Film Reviews by JR

This is one of the most gripping thrillers I have seen in years, and I was as stunned and surprised as Michelle when she saw the truth outside the bunker! This is one of those rare movies where it is even more delicious when watching a second time. For the record, I've not seen the original Cloverfield, which may be why I was so surprised and shocked at the third act...

OK, I'll admit that I rented this just to see Michelle Williams, but my goodness, it is tense and doesn't take any prisoners! Margot Robbie is unrecognisable one of the village underdogs, and the village itself looks very real (helped by the fact that it wasn't a set but a real place!) I'm grateful for the English dialogue (can't stand subtitles) and that it wasn't greyscale (but it was shot on film - I usually prefer sharper digital capture but the film grain does seem to suit the look of this movie). In summary, a great slice of village life during WW2 in France.

I find most thrillers to be very contrived; this one is paced at real-life speeds, and feels very natural as a result. Funny irony: in the first 5 minutes, I thought to myself 'this reminds me of Wendy & Lucy' (not knowing anything about the director) and later on I discovered it was from the director of Wendy & Lucy! Speaking of Wendy & Lucy, Dakota Fanning would have been ideal for the lead role, had she been old enough when it was made - she has a very authentic style that perfectly suits both movies (I always thought Michelle Williams was a little too snobby for the role of Wendy).

This seems to be a misunderstood movie - when people think 'heist', they think "Man on a Ledge" or similar thriller, when it's actually a gentle comedy that is more similar to "Little Miss Sunshine" in terms of pace and style. The comedy feels natural and not at all forced - that's a hard thing to achieve, but they have pulled it off here. Vera Farminga and James Caan are amazing (as usual!). This is a must see if you liked "Little Miss Sunshine."