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jonathanrogers1
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Reviews
Retour à Séoul (2022)
Watch the first half, then leave the cinema
The first and longest chapter is an engaging drama of adoptee (Korean born, raised in France) searching for birth parents and the ensuing cultural difficulties encountered with her biological father and his family. As soon as the "two years later" inter title appears the film lurches from one disconnected episode to another with characters (one Korean boyfriend, one French, plus an older French man) appearing and disappearing without any explanation. This is a shame as the first part offered a lot of promise with the communication and translation difficulties superimposed on the difficulty of re-encountering birth parents. The rating should really be 8/10 for part 1 and 4/10 for the rest.
Nope (2022)
Disappointing
Strangely lacking in any tension in the key scenes, and the premise that capturing the ludicrous events on camera (within the film) would somehow solve everything was similarly laughable. Too long and not scary enough for a trashy sci-fi/horror, not thoughtful or coherent enough for a serious film.
Sundown (2021)
Subtle undercurrents at play on the beach in Acapulco
I saw Sundown at the London Film Festival having been impressed by the director's "New Order" last year, though both films were made roughly at the same time. Tim Roth gives a magnificent understated performance of a man whose behaviour breaks with expected norms, asking us to imagine his motives. He subtlety of the director gradually and naturally reveals circumstances that may overturn our assumptions. The film has humour, violence, drama, and asks us to imagine what we do ourselves in he same circumstances. On top of these roiling undercurrents there are contrasted the beautiful but exclusive high-end beach resort with the crowded lively (and deadly) beach that the locals inhabit. Excellent supporting performances from Charlotte Gainsbourg and the others round out a thought provoking and well-executed film.
El prófugo (2020)
Subtly disturbing 'uncanny mystery'
I saw this as part of the BFI London Film Festival, not really sure what to expect. The film plays with dreams, realities and hallucination via an excellent performance by lead actress and disturbing sound design. It's not an outright horror which may disappoint some viewers, but took a more subtle approach to leave the audience guessing between whether the character suffers from mental illness or supernatural oppressors.
The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)
Better on second viewing
I can't remember when I first saw 'The Man Who Wasn't There" but upon second viewing in 2020 it came across as such a well structured and stylish film that I'm surprised at not rating it first time around. It had wit, irony, sadness, and an elegant symmetry behind it all. My advice is watch it, and, later, watch it again.
The Tailor of Panama (2001)
Witty take on a washed-up spy
I have seen this film at least three times now with gaps of years in between and it continues to reward and entertain. Its portrayal of a washed-up womanising spy on the way down is a much needed antidote to most spy thrillers and perhaps why it seems unjustly underrated in my view. It has strong performances by all the main leads, a witty script, many well-played minor characters, and bears repeated views.
Earth from Space: A New Perspective (2019)
Great images let down by the tedious, superficial and patronising script
The satellite images are beautiful and interesting, but by the third time of hearing words to the effect of "scientists are analysing this data" spoken in a portentous tone, without actually describing it further or interviewing the scientists in question, it became obvious the programme had no interest in any of the science, and was intended purely as a series of pretty images, dotting around the globe at enormous speed without any substance.
Best watched with the sound turned off perhaps?