Film Reviews by CD

I am a long term admirer of David Byrne.  This DVD is well worth a watch for its philosophical insights and sometimes for its music although I think you need to be a fan to really enjoy it.  I found the choreography interesting but ultimately rather monotonous with the grey backdrop not broken up in any way.  It was also a directorial decision to keep the focus on the stage and the people and not use external shots/venues which for me limited the potential impact of some of the songs.  The live audience at times also detracted from the performance.  So overall a good effort, but not for me as enjoyable as his recent solo album work.

Dennis Hopper and Wesley Snipes give strong performances in this thriller.  It’s a clever film in that it brings out the parallels between the hunter and the hunted in terms of their personal lives, and the way they persuade and manipulate others.  The violence is quite blunt and the film has a similar feel to older style US police series such as Starsky and Hutch.  It certainly has enough incident to keep the energy high and it’s well worth a watch.

I found this film surprisingly powerful and intense. The baddies are pretty grim and Becky finds some gruesome ways of turning the tables against them. The acting is good and the film adds a psychological dimension in the character of Becky and in the motivation and thinking of the lead bad guy. There is very little sentimentality which makes it uncompromising, even to the end of the film.

I really enjoyed this film. It has just the right balance of horror, gore, quirky humour and interesting characters. The cast is great and the finale is well done. If you liked this film, you may also like the 1989 film "War of the Roses" which also gets the black humour balance just right in the context of a warring family.

Benedict Cumberbatch is well suited to the role of the innocent, suave businessman asked to get involved by MI6. The supporting cast is also strong and with Michael Cain's films in mind this is a nostalgic trip back to cold war days. However, the film lacks real excitement and drama and while enjoyable it is rather predictable.

Don’t be discouraged by the rather gory start.  This film develops nicely with strong British acting and some humour.  The female lead Sarah Beck Mather is excellent and the deterioration of her mental health is believable. There are some nice light touches on the special effects (eg use of mirrors) and the baddy is at the same time funny and scary.  Recommended for detective and horror fans.

Stylish and very accomplished Argentinian murder thriller well meriting its strong reviews. There is humour and an exciting chase in a football stadium.  There are several twists that are well handled and the acting overall is great with an unfulfilled  love relationship running through the whole film between the two leads.  Slightly overlong perhaps but well worth watching to the end.  

I had read the critics reviews and was prepared for a challenging and rather long film.  Hats off to the director for trying to be radical and the actors do their best, but the film is too fragmented and slow moving.  There is some interesting choreography such as using dressage to mimic a battle and the appearance of WW2 bunkers as prison cells.  I’m still awaiting the definitive film of “Joan” though and would only recommend this one if you want to see a radical and allegorical interpretation of a life.  2 stars rather than 1 star for courage of the Director and actors.

This film received very positive critical reviews but in spite of its positivity and excellent  acting I did not enjoy it very much.  The subject matter is well documented in other reviews but the film feels wooden at times, is quite unquestioning about the luxury home and lifestyle of the dysfunctional family, and  some situations (such as the Christmas meal) seem rather artificial.  That being said it has some fantastic visual moments with lighting and music, and the spark between the actors/main characters is undeniable. Almost a family film at times but with some gritty moments that make for some uncomfortable but rewarding viewing. 

The voice dubbing into English on this film lets it down which is a shame as the actors do a reasonable job and the characters are quite well defined. The action sequences in the Film range from quite powerful and realistic to rather unlikely,  and the film becomes rather directionless at times.  Still, worth a watch to see WW1 from a different geo and perspective.

I nearly switched this off after 30 mins as I found the film wandering into a farce.  I am glad I stuck with it as in spite of some offensive and politically incorrect language the acting is very strong and there is a good vein of humour running through it.  The film is also quite moving at times in the emphasis on family but is satisfyingly unpredictable in its plot which leads to unexpected turns and an interesting and good ending.

I have seen this film 3 times since it was released and it is one of my favourites. Paul Giamatti is excellent as the lead, but the lively and funny scenarios and the Santa Barbara scenery also play their part in making this a very entertaining film.  Highly recommended

I really enjoyed this film which is very much in the Hitchcock tradition.  All the acting is strong including the support parts and James Caan is a superb lead.  The plot is not too far fetched although the film perhaps could have been shorter.  If you liked this film Then you might also like the Clint Eastwood film “Play misty for me”. 

I was really impressed with this film which kept my attention throughout.  It’s very well acted and skilfully directed.  The relationship that builds between the death row prisoner and the prison visitor is very moving but the film also shows the tensions that build within the prison visitor’s family.  The relationship that the prisoner builds with the guards is also poignant. The finale is very powerful and thought provoking.    Highly recommended. 

Mads Mikkelsen is very impressive as the main actor in this Arctic drama.  The landscape is captured brilliantly by the wide lens camera work and Mikkelsen brings humanity to the role, especially when confronted with ethical dilemmas.  The lack of context and relationships makes this more of a genuine survival film.  Well worth a watch.