EIFF 2012 Review: Flying Blind (2012)

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Frankie (Helen McCrory) is a successful, smart and furiously driven aeronautical engineer and part-time lecturer who takes her work very seriously. When she strikes up a relationship with murky student Kahil (Najib Oudghiri), her work ethic decreases in favour of sex-fuelled infatuation. However, as Frankie starts to discover more and more about Kahil (he’s an illegal immigrant and seems eerily interested in fundamentalism), she becomes concerned for both her wellbeing Continue reading “EIFF 2012 Review: Flying Blind (2012)” →

Review: The Five-Year Engagement (2012)

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Tom (Jason Segel) and Violet (Emily Blunt) have been blissfully in love ever since they met at a DIY superhero New Year’s party. Wanting to spend the rest of his life with her, Tom proposes on their one year anniversary. But, despite their best intentions, life – new jobs, adultery and mid-life crises – keeps putting off their plans – something they can only take on the chin for a certain amount of time.

Produced by Judd Apatow and co-written by director Nicholas Stoller and Segel himself, The Five-Year Engagement boasts some excellent credentials, and Continue reading “Review: The Five-Year Engagement (2012)” →

Review: Margaret (2011)

Jamie Neish3 Comments

Written and directed by filmmaker Kenneth Lonergan (only his second directorial feature after the multi award-winning You Can Count On Me), Margaret is a rambling, overpowered modern drama that bravely taps into people’s post 9/11 fear and hostility. Delayed, re-edited and shrouded in several still unfolding lawsuits, Lonergan’s effort seemed unlikely to see the light of day. But, thankfully Margaret now makes its way to cinema screens, albeit in a limited capacity, bearing the mark of its six year journey.

When tumultuous college student Lisa Cohen (Anna Paquin) is involved in a horrific bus accident that claims the life of a compassionate woman (Allison Continue reading “Review: Margaret (2011)” →

EIFF 2012 Review: Berberian Sound Studio (2012)

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Gilderoy (Toby Jones), a reserved and modest British sound engineer, is hired by Italian schlock director Santini (Antonio Mancino) to score his latest film, slyly titled The Equestrian Vortex. Upon his arrival, he’s immediately intimidated by the Italians and baffled as to their unique approach to a variety of things, particularly the tools they use to create the film’s score and the lack of interest they have in reimbursing his travel expenses. As he attempts to put cultural Continue reading “EIFF 2012 Review: Berberian Sound Studio (2012)” →

EIFF 2012 Review: Unconditional (2012)

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Owen (Harry McEntire) and Kristen (Madeleine Clark) are twins living on a council estate caring for their disabled mother (Melanie Hill). When their already limited finances tumble further, Kristen arranges to meet loan shark Liam (Christian Cooke). Clearly smitten, Kristen makes it her intention to woo Liam, but it’s Owen who he has eyes for and, before he knows what he’s let himself in for, they embark upon a tumultuous, unorthodox love affair that sees them both Continue reading “EIFF 2012 Review: Unconditional (2012)” →

EIFF 2012 Review: V/H/S (2012)

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Four crooks are tasked with breaking into an old man’s house and stealing a rare VHS tape that contains something very important to a mysterious tycoon. However, as they come face to face with the house’s dead occupant and his overfilled VHS collection, they realise this isn’t the simple operation they expected. As they attempt to filter through each and every VHS to find the one they were sent there to retrieve, they uncover more than they’d initially Continue reading “EIFF 2012 Review: V/H/S (2012)” →

EIFF 2012 Review: The Fourth Dimension (2012)

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The Fourth Dimension is an anthology piece comprised of three short films contributed by three different directors – Harmony Korine, Aleksei Fedorchenko and Jan Kwiencinski. Spearheaded by Vice Magazine’s Eddy Moretti and partly funded by Grolsch Film Works, The Fourth Dimension sees each director tackling the open-ended concept of the fourth dimension – the next, higher existence of your soul – in their own unique ways, while adhering to a set of strict rules and Continue reading “EIFF 2012 Review: The Fourth Dimension (2012)” →

EIFF 2012 Review: God Bless America (2012)

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Frank (Joel Murray) has become disillusioned not only with his life, but also with the current state of society. His neighbours are inconsiderate, his daughter is turning into a reality TV wannabe and he’s recently been fired by his boss. He daydreams about doing his bit to save society from crumbling entirely, but simply doesn’t have the stomach to carry this out. However, when he’s told by his doctor that he may have a life-threatening brain tumour, he decides that life is Continue reading “EIFF 2012 Review: God Bless America (2012)” →

EIFF 2012 Review: The Unspeakable Act (2012)

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Jackie (Tallie Medel), a teenage girl weighed down by her own emotions and insecurities about life, lives within an unconventional family dynamic and shares an, at times, uncomfortably close bond with her older brother, Matthew (Sky Hirschkron). While Matthew doesn’t reciprocate and happily embarks upon relationships with other woman, Jackie harbours a deep, romantic and sexual love for him. As Matthew heads off to college and their lives drift further and Continue reading “EIFF 2012 Review: The Unspeakable Act (2012)” →

EIFF 2012 Review: Brake (2012)

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Jeremy Reins (Stephen Dorff) awakens to find himself locked in the boot of a car with nothing but a mobile phone, radio transmitter, illuminated digital countdown clock and an overwhelming lack of knowledge as to the reasons behind his sudden imprisonment. However, as time passes, it becomes clear that this nightmarish scenario is more than simply a hostage situation. Jeremy is an important target – a Secret Service agent who knows the whereabouts of the Continue reading “EIFF 2012 Review: Brake (2012)” →