8 February 2019. By Neptune THE FAVOURITE **** This is a deliciously malicious view of the corridors of power in early 18th century England during the reign of Queen Anne when France and England were at war, which was a huge drain on the royal coffers. But this film is mostly a portrait of the […]
FILM: IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK – see this other film instead
1 February 2019. By Neptune This is not a super week for film releases – so check out the excellent ones that are still on the Geneva screens – THE GREEN BOOK, BEN IS BACK, SHOPLIFTERS, BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY, COLD WAR, EDMOND, FACTEUR CHEVAL, COLETTE… The choice is vast. IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK ** If […]
FILM: THE GREEN BOOK – This film is one of those greats. From its first scene.
18 January 2019. By Neptune THE GREEN BOOK ***** There were three films this year that I considered most memorable – the Icelandic WOMAN AT WAR, the Lebanese CAPHARNAUM and the Polish COLD WAR. Until I saw this film that simply blew me away. Probably the best of the year. So, what is a great […]
FILM: CREED II – good old Sylvester Stallone keeps them coming
11 January 2019. By Neptune What a week…three completely different films…The first one about one of France’s finest writers, Edmond Rostand of the classic romance, “Cyrano de Bergerac”; the other a gentle, social comedy about a group of homeless women; and the last about a boxing family going back to the “Rocky” days. All worth […]
FILM: WELCOME TO MARWEN – how a WWII soldier creates a make-believe universe to cope with trauma
4 January 2019. By Neptune WELCOME TO MARWEN *** Based on the life of Mark Hogancamp, this completely bizarre but charming film is a mix of live actors and Barbie-type figures that pop up in our character’s gentle musings but also in his worst nightmares. For his psychological problems stem from his time as a […]
FILM: 4 films to miss and 1 to see
21 December 2018. By Neptune It seems this week is the official release of THE BOOKSHOP which I already reviewed a few weeks ago. Unfortunately it’s the only film I can recommend this week – the others are all missables, except for MARY POPPINS RETURNS which I hear is excellent, but I have not yet […]
FILM: SHOPLIFTERS – a Tokyo family that survives by shoplifting
14 December 2018. By Neptune SHOPLIFTERS (Une Affaire de Famille) **** There is a delicacy and sensitivity to the films of Japanese master director Hirokazu Kore-Eda that introduce us to a Japan which is often far from our preconceived ideas about that country. He usually deals with the importance of the family unit, portraying it […]
FILM: LETO – indy homage to two Russian rock/punk stars of 1980s Leningrad
7 December 2018. By Neptune LETO ***1/2 (vo Russian) This indy homage to two Russian rock/punk stars of 1980s Leningrad was quite a hit at the 2018 Cannes film festival. Ironically, its director Kiril Serebrennikov was one of two directors in the Palme d’Or lineup (the other being Jafar Panahi of Iran, with his film […]
FILM: BLAZE – the turbulent life of a legendary country singer
23 November 2018. By Neptune BLAZE ***1/2 The talented actor Ethan Hawke, who picked up an Excellence Award at this year’s Locarno film festival, has become an accomplished director and delves here into a biopic on the singular, turbulent life of the legendary (among aficionados), yet little-known Country singer/songwriter Blaze Foley. It’s a ballad, a […]
FILM: BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY – a must for Queen fans
2 November 2018. By Neptune Do not miss Geneva’s own International Film Festival – GIFF – running from 2 to 10 November 2018. Click here for more information. BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY **1/2 This is obviously a must for fans of the band Queen and its charismatic, strutting singer, Freddie Mercury. A detailed musical biopic, it reveals […]
