22 November 2024. By Neptune NAÎTRE SVETLANA STALINE **** (vo French, English, Russian) This documentary by Swiss journalist and director Gabriel Tejedor, about the rich yet tragic life of Stalin’s daughter, is a vivid, personal ride through 20th century history. Born in 1926, Svetlana was raised like a princess at the height of Stalin’s years […]

15 November 2024. By Neptune GLADIATOR II *** Ridley Scott is an epic filmmaker, and he proves it once again with this second take on the original “Gladiator”. This time it is about the son of General and Gladiator Maximus, played with magnificence some 24 years ago by Russell Crowe, who won an Oscar for […]

8 November 2024. By Neptune THE SUBSTANCE *** Here it is – the cruel reality of the price of fame and glory, and the pressure on women to be young and beautiful, especially in Hollywood. This film made a huge splash in Cannes, with a glamorous Demi Moore playing here a fading actress who realises […]

1 November 2024. By Neptune We are lucky to have exceptional films coming at us in droves, for it’s the season leading up to the award shows. The superb “Conclave” will be out in early December and “Gladiator II” will also be soon released. Take full advantage of these gems. ANORA **** This film is […]

18 October 2024. By Neptune THE APPRENTICE ***1/2 More controversial and timely than this, you cannot get! And yet, and yet… Despite revealing all his warts and characteristic ambitions, this biopic of Donald Trump’s early years rising in the New York business world feels so honest, so well written and strongly acted that it may […]

11 October 2024. By Neptune Five films this week – it’s the autumn rentrée. Run to the good ones! THE WILD ROBOT **** A lost robot, a newly hatched baby goose and a naughty fox make the most wonderful threesome you’ve seen in a long time. This animated film about a robot who is stranded […]

4 October 2024. By Neptune WHEN AUTUMN COMES (QUAND VIENT L’AUTOMNE) ***1/2 (vo French, English subtitles) It is such a pleasure to anticipate the latest François Ozon film and have it confirmed – once again – that the man is a master filmmaker and storyteller. He, of such varied delicacies as “Gouttes d’eau sur pierres […]

27 September 2024. By Neptune MEGALOPOLIS *1/2 It’s sad when a renowned artist loses his touch, his proven talent. At 85, the great Francis Ford Coppola, director of the unforgettable “Godfather” trilogy (the first two were masterworks, the third, a disappointment), and his grandiose “Apocalypse Now”, brought this, his last cinematic extravaganza to Cannes last […]

20 September 2024. By Neptune We’re lucky to have excellent films coming out this week. But then, it’s autumn and the rebirth of culture is in the air… LES GRAINES DU FIGUIER SAUVAGE **** ( vo Persian) I include below what I wrote about this exceptional film in my 16/8 column on the Locarno film […]

6 September 2024. By Neptune Dear Cinephiles,I was away last week so a few films have piled up, and will be away again next week, but will keep you informed of the exceptional ones. These reviews will necessarily be short. Last week’s releases: LA PRISONNIÈRE DE BORDEAUX *** (vo French) A well-acted, intriguing film about […]