Films: July 28 - August 3

Short Term 12 (2013)

Girl In The Picture (2022)

Arthur Newman (2013)

The American Side (2016)

Beoning (Burning) (2018)

Tonight And Every Night (1945)

Milyang (Secret Sunshine) (2007) ///

Short Term 12 (2013) Seared with tragic honesty, damaged counsellors cope with equally hurt kids in teen care facility, as open Brie Larson reflects personal issues with troubled Kaitlyn Dever. Jolts of humor amid pain, narrative threads too neatly wrapped, yet cast remains vital.

Girl In The Picture (2022) Compulsively dark and twisted, death of a desperate woman and a kidnapping lead down rabbit hole of years long abuse and cruelty. Unflashy presentation, final identity to a lost soul redeems individual crusades, despite overwhelming sense of despair. 

Arthur Newman (2013) Morose Colin Firth fakes his death to start a new life, burned out Emily Blunt is on the run from her own pain. Story posits interesting setup about identity and frustrated ambition, yet mood and characters are crushingly serious and narrative too schematic.

The American Side (2016) Death of a stripper engulfs grubby PI Greg Stuhr within labyrinthine mystery featuring ambiguous women and powerful businessmen all linked to a dangerous Nikola Tesla invention. Low budget Buffalo streets evocative, story is noir pastiche, thrills lacking.

Beoning (Burning) (2018) Mesmerizing and masterfully paced, both intense emotional drama and cutting social commentary, as drifting Yoo Ah-in re-connects with playful Jeon Jong-seo until wealthy, suspicious Steven Yeun intervenes. Grounded in character, surprising and effecting.

Tonight And Every Night (1945) Attractively designed and cast, with some effective songs and energetic dance, Rita Hayworth is part of wartime London theatre that keeps performing no matter German bombings or personal tragedy. Less involving with romantic conflicts, backstage life and conditions maintain interest.

Milyang (Secret Sunshine) (2007) Quietly entrancing Jeon Do-yeon becomes agonizingly dependent as tragedy of her son's kidnapping follows death of her husband. Mechanic Song Kang-ho is equally desperate, as faith, community and humanity are questioned. Darkly lyrical and compelling.

Films: July 21 - 27

Seuwingkizeu (Swing Kids) (2018)

Masquerade (1988)

Yooyeolui Eumakaelbum (Tune In For Love) (2019)

Take One False Step (1949) 

This Beautiful Fantastic (2016)

Your Sister's Sister (2011)

Love, Cheat & Steal (1993) ///

Seuwingkizeu (Swing Kids) (2018) Immensely and intensely enjoyable, dynamically paced musical sees diverse tap-dancing troupe in Korean prison camp provoke tragic change. Wild tonal diversions, yet visceral energy carries emotion, sharply choreographed characters provide depth.

Masquerade (1988) Suitably sleazy and sweaty melodrama, young heiress Meg Tilly falls for smooth yachtsman Rob Lowe and soon find herself lost in murder and lies. Twisting narrative and character shifts creak and strain, Kim Cattrall and John Glover provide vengeful spite, end pleasingly cruel.

Yooyeolui Eumakaelbum (Tune In For Love) (2019) Riding on cultural and economic shifts tied to popular radio show, hesitant relationship between Kim Go-eun and Jung Hae-in is built on subtleties and mood over the years. Emotion never quite grips, though Kim Gook-hee sparks energy as close friend.

Take One False Step (1949) Though title sequence and coda accentuate light-hearted view of fate's dangers, otherwise mundane noir-lite with professor William Powell on the run after disappearance of Shelley Winters. Stakes barely raised, only moderately engaging as plot mechanics creak.

This Beautiful Fantastic (2016) Enticingly quirky and playful, embodied by charm of Jessica Brown Findlay, who finds inspiration through gruff neighbour Tom Wilkinson and wonders of nature. Fine balance of metaphor and feeling, aided by humour, tends to flag by third act with a hurried conclusion.

Your Sister's Sister (2011) Sisters Emily Blunt and Rosemarie DeWitt confuse love and family with Mark Duplass to create an appealing, studied three-hander, as relationships and hopes are strained. Attractively realized locations wrap snappily constructed scenes. Emotions dry, resolution unconvincing.

Love, Cheat & Steal (1993) Violent Eric Roberts breaks out of jail, determined to take revenge on duplicitous wife Mädchen Amick, until deciding to also rob new husband John Lithgow's bank. Scope for dark thrills involving corrupt characters squandered, lacking style and signposting twists.