Film Reviews Blog

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

Wednesday 23rd August 2023

USA 2023

Barbie

Director : Greta Gerwig

Film Summary :
Barbie World meets Real World through a portal and it is not what the expected
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Rated by rogerco, New Carlton Okehampton on 23 Aug 2023

Review Summary :
Yes it makes some good points but ultimately it is here to make you feel that Barbie is ok and Mattel are not evil but just providing fun.



Saturday 19th August 2023

Ireland 2022

Running time: 90 mins

Joyride

Director : Emer Reynolds

Synopsis extract :
At charity fundriser in memory of his dead mother boy finds dad stealing the money raised to pay ...
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Reviewed by rogerco, DVD proj @ home on 19 Aug 2023

No joy to be found on this dismal ride

One star for being Irish and another for being mildly amusing at times - but it doesn't really deserve 2 stars.

Incoherent storyline, cartoonish characters, poorly directed, it is almost complete rubbish. 

Sound so poor we had to turn on the hard-of-hearing subtitles to catch what they were saying - not that they were saying anything very interesting. The oirishness was dialled up to 11 and frankly irritating, Photography competent though.

The director should go back to documentaries, and the writer should try a different line of work. You shouldn't waste your time watching it, its not even bad enough towe worth seeing it to laugh at.




Saturday 12th August 2023

Italy 1956

Running time: 91 mins

The Rooof

Il Tetto

Director : Vittorio De Sica

Film Summary :
Newlyweds needing a place of their own find that if the can put up a house overnight without the police finding it and it has a door and a roof then it can't be demolished

Reviewed by rogerco, Streamed proj @ home on 12 Aug 2023

Lightweight realism

Lightweight picture of housing problems in Italy in 50s. Excellent natural performance by Gabriella Pallotta as Luisa (the newlywed wife)- only 18 at time of filming. Interesting views of Rome and the fishing village where her parents live, and overcrowded housing where Natale's family live.




Saturday 29th July 2023

UK 2021

Running time: 94 mins

Belfast

Director : Kenneth Branagh

Film Summary :
Growing up in a time of troubles

Reviewed by rogerco, DVD proj @ home on 29 Jul 2023

Growing up in a time of troubles

D0 not watch the "alternative ending" on the DVD - its a Kenneth Branagh wank. Aside from that it is probably the best film he has ever been involved with. Great music from Van the Man as well.

It quite a gentle drama of family life in a poor initially unsegregated area of Belfast in the 1960s. Possibly a somewhat romanticised view of community before neo-liberalism destroyed everything, but the characters are good and interesting and the boy Buddy (Jude Hill) is excellent. Its a story of those who ultimately decided to leave, rather than delving into the politics or the lives of those who decided to stay.

Charming rather than gritty social-realism, but that can be okay - there are other films about the harder side of The Troubles.




Friday 28th July 2023

2023

Running time: 105 mins

To the Last Ukrainian

unlisted director

Film Summary :
Documentary about the sources of the war in Ukraine and the European responses

Rated by Roger CO, on 28 Jul 2023