Director Matt Winn riffs off Hitchcock’s The Trouble With Harry in this ‘black comedy’ that modernises the vicissitudes of collective guilt and self interest.
Continue readingThe Trouble With Jessica (2023)
StandardTag Archives: 3 stars
The Royal Hotel (2023)
Standard
Director Kitty Green has some worthy documentary subjects under her belt and it’s no surprise that the excellent Hotel Coolgardie (2016) inspired her in this outback noir fictionalisation.
Continue readingDream Scenario (2023)
Standard
Kristoffer Borgli (sick of myself 2022) takes a delightful premise and then drains it of joy and drama.
Continue readingThe Way, My Way (2024)
Standard
This isn’t the easiest film to like. A quasi documentary based on the memoir by writer director Bill Bennett about his pilgrimage along ‘the way’ to Santiago de Compostela.
Continue readingFuriosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)
Standard
Having seen two exemplary films exploring war and the nature of evil just the day before (Civil War and Zone of Interest), I felt unprepared for the kaleidoscopic onslaught of the latest iteration of the Mad Max saga.
Continue readingVulcanizadora (2024)
Standard
It’s quite possible that I should’ve given this film a miss. It started at 11:45 pm and I knew I had a morning film the next day. I kind of got caught up in the rush to get there and enthusiasm to see something a little bit weird late at night, something that I would never have the chance to see elsewhere.
Continue readingAs the Tide Comes In (Før Stormen)(2023)
Standard
This feels like a pretty observation of a unique community that ultimately doesn’t really say anything.
Continue readingMalu (2024)
Standard
Although this is a strong ensemble piece about three generations of women, it felt like it came in a long line of films that I had seen over the last few weeks about women who are essentially damaged.
Continue readingMatt and Mara (2024)
Standard
Matt Johnson is like Mark Duplass’s goofy cousin. This gently diverting, stream of consciousness, white middle class angst movie reminded me a bit of films like Lynn Shelton’s Hump Day (2009) or an early Kelly Reichardt film but without the social weight.
Continue readingI Saw the TV Glow (2024)
Standard
I really didn’t enjoy this film. It felt like a drama camp improv piece with funding. Having spoken to a queer friend afterward though, they have given me lots of links to articles on how it is a trans metaphor and groundbreaking in a lot of ways.
Continue reading
fillums 