A 400-year-old white pine bonsai tree survived the atomic bomb on Hiroshima.
Continue readingTag Archives: 3.5 stars
On the Rocks (2020)
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This is a completely enjoyable film by Sofia Coppola, led by Rashida Jones’s strong, awkward and likeable characterisation of an every woman who realises she has unknowingly transitioned from exciting and sexy to boring and frumpy in the eyes of her husband.
Continue readingBoîte Noire (Black Box) (2021)
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I love a good psychological thriller and have a secret fascination with the kind of detective work that must go into investigating plane crashes.
Continue readingImmersion (きかいじま) (2023)
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Thanks Lowell for telling me to lower my expectations with this Gen Alpha meets ancient Japanese grudges J-horror.
Continue readingCitizen Kitano (Citizen K) (2020)
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I feel a bit ashamed to say that I can’t remember if I’ve ever seen a film by Takeshi Kitano. I feel that surely I have seen Hana-Bi (1998) or Zatoichi (2003) but from the glimpses in this interesting short documentary by Yves Montmayeur, none really stand out.
Continue readingThe Forbidden Play (禁じられた遊び) (2023)
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This is a Japanese horror of Ringu (1998) ilk, all about vengeful wraiths and the monstrousness of female emotions.
Continue readingPain and Glory (2019)
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I was a bit trepidatious about seeing Almodóvar’s latest (in 2019 – it’s taken me a while to post this!).
Continue readingBrittany Runs a Marathon (2019)
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It seems fitting to catch up on a film missed at MIFF 2019 whilst sequestered to watch MIFF 2020 online. It was a late night find and Jillian Bell’s starring role was a major draw.
Continue readingFire of Love (2022)
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The story of Katia and Maurice Krafft was made for a documentary like this. In the 70s and 80s, they were feted as the only volcanologist couple, bound by their love for each other and of trying to understand active volcanoes.
Continue readingDon’t Worry Darling (2020)
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Florence Pugh is becoming my go to star as just about any movie she is in seems made better by her presence.
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