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About SSP
Sam Sewell-Peterson
Writer and film fanatic fond of black comedies, sci-fi, animation and films about dysfunctional families.
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Fresh Thoughts on Film
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Tag Archives: Drama
Review in Brief: Women Talking (2022)
It’s a clear sign of writer-director Sarah Polley’s skill and awareness that her beautiful, hard-hitting and verbose piece about processing sexual assault isn’t wall-to-wall misery. Yes, the debate this community of Mennonite women are having is important and will change … Continue reading
Posted in Film, Film Review, Review in Brief
Tagged Drama, Hildur Guonadóttir, Jessie Buckley, Luc Montpellier, Rooney Mara, Sarah Polley, Women Talking
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Review in Brief: Tár (2022)
I don’t know if you’ve heard, but TÁR is a bit good. An often uncomfortably close character study of a complicated genius, we follow conductor Lydia Tár (Cate Blanchett) hailed as the greatest of her generation as she goes through … Continue reading
Posted in Film, Film Review, Review in Brief
Tagged Cate Blanchett, Drama, Noémie Merlant, Oscars, Psychological Horror, Tár, Todd Field
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The Quiet Girl (2022) Review
Posted in Film, Film Review, The Film Magazine
Tagged Carrie Crowley, Catherine Clinch, Colm Bairéad, Drama, The Quiet Girl, World Cinema
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Review in Brief: Living (2022)
How can you improve on a classic from a master? You lean into the period detail, come at it from a new cultural perspective and make the meditation on mortality even sadder. Based on Akira Kurosawa’s IKIRU, Oliver Hermanus’ (director … Continue reading
Posted in Film, Film Review, Review in Brief
Tagged Aimee Lou Wood, Akira Kurosawa, Bill Nighy, Drama, Ikiru, Living, Oliver Hermanus
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Review in Brief: The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)
In Martin McDonagh’s latest dark fable, friends become separable on an island off Ireland small enough to not be able to avoid each other. Day after day Pádraic (Colin Farrell) and Colm (Brendan Gleeson) meet at the pub and chatter … Continue reading
Posted in Film, Film Review, Review in Brief
Tagged Black Comedy, Brendan Gleeson, Colin Farrell, Drama, Martin McDonagh, The Banshees of Inisherin
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Review in Brief: Aftersun (2022)
Charlotte Wells is a filmmaker unafraid to let a scene play out, to hold exactly as long as is required. AFTERSUN follows 31 year-old divorced dad Calum (Paul Mescal, sensational) and his daughter Sophie (Frankie Corio, an instant star), both … Continue reading
Posted in Film, Film Review, Review in Brief
Tagged Aftersun, Charlotte Wells, Comedy, Drama, Frankie Corio, Paul Mescal
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Review in Brief: The Quiet Girl (2022)
Colm Bairéad’s unassuming Irish Language drama THE QUIET GIRL completely broke me more than any other film this year. In the 1980s (though it could really be set in any era) timid girl Cáit (Catherine Clinch) is fostered on her … Continue reading
Posted in Film, Film Review, Review in Brief
Tagged Carrie Crowley, Catherine Clinch, Colm Bairéad, Drama, The Quiet Girl
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Review in Brief: Red Rocket (2021)
Following TANGERINE and THE FLORIDA PROJECT, Sean Baker has delivered another sun-kissed tragicomic deconstruction of the American Dream focussed on another marginalised community. Moving from shining the spotlight on the experiences of trans sex workers to hotel homeless in his … Continue reading
Posted in Film, Film Review, Review in Brief
Tagged Comedy, Drama, Red Rocket, Sean Baker, Simon Rex, Suzanna Son
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Review in Brief: Cha Cha Real Smooth (2022)
The cinema of kindness is always the most affecting for me, and Cooper Raiff’s Cha Cha Real Smooth is a doozy in that regard. Films that cause tears to start flowing but not in a calculated and cynical way, instead … Continue reading
Posted in Film, Film Review, Review in Brief
Tagged Cha Cha Real Smooth, Comedy, Cooper Raiff, Dakota Johnson, Drama
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