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Shanghai (2010)
Filmmaker(s): Mikael Håfström

An American man returns to a corrupt, Japanese-occupied Shanghai four months before Pearl Harbor and discovers his friend has been killed. While he unravels the mysteries of the death, he falls in love and discovers a much larger secret that his own government is hiding.

No Lust, Too Cautionary I’ve written before about the tendency in film to couple a love story with some radical political turmoil. The reason is simply that love is not inherently cinematic. Sex is and female attractiveness can be, but I‘m talking here about the dimensions...


Published February 4, 2024
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Stoker (2013)
Innocence Ends.
Filmmaker(s): Park Chan-wook

After India Stoker's father dies, her Uncle Charlie, who she never knew existed, comes to live with her and her unstable mother. She comes to suspect this mysterious, charming man has ulterior motives and becomes increasingly infatuated with him.

Not Thirsty Enough Having seen and been unhealthily engaged in ‘Thirst‘ I acquired this. It reminded me of a similar disappointment. One of my most trusted filmmakers is Kar Wai Wong, someone who has expanded my electric cage. His first non-English film 'Blueberry Night‘ was every bit...


Published February 4, 2024
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Sherlock: The Abominable Bride (2016)
Welcome to Sherlock 1895!
Filmmaker(s): Douglas Mackinnon

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson find themselves in 1890s London in this holiday special.

What is written writes itself I can’t say enough good things about this. Let’s start with what it is not. It is not rewarding long form filmmaking. It is TeeVee, and despite the rush of talent into TeeVee series, and their ability to engage, this will...


Published February 4, 2024
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Fish & Cat (2013)
The circles of time! Is it possible to escape?
Filmmaker(s): Shahram Mokri

A group of students travel to a remote region to participate in a kite-flying event. Next to their camp by the lakeside, they find a restaurant with cooks that treat the students with suspicion. Bizarre events lead to a complicated situation, from which the students cannot escape.

Wandering, not Wondering Gosh I live in such rich disappointment. When I encounter someone who naturally understands cinema and who has the potential to affect me, I want him/her to. I want love to follow beauty. This is an extraordinary film, unique in my experience. It happens...


Published February 4, 2024
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The Good Dinosaur (2015)
Little Arms With Big Attitude
Filmmaker(s): Peter Sohn

An epic journey into the world of dinosaurs where an Apatosaurus named Arlo makes an unlikely human friend.

Background as Foreground I follow certain filmmakers in a way unlike any other relationship. If they have worked well for me at least once, they become a permanent part of my life, not friends or family because I give nothing back. When they try and fail,...


Published February 4, 2024
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Eye in the Sky (2015)
Welcome to the new front line
Filmmaker(s): Gavin Hood

A UK-based military officer in command of a top secret drone operation to capture terrorists in Kenya discovers the targets are planning a suicide bombing and the mission escalates from “capture” to “kill.” As American pilot Steve Watts is about to engage, a nine-year old girl enters the kill zone, triggering an international dispute reaching the highest levels of US and British government over the moral, political, and personal implications of modern warfare.

Three Distances My notion of noir is the communication in a film story that the audience is the writer of the world, a world designed to satisfy our urges. Innocent victims are manipulated through coincidence and love. Since Welles, we’ve seen a great many variations and...


Published February 3, 2024
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Top of the Lake (2013)
One day, we won't be able to close our eyes anymore.
Filmmaker(s): Ján Lacko

A woman haunted by her past, Detective Robin Griffin, investigates complex and unsettling cases.

Hidden Agents, Justice This masterly series has several notable qualities. Most striking are the cinematic (meaning the camera-centric) anchors for the storytelling. But the most commented upon by others is the exploration of motherhood, supported by accomplished actresses doing their best work. I’ll comment instead on the...


Published February 3, 2024
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The Girl with All the Gifts (2016)
Our greatest threat is our only hope.
Filmmaker(s): Colm McCarthy

In the future, a strange fungus has changed nearly everyone into thoughtless, flesh-eating monsters. When a scientist and a teacher find a girl who seems to be immune to the fungus, they all begin a journey to save humanity.

Film as Virus to Fight Us Zombie films have always been about social analogy: AIDS, immigration, Islam!, climate change, AI revolt. Regardless, it is always followed the western form of good guys, bad guys. Always. This one twists that from the very first moments which focuses...


Published February 3, 2024
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Murder in Three Acts (1986)
Filmmaker(s): Gary Nelson

In Acapulco, Hercule Poirot attends a dinner party in which one of the guests clutches his throat and suddenly dies. The causes seem to be natural until another party with most of the same guests produces another corpse.

Bicycle, not spacecraft The strangest thing: when films are made of Christie structures, the first thing they worry about is the characterisation of the detective: Poirot or Marple. Clearly, the filmmakers obsess over the potential for engagement within the constraints of the original text, but they...


Published February 3, 2024
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Scorched Earth (2018)
Before the end of the world, Gage has some people to kill.
Filmmaker(s): Peter Howitt

In a post-apocalyptic future, bounty hunter Attica Gage pursues a ruthless outlaw at the head of a dangerous criminal gang.

Scorched Script Well, it seems that all women on a path to stardom have to go through this, a cheap revenge movie. I think this actress has a future, and I suppose she knew that this would be a risk. The movie itself is unremarkable. What...


Published February 3, 2024
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