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Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

29 Feb 2012 Director: Mike Nichols USA 1966 131min Deserved winner of 5 Oscars and 3 BAFTAs, the film of Edward Albee’s play is considered by many to be a near-perfect piece of movie-making. Anyone who needs a reminder of the greatness of the late Elizabeth Taylor need spend just a few minutes in the… Continue reading Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

The Extraordinary Adventures of Adéle Blanc-Sec

15 Feb 2012 Director: Luc Besson France 2010 107 min As ever, director Luc Besson handles the fast-moving action comedy very adroitly in this high-spirited adaptation of of a 1970s French comic. The story is a chaotic romp that demands immediate suspension of disbelief: Louise Bourgoin as the title character is a bizarre cross between… Continue reading The Extraordinary Adventures of Adéle Blanc-Sec

Life Above All

01 Feb 2012 Director: Oliver Schmitz South Africa 2010 100 min This raw emotional drama manages to avoid mawkishness despite extremely powerful subject matter, predominantly because of the superb acting on show from the ensemble cast, including several talented youngsters. Central to the story is the universal shame and hypocrisy associated with HIV/AIDS in modern… Continue reading Life Above All

Me and Orson Welles

18 Jan 2012 Director: Richard Linklater UK 2008 114 min A hugely entertaining backstage drama from cult US film-maker Linklater, this is far more than a vehicle for teen heartthrob Zac Efron. Indeed the film belongs to previously unknown Christian McKay as Welles, in a performance that is part impression, part possession from beyond the… Continue reading Me and Orson Welles

Des hommes et des dieux

Of Gods And Men 04 Jan 2012 Director: Xavier Beauvois France 2010 122 min A small group of French monks in Algeria face a dilemma when threatened by fundamentalist extremists: should they leave, as the authorities insist, or stay and complete ‘God’s mission’? The palpable inevitability of violence is counteracted by the depiction of the… Continue reading Des hommes et des dieux

Okuribito

Departures 30 Nov 2011 Japan 2008 130 min Director: Yōjirō Takita This Oscar-winner looks at the Japanese rituals surrounding funerals and how they are perceived by society. Daigo Kobayashi, a young musician, finds himself out of work and ends up working (accidentally) in a funeral home as a “Nakonashi”, making the intricate, and respectful preparations… Continue reading Okuribito

L’affaire farewell

Farewell 16 Nov 2011 France 2009 113 min Director: Christian Carion Based on a true story, this cold war thriller boasts a light touch and understated performances that make for a very exciting film experience. Soviet intelligence agent Sergei Grigoriev (Emir Kusturica), torn between his communist ideals and the recognition of his state’s inevitable failings,… Continue reading L’affaire farewell