Andrzej Żuławski’s 1981 film Possession has a notorious reputation and history. It is a French/West German co-production, shot in Berlin, performed in English, and follows the collapse of a marriage between a spy (Sam Neill) and his wife (Isabelle Adjani). It is … Continue reading REVIEW: Possession (1981)
I want to tell you about In the Dust of the Stars, known in its original German as Im Staub der Sterne. It is a relatively obscure science fiction film produced in 1976. The film is many things. It is odd. It … Continue reading “What kind of help do you need?” | In the Dust of the Stars (1976)
A note that this reviews spoils a little more of the film’s plot than I usually would. Short version of this review is that it is a profoundly excellent film and you should see it. Maria Enders (Juliette Binoche) is … Continue reading REVIEW: The Clouds of Sils Maria (2014)
Selene (Kate Beckinsale) is a ‘death dealer’, a vampire assassin fighting in a vampire-versus-werewolf war that has lasted for many centuries. When she rescues ordinary human Michael Corvin (Scott Speedman) from werewolf (or ‘lycan’) attack, she grows to suspect that … Continue reading REVIEW: Underworld (2003)
Alan Hakman (Robin Williams) is a ‘cutter’: a professional editor of recordings made by implants in the human brain. When the CEO of the company that owns the implant technology dies, Alan accepts the offer to edit the man’s memories … Continue reading REVIEW: The Final Cut (2004)
East Germany, 1979. Two families, the Strelzyks and the Wetzels, conspire to secretly build a hot air balloon and use it to cross the border into the West. When they barely survive their first attempt, they must race against time … Continue reading REVIEW: Balloon (2018)
New Caledonian immigrant Dilili (Prunelle Charles-Ambron) escapes the confines of her cultural display in Paris to explore the city in depth. When she meets the local courier Orel (Enzo Ratsito), they team up to solve the mystery of a series … Continue reading REVIEW: Dilili in Paris (2018)
New York, 1957. Rudolph Abel (Mark Rylance) is arrested and charged with being a Soviet agent. To ensure he receives a fair trial, career attorney James B. Donovan (Tom Hanks) is persuaded to represent Abel in court. When an American … Continue reading REVIEW: Bridge of Spies (2015)
During the Battle of Stalingrad, young Russian soldier Vasily Zaytsev (Jude Law) demonstrates a gift for sharp-shooting. He soon becomes the Russian army’s most effective sniper, with his exploits exaggerated and publicised by political commissar Danilov (Joseph Fiennes). When Zaytsev’s … Continue reading REVIEW: Enemy at the Gates (2001)
Smilla (Julia Ormond) is a Greenlandic immigrant living in Copenhagen. When a young boy living in her apartment building is found dead, having fallen of the building’s roof, Smilla refuses to accept that it was an accident. Her investigations draw … Continue reading REVIEW: Smilla’s Sense of Snow (1997)
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