Film Reviews Blog

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

Thursday 16th February 2023

Jordan 2021

Running time: 92 mins

Farha

Director : Darin J. Sallam

Film Summary :
Based on true story of a 16 yo girl's experience of the Nakba when Palestinians were driven from their homelands by Israel (with British support)
Film Category
The 2020s
Film Tags

Reviewed by rogerco, Streamed proj @ home on 16 Feb 2023

Review Summary :
a powerful depiction of a horrific experience for a young girl

Intense and Harrowing

From the gentle opening and the introduction to the life of the comunity to the sudden disruption - anticipted by some but not expected right now by any - where the film takes a much darker turn in is initially engrossing and then gripping.



Saturday 4th February 2023

Germany 2022

Running time: 148 mins

All Quiet on the Western Front

Im Westen nichts Neues

Director : Edward Berger

Film Summary :
Intense action sequences punctuated by quiter moments always with an undercurrent of tension
Film Category
The 2020s
Film Tags

Rated by rogerco, Streamed proj @ home on 04 Feb 2023

Review Summary :
Very realistic (probably, what do I know) action sequences and excellent acting as the story trundles to its inevitable conclusion


Saturday 28th January 2023

New Zealand 2010

Running time: 87 mins

Boy

Director : Taika Waititi

Film Summary :
11yo boy growing up in a coastal township with absent father and dead mother - father returns with 2 pals and they start looking for treasure he buried
Film Category
The 2010s
Film Tags

Reviewed by rogerco, DVD proj @ home on 28 Jan 2023

Engrossing and charming

Not fast paced, but not languid. Not laugh out loud, but funny. Convincingly acted. Clear precursor to Hunt for the Wilder People and JoJo Rabbit (same director)and just as good.



Saturday 21st January 2023

USA 2005

Running time: 121 mins

North Country

Director : Niki Caro

Film Summary :
Sexual harrassment in an Iopen-cast iron mine leads to landmark legal case. Based on true story.
Film Category
The 2000s (the noughties)
Film Tags

Reviewed by rogerco, DVD proj @ home on 21 Jan 2023

Review Summary :
Good, but not great. Josie not believable and courtroom scenes, particularly at end, OTT

Good but not Great

Obviously this is a difficult true story to dramatize as in real life its a slow burn that can't easily be compressed into 2 years. Two main quiblles with the film - firstly that the character of Josie didn't seem tough enough to have done that - especially played by a slender beautiful woman. Secondly the courtroom scenes, particularly at the climax, were a bit ridiculous - I don't believe a lawyer would be allowed to browbeat a witness in quite that way even in the US.



Saturday 14th January 2023

Korea 2003

Running time: 120 mins

Oldboy

Director : Park Chan-wook

Film Summary :
Oh Dae-Su is kidnapped and held for 15 years before being released to seek revenge, but the truth behind his kidnapping sours the taste of revenge.
Film Category
The 2000s (the noughties)
Film Tags

Reviewed by rogerco, Streamed proj @ home on 14 Jan 2023

Review Summary :
Hitchcockian exposition with a few eye-closing scenes and a bit of OTT martial arts fighting.

Visually impressive,

Sometimes I had to close my eyes (teeth being extracted etc) and some of the fight scenes were overly cartoonish, but the mise-en-scene was impressive and the unfolding of the plot was satisfying. Hitchcockian in that it keeps you too wrapped up in the lead character's point of view to see what in retrospect is obviously going on. Not suspenseful though.



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