Sunday 28 June 2020
Rocketman (2019)
A musical fantasy about the story of Elton John's breakthrough years.
Well-made musical biography includes both the ups and downs of Elton John's career; the musical bits are good and the performances, especially Taron Egerton's, extraordinary.
House on Haunted Hill (1959)
A millionaire offers $10,000 to five people who agree to be locked in a large, spooky, rented house overnight with him and his wife.
Classic William Castle hokum with all the tricks and treats doesn't really want to be taken seriously; fun for what it is.
Halliwell (no star): "Gimmick ghost story with some (unexplained) gruesome moments; the most outlandish of its producer's trick films..."
Maltin***: "Campy fun."
Saturday 27 June 2020
Bunco Squad (1950)
A detective goes after a ring of phony "mediums" who are trying to swindle a rich widow out of her fortune.
Lively, entertaining crime drama is simple, but straightforward and suspenseful.
Maltin**1/2: "Fast-paced B movie isn't bad."
Friday 26 June 2020
One of Us (2017)
Penetrating the insular world of New York's Hasidic community, focusing on three individuals driven to break away despite threats of retaliation.
Excellent documentary spreads some light into a reclusive and oppressive religious community, while simply giving three examples from members who left.
Thursday 25 June 2020
The 9th Guest (1934)
Eight strangers are invited to spend the night in a penthouse apartment. After being wined and dined, a voice on the radio informs them that they will be murdered unless they manage to outwit the ninth guest: Death.
Amusing, if a bit stiff closed room crime drama; the plot has been has proven to be quite influential and has been varied on many occasions.
Halliwell (no star): "Whodunnit which must have been seen by Agatha Chrsitie before she wrote And Then There Were None. This version however is flatly scripted and characterized, with no real interest in the (unlikely) outcome."
Maltin**1/2: "Not-bad adaptation..."
Woman in Gold (2015)
Maria Altmann, an octogenarian Jewish refugee, takes on the Austrian government to recover artwork she believes rightfully belongs to her family.
A compelling story is given a rather leaden, unimaginative treatment despite its excellent cast, among them as always a great Helen Mirren.
Tuesday 23 June 2020
Unorthodox (2020)
A young ultra-Orthodox Jewish woman flees her arranged marriage and religious community to start a new life abroad.
Excellent, fascinating and thrilling story of an emancipation from a rigid religious enclave into the 'real world'; well-made with good production details, but foremost it is Shira Haas' mesmerizing performance that elevates this mini-series.
Friday 19 June 2020
Tiger King (2020)
An exploration of big cat breeding and its bizarre underworld, populated by eccentric characters.
Basically, this is an exploitative Reality TV-style documentary series, which is hardly interested in the animal rights' angle of the story and rather takes a voyeuristic pleasure in presenting its wildly eccentric (and dangerous) characters; however, that's the point holding one's attention throughout, and somehow you're constantly reminded of the current resident in the White House.
Thursday 18 June 2020
Systemsprenger (2019)
On her wild quest for love, 9-year-old Benni's untamed energy drives everyone around her to despair.
Relentlessly realistic and precise analysis od a so-called "system crasher", an unmanageable and violent child leaving all attempts to civilize her futile; at times almost unbearable to watch, also due to Helena Zengel's utterly convincing performance.
Tuesday 16 June 2020
The Fall, Season 3 (2016)
Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson has arrested Paul Spector - but will he survive the gunshot wounds? Will he ever face justice?
The third season concludes the series in likewise excellent quality in atmosphere, production and performances and simply goes a bit more into depth on its characters; however, the actual ending is unexpected and rather illogical to what we have learnt so far.
Sunday 14 June 2020
Ouija (2014)
Not particularly imaginative supernatural horror movie has some atmosphere, but relies on genre cliches and the usual jump scares.
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