Reviews
To Consume and Be Consumed: “IT” (2017) & “Raw”’ (2016)
“IT” opens with the cold dusty den of Bill’s bedroom. The rain is pouring and while the town of Derry seeks refuge, there’s an ominous atmosphere right from the outset that there’s something lurking in the edges of this warm and cosy world. Julie Ducournau’s “Raw” begins on a quaint deserted country road, framing the sporadic passing traffic from a position on the side of the road where you’d imagine a speed camera to be lurking. A car comes into frame, and just as it reaches the centre, something suddenly darts into the centre of the road. The car swerves and crashes hard into a tree, killing the occupants. This was clearly no accident.
Aquarius (Kleber Mendonça Filho - 2016) Movie Review [Sydney Film Festival]
Aquarius is a shrine to an incredible woman with a confounding central performance from Sonia Braga. Writer/director Kleber Mendonça Filho crafts a consuming tale about principles and passion.
Jackie (Pablo Larraín - 2016) Movie Review
Jackie Kennedy, the woman behind one of the greatest and most influential Presidents in the history of the United States, gets an intimate impressionist portrait. Forging the myths of “Camelot,” interrogating the morality of being a widow in the most drastic and heavily scrutinised circumstance; director Pablo Larraín and hypnotic star Natalie Portman finds ways to render gut punching alternate perspectives to well trodden history.
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016) Movie Review: And you thought M:I 2 was bad!?
The quality drop between Jack Reacher and Never Go Back might make it a worse sequel than Mission: Impossible II.
Hell or High Water (2016) Movie Review: No Country For Bad Accents
Hell or High Water has had some pretty poor comparisons to No Country for Old Men in the buzz and hype for the film. That's not to deny that HOHW is a quality viewing, but rather that the world at large is not generating forces like Javier Bardem's Anton Chigurh to be unleashed upon the characters. Instead writer Taylor Sheridan is tackling American financial corruption head on.
A Bigger Splash (2015) Movie Review: La-Tilda-Vventura
A Bigger Splash is a sensual thrill ride of temptation as four people map out where they are now and who they thought they'd be.
Sully (2016) Movie Review: Time to Heal
With each new perspective of the day, despite knowing the outcome, the Hudson River landing sequence becomes harrowing because the people matter.
POPSTAR: Never Stop Never Stopping: This is just a tribute
This is not the greatest mockumentary in the world, no! This is just a tribute. But you've gotta believe me, it's still really fair, but it's just a matter of opinion.
Lo and Behold: Werner shall do ALL the documentaries
Just try to watch one of his films without resorting to narrating the rest of that day as Werner, I 'darez' ya.
Jane Got a Gun (2016) Movie Review: "Shooting Blanks"
Jane Got a Gun is misleading; it should be renamed “Jane had an old 'friend' who was a soldier with mad skills.”
Louis Theroux: My Scientology Movie (2015) Movie Review - "Under-exposed"
From Neo-Nazis and the KKK, to swingers and born again Christians, it seems as though Louis Theroux has covered all bases. This time around, he exposes us to the world of Scientology - or does he?
The Neon Demon (2016) MIFF Movie Review: "Mauled by a Diamond Encrusted Hyena"
The Neon Demon gives fangs to high fashion. It’s a stunning descent into the madness of narcissism and self-preservation even when it’s stating the bleeding obvious.
The Shallows (2016) Movie Review: "Blake Lively vs Giant Bloody Shark"
Ultimately it feels that the main tension driving The Shallows is not Blake Lively vs a giant bloody shark, rather the film’s high concept genre premise vs its studio backing.
Keanu (2016) Movie Review: “Because the internet”
... essentially catnip for cat memes.
Sausage Party (2016) Movie Review: "Dixar," you're damned right.
Sausage Party should have you laughing out loud and shaking your head in awe. Try slipping a sausage into a bun the same way ever again.
Elle (2016) MIFF Movie Review: Michele, Ma Belle
Bet you never thought you’d see the words ‘rape revenge comedy’ in the one sentence to describe a film? Well, you probably weren’t considering Paul Verhoeven (Basic Instinct, Showgirls). Coupled with Isabelle Huppert, Elle is a visceral and unstoppable force that will suck you in from start to finish.
Green Room (2015) Movie Review: "See No Evil, Hear No Evil"
Hope cased within the bleak despair makes Saulnier an essential filmmaker to follow.
Everybody Wants Some!! (2016): “Boyhood continued"
Everybody Wants Some, like Dazed and Confused, feels like having old friends over, listening to records & reminiscing.
Suicide Squad (2016) Movie Review: “Really, really, BAD”
Suicide Squad is one long stuttering introduction with fugitive glimpses of the film's potential.
Love & Friendship (2016) Movie Review: “War and Peas”
Whit Stillman said that his primary filmic influence for Love & Friendship was the Steve Martin and Michael Caine slice of genius Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Scoundrels would be proud to see the result of his love and friendship.