IF (2024)
Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning (2023)
The Deep (1977)
La Piscine (1967)
The Trials of Cate McCall (2013)
The Three Musketeers (1973)
The Silence (2019)
Coup de Chance (2023)
The Moon Is Down (1943)
Deadly Hope (2012) ///
Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning (2023)
The Deep (1977)
La Piscine (1967)
The Trials of Cate McCall (2013)
The Three Musketeers (1973)
The Silence (2019)
Coup de Chance (2023)
The Moon Is Down (1943)
Deadly Hope (2012) ///
IF (2024) Slight narrative is imbued with such good heart and Cailey Fleming conjures a winning blend of vulnerability and wonder, yet fractured telling misses emotional momentum. Concept of support from imaginary friends lost when we outgrow fantasy still achieves touching character conclusions.
Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning (2023) Produced with glossy expertise, series of expansive action set-pieces propel relentless Tom Cruise in pursuit of key to deadly, world-threatening AI. Able support cast maintain giddy thrills, even as suspense never quite builds to substantial punch.
The Deep (1977) Bermuda setting, John Barry score, and lengthy, dreamily choreographed underwater sequences lend attractive sheen to unpersuasive story of pirate treasure and submerged drugs. Jacqueline Bisset suffers, while Robert Shaw and Nick Nolte barely break sweat during flimsy crime melodramatics.
La Piscine (The Swimming Pool) (1967) Air of detached eroticism grips drifting group's dark flirtations at French villa, as gorgeously bitter Alain Delon and languidly needy Romy Schneider are interrupted by jealously carefree Maurice Ronet and reticent Jane Birkin. Deliciously composed tension inevitably turns to murder.
The Trials of Cate McCall (2013) Self-destructive nature of Kate Beckinsale's lawyer neatly mirrors bleak view of justice, where legal corruption abuses innocent and guilty alike. Despite convincingly desperate lead and smoothly told spun story mechanics, court case of convicted Anna Anissimova feels insubstantial.
The Three Musketeers (1973) Spirited adventure accentuates throwaway humour as unaffected Michael York seeks to join titular Oliver Reed, Frank Finlay and Richard Chamberlain, and falls for accident prone Raquel Welsh. Loose style and gorgeous design features frames crammed with comic detail and formidable cast. Enormous fun.
The Silence (2019) Inadvertently released from deep underground caves, vicious bird-like creatures root out humans by sound, forcing deaf teen Kiernan Shipka and family to flee from city. Initial sequences build interest, undone by flat exposition and blunt thematic insertion of religious cult.
Coup de Chance (2023) Shaded romantic drama and devious thriller, pierced with a sly humour, as bored Lou de Laâge recaptures youthful attraction to writer Niels Schneider, while trying to hide gradual affair from dangerously possessive husband Melvil Poupaud. Brisk telling and attractive visuals allied to alluring performers.
The Moon Is Down (1943) Narrative backbone of Norwegian town's occupation by German soldiers early in World War II allows solid performances amid stoical and philosophical debate. Fragmented approach stifles natural flow, yet propogandist strength of personal resistance retains dramatic impact.
Deadly Hope (2012) Patchily involving thriller sees alternately haunted and abrasive obstetrician Alana De La Garza both prime suspect and target after professional partner, then romantic hook up are murdered. Blandly told, final revelation provokes more of a shrug than surprise.
