Film Reviews by mb

At this distance most of the pleasure comes from all the 50s French street scenes, cars and clothes.

Very watchable gangster-evading-the-law-while-dragging-his-2-children-with-him, movie.

A woman gets involved and you think its going to get all Noir by forcing a choice between the lady and the mission, but it doesnt.

The gangsters are never quite convincing (is it the typical of the era) and guns are used like toys. They also spend alot of time arguing about who owes favours to whom.

Dont hold your breathe for the denouement either.

But lots of retro fun nevertheless. I imagine when it was made , that would have just been.. lots of fun.

There is one plot point, (is he isnt he?) with zero diversions or surprises.

I suspect the Murray "crazy dad" character is meant to carry the film but it doesnt.

Hallmark ending supremely disappointing. Is that it?.

"..........wonderful cantilevered support from Gloria Grahame. "

very good

Agree with this bit of the previous review, except perhaps the word "witty"

"The film takes the issue of women's rights of control over their own bodies very seriously and the narrative looks at the everyday issues of menstruation, sex, relationship, breast feeding and post natal depression, and these are dealt with in a witty script that is taboo busting and intimate. It shows the absurdities of life for modern women and how navigating societies intolerance can be a tough call".

I felt would be better focusing on fewer topics and having a deeper story.

The 6 year old has a sparkling screen presence, and rescued the film for me.

Note, it is well over 2 hours and there is no drama or character engagement in the first hour at least.

It is slow and detached.

Surely pacing and character and plot are key film making tools?

There are a lot of good camera shots, for fans of cinematography. But viewer engagement totally lacking.

We needed to get to the dramatic tension before the first hour had passed (barely half way through the film!!)

very watchable and engrossing murder story. (happens before ep1 so not graphic)

Dwells alot on the greaving family and, oddly, the local/national newpaper activity, as if it is making some point about press coverage and attitude.

Everyone has a secret. Lordy, do I mean everyone. Affairs, potential fatal illness, undeclared parenthood, so it veers towards melodrama towards the end, but by then we are hooked anyway.

And always set in the framed and filtered coastal town, where those cliffs look splendid but add an air of detachment and unreality.

A bizarre mix of tone, and theme, and plot. Not at all as impressive as all the other films from the same director.

Laughably melodramatic in places.

There are about 5-6 plots going on when any good film would just need about 3. Theres alot of unconvincing femme fatal , a bit hitchcock and some 'clever clever' flashback to a film shoot, being filmed as a documentary.

I wonder if the scene where Harry Caine and the young man invent a ridiculous vampires plot is a depiction of how this film came about.

Penelope Cruz does alright, as usual, but deserves better.

Also about 30 minutes too long.