Film Reviews Blog

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

Monday 10th April 2023

Spain 2021

Running time: 123 mins

Parallel Mothers

Madres paralelas

Director : Pedro Almodóvar

Film Summary :
Two women give birth at same time, later Janis discovers that she is not the mother of her baby
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Reviewed by rogerco, Streamed proj @ home on 10 Apr 2023

Review Summary :
Not quite a masterpiece, but pretty good.

Lightweight but enjoyable

The two actresses both excellent, also the supporting cast. Interesting use of slow fades to black on someone's face between time segments. Slightly jarring at the end as Arturo interviews the villagers for their memories of the killed menfolk and anything that might identify them before opening the grave, and then each thing in turn is discovered on a skeleton - a glass eye, a baby's rattle, a ring etc. 




Saturday 8th April 2023

Denmark 1984

Running time: 100 mins

The Element of Crime

Forbrydelsens element

Director : Lars von Trier

Film Summary :
ex Detective undergoes hypnosis to recover memories of his last case in a dystopian imagination.
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Reviewed by rogerco, Streamed proj @ home on 08 Apr 2023

Review Summary :
A strange look at future Europe through the mind of a broken detective

Imagination runs wild

There is probably a story which is told, but with many layers of eta-vision overlaid. Since we are seeing the world from inside the memory of the detective, Fisher, (is there some nominiative determinism between his name and the waterlogged imagination inside him) do is dredging up memories of a traumatic last case under hypnosis, it is difficult to see through the representation to a possible real world beyond.

Has the society collapsed, or does it just seem so. Something has happened but is it inside or out. Did Osborne, Fisher's mentor and solver of the original Harry Grey case which ended in HG's death - allegedly -, did he then go on to complete the next murder himself, and did he recommend his best pupil to investigate the new case knowing that he would fall into the same trap of using his (Fisher's) "method" and complete the first set of murders himself by finding the missing location whilst having used 'the method' to get into HG's mind, and thus feel compelled to close things with a final murder.

Which begs the question would there have been the outline of a 'G' making a further set of murders...




Saturday 1st April 2023

Korea 2022

Running time: 139 mins

Decision to Leave

Director : Park Chan-wook

Film Summary :
Star detective gets involved with murder suspect

Reviewed by rogerco, Streamed proj @ home on 01 Apr 2023

Review Summary :
At times confusing as it switches moods, but well worth staying with

Genre busting modern style

Haunted by his unresolved cases the star detective gets sucked in to a relationship with a suspect that ultimately will bring no closure.

Complete with comedy sidekick and apparaently inspired a Sjowall and Walhoo book we get a bit of police procedural but it is becoming obsession as the Martin Beck figure falls for the mysterious chinese woman.

Very stylishly shot with a creative use of mobile phones embedded into the storyline, and drawing on many different elements of detective, noir, romantic, mystery genres this is clearly an excellent film even when you are not quite sure what is going on.




Saturday 18th March 2023

Iceland 2013

Running time: 78 mins

Of Horses and Men

Hross í oss

Director : Benedikt Erlingsson

Film Summary :
Icelandic valley wild pony breeding community - four interwoven tales about men (and women) and their horses.

Reviewed by rogerco, DVD proj @ home on 18 Mar 2023

Review Summary :
Probably the best film ever about people and their horses

Charming funny enjoyable

Lovely intertwining stories giving a sense of a very rural community where horses are an integral part of life for the inhabitants of the remote valley.

Several separate stories meld together in a satisfying way producing light comedy, romance, drama and a satisfying conclusion.

Excellent photography, great acting by the horses (icelandic semi-feral  ponies) and the humans (seldom have actors looked so at homeon a horse).

Featuring the first appearance of the Colombian touring cyclist who also pops up for light relief in Benedikt Erlingsson's 2018 follow-up film "Woman at War" which is also excellent.

A classic good film, with many things to like and not a foot put wrong. More like this please.




Thursday 16th March 2023

France 1995

Running time: 111 mins

La Cérémonie

Director : Claude Chabrol

Film Summary :
Maid with a secret or two gets job with rich family in isolated house in Brittany. Is befriended by postwoman who persuades her she is exploited. Class war ensues.

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

Classic French post new-wave Film

The cast is excellent. Good acting by good actors creating believable characters. The story is solid - although not totally convincing in the motivation for the dennoument. The film is well made - direction, camerawork, editing, mise-en-scene all faultless.

Doesn't really work as either a thriller - not a lot of suspense - or a psycho-drama. But entertaining as a mystery as the secrets are teased and then revealled.