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: 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 […]
CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME? – one of the BEST films of the year
By Neptune CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME? **** I just saw – belatedly, recommended by a kind friend – one of the BEST films of the year. RUN to it (at Cine17) before it’s gone! It’s not only English-language, but a true New York flick (somewhat in the vein of “Midnight Cowboy”), brilliantly directed by […]
FILM: ASH IS THE PUREST WHITE – an intriguing panorama of life in China
19 April 2019. By Neptune This is indeed an international week – there’s not a single English-language film in my reviews. But we’re in Geneva, and lucky to be so diversified! ASH IS THE PUREST WHITE (LES ETERNELS) ***1/2 (vo Chinese) One could call this a love story. A love story à la Chinoise, but […]
FILM: RBG – the exceptional documentary of Ruth Bader Ginsberg
5 April 2019. By Neptune A rich array of releases this week – do not miss them! RBG **** Ruth Bader Ginsberg has not only been a judge on the Supreme Court of the United States since 1993, but she has been a persistent ground-breaker in the struggle for equal rights between men and women […]
