes choices that almost give this genre new life.

The slow pacing and almost 3hrs duration does give this story time to stretch out it's narrative, characters and it's topics.

The way it opens is like it's hypnotising you and gradually absorbing you into this world. It also kept me guessing as to where this was as certain moments surprised and shifts in themes gave it an unexpected amount of depth.

Exploring topics such as grief, betrayal and the art of acting has put this film onto a pedestal that film studies will jump at and pick apart. 

It even messes with the conventional structure of filmmaking as it had me thinking the film was over after around 50 minutes.

The performances are all pretty strong. None of them are showy as the style and pacing all has them being subtle and nuanced. But they all gradually blossom by the end of it.

The dead pan look of everyone may not show anything on a surface level. But the strength of the writing by director Ryusuke Hamaguchi and the rest of the writing team gave them great conviction that resonated well with me. So props have to do Hidetoshi Nishijima, Took Miura, Masaki Okada, Yoo-Rim Par and Reika Kirishima especially.

This film has given me a weird feeling, because there is a lot to like and explore with this film. But I think the journey getting there felt too long for me and the execution with the pacing and extension on certain scenes was enough to slightly downgrade it unfortunately.

Even with this personal view, I am confident that certain audiences will be engrossed by this. There's a lot to discuss about this and it will be a great film to dissect. It's possible that I may rate this higher over time. So whether or not you like this, I will be surprised if you don't appreciate this.

Rating: 7/10

Review: Hope

Whilst expanding my knowledge of world cinema, films from Scandinavia really know how to work your emotions. I have certainly felt satisfied more than anything else when checking out films from this part of the world.

For this one, it does subtely build its foundations with a slow-burn beginning. The once a certain revelation is revealed, that then puts the film in motion.

For the rest of the film, every aspect is gradually elevated to a very moving and impactful finale. This reminded me a lot of a fairly recent British film 'Ordrinary Love'. The effectiveness of the situations portrayed on screen made it very grounded and authentic. I can see working with many demographics as many will have been part of similar scenarios.

The performances of the entire cast made this really work.  Andrea Braein Hovig was great in the lead. The reactions she gave during her character's struggles elevated the film's authenticity and the chemistry with Scandinavian acting icon Stella Skarsgard was incredibly believable. Despite the rest of minor cast not getting many moments to shine on screen, they all did their job of adding those small touches to make this the complete package.

All in all, this was a very emotional watch, with strong performances from everyone and many memorable scenes.

The way director Maria Sodahl and her team executed everything felt so gripping, it had me invested and on the edge of my seat praying no more bad news will be announced.

Yes, it's something we've seen before in film. But when it feels so real, it will always strike a chord with many people and this is no different.

Rating: 8/10

Review: The Story Of Film: A New Generation

This is not your typical current film documentary style. The more lecture approach isn't seen that often, and I personally feel it would some spectacular content for it to compete with the more successful film documentaries.

This one does have a promising start. From the topics covered, to the examples used that feel relatable to me. I was certainly intrigued for what was being said.

But the longer it went on, the more the style felt monotonous and borderline tiresome. It is 2hrs 40mins long, and it did warrant for me by the end.

Plus, some of what being said felt almost pretentious on the levels of fellow film documentary 'Room 237'.

Despite its issues, I thought this was solid overall and interesting up to a point. As mentioned, I liked some of the films that they used to expand on their intros to each section and the topics covered will create great moments of discussion afterwards.

But ultimately, I see this best used as a piece to show 'Media Studies' students on the evolution of film and showing certain techniques that are forever effective.

Rating: 7/10 

Review: The Hand Of God

I've had mixed feelings with Italian director Paolo Sorrentine so far.

While his films are beautifully shot, the tone doesn't always work for me. I really like 'Youth' eventually and I appreciated the look of 'The Great Beauty', but never getting into the story that much.

I was surprised to see his latest project grab my attention from the very beginning. The cheeky and Italian banter style of humour and the charismatic characters made me feel like I was at the most fun party.

That build very strong foundations and I was there enjoying the rest of the ride.

There is emotional drama in there as well with moved seamlessly from the comedy. There were a few random sequences that were a bit surreal at times and some I wasn't how to react at all.

But whenever I had those moments of confusion, the cinematography by Daria D'Antonio was always there to make it look amazing. It was that level of camerawork that saw every frame look like a painting.

I felt this very strong piece of work and easily the best I've seen of Sorrentino's works.

It's funny, emotional and has small amounts of surrealness. There are some great performances by this quirky ensemble cast. Filippo Scotti was a great lead and carried the film like an experienced pro. Seeing the film from his point of view painted a great picture of life in 80's Naples. The chemistry with Toni Servillo and Teresa Saponangelo was authentic, sweet and a treat to watch develop.

A few other mentions have to go to the incredibly sexy Luisa Rangieri and Betty Pedrazzi.

As mentioned, it's a feast for the eyes. Naples looks fantastic and if it doesn't tempt to want to see it for yourself, then there's something wrong with you.

As a complete package, this is an effective coming-of-age story with themes of family, love and loss that I would happily watch again.

Rating: 8/10

Review: Dear Future Children

Seeing protests and conflicts from a certain generation has become more frequent around the world in recent years.

Whether it's to do with political unrest in their respective country or climate change, a particular generation is not happy with how this world is run.

So with these sorts of stories already in regular news shows, I was intrigued to see what this film documentary would bring to the table.

Whilst showing what most of us are already aware of, there are also some interesting human stories and getting a more first hand account of the situation in the country's the film is focusing on.

Whilst the content of various conflicts, protests and summits is impactful and at time shocking, I feel it is the more grounded human stories that make this work.

Feeling their frustration I felt gave the other content much more meaning and depth.

For me, I thought this was a solid film documentary with interesting human stories to make everything that we're seeing feel a lot more real and distressing.

I can see others being really effected by this in every aspect and feel the importance this film has given itself.

Rating: 7/10

Review: Luchadoras

As a former fan of wrestling, I am very aware of the honour and tradition that is involved in Mexican wrestling.

So when I read about the synopsis for this film documentary, I was very intrigued as to would be involved.

It is definitely more than just the wrestling. This covers a lot of topical themes, particularly female empowerment and shows a type of town that I am amazed still exists.

It focuses on a few people, their struggles living in the town and others that are taking a stand and have had enough of the current order of things.

The film tells it's message with great passion and it is thanks to the people in front of the camera. You really admire these women. They each have a different challenge to overcome and the coverage we get is as personal as you can get.

It was great to see how they work their wrestling shows and how it brings the community together, despite the issues they are having to face each day.

It does have its slow moments. But there is plenty in here that makes rewarding viewing and I feel it is important to see this to realise how hard it is to live in that part of the world.

On paper, it may look to be for a certain demographics. But after seeing it, there is a lot of relatable themes covered that can appeal to a mass audience.

Rating: 7/10 

Review: The Innocents

When I think of strong, effective disturbing horrors, I usually go straight for Japan or South Korea.

However, Scandinavia is a region of the world that has given memorable features of a similar tone and vibe.

Yes, there is disturbing and even shocking content. But I think showing the darker side of childhood is the central theme in this and the horror is just background noise.

Despite it being a horror, this could be classified more as an arthouse superhero film. This could easily be linked in with 2012's 'Chronicle' or the X-Men franchise.

The performances from the child actors were very well delivered and directed. The big star was Alva Brynsmo Ramstad, who channeled Leonardo DiCaprio from 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape'. Rakel Lenora Flottum was great in the lead and strong support from Sam Ashraf and Mina Yasmin Bremseth Asheim. Those four as an ensemble cast did a great job and really helped with the tension and believability in the story.

Seeing the horror through the perspective of our child actors I feel is what made this great rather than good.

It had me constantly on the edge. There was a strong good vs evil structure. The good were easy to foot for and very sympathetic and the evil were cruel, mean and totally despicable.

That gave strong heat for me to care what was happening on screen and it made for a satisfying pay-off and viewing experience.

Rating: 8/10

Review: Hit The Road

The Iranian film industry has been going from strength or strength in recent years. I've been enjoying what they have to offer both in feature and short forms.

However, it was refreshing to see a feature from this country that had a comedic approach to a story. This is compared to most films from this country that are quiet serious and sometimes tough to watch.

The comedy caught me off guard in a good way and that eased me into the film straight away. I got strong 'Little Miss Sunshine' vibes from this. The style of humour used as well as the quirky characters involved were great value to watch.

The star of the show is child actor Rayan Sarlak. The style of humour given to him and his childish annoyance makes him great value. Also, his chemistry Hasan Majuni's character was entertaining to watch. Constantly trying to out wit each other will feel very relatable to viewers that are parents who have trying to outsmart any chance they get.

Giving us the drama and emotion of the story was thanks to Oantea Panahia's performance.

The moments of heart-breaking drama I felt mixed in well with the comedy. However, I did not feel fully aware as to what was happening in those moments. I had no idea due to the visual storytelling style used. But either I missed something in the dialogue or there was a lack of clarification.

But despite those moments of confusion, I had a surprisingly good time. The comedy and the execution of it gave me great reassurance and you could feel everyone was having a great time filming this.

Iran's film industry continues to expand and if you're struggling for a feel-good watch from this country, this is the one.

Rating: 7/10