Master Gardener
As frustratingly stilted as MASTER GARDENER can be, Paul Schrader has still planted the seeds of something curiously mesmerising to watch grow.
Category Archives: Reviews
Unclenching the Fists
UNCLENCHING THE FISTS explores the struggles of a young woman named Ada, and is a powerful portrayal of the impact of patriarchal structures – societal and familial – on the women within.
Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power
Where perhaps BRAINWASHED may be treading old ground for some of those already versed in basic film theory, Nina Menkes provides a clear platform for further study and highlights the saturation of male power in the film industry: a systemic, toxic culture that needs urgently addressed.
Plan 75
Maturity and an optimistic offer of a more humane solution prevent PLAN 75 from being unbearably bleak. By showing something so terrible, the film is really showing what it so dearly values.
The Blue Caftan
THE BLUE CAFTAN is a film that rewards patience, and Maryam Touzani’s decision to keep the camera lingering on her stars’ bright, pained eyes in intimate moments enhances the emotional connection behind them.
The Astronaut
Nicolas Giraud directs and stars in THE ASTRONAUT (L’ASTRONAUTE), a gentle and beautifully shot film with some ambitious ideas around opening up space exploration and connecting with people on Earth. Although slow, the drama of the climax makes the journey worthwhile. Simon Bowie reviews.
The Ordinaries
Sophie Linnenbaum’s debut feature THE ORDINARIES crafts a story that very nearly collapses under its own concept but manages to say something about class and emotional expression. Simon Bowie reviews.
The Artist and The Wall of Death
The theme of failure has such potency for a documentary film, but THE ARTIST AND THE WALL OF DEATH ends up with a rather traditional narrative trajectory that doesn’t get to the root of the importance of failure in creativity. Simon Bowie reviews.
Rodeo
The tonal unevenness of Lola Quivoron’s feature debut RODEO may hinder greatness, but the ride is electric. Carmen Paddock reviews.
Typist Artist Pirate King
Carol Morley’s TYPIST ARTIST PIRATE KING is a psychogeographic tour across England through the prism of an unappreciated artist suffering with mental illness. Simon Bowie reviews.