Dark Waters (2019)
The Young Mr Pitt (1942)
The Ghost Goes West (1935)
The Way To The Stars (1947)
Manbiki Kazoku (Shoplifters) (2018)
Un beau dimanche (Going Away) (2013)
The Man In The Iron Mask (1939)
Damn Yankees (1958)
Chāo Shíkōng Tóngjū (How Long Will I Love U) (2018)
Sarajin Bam (The Vanished) (2018) ///
Dark Waters (2019) Solidly produced, metronomically told social justice tale with obstinate lawyer Mark Ruffalo turning against the corporates to lead decades long crusade against Dupont and dangers of teflon. Monochrome approach prevents emotive saturation, but delivers the despair and anger.
The Young Mr Pitt (1942) Part historical biography, part political discourse on government, and part rousing wartime propaganda, accentuating sacrifice for good of the nation. Tied together by intense, playful, compelling Robert Donat and deft storytelling. Involving, fanciful production.
The Ghost Goes West (1935) Light, nimble tale which leans heavily on Robert Donat's charm as both the Scottish clan descendant with a cursed castle and the seductive ancestor doomed to haunt the hallways even when the home is moved across the Atlantic. Delicately humorous diversion.
The Way To The Stars (1947) Spanning the wartime years of a British airfield and local community, patchwork narrative vividly tells of lives and loss with bittersweet sentimentality. Unfussy approach lends authentic voice and fine cast embodies fleeting joys and enduring hope.
Manbiki Kazoku (Shoplifters) (2018) Intimate, wrenching portrait of coping with poverty as disparate outsiders forge a family to survive. Emphasizing humanity and punctuated with sparks of relief amid the pain, natural formalism of story and technique creates emotion that resonates.
Un beau dimanche (Going Away) (2013) Finely crafted and performed, wandering narrative sees uncommitted supply teacher Pierre Rochefort meet flailing mother Louise Bourgoin. As his broken family background is revealed, involving story reaches for dramatic meaning that never quite crystallizes.
The Man In The Iron Mask (1939) Despite some creaky staging and arch performances, Dumas adaptation is generally pacey and broken up with enough Musketeers sword fights amid the opulent sets. Louis Hayward plays dual roles of French King and imprisoned brother, Joan Bennett the mystified princess.
Damn Yankees (1958) Breezy score and hummable songs mix with Bob Fosse's striking choreography to allow cast to shine, as Ray Walston's Devil and Gwen Verdon's Lola entice Tab Hunter into selling his soul for baseball fame. Staging solid rather than exciting, colorful characters prove winning.
Chāo Shíkōng Tóngjū (How Long Will I Love U) (2018) Inventive setup sees Lei Jiayin in the past and Tong Liya in the present both living in the same apartment and straddling time periods. Bright design adds zip to comedy and texture to romantic drama, despite messy story dynamics.
Sarajin Bam (The Vanished) (2018) Immaculately made, fluid visuals heighten mystery as body disappears from morgue on a stormy night and guilty husband grows increasingly frayed. Eccentric detective Kim Sang-kyung leads cat and mouse maneuvers as schematic narrative surprises unfold.
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