Film Reviews Blog

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

Saturday 20th May 2023

2022

Running time: 118 mins

Holy Spider

Director : Ali Abbasi

Film Summary :
Serial killer in Mashhad, Iran murdering prostitutes with 'no progress'from the police until a female journalist from Tehran investigates.

Rated by Roger CO, on 20 May 2023




Saturday 13th May 2023

Spain 2004

Running time: 106 mins

Bad Education

La mala educación

Director : Pedro Almodóvar

Film Summary :
The effects of a catholic boys schooleducation in the 60s revealed when two friend meet agan in the late 70s - although in fact they don't

Reviewed by rogerco, DVD proj @ home on 13 May 2023

Review Summary :
At least three interwoven stories in one film

Catholic abuse, deception, consequences

Story 1 - an aspiring actor visits the office of his old schoolfriend to try and get a break into films. He leaves without success but hands over the manuscript of a story he has written.

Story 2 - the directory reads the story ("The Visit") which tells of events in his schooldays. This inspires him to visit his old friend's home town where he learns that his firend has died a couple of years ago. 

Story 3 - the two young boys at school fall in love growing up together, but the priest also has a crush on one boy and uses his power to have the other boy expelled. This boy grows up to become the filmmaker.

Story 4 - the boy who was sexually abused by the priest grows up to become a transexual drug addict. In needs of money he writes the story of his schooldays and visits the priest - now head of the school - to attempt to balckmail him. He is living with his younger brother, Juan, 

Story 5 - Enrique agrees to cast Angel in the film.

I'm confused typing this as I am mixing it up with Official Competition........




Saturday 6th May 2023

UK 2021

Running time: 106 mins

The Phantom of the Open

Director : Craig Roberts

Film Summary :
True story of Shipyard worker from Barrow who enters the British Open golf championship several times despite never having played before
Film Category
Film Tags

Reviewed by rogerco, DVD proj @ home on 06 May 2023

Review Summary :
with the added frisson of being a true story

Good clean fun

An English "follow your dream" caper, not rags-to-riches but more live your own life and don't let the bastards grind you down.

A bit sentimental but basically honest (if not exactly trulitcroft's family - who knows? or cares?). Some slapstick (capsizing the golf cart in a keystone cops pursuit), plenty of fun poked at snobbery.




Thursday 4th May 2023

France 2022

The Night of the 12th

La nuit du 12

Director : Dominik Moll

Film Summary :
Police procediural based on true story in Grenoble area

Reviewed by rogerco, Arts Cinema Plymouth on 04 May 2023

Review Summary :
Classic police procedural echoing the Martin Beck books in style and tone.Detailed and engrossing.

A First Class Crime Investigation

As much about the investigating team and the detail of their work as about the murder itself which remains an enigma. Touching on the sexism (and racisim) inherent in male dominated police work where most victims are female, but not ramming it down our throats. Engrosing details of the twists and turns of the investigation and of the life of the team. And in the endthere is no resolution.




Sunday 30th April 2023

2022

Running time: 147 mins

Triangle of Sadness

Director : Ruben Östlund

Film Summary :
Luxury yacht cruise for the super-rich goes a bit wrong. Focusing on a young celebrity model couple of "influencers"
Film Category
Film Tags

Reviewed by rogerco, DVD proj @ home on 30 Apr 2023

Review Summary :
Could have been better as some interesting themes

OK Light Comedy

Not laugh-out-loud funny, just the odd situational chuckle. The slapstick (people vomiting and toilets overflowing during the storm) wan't particularly notable.

Much too long, should have had at least 20 mins trimmed.

No idea why it won the Palme d'Or. Did the Cannes Crowd think it was somehow 'edgy' cos it poked mild fun at the super-rich and hinted at a social critique?