2010s

THE CIAMBRA: The 400 Blows for a New Generation
A CIAMBRA: The 400 Blows For A New Generation

Italian-American filmmaker Jonas Carpignano has shown in only his second feature, A Ciambra, to be one of the most empathetic social realist filmmakers working today.

ADRIFT: Not Quite Lost, Not Quite Found
ADRIFT: Not Quite Lost, Not Quite Found

With a divide between masterful filmmaking and a hard to buy love story, audiences will find Adrift enjoyable, but with a disposable romance.

BOYS FOR SALE: Tokyo's Underworld
BOYS FOR SALE: Tokyo’s Underworld

Boys For Sale dives into the world of the urisen (also known as “boys”) that are paid to have sex with other men. Brought in by the allure of a high paying part-time job, urisens have to learn to navigate the industry as they go.

BOOK CLUB: Gather The Ladies, There's (Some) Fun To Be Had
BOOK CLUB: Gather The Ladies, There’s (Some) Fun To Be Had

Uniting four legends of the screen for a shot of summer silver screen cinema, Book Club is every bit as formulaic, disposable and harmless as you would expect.

SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY: A Solid If Underwhelming Star Wars Entry
SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY: A Solid If Underwhelming Star Wars Entry

Too heavy in its fan service at times, Solo: A Star Wars Story is not a terrible Star Wars entry, with enough fun moments to please.

THE TALE: Harrowing & Necessary Study Of Abuse
THE TALE: Harrowing & Necessary Study Of Abuse

Many audiences will likely shy away from the graphic depiction of abuse within director Jennifer Fox’s autobiographical film The Tale, but the film’s frankness is often its greatest asset.

THE MISANDRISTS: Provocative Satire Targets Separatist Feminism
THE MISANDRISTS: Provocative Satire Targets Separatist Feminism

There’s a caption that appears on screen at the very beginning of Bruce LaBruce’s The…

THE DAY AFTER: Adventures In Autocritique
THE DAY AFTER: Adventures In Autocritique

While lacking the effervescence of his previous film Claire’s Camera, Sang-soo Hang’s The Day After has a mournful cloud that hangs over this digital monochrome display of admirable honesty.

HEREDITARY: A Confident, but Overhyped, Directorial Debut
HEREDITARY: A Confident, Provocative Debut That Offers Nothing Below The Surface

Just like his earlier short, Hereditary feels like nothing more than a provocation, updating the parental anxieties of Rosemary’s Baby for the modern era — and adding no substantial allegory that makes it feel any deeper than this.

IRREPLACEABLE YOU: A Forgettable Moment of Catharsis
IRREPLACEABLE YOU: A Forgettable Moment Of Catharsis

While cathartic in the emotional expression of the finality of death, Irreplaceable You fails to be memorable, forgotten long after the credits have rolled.

SUSPIRIA: Will Luca Guadagnino Kill Off the Film’s Good Reputation, or Make it Popular with a Whole New Generation?

In a world full of soulless remakes, Luca Guadagnino’s Suspiria is one that has the potential to be fresh, exciting and unique.

SFIFF Review: A KID LIKE JAKE: Parsons & Danes Impress In This Family Drama
SFIFF Review: A KID LIKE JAKE: Parsons & Danes Impress In This Family Drama

A Kid Like Jake succeeds on behalf of Howard’s confident direction, Pearle’s sharp-witted and empathetic script, and two outstanding performances from Danes and Parsons.

THE JURASSIC GAMES: Less Than The Sum Of Its Many, Many Parts
THE JURASSIC GAMES: Less Than The Sum Of Its Many, Many Parts

Despite its absurd concept lending itself to occasional entertaining satire, The Jurassic Games suffers from poor visuals, bland cinematography, and poorly developed stereotypical characters.

ON CHESIL BEACH: An Honest, but Messy Portrayal of Sex
ON CHESIL BEACH: An Honest But Messy Portrayal Of Sex

On Chesil Beach feels like three separate character studies awkwardly forced into one occasionally incoherent film – but with a characteristically brilliant Saoirse Ronan performance at the centre, it is never anything less than compelling.

IBIZA: A Lighthearted Girls Trip To Spain
IBIZA: A Lighthearted Girls Trip To Spain

If you’re stuck at home and need something to watch, maybe Ibiza might be for you if you want to escape reality for a little while.