The Boy Who Could Fly (1986)
Les gardiennes (The Guardians) (2017)
The Operative (2019)
I Was A Male War Bride (1949)
Truth Or Dare (2018)
Misyeon Paseobeul (Mission Possible) (2021)
Fukushima 50 (2020) ///
The Boy Who Could Fly (1986) Affecting, generous family drama as spiky teen Lucy Deakins moves in beside uncommunicative neighbor Jay Underwood, both suffering from loss and finding escape through friendship and fantasy. Tender and emotional, textured characters and richly thematic Bruce Broughton score giving physical and metaphorical flight to future hope.
Les gardiennes (The Guardians) (2017) Reserved approach and painterly style accentuate physical and emotional struggles of women left to manage rural French farm while horrors of war decimate the men. Stoic matriarch Nathalie Baye provides powerful focus as social and industrial change forever scars the land.
The Operative (2019) Efficiently produced and styled, flashback structure dissipates tension despite blend of vulnerability and toughness from Diane Kruger's spy in Iran, finally fighting for a way back to normality. Individual sequences supply controlled thrills, even as tone and shady characters remain drily inaccessible.
I Was A Male War Bride (1949) Told with a frenetically stylish pace, with as much verbal play as visual gags, superior French captain Cary Grant needs to maneuver army red tape when marrying US lieutenant Anne Sheridan. Despite uneven structure, leads spar with engaging spirit and laughs are bright.
Truth Or Dare (2018) Polished, energetic sheen periodically disguises inherent silliness of teen games that initially intrigue before turning to succession of embarrassing revelations and uninventive deaths. Sparks of tension keep interest in anonymous characters despite confusion and lack of needed wit.
Misyeon Paseobeul (Mission Possible) (2021) When concentrating on comic charm and caustic sparring of leads, uneven narrative makes engaging use of trainee Chinese agent Lee Sun-bin and opportunist Korean detective Kim Young-kwang. Character revelations and final act tonal shift less successful.
Fukushima 50 (2020) Sober telling of nuclear plant meltdown after 2011 tsunami is most successful in the detail and quiet strength of sacrifice to prevent widespread contamination, while smooth visuals provide potency to impending threat. Political histrionics and family background less assured.
