Category Archives: Film Review
Review in Brief: Jackie (2016)
Natalie Portman is pretty near perfect as Jackie Kennedy. There’s nowhere to hide with her forever centre-frame and sometimes uncomfortably close up when she is at her most vulnerable. I would have preferred more scenes with the priest (sadly not … Continue reading
Review: Jesus, Bro! (2017)
For the uninitiated, MIDNIGHT SCREENINGS is a popular web series of car seat film reviews. Often said screenings are of so-called “faith movies”, which are popular in certain quarters of American Society, and quite baffling to everyone else. JESUS, BRO! … Continue reading
Review in Brief: Toni Erdmann (2016)
Pretty much every review I’ve seen of TONI ERDMANN has been focussed on how unexpectedly good a two-and-a-half hour German comedy turns out to be. I find that overly reductive and more than a little patronising. American comedies are often … Continue reading
Review: Wonder Woman (2017)
Through my own astonishing poor planning and lack of research, I’ve now seen WONDER WOMAN twice in the cinema, both times with subtitles. Luckily for me the film is compelling enough that I was drawn in and didn’t notice after … Continue reading
Review: Swiss Army Man (2016)
SWISS ARMY MAN is like one of those weird one-off dreams. It questions humankind’s fear of death by allowing one of us to have a (admittedly skewed) relationship with a symbol of that fear. Hank (Paul Dano) loses it in … Continue reading
Review in Brief: Seoul Station (2016)
SEOUL STATION brings back slapstick zombies and a good punch of dark satire in its final act, but as a companion piece to TRAIN TO BUSAN, it falls rather short in terms of character. None of the supposed protagonists are … Continue reading
Review in Brief: Assassin’s Creed (2016)
Do you need to have played the games to get something out of the ASSASSIN’S CREED movie? No, but it’ll certainly help. Anyone can enjoy the detailed costume designs, the well-mounted action and the moody atmosphere, and equally fans of … Continue reading
Review: The Levelling (2016/17)
THE LEVELLING is very much like farming soap opera THE ARCHERS, only bleaker, with better acting and real animals. If you’re American, or not middle-class enough know about The Archers, don’t worry about it. Taking a forced sabbatical from her … Continue reading
40 Years On: Star Wars (1977)
2017 marks 40 years of STAR WARS. The galaxy far far away (….) has been part of my life since I’ve been watching movies. For me, George Lucas’ creation is a cornerstone of who I am. I may not have … Continue reading
Review in Brief: Everybody Wants Some!! (2016)
With EVERYBODY WANTS SOME!! (there’s probably a reason for the two exclamation marks) nobody is especially likeable, Richard Linklater is on very comfortable ground and it could be argued he doesn’t exactly stretch himself, but it comes from a real … Continue reading
SSP Thinks Film 