In Review
Welcome to In Review! Check out the latest reviews across film, TV, theatre and so much more…
Fantastic Film Fest 2024 Review - Mars Express
Behind the flashing neon lights, Mars Express’ messy and complicated core is a delight to unpack and crucially, is without the comfort of easy answers. While it’s not exactly reinventing the wheel, its entangled approach to familiar concepts positions it uniquely, and is well worth the price of admission.
Fantastic Film Fest 2024 Review - Hood Witch
Hood Witch is redolent of self-importance, so deeply invested in its own world that it barely pauses to consider the viewer’s ability not to care about its mediocre characters and plot delivery.
Film Review - La Chimera
A patchwork quilt of genres, Alice Rohrwacher’s La Chimera is a grimy and charismatic fairytale, and Josh O’Connor is its beating heart.
Film Review - Anatomy of a Fall
Painting a portrait of a marriage in decline, a child irrevocably changed, and a woman in freefall, Anatomy vivisects the ripple effect of its victim’s demise, familial wounds spilling open to reveal grisly entrails for all to see.
Film Review - The Crime is Mine
If you like the French, the death of sex offenders, black-and-white throwback scenes, and subtle manipulation then Mon Crime is the film for you.
Film Review - The Origin of Evil
For those of you who are pro lesbian rights and pro lesbian wrongs, The Origin of Evil is the perfect Friday night French flick with all the lesbians, major plot twists, and tea you need!
Film Review - Sick of Myself
From the producers behind The Worst Person In the World, comes one of the best features in the world… about the ACTUAL worst person in the world.
Film Review - Retribution
Few things in cinema are as certain as the Liam Neeson action movies released at least once or twice a year for the past decade and a half.
Film Review - Everybody Loves Jeanne
The 2023 Winner of the Online Film Critics Society Awards for the Best Non-U.S. Release, it’s clear that Everybody Loves Jeanne is winning hearts around the world!
MIFF 2023 Film Review - It’s Raining in the House
It’s Raining in the House explores the story of two Belgian teenagers who live in poverty, as they navigate the summer with an absent mother and a proclivity for getting themselves into trouble.
MIFF 2023 Film Review - Passages
Passages is a pretty film that entertains, may make you tear up, and could make you feel ashamed just by watching Tomas run around as he does.
Film Review - Marlowe
You’d be hard-pressed to say that its intended audience of older, weekday-matinee filmgoers won’t be satisfied by watching a canonised movie star like Neeson doing his thing as a 1930’s detective. Just don’t expect to be wowed by its stunning execution or originality.
Film Review - Close
Director Lukas Dhont’s sophomore feature film Close explores the relationship between two best friends, Léo (Eden Dambrine) and Rémi (Gustav De Waele) as they begin high school.
Film Review - Stars at Noon
A grim look at international relations through the lens of a hostile Nicaragua, Claire Denis’ latest ‘romantic thriller’ Stars at Noon is unfortunately lacking in both romance and thrills.
Film Review - THE NIGHT OF THE 12TH
A policeman’s life is not for me. The frustration and tedium bleed through in The Night of the 12th and I’m convinced it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.
Film Review - Martyrs
Martyrs is up there as a formative film of its time period. Just don’t dive deeper into its writer-director’s filmography looking for a similar level of quality.
MIFF 2022 Film Review - Vortex
Standing at the very peak of Noé's filmography with an uncharacteristically mature handling of its subject matter, Vortex is a haunting reminder of the ephemeral nature of life, and a touching ode to the memories that accumulate over the course of one.
Film Review - The Kitchen Brigade
Simplistic, formulaic, and crowd-pleasing, The Kitchen Brigade plays it safe with emotional beats you’ve seen before, but its wholesome characterisation is guaranteed to melt your heart.
Film Review: Everything Went Fine
This understated, sensitive French euthanasia drama is concerned with the human implications of a socio-political issue.