- London Film Festival 2022 Review – ‘Decision to Leave’
Not every attraction in life comes without a degree of compromise. Whether that means an element of risk, a taste of something taboo, or a connection with someone outside our comfort zone. That is what Oscar winning writer director Park Chan-wook seeks to explore in Decision to leave. A tantalizing trip into film noir territory, …Continue reading “London Film Festival 2022 Review – ‘Decision to Leave’”
- London Film Festival 2022 Review – ‘Mammals’ gives James Corden back his heart and soul
Mammals, which hits Prime Video on Nov. 1, is much more than a dramedy with romantic notions and moral conundrums. Writer Jez Butterworth is deliberate in exploring questions of trust and of attraction, with debates around monogamy throughout. Headlined by Emmy-winning chat show host, stage actor, and UK television mainstay James Corden, Mammals marks his return to dramatic … - London Film Festival 2022 Review – ‘Women Talking’ marks a new level of maturity for writer director Sarah Polley
Adapted from the novel by Miriam Toews, Women Talking represents a cinematic deconstruction of feminine identity. Complex in its dissection, comprehensive in its encompassing approach, and packed with powerhouse performances on all sides this feels like a political treatise. Charting the course of conversations discussing female roles within an isolated colony, following heinous physical assaults and no … - London Film Festival 2022 Review – ‘Palm Trees and Power Lines’ never shies away from tackling an extremely contentious topic
Palm Trees and Power Lines from writer-director Jamie Dack is destined to become a divisive feature film dealing as it does with the reality of relationships in contemporary society by exploring taboo topics. The story focuses on a socially questionable connection between Lea (Lily McInerny) and Tom (Jonathan Tucker), A teenager lacking any strong father figure … - London Film Festival 2022 Review – ‘Bardo’ is an inspirational piece of cinema
Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths is no easier to explain than some will find it to say. Multi-time Academy Award-winning writer, director, and producer Alejandro González Iñárritu has always created visually exquisite cinematic experiences, which sought to challenge the boundaries of film in their fearlessness. From Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) through to The …Continue reading “London Film Festival 2022 Review – ‘Bardo’ is an inspirational piece of cinema”
- London Film Festival 2022 Review – ‘The Son’ is rife with cliches and wasted opportunities
The Son could have been a dramatic home run that effortlessly explored anxiety, parental break-ups, and contemporary debates around generational anxiety. With veteran screenwriter Christopher Hampton on board, this should have been plain sailing as the Oscar-winning scribe fashioned a work of genuine poignancy. Alongside writer-director Florian Zeller, The Son should have been nothing short of peerless as … - London Film Festival 2022 Review – ‘The Wonder’ is a windswept fable of female empowerment that demands investment
Tempestuous, windswept, and allegorical are just a few words which spring to mind when it comes to The Wonder. A faith-driven character piece starring Florence Pugh and directed by Sebastian Lelio (Disobedience), which calls into question the role of power and belief in contemporary society. Adapted by Alice Birch (Normal People) from Emma Donoghue’s novel, The Wonder debates science versus … - London Film Festival 2022 Review – ‘Lady Chatterley’s Lover’ favors brains over a booty call in this steamy adaptation
Intellectual wealth over financial security defines this latest adaptation of 1929 novel Lady Chatterley’s Lover, as shaped by Oscar-nominated screenwriter David Magee (Finding Neverland). Lush open woodlands and expansive family estates form a backdrop to this tale of inherent class divide and forbidden passion from author D.H. Lawrence. Directed by Laure de Clermont-Tannerre and starring Emma … - London Film Festival 2022 Review – ‘Aftersun’ is a nostalgia trip of personal tragedy, which transcends cinematic expectations
Charlotte Wells, writer-director of Aftersun, has created an understated portrait of personal tragedy in this deceptively dark father-daughter team-up. Melding camcorder footage with an absurdly gifted performance from Frankie Corio, it has garnered unanimous adulation from festival audiences, helped in no small measure by the presence of Paul Mescal (Normal People). As the father figure in … - London Film Festival 2022 Review – ‘Inland’ is marred by arthouse introspection and a ponderous plotline
Urban legends, fireside fables and faery folk cavorting in forests may not sound like a starting point for family drama, but writer-director Fridtjof Ryder begs to differ with Inland, crafting, as he does, an eerie, if disjointed, tale of disconnection, disappearance, and rebirth in this festival film. Grounded by an intriguing performance from Rory Alexander, Inland has all …