Mini Reviews
Mini Review - The Last Journey
The Last Journey (out Feb 27) feels like a movie which is impossible to dislike. It's a Swedish documentary about a middle-aged son who takes his 80-year-old father on a road trip to France to help reinvigorate his passion for life. Plenty to think about! Grade: A.
Mini Review - I'm Still Here
I'm Still Here (out Feb 27) is a Brazilian 1970s drama centred on the true story of Eunice Paiva (Fernanda Torres), a loving mother who must confront the absence of her husband who has been imprisoned by government authorities. Profiling a darker chapter in Brazil’s history, telling a beautiful family tale, and highlighting the power of photographs and memories, I’m Still Here is great cinema. Grade: A-.
Mini Review - The Seed of the Sacred Fig
The Seed of the Sacred Fig (out Feb 27) is an Iranian film about a family who disintegrates when the father is appointed as a judge for the Revolutionary Court, and the two daughters rebel against Iranian authorities. It's a strong film, for the most part, but the weak, Hollywood-style ending undermines the good work. Grade: B.
Mini Review - The Monkey
The Monkey (out Feb 20) is based on a Stephen King short story and is the story of an old wind-up robotic toy with sinister powers. From the over-the-top deaths through to the “you can’t say that” dialogue, there’s a plethora of eyebrow raising moments for those with darker sense of humour. While it works as a comedy it misses the mark with its more dramatic themes about family and death. Clumsy ending too. Grade: B.
Mini Review - Bird
Bird (out Feb 20) is a British drama centred on an impoverished, free-spirited 12-year-old girl who befriends a young man looking for his birth parents. It's a curiously odd story from writer-director Andrea Arnold but, for the same reason, it holds your attention. Good performances all round. Grade: B+.
Mini Review - The Last Showgirl
The Last Showgirl (out Feb 20) is the story of a 57-year-old cabaret dancer (Pamela Anderson) working in Las Vegas who finds her world upended when the show announces its closure. Several subplots aren't given enough depth but Anderson does a great job illustrating her character's emotions. When you devote your entire life to an artistic medium and it’s suddenly taken away from you… yeah, it’s heart breaking. Grade: B+.
Mini Review - Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (out Feb 13) is the 4th instalment in the popular franchise and sees the widowed Bridget, egged on by her friends, go in search of a new man. It’s juggling too many characters and storylines but it’s still an entertaining misadventure with a heart which becomes evidence in the film’s later stages. Grade: B.
Mini Review - Captain America: Brave New World
Captain America: Brave New World (out Feb 13) is a step in the right direction for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It works because it’s trying to be a mystery-drama with an interesting story (throw in some politics too) as opposed to a goofy, over-the-top action fest. Grade: B+.
Mini Review - Grand Tour
Grand Tour (out Feb 13) is a comedy-drama set in 1918 about a British man traversing across the world while his fiancée chases after him. It's wild, it's wacky... it's in black and white. Grade: B+.
Mini Review - Heart Eyes
Heart Eyes (out Feb 13) is a dreadful horror-comedy about a serial killer terrorising couples on Valentine's Day. You can find comedy within this genre (e.g. Shaun of the Dead) but for this outing, the humour is lame and mistimed. Can't take any of it seriously. Grade: C.
Mini Review - Widow Clicquot
Widow Clicquot (out Feb 6) tells the true story of an 18th Century woman who overcame much adversity in starting Veuve Clicquot champagne. Sadly, this is a lacklustre drama that focuses too much on her dull romance as opposed to her savvy business skills. Grade: C.