Mini Reviews
Mini Review - Zola
Zola (out Nov 18) doesn’t offer a huge payoff but director Janicza Bravo infuses the film with a distinctive style (the point where a bouncing basketball is hypnotic) and the great cast have fun with their characters and the material. Grade: B+.
Mini Review - Last Night in Soho
Last Night in Soho (out Nov 18) is a visually impressive effort from director Edgar Wright (it’s a like a hall of mirrors attraction at an amusement park) but once the novelty wears off, you realise it’s a fairly conventional horror-thriller. Set in London, it’s the tale of teenage fashion student who starts having unusual dreams. Grade: B.
Mini Review - The Rescue
The Rescue (out Nov 18) is a documentary looking at the 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue from the perspective of the rescuers with a focus on the local Navy SEALs and international diving teams. It makes you realise just how skilful they were and how much luck they needed to pull it off without loss of life. Grade: B.
Mini Review - The Power of the Dog
The Power of the Dog (out Nov 11) is a Western set in Montana, 1925 and revolves around two brothers - one is softly-spoken and recently married, the other is a domineering figure with a chip on his shoulder. It needed a touch more tempo but it's still an interesting, performance-driven character study from director Jane Campion. The more I reflect on it, the more I like it. Grade: A-.
Mini Review - Tick, Tick... Boom!
Tick, Tick... Boom! (out Nov 11) is a semi-autobiographical musical set in the early 1990s based on the life of composer-playwright Jonathan Larson (Rent). I found him to be a very frustrating, one-dimensional character, despite Andrew Garfield's fine performance, and the whole "stay true to yourself" theme becomes unnecessarily repetitive. The supporting characters don't get much of a look in. Grade: B-.
Mini Review - Red Notice
Red Notice (out Nov 4) is a light-hearted, don't-think-too-hard blend of Indiana Jones and The Thomas Crown Affair. Stars Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds aren't exactly stretching themselves as actors but Reynolds gets a few decent one liners. Gal Gadot is the best of the trio (but that's not saying much). Grade: B-.
Mini Review - No Time to Die
No Time to Die (out Nov 11) provides a fitting climax for the Daniel Craig led chapter in the James Bond franchise. It's a textbook Bond flick (doesn't stray too much from the formula) but elevating the material is director Cary Joji Fukunaga who infuses the film with memorable set pieces and a distinctive style. Particularly enjoyed the camera angles and use of long takes. Grade: B+.
Mini Review - The Many Saints of Newark
The Many Saints of Newark (out Nov 4) is a film which serves as a prequel to the successful television series, The Sopranos. I don’t mind a good gangster flick but there doesn’t appear to be anything particularly cunning about these characters and so we’re left with repetitive power games that grew tiring by the final act. Grade: B-.
Mini Review - Eternals
Eternals (out Nov 4) is a touch underwhelming. You can see what director Chloe Zhou is searching for (less action, more interaction) but the new characters lack spark and charisma compared to the likes of Iron Man or Black Panther. The lack of a complex villain also contributes to the lethargic pace. Grade: B-.
Mini Review - Passing
Passing (out Oct 28) marks the directorial debut of Rebecca Hall and offers a not-so-well-known look into a form of racial discrimination that existed in New York in the 1920s. I wasn't sold on the finale but the performances and depiction of the era make this worth the trip. Grade: B.
Mini Review - Julia
Julia (out Nov 4) is a documentary that pays homage to Julia Child - the chef who rose to fame in the 1960s and laid the groundwork for a bunch of celebrity chefs who grace our television screens today. It's hard not to be wooed by her infectious personality and take-no-nonsense determination. Grade: B+.