C’est La Vie!

Although it takes a little time to get going, once writer/director team Oliver Nakache and Eric Toledano hit their straps we are treated to a sublime French farce which reminded me of an extended episode of Fawlty Towers. At the centre of things is the epically world weary figure of Max (Jean Pierre Bacri), whose…

A Simple Favour

Based on a novel by Darcey Bell this post modern film noir sees Director Paul Feig stretch his legs away from the gross out comedies which have hitherto been his stock in trade, to deliver a somewhat macabre and entertaining comedy thriller. With its Saul Bass inspired credits and a sweet disorientating soundtrack featuring various…

The Guardians

Well this couldn’t have been more French if it were a knicker wearing poodle, eating fries and looking to post a letter. It even had a score by Michel Legrande. Taking place between 1915 and 1920, director Xavier Beaujois has set about capturing a particular and possibly unprecedented slice of Gallic agricultural history. With their…

American Animals

Worth dwelling for a moment on the pre credit sequence, which set the tone and style of this film expertly. Against a black background we see a quote from ‘Origin of Species’ which tells us that the evolution of American animals culminated in Kentucky cave dwellers – and I couldn’t help thinking of the current…

Cold War

Any film which starts with the camera pointing directly into the chanter of a set of bagpipes, while the awful shriek of this infernal instrument blasts out at ear splitting volume, has a mountain to climb to get back into my good books. So it’s a testament to Pawel Pawlikowski’s latest endevour that this unusual…

The Children Act

Adapted from his own novel, this was a classic Ian McEwan piece which delved into the consequences of decision making in morally grey areas and the vagaries of interpersonal relationships. Directed by Richard Eyre it provided a sound platform from which Emma Thompson could deliver an intriguing performance, as measured and thoughtful as it was…

BlackkKlansman

There’s something for everyone in Spike Lee’s rollicking and well made account of a year in the life of Ron Stallworth (John David Washington), who in 1970 became the first black recruit in the Colorado Springs Police Department. Now that’s probably enough for a whole film right there, but for Lee this is just the…