Mini Review - La bola negra
La bola negra (out Oct 15) is likely to find its way onto many 10 lists this year… my own included. It's a beautiful, ambitious epic spanning multiple locations and timeframes. It revolves around the stories of three gay men battling internal demons (and I'm greatly oversimplifying to avoid spoilers). The music and production design add more weight to the film’s artistic brilliance. Grade: A.
Mini Review - Sense and Sensibility
Sense and Sensibility (out Oct 15) is a wonderful adaptation of Jane Austen's famed work. Those who have read the book or seen the Oscar-nominated 1995 movie will know what to expect… but it doesn’t make this film any less entertaining or delightful. Will put a smile on your face! Grade: A-.
Mini Review - Lomu
Lomu is for rugby fans and is an interesting documentary that looks at the on-field achievements of New Zealand rugby star Jonah Lomu… and the battles he faced off the field. Nicely put together with a good mix of archival footage and interviews. Grade: B+.
Mini Review -The Social Reckoning
The Social Reckoning (out Oct 8) is not a bad film... but it also feels rather pointless. It's not offering any new perspectives on the perils of social media which have been debated at length over the past decade. A missed opportunity? Grade: B-.
Mini Review - Verity
Verity (out Oct 1) is an underwhelming thriller. When an acclaimed author (Anne Hathaway) becomes paralysed after a car accident, a ghostwriter (Dakota Johnson) is brought in to continue her works. The first two acts are annoyingly slow. Drama finally arrives in the last 30 minutes, but the lack of credibility and general trashiness only add to the film's problems. Grade: C.
Mini Review - Digger
Digger (out Oct 1) isn’t perfect but it’s still one of this year’s “nuttiest” films. It’s a film with something to say about the environment, wealth, politics, power, art, humour, and parody. I’m also a fan of the general insanity, often illogical, that infuses each scene. Tom Cruise plays an insanely wealthy businessman whose negligence kick stars an environmental disaster. Grade: B+.
Mini Review - The Great Arch
The Great Arch (out Oct 1) is a great view. It delves into an interesting true story, but its larger impact is a thought-provoking exploration of the relationship between art and politics. Drawing from a recent novel, The Great Arch takes us back to 1982 when French President François Mitterrand launched a design contest to construct an iconic building in Paris’s business district. Grade: B+.
Mini Review - Charlie Harper
Charlie Harper (out Sep 24) weaves back-and-forth in time and tells the story of a rocky relationship between two people. The fluid performances of stars Nick Robinson and Emilia Jones make this work. Grade: B.