A good horror movie gravitates around a strong central metaphor. With the original Candyman, the premise leads to a lot of wider symbolic opportunity: an evergreen centre that can be applied in multiple ways and in different contexts. Nia DaCosta's reboot, and semi-sequel, takes full advantage of this. In fact, it gets lost in taking … Continue reading Candyman (2021) (Review)
Tag: f-rated
First Cow (Review)
Kelly Reichardt is incredibly gifted at gleaning gold from atypical cinematic perspectives. This is most apparent in Meek's Cutoff and Certain Women (though also true of Wendy and Lucy) and continues, beautifully, in First Cow. In this film, we follow Cookie (John Magaro), a skilled cook who begins the film in a group of Trappers. … Continue reading First Cow (Review)
For Maria Ebun Pataki (Review) (Film Africa 2020)
Review based on BFI Screening from Film Africa 2020 Festival There is an urgency and clarity of purpose to Damilola Orimogunje's film that makes it defy conventional criticism. This is, formally, a deeply flawed film: it has technical issues with sound; the acting is often substandard; it too often looks like filmed theatre and the … Continue reading For Maria Ebun Pataki (Review) (Film Africa 2020)
Barakat (Review) (Film Africa 2020)
Review based on BFI Screening from Film Africa 2020 Festival There is a lot of drama and divide in Amy Jephta's Barakat. However, it is a film that ultimately pushes positivity and togetherness, in a pleasing way, even if it does merely give easy answers to complex issues. This is a comedic drama set in … Continue reading Barakat (Review) (Film Africa 2020)
On the Rocks (Review)
For a film about malaise and disappointment, it is perhaps appropriate that On the Rocks feels so flat. This comedy inflected drama is about a married mother of two, Laura (Rashida Jones) investigating her husband's (Marlon Wayans) suspected infidelities at the behest of, and with the help (arguably) of, her father (Bill Murray). The film … Continue reading On the Rocks (Review)
The Other Lamb (Review)
There is a recent trend in horror for making very pretty films in which not much happens. Sometimes, this works, but only if the nothing really happening serves a purpose that the aesthetic further highlights. The Other Lamb looks very pretty, and not much happens in it - or, more accurately, nothing really happens that … Continue reading The Other Lamb (Review)
Emma. (2020) (Review)
Adaptation is a difficult game, especially with classics that have already been adapted time and time again. How do you breathe new life into something so familiar and how do you make your version stand out? And, do we even need a new version? Much like with last year's superlative Little Women, Autumn de Wilde's … Continue reading Emma. (2020) (Review)
Assorted Opinions 