 By Adam Ray Palmer
To kick off my Karlovy Vary Film Festival experience for the first time ever was a film about a man who, in my country of the UK, is depicted in a certain light. Diego Maradona has never really been a figure who is celebrated in England due to the 1986 controversy* *pure cheating and so, I had my judgements going into this 2-hour documentary.  By Adam Ray Palmer
When visiting the 69th Berlin Film Festival, I knew very little about the film Mr Jones, and even less about the remarkable true story behind the script. Mr Jones stars James Norton as the titular character with a supporting cast including Peter Sarsgaard, Vanessa Kirby and Kenneth Cranham.  By Adam Ray Palmer
Yuval Adler returns to the Berlinale this year with his second ever feature, The Operative. His previous picture, Bethlehem, also premiered here in 2013. You’d say that’s not bad to have a two-film career currently and both showing at a prestigious festival, but how prestigious is his new movie?  By Adam Ray Palmer
Fatih Akin returns to the Berlinale with his latest offering in the main competition, Der Goldene Handschuh (The Golden Glove). Following up his respected 2017 picture, In The Fade, it was always going to be a difficult feat with what really has been a mixed bag career for Akin. And this one is certain for a polarising response.  By Adam Ray Palmer
The jury president at this year’s Berlin Film Festival, Juliette Binoche, is not only deciding who wins what; but she’s also starring in her very own flick too. Binoche anchors Safy Nebbou’s Celle Que Vous Croyez (Who You Think I Am in the English language) as it receives a Berlinale Special Gala. 10/2/2019 Berlinale'69: Mid90s film review. By Adam Ray Palmer
Writing this makes me feel old, but Jonah Hill is at the Berlin Film Festival this year with his own film, Mid90s. I remember over a decade ago, when he was the tender age of 21, the film that broke him and the film that made me howl… Superbad. Now writer and director, Hill brings us a coming-of-age drama for his first feature behind the camera.  By Adam Ray Palmer
Jennifer Reeder debuted her new movie Knives and Skin at the Berlin Film Festival this fine Saturday evening. This is her second feature film she has directed, after 2017’s Signature Move, but her first as a writer. Knives and Skin stars an ensemble cast including: Marika Engelhardt, Kate Arrington, James Vincent Meredith, Tim Hopper, Ty Olwin and Ireon Roach. There’s one core narrative, but many lives entwine…  By Adam Ray Palmer
Writer and director Jayro Bustamante brings to the Berlinale a story stacked with controversies that this day and age, you’d hope wouldn’t be real. Temblores, or Tremors in the English language, stars Juan Pablo Olyslager, Mauricio Armas and Diane Bathen as a trio who jostle in an unusual love triangle. 
By Adam Ray Palmer
Casey Affleck returns to the big screen in 2019 with not only a starring role, but also occupying the director’s chair… and holding the writer’s pen… oh and finally the Producer’s purse-strings. Kicking off my Berlinale this year is Affleck’s passion project, Light of My Life. This is the first time Casey has directed, written and co-produced a movie he has starred in. Now, let me tell you about it… 27/10/2018 Prowler (2018) film review. By Lorna Baker
Prowler tells the story of Alex, recently released from prison after eight years for the murder of his wife. Whilst their married life was far from perfect, Alex has always protested his innocence, and he sees his chance to prove it when a seemingly kind-hearted ex-detective volunteers to investigate his claims and dig out the truth. Finally, will Alex get the justice he has always wanted, or will the truth lead to disaster?  By Adam Ray Palmer
As my Venezia75 trip is coming to end, it’s only fair that I catch a documentary film before I hail a speedboat home. The chosen non-fiction movie is Carmine Street Guitars, written by Len Blum and directed by Ron Mann.  By Adam Ray Palmer
Venezia75 is spoiling us with two western epics this year. First, we had Joel and Ethan Coen’s The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, and now we have Jacques Audiard’s The Sisters Brothers. I’ve been a fan of Audiard’s work for a few years, largely A Prophet and Dheepan, so how would his first English-language film fair?  By Adam Ray Palmer
Following on from his critically acclaimed Far From Men, David Oelhoffen returns four years later with his 2018 drama, Frères Ennemis (Close Enemies). This Belgian-French picture is also written by Oelhoffen and stars Matthias Schoenaerts, Reda Kateb and Sabrina Ouazani.  By Adam Ray Palmer
And here it is, my most anticipated film of Venezia75 from Luca Guadagnino titled Suspiria, a remake of sorts from the 1977 production. The marketing and build up over the past few months for this movie has been nail-bitingly good, and today my nails disappeared.  By Adam Ray Palmer
The Coen brothers are back with a bang, well six bangs actually. The siblings bring to the Venice Film Festival a western anthology movie. Whilst the title eludes to a series of films revolving around one man ‘Buster Scruggs’, you actually get six short features with their own little tales. |
Previous
|
1/7/2019
0 Comments