The Great Race (1965)
The Lost Daughter (2021)
Happy Go Lovely (1951)
Not Without My Daughter (1990)
What We Did On Our Holiday (2014)
The Glass Castle (2017)
Lo imposible (2012)
Game Night (2018)
Fortune Is A Woman (1957) ///
The Great Race (1965) Deliriously mounted on an extravagant scale, pure Tony Curtis, devious Jack Lemmon and contrary Natalie Wood race from New York to Paris in a string of spectacular and often very funny, slapstick set pieces. Henry Mancini provides joyous score, energy is infectious.
The Lost Daughter (2021) Strong performances and visuals illuminate strains of motherhood, as spiky Olivia Coleman remembers younger ambitious self Jessie Buckley after she meets brittle Dakota Johnson and daughter in Greece. Edgy tension tends to dissipate, purposely unresolved.
Happy Go Lovely (1951) Bright, slight romantic comedy, with aspiring dance star Vera-Ellen given a break when desperate producer Cesar Romero believes she's going out with wealthy David Niven. Set in Edinburgh yet strictly studio bound, solidly predictable, lacking in inspiration.
Not Without My Daughter (1990) Trading in stereotypes and leaving nothing to nuance, undeniably effective drama turned thriller sees trusting Sally Field visit Iran with deceitful Alfred Molina to find she's trapped with daughter. Escape to American freedom is shot as bluntly as emotions and politics.
What We Did On Our Holiday (2014) Generous spirit and spontaneous, genuine approach infuse predictable snapshot of brittle family dynamics with fresh impetus. Separated parents Rosamund Pike and David Tennant, and patriarch Billy Connolly upstaged by beguiling trio of kids.
The Glass Castle (2017) Brie Larson pierces vital, confused struggle to forge adult life away fantasist parents, even if story plays safe for Naomi Watts and Woody Harrelson. Polished production misses intoxicating extremes, so resolution lacks in father's purported charisma and final empathy.
Lo imposible (2012) Technique and visceral imagery pummel senses with powerful sequences relentless in depicting Thai tsunami of 2004 and aftereffects seen through eyes of Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor's family. Sustain of single note eventually stifling, sledge-hammer emotion unavoidable.
Game Night (2018) Engaging players and stylish presentation set up comic potential that goes rapidly off the rails, belief in situation snapped and jeopardy missing. Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams lead competitive friends with enough jokes to ease running time at capable zip.
Fortune Is A Woman (1957) Modestly produced and constructed, flickers of noirish melodrama enliven and entwine staid insurance investigator Jack Hawkins when old flame Arlene Dahl re-enters his life and her cold husband Dennis Price dies in a fire. Frayed desires twist British restraint.
No comments:
Post a Comment