2 February 2018. WONDER WHEEL ***1/2 We had to wait more than a year this time for Woody Allen’s annual gift to us cinephiles and Woody fans, but the wait was worth it. It has the usual Allen-esque features: world-weary wisdom, excellent direction of actors Kate Winslet, James Belushi and Justin Timberlake, plus his mixture […]
FILM: THE POST (The Pentagon Papers) – It could make you a better more hopeful person
26 January 2018. THE POST (The Pentagon Papers) **** Stephen Spielberg must be a good man. It’s simply obvious in his filmography: CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND; SCHINDLER’S LIST; AMISTAD; LINCOLN; SAVING PRIVATE RYAN; BRIDGE OF SPIES; etc. etc. He always has his audience in mind – offering them worthwhile, historical themes, or thrilling […]
FILM: THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI – a mother’s crusade to find her daughter’s killers
19 January 2018. Do not miss the 19th edition of the BLACK MOVIE FESTIVAL (Festival international de films indépendants – Genève) -19-28 January 2018. With 121 innovative films from 30 countries and 4 continents, it offers an incredible view of today’s world, with all its diversities. Centered around the GRUTLI CINEMAS, the CINELUX and the SPOUTNIK, […]
FILM: OTTO BLOOM – a man whose life runs in reverse
12 January 2018. THE DEATH AND LIFE OF OTTO BLOOM **** Australia has a fine culture of exceptional films. As in this fascinating tale of a dazed young man found by the police and brought to a clinic. His strange story – that of a man who goes through time in reverse, from the future […]
FILM: Darkest hour – Churchill, Dunkirk, Gary Oldman…4 stars
5 January 2018. DARKEST HOUR (Les Heures Sombres) **** Churchill, Dunkirk, Gary Oldman…quite a combination, and it all comes out brilliantly, thanks to tight direction from Joe Wright (“Pride and Prejudice”, “Atonement”), and of course a historical event that surpasses any fiction. Oldman is unrecognisable as he becomes Churchill at one of the most difficult […]
FILM: LUCKY – spiritual, amusing and wise + a great Christmas line up
22 December 2017. Dear cinephiles, here’s wishing you a warm and toasty Christmas and a healthy and peaceful 2018. With many good films, of course! There are too many interesting ones coming out this week, so the reviews will be mini ones. Just to guide you to the right film… Enjoy them through the holidays. Don’t forget […]
FILM: PADDINGTON 2 – super fun Christmas entertainment
8 December 2017. PADDINGTON 2 **** Here’s a super fun Christmas gift – fuzzy, warm entertainment for the whole family! With delightful English humor to boot. Cute little Paddington bear is back, so happy in his cozy London home with the Brown family, who have taken him into their hearts. We get to see his […]
FILM: COCO – Pixar’s latest box office hit
1 December 2017. COCO ***1/2 Pixar Studios, originally created by John Lasseter and friends in 1995, started off with a huge bang on the release of their innovative and brilliantly animated film, “Toy Story”. Yup, that’s the one that had us all rooting, laughing and crying at various points of the delightful story about the […]
FILM: MADAME – about the cruelty of class and the tenderness of the heart
24 November 2017. MADAME ***1/2 Here is a strange romantic tale that takes the mind and heart in different directions. Starring the unique Rosey de Palma, whom Almodovar made famous, this film is about the cruelty of class and the tenderness of the heart. De Palma literally steals the show as she blooms into a […]
FILM: 6 you should probably avoid
17 November 2017. Not a great week, I’m afraid. Wait for next week when there will be some fine ones. TEHRAN TABOO **1/2 (vo Farsi) This is a film that is done in animation, atmospheric and politically-attuned, with quite an intriguing storyline. It is well-made, has been making the rounds of film festivals and audiences […]
