The Whistlers, 2019. Directed by Corneliu Porumboiu. Starring Vlad Ivanov, Catrinel Marlon, Antonio Buíl, Rodica Lazar and Agustí Villaronga. SYNOPSIS: A bent cop becomes embroiled in a crime syndicate he was originally investigating and soon learns their secret language of coded whistles. The whistled language of ‘El Silbo’ dates back hundreds of years, way back […]
2019 BFI London Film Festival Review – The El Duce Tapes
The El Duce Tapes, 2019. Directed by Rodney Ascher, David Lawrence, and Ryan Sexton. Starring Eldon Hoke and Steve Broy. SYNOPSIS: A posthumous examination of the life and times of controversial shock rocker Eldon Hoke, better known as El Duce, the lead singer of Seattle-based “rape-rock” band The Mentors. To many – this critic included […]
2019 BFI London Film Festival Review – Lara
Lara, 2019. Directed by Jan Ole Gerster. Starring Corinna Harfouch, Tom Schilling, Volkmar Kleinert, Rainer Bock, Gudrun Ritter and André Jung. SYNOPSIS: On her 60th birthday, a woman prepares to attend a piano concert being given by her virtuoso son. At the beginning of Jan Ole Gerster’s patient character study Lara, the title character stands […]
2019 BFI London Film Festival Review – Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound
Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound, 2019. Directed by Midge Costin. Starring Walter Murch, Ben Burtt, Steven Spielberg, David Lynch, Sofia Coppola, and Ryan Coogler. SYNOPSIS: An exploration of the history, artistry, and emotional power of cinema sound, as revealed by legendary sound designers and visionary directors, via interviews, clips from movies, and a […]
2019 BFI London Film Festival Review – Rewind
Rewind, 2019. Directed by Sasha Joseph Neulinger. Starring Sasha Joseph Neulinger. SYNOPSIS: Digging through the vast collection of his father’s home videos, a young man reconstructs the unthinkable story of his boyhood and exposes vile abuse passed through generations. Is there a more noble use of filmmaking, especially the documentary form, than to lay one’s […]
2019 BFI London Film Festival Review – A White, White Day
A White, White Day, 2019. Written and directed by Hlynur Pálmason. Starring Ingvar E Sigurðsson and Ída Mekkín Hlynsdóttir. SYNOPSIS: In a remote Icelandic town, an off duty police chief begins to suspect a local man for having had an affair with his wife, who recently died in a car accident. Gradually his obsession for […]
2019 BFI London Film Festival Review – Nocturnal
Nocturnal, 2019. Directed by Nathalie Biancheri. Starring Cosmo Jarvis, Lauren Coe, and Sadie Frost. SYNOPSIS: Laurie, a cynical schoolgirl, builds and nurtures a secret friendship with Pete, an older man who’s apparently obsessed with her. Nathalie Biancheri makes a bold and distinctive narrative feature debut with a tricky relationship drama which holds viewers in a […]
2019 BFI London Film Festival Review – Honey Boy
Honey Boy, 2019. Directed by Alma Har’el. Starring Shia LaBeouf, Lucas Hedges, and Noah Jupe. SYNOPSIS: A young actor’s stormy childhood and early adult years as he struggles to reconcile with his father and deal with his mental health. Braced somewhere between film-as-therapy and surreal performance-art project, Honey Boy is a Shia LaBeouf-penned collaboration with Alma […]
2019 BFI London Film Festival Review – Jojo Rabbit
Jojo Rabbit, 2019. Directed by Taika Waititi. Starring Roman Griffin Davis, Thomasin McKenzie, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Alfie Allen, Rebel Wilson, Stephen Merchant, Archie Yates, and Taika Waititi. SYNOPSIS: Jojo (Roman Griffin Davis) is an enthusiastic member of Hitler’s army, so-much-so that his imaginary best friend is a manifestation of the Nazi leader (Taika Waititi). […]
Movie Review – The King (2019)
The King, 2019. Directed by David Michôd. Starring Timothée Chalamet,Robert Pattinson, Joel Edgerton, Ben Mendelsohn, Sean Harris, Dean-Charles Chapman, Lily Rose-Depp, Andrew Havill, Edward Ashley, and Thomasin McKenzie. SYNOPSIS: Hal (Timothée Chalamet) is a reluctant prince, one who drinks and womanises his way around the Kingdom, as those in power look on with disdain, concerned […]
