Wasteman
Even though WASTEMAN’s brutal narrative isn’t anything novel, it possesses a freshness courtesy of McMau’s first time behind the camera, added to the debut screenplay from newcomers Hunter Andrews and Eoin Doran.
Category Archives: Reviews
Departures
Even if DEPARTURES leans heavily on its influences before it establishes what it wants to say, there are enough novel angles and flourishes that its bolshy Mancunian voice is clearly heard and worth listening to.
The Drama
THE DRAMA renders philosophical thought experiments as tangible personal relationships. The film is both fiendishly juvenile and thought-provoking, with Kristoffer Borgli’s black comedy approach harmonising these two qualities.
The Bride!
The story of Shelley’s Frankenstein is, in part, about unchecked ambition and “filthy creation”. In pursuing greatness for himself, Victor brought misery upon a creature of which he lost control. Maybe THE BRIDE! is a good adaptation of her work in spirit, if not in practice.
Project Hail Mary
PROJECT HAIL MARY remains emotionally simple (sometimes stubbornly so), but few films can offer as many shining moments.
California Schemin’
CALIFORNIA SCHEMIN’ has hints of greatness throughout its script but ultimately lands as a safe debut for James McAvoy that doesn’t dare to tread very far outside the formula for music biopic cinema.
The Fall of Sir Douglas Weatherford
THE FALL OF SIR DOUGLAS WEATHERFORD is the story of a tour guide in a small Borders town, driven mad by the intrusion of a television crew filming a prestige fantasy series, balancing a light comedy tone with unexpected poignancy, even if some of its more impactful ideas are underdeveloped.
Sukkwan Island (My Father’s Island)
SUKKWAN ISLAND (also known as MY FATHER’S ISLAND) is a slow devastation. The conclusion seems inevitable from the outset but, like the young man in the film, we are dragged along for the experience.
Effi o Blaenau
EFFI O BLAENAU is a terrific, timely picture of very modern, very preventable tragedies. That said, it is in no way tied to its era and milieu: as long as people think with hearts and not heads, and as long as we live in a world where blind chance can have the same impact as thoughtful choices, Effi will face these trials.
Rebuilding
REBUILDING is a compassionate look at a community rocked by disaster with a wonderfully judged performance by O’Connor, though unfortunately it goes no deeper. Considering these natural events will become more and more common, and stronger, as the climate crisis intensifies, the film occupies a strange place between call to action and resignation to fate.