25 January 2019.
By Neptune
BEN IS BACK ***1/2
It is a rotten shame that this excellent film on an important subject has been completely ignored in the Oscar nominations, especially for Julia Roberts’ moving portrayal of the mother of a young addict. (When I think that a greyish soap opera on a director’s Mexican family (“Roma”) has been raised to artistic heights and given 10 nominations, it makes my blood boil!)
Peter Hedges wrote and directed this film starring his own son Lucas as Ben, the 19 year-old who unexpectedly comes home for Christmas from his rehab facility. The family tensions and events that fill the next 24 hours are incredibly realistic and moving. This is filmmaking at its most discreetly riveting, and should not be missed.
COLETTE ***
Although Colette was an iconic French female writer of the 20th century, this fine biopic is from England. It is an enlightening account of her early life and rebellious quest for her rights and independence. A sumptuous film by Wash Westmorland (“Still Alice”), it is wonderfully evocative of the elegant Parisian salons of the late 19th century and is brilliantly acted by Keira Knightley as the heroine and Dominic West as her suitor and husband, Willy.
The bombastic, debonair Willy sweeps the much younger, inexperienced Colette (Gabrielle Sidonie Colette) off her feet, takes her to Paris and uses her writing talents to promote his own career. But the balance of power can often shift in love affairs, and she turns the tables on him. Women do tend to learn fast, especially strong-headed Colette.
This is her story and that of her gentle but persistent appetite for the artistic world and the sensual pleasures of both sexes. Her courage in pursuing and standing up for her writing, as well as her daring theatrical career and her forays into lesbian relationships made her a formidable pioneer of women’s rights.
Here is a film that is both illuminating and entertaining.
Superb **** Very Good *** Good ** Mediocre * Miserable – no stars
By Neptune
Neptune Ravar Ingwersen reviews film extensively for publications in Switzerland. She views 4 to 8 films a week and her aim is to sort the wheat from the chaff for readers.
For more stories like this on Switzerland follow us on Facebook and Twitter.