5 July 2019. By Neptune TOY STORY 4 ***1/2 Pixar is no doubt one of the finest and most innovative of the animation studios, and their Toy Story saga which started in 1995 is the most popular and touching of their works. They brought inanimate toys to life with excitement and pathos that have delighted […]
FILM: TOLKIEN – from orphan to famous author
28 June 2019. By Neptune TOLKIEN ***1/2 The atrocities of WWI, the depth of a brotherhood built upon common interests in the arts, the tenderness of new love, the difficulties of a deprived childhood and the benefits of a fine education…all these make up this beautiful melodrama by the young Finnish director Dome Karukoski based […]
FILM: MEN IN BLACK
14 June 2019. By Neptune MEN IN BLACK **1/2 I had expected super fun and fireworks from this rebooted MIB, with the likes of Thor turned Special Agent, and those cool black glasses. But no, unfortunately, despite deep-voiced Aussi Chris Hemsworth who is such a delight for the eyes, and the always superior Emma Thompson […]
THEATRE: OPEN AIR FESTIVAL IN COPPET
From the 18th through 20th June, try not to miss a series of delightful evening theatre and music events which have become an annual happening since 2011 in the Cours d’Honneur du Chateau de Coppet. The Chateau was the home of the renowned Madame Germaine de Stael, who was an aristocratic woman ahead of her […]
FILM: ROCKETMAN – even better than Bohemian Rhapsody
7 June 2019. By Neptune ROCKETMAN ***1/2 A bit late in the day, for I missed it in Cannes where it made a huge splash, and just saw it a few days ago, so here goes… If I compare this to the recent Oscar-anointed Queen/Freddy Mercury biopic, “Bohemian Rhapsody”, I would say this one is […]
FILM: PAIN AND GLORY – My personal Palme d’Or
31 May 2019. By Neptune Run to these before they are gone from the Geneva screens… PAIN AND GLORY (Douleur et Gloire) **** (vo Spanish) Pedro Almodovar was back at the Cannes Film Festival for the 7th time on the Côte d’Azur where he has always felt highly appreciated by the public and has obtained […]
FILM: ONCE UPON A TIME…IN HOLLYWOOD – the star attraction in Cannes this year
24 May 2019. By Neptune In this second week of the Cannes Festival, films and events have risen to a crescendo of talents, duds, glitter and a strong presence of women auteurs this year. With a few great works and some that did not deserve to be in the various lineups, there is too much […]
FILM: REPORT FROM CANNES FILM FESTIVAL – May 13 – 26, 2019
10 May 2019. By Neptune Cannes Film Festival – Where anything is possible! The French/Serbian animation director Enki Bilal, one of the 9 (4 women, 5 men) Jury members in Cannes for the main Competition selection of 21 films, put it quite succinctly during their press conference when he said cinema is the best and […]
FILM: AVENGERS: ENDGAME – dark, detailed but too lengthy
10 May 2019. By Neptune AVENGERS: ENDGAME *** A quality blockbuster from the Marvel studios, this is a dark, detailed but too lengthy (just over 3 hours!) final episode. Fun for the aficionados of the franchise, with all the Marvel characters brought in at various points of the scenario, sometimes with drama, sometimes with great […]
FILM: AT ETERNITY’S GATE – Vincent Van Gogh’s last tragic years
4 May 2019. By Neptune AT ETERNITY’S GATE ***1/2 (vo English and French) A contemporary artist’s take on the iconic master of the late 19th century, this film by Julian Schnabel is a difficult but effective portrayal of Vincent Van Gogh’s last tragic years. It takes a painter like Schnabel to fully understand the artist’s […]
