9 June 2017. WONDER WOMAN *** Yes, she is! In every way a wonder, and a woman of curiosity, beauty, strength and caring. For that is the attraction of this latest blockbuster, directed by Patty Jenkins (whose 2004 film “Monster” won an Oscar for Charlize Theron) – it’s a balanced mix of romanticized Greek mythology along […]
FILM: Neptune reports from Cannes with her favourites
26 May 2017. Neptune reports from Cannes The Cannes Film Festival is a universe unto itself. When you are here in mid-May and accredited (an absolute necessity for entering the massive “bunker” – whether press or industry), you are in a hermetic bubble pertaining to the film world. Nothing exists outside this obsession with all […]
FILM: King Arthur – Legend of the sword. Told by Guy Ritchie
19 May 2017. KING ARTHUR – LEGEND OF THE SWORD **1/2 To enjoy this latest Guy Ritchie extravaganza on the ancient myth of King Arthur, you have to appreciate Ritchie’s style of filmmaking – fast, furious and flippant dialogue, speedy editing and innovative storytelling – like his early “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” or […]
FILM: Court – the story of a victim of India’s legal system
12 May 2017. COURT *** (vo Indian and English) The arbitrary and frustrating procedure of India’s court system is the theme of this film which at times borders on the tragicomedy. And the underlying feel is a play on the old adage, “the rich get richer and the poor get poorer…”, or rather, the habitual […]
FILM: Marie Curie – the private life of a woman who fought hard to fit into a man’s world
5 May 2017. MARIE CURIE et la LUMIÈRE BLEUE ***1/2 (vo French) Most of us know Marie Curie as the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize in Physics (in 1903), along with her husband Pierre, for their research in radium. But we know little about her private sphere and the scandal of her later […]
FILM: Guardians of the Galaxy, vol 2 – a super fun popcorn flick
28 April 2017. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, Vol 2 ***1/2 If you’re looking for a super fun popcorn flick, this is it! Those crazy space characters from Marvel comics are back again to amuse us while saving the Galaxy one more time, in this instant cult film. There’s of course the main man, Peter Quill, alias […]
FILM: Visions du Réel – film festival in Nyon – April 21 -29
The Geneva and Suisse Romande area is a goldmine for cinema lovers – films from all over the world, often in original versions (vo) and in easy-to-reach locations. Just a bit pricey – but this is Switzerland. There are the multiple film festivals all around the year. The Oriental one just ended, now get ready […]
FILM: Gold – human perseverance, greed and folly
21 April 2017. GOLD *** Yet another true story. There have been so many of them lately – one better than the next, for they truly happened, which makes them that much more compelling. Matthew McConaughey has become an aficionado of these biopics – losing and gaining an extraordinary amount of weight depending on the role. […]
FILM: Backstage documentary on the Opéra de Paris
14 April 2017. L’OPÉRA (The Paris Opera) **** (vo French) How is it to run an opera house, especially one as prestigious as the Opéra de Paris? In fact it is two opera houses: the grand old Garnier and the modern Bastille. With 1600 employees and a budget of more than €200 million, it does not […]
FILM: A United Kingdom – an African king marries a white British woman
31 March 2017. A UNITED KINGDOM *** How does one rate and describe a film that is not very well written, is overly sentimentalized, yet is a pleasing, touching film that should be seen? Seen for its intriguing, true historic story, and for its main star, David Oyelowo, the brilliant Nigerian/English actor who recently portrayed Martin […]
