Sleek and slick on the surface but shallow underneath, Focus muddles through on the back of its appealing co-stars and brisk pace. Nicky (Will Smith), a proficient con artist, succumbs to the charms of new recruit Jess (Margot Robbie). But when he breaks it off and leaves her heartbroken, Jess re-enters his life at the worst possible time. Continue reading “Review: Focus (2015)”
Eighteen years after making his directorial debut with The Winter Guest, Alan Rickman returns behind the camera to direct A Little Chaos, a featherlight period drama. Madam Sabine De Barra (Kate Winslet) is awarded the sought-after task of landscaping the land at Versailles – a prime position that brings her into contact with King Louis XIV (Rickman) and André Le Notre (Matthias Schoenarts), whom she develops a relationship with. Continue reading “GFF15 Review: A Little Chaos (2014)”
Françis Ozon follows-up In The House and Young & Beautiful with The New Girlfriend, a comic drama that starts out well, only to taper off towards the end. Left devastated by the death of her childhood friend, Claire (Anaïs Demoustier) sticks to her promise of looking out for widower David (Romain Duris) and their newborn baby – only to make an unexpected discovery that threatens to further unbalance her life. Continue reading “GFF15 Review: The New Girlfriend (2014)”
Produced by celebrated Spanish film mogul Pedro Almodóvar, Wild Tales is a pitch black horror anthology that’s both wickedly enjoyable and politically illuminating. Split into six segments that are interconnected through themes and tone instead of narrative, Damián Sczifrón’s unique effort fizzes with originality and snap. Continue reading “GFF15 Review: Wild Tales (2014)”
Michael Bay lends his name and awful sensibilities to Project Almanac, a flat and drawn-out high school drama with added time travel. Science student Jonny (David Raskin) discovers blue prints for a time travel machine, which he builds and takes advantage of with his friends. But when things turn sour, David must try to fix the route of the problem himself, risking his and his friends’ lives in the process. Continue reading “Review: Project Almanac (2015)”
The perennially underrated Jennifer Aniston excels in Cake, delivering a topnotch performance in Daniel Barnz’ otherwise half-baked drama. Scarred by a devastating accident, pill-popping Claire (Aniston) hobbles around in constant pain, barking orders at her maid (Adriana Barraza) and ousting everyone else. When a woman (Anna Kendrick) from her support circle commits suicide, Claire is compelled to question her own existence. Continue reading “Review: Cake (2014)”
The adaptation of E. L. James’ trashy bestselling novel Fifty Shades Of Grey spruces up the hokum sufficiently, reaping appeal from its two stars and benefitting from subtle execution. Anastasia (Dakota Johnson), a timid English literature student, crosses paths with Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan), a closed-off businessman, who takes an immediate liking to her. But their subsequent relationship is muddled by Christian’s singular tastes. Continue reading “Review: Fifty Shades Of Grey (2015)”
John Lithgow and Alfred Molina deliver a pair of delicate, deep rooted performances in Ira Sachs’ equally beautiful Love Is Strange. After decades as a couple, newlyweds Ben (Lithgow) and George (Molina) are forced to live apart – a situation that not only tests their own relationship, but those of their friends and family. Continue reading “Review: Love Is Strange (2014)”
Sibling writer-director duo The Wachowskis follow-up Cloud Atlas with preposterous and flavourless sci-fi fantasy Jupiter Ascending. Jupiter (Mila Kunis), a resentful maid, discovers she’s a reincarnated otherworldly space princess who – with the help of interplanetary warrior Caine (Channing Tatum) – must stop a tyrannical leader from harvesting Earth. Continue reading “Review: Jupiter Ascending (2014)”
A man’s moral fibre is stretched to the limit in J.C. Chandor’s intoxicating, robust drama A Most Violent Year, which bears similarities to the finest crime thrillers of the 1970s even while inverting them. Abel (Oscar Isaac), a do-right businessman, has hopes of expanding his company, but at a time when corruption and violence are soaring, it proves difficult to do when playing by the book. Continue reading “Review: A Most Violent Year (2014)”
Empty Screens 