Mini Reviews
Mini Review - Ophelia
Ophelia (out Aug 1) stars Naomi Watts, Daisy Ridley and Clive Owen and retells the story of Hamlet but from the perspective of Ophelia (with a few details changed). Changing the viewpoint lessens the impact of key events (such as the fate of Polonius) and the end result is a choppy, disappointing drama. Grade: C.
Mini Review - Camino Skies
Camino Skies (out Aug 1) is a documentary that follows a group of people making the 800km pilgrimage across Spain that finishes in the city of Santiago de Compostela. It's struggling to fill the 80 minute running time (it's repetitive in places) but it's hard not to admire their motivation and determination. Grade: B-.
Mini Review - Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (out Aug 1) is one of the weaker entries in the franchise. You could see why characters were prepared to risk their lives in the earlier movies but this has all become too cartoonish with our “heroes” more interested in insults and comedic one-liners. The film bizarrely heads into sci-fi territory with Idris Elba playing a dud, Terminator-style villain. Grade: C+.
Mini Review - Who You Think I Am
Who You Think I Am (out Aug 1) is a peculiar French thriller about a 50-year-old woman (Juliette Binoche) who creates a fake online identity to seduce a much younger man. A few parts are hard to believe but it'll still hold your attention. Grade: B.
Mini Review - The Public
The Public (out Aug 1) is the story of a group of homeless people who barricade themselves inside a public library to avoid freezing temperatures outside. Writer-director Emilio Estevez has taken a risk in including so many subplots but to his credit, he’s found a way to weave it all together and create a tense, compelling narrative. Lots to think about here. Grade: B+.
Mini Review - Hail Satan?
Hail Satan? (out Jul 11) is a documentary that analyses the interesting beliefs of The Satanic Temple, a religious organisation offering an alternative to Christianity. It's sluggish/repetitive in places but it still has something important to say about the separation of church and state. Grade: B.
Mini Review - The Keeper
The Keeper (out Jul 25) is a biopic about German footballer Bert Trautmann who rose to fame in Britain the 1950s. This is an extremely corny movie but it’s still an interesting one. With something to say about multiculturalism and forgiveness, it's another movie that highlights the power of sport and its cultural reach. Grade: B-.
Mini Review - Crawl
Crawl (out Jul 11) is about a young woman and her father who get stuck in a basement with giant alligators during a hurricane. It sounds ridiculous but there are some decent individual scenes that create genuine thrills. Other stuff (such as the continual references to her swimming abilities) is dumb and corny. Grade: B-.
Mini Review - Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona (out Jul 25) is a terrific, narration-free documentary that uses grainy video tapes from the 1980s to explore the life of the infamous football star. It shows us the power of sport and the way it can inspire the masses. It also has something important to say about the perils of wealth and success. Oscar winning director Asif Kapadia (Senna, Amy) has delivered again. Grade: A-.
Mini Review - The White Crow
The White Crow (out Jul 18) is directed by Ralph Fiennes and delves into the life of Soviet ballet dancer ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev who rose to fame in the late 1950s. The film struggles to provide insight into Nureyev's abrasive personality, his weird relationships, and the threats from the Soviet government. Grade: C+.
Mini Review - Apollo 11
Apollo 11 (out Jul 18) is a tight, terrific documentary that marks the 50th anniversary of man first stepping foot on the moon. There are no re-enactments, face-to-face interviews or narration. It effectively uses actual footage and audio recordings to show how it all unfolded over an 8 day period. Matt Morton's film score adds to its power. Grade: A-.