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The Endless fulfilled the promise of its name and felt never-ending. Listed as a horror, it is more a muddled sci-fi, low on suspense and high on exposition. Continue reading
The Endless (2017)
StandardAnnihilation (2017)
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Directed by Alex Garland, he makes up for his terrible characterisation of women in Ex Machina (2014) with this epic female-led sci-fi. One of the first of many films, I suspect, sold directly to Netflix to avoid the cost of distribution outside the US, Annihilation is worth a look. Continue reading
The Villainess (Ak-Nyeo) (2017)
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Hardly pausing to draw breath, this South Korean thriller by director Byung-gil Jung launches you into blood soaked action from the first unforgettable scene. Continue reading
The Space in Between: Marina Abramović and Brazil (2016)
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I came close to walking out of this documentary by Marco Del Fiol, about performance artist Marina Abramović, within the first 15 minutes. If I had, I would’ve missed an interesting meditation on ritual, spirituality and performance. Continue reading
C’est La Vie! (Le sens de la fête) (2017)
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C’est La Vie! is a wry and heartwarming French comedy about love, napkin twirling and the frustrations you feel when nothing goes quite as planned. Continue reading
Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool (2017)
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Based on the autobiography of Peter Turner, who had a relationship with Hollywood star Gloria Grahame in the last years of her life, this serviceable biopic showcases Annette Bening’s fine acting skills, which mostly distracts us from the rose-tinted clichés. Continue reading
Phantom Thread
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You expect a film with Daniel Day-Lewis in it is going to be substantial, meticulously crafted and have him squarely in the centre of the story. Phantom Thread certainly showcases his skills as a method actor but lacks drama and substance. Continue reading
The Florida Project (2017)
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This remarkable film gently and profoundly shows the fragility of US life on the poverty line from the point of view of the children and families who live on the margins. As realistic as a documentary, it is set within the fractured community of motels in Florida, on the doorstep of Disney World. Continue reading
I, Tonya (2017)
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Margot Robbie does a smashing job (no pun intended) at portraying the much maligned US Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding in this quirky, openly contradictory telling of her story. Continue reading
Bright Weakness (Maryline) (2017)
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Some films knock you sideways with unexpected brilliance and Maryline, retitled for the Alliance French Film Festival as Bright Weakness, is one of those. Heartfelt, subtle and unexpected, I could not look away from Adeline D’Hermy’s mesmerising performance. Continue reading
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