Film Reviews Blog

This page only shows films that have a review. By default in date order of reading with newest at top

Saturday 7th December 2024

Average rating from 2 reviews

France 2012

Running time: 127 mins

Amour

Director : Michael Haneke

Film Summary :
An elderly couple coping with onset of dementia and stroke and loss of one half in the best possible way

Reviewed by rogerco, DVD proj @ home on 07 Dec 2024

Truth not Sentiment

We had no recollection of having seen this before, but we did, in 2013 (see other review)

This time I found it really excellent, brilliantly acted and sympathetically told making the characters strong and avoiding any sentimentality. Maybe own experiences in last 10 years have made me look at it differently and recognise a lot more truth in it - not just a simple story to follow but one that starts to resonate and deeply involve you.




Sunday 1st December 2024

Japan 2016

Running time: 106 mins

Your Name

Director : Makoto Shinkai

Film Summary :
Anime style. Love story about 2 teenagers and a natural disaster and time bending

Reviewed by rogerco, DVD proj @ home on 01 Dec 2024

Nice drawing, good storyline

Nice story although it went on a bit towards the end as they kept not meeting. The drawing style was excellent. I wondered if all of the low level shots of doors sliding open (as they commonly do in Japan) was a sly reference to the 199x alternative realite film Sliding Doors with Gweneth Paltrow.




Saturday 23rd November 2024

Denmark 2012

Running time: 115 mins

The Hunt

Jagten

Director : Thomas Vinterberg

Film Summary :
Nursery teacher gets accused of paedophillia on basis of childs prompted statement

Reviewed by Roger CO, DVD proj @ home on 23 Nov 2024

Review Summary :
A powerful story of the madness of crowds

Powerful

What is truth when a child tells a casual lie which is believed. How do you push back against that madness that grips people




Saturday 28th September 2024

Finland 1989

Running time: 79 mins

Leningrad Cowboys Go America

Director : Aki Kaurismäki

Synopsis extract :
A rubbish band in the wastelands of the finnish-russian border (or is it siberia? ...

Reviewed by rogerco, Streamed proj @ home on 28 Sep 2024

Slow paced comedy

Probably hilarious if you are Finnish or Russian but a bit weird for me as the gags seem obvious and laboured but in a kind-of good way




Friday 20th September 2024

USA 2024

Running time: 109 mins

Civil War

unlisted director

Film Summary :
Road movie about 4 journalists travelling through a modern day american civil war

Reviewed by Roger CO, streaming TV at Sian's on 20 Sep 2024

Not a political war film. Inoffensive to a fault

A proposed civil war in today's USA is just the background to what essentially is a Deliverance style road movie about a set of four journalists travelling through an strange landscape. Entirely without any political content or even context as it strives not to offend anyone the core story is faiirly trite hollywood tropes without any real edge.