A man troubled

Searching for Ingmar Bergman (2018)

Directed by Margarethe von Trotta this documentary features the director as presenter. We see a number of people interviewed about famed Swedish director Ingmar Bergman.

Bergman's films are famous for their look into the human condition and this documentary does a pretty good job of looking at the condition of the human behind so many praised films. Giving shades of a warts and all approach this is a pretty good documentary that does not completely give itself over to hero worship. There is a good balanced tone to the film but probably only one for cinephiles to watch.

3/5

Known by many names

Dirty Cops (2018)

Directed by Cedric Anger this film stars Guillaume Canet, Gilles Lellouche and Camille Razat. In the 1980s two French detectives go undercover in the French porn industry.

Nothing much stands out as surprising here, our protagonists end up finding the people involved in the porn industry are not that bad after all. Maybe a little less voyeurism and a bit more looking at the darker side of the industry would have helped balance out this film. Not a bad watch but not one worth seeking out either really.

3/5

A sticky situation

The Glue (1907)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this is an early short film. A boy causes mayhem all over town by spreading glue in unexpected places.

Simple in concept and execution this is a decent little comedy shot. The gags are obvious but still raise a chuckle. There is not a ton to the film making, a solid effort, not much more.

3/5

Below expectations

Above the Shadows (2019)

Written & directed by Claudia Myers this film stars Olivia Thirlby, Alan Richson and Megan Fox. After years of living in the world with no one able to see her a young woman is surprised when one man can see her.

Within the premise of this film is a really great set up for a story but I do not think this script nails it. The plot never really hits on what could have been the core themes of isolation in the modern world. In the end we have a fairly predictable plot that has little memorable about it.

2/5

A turd for a turd

The Poison Rose (2019)

Directed by George Gallo & Francesco Cinquemani this film also known as “Eye for an eye” stars John Travolta, Morgan Freeman and Famke Janssen. In the 1970s an LA private eye returns home to Texas to look for a missing person but gets caught up in his past.

If this was a parody or satire of a neo-noir it might work better but as is this movie is flat out terrible. The script does far too much telling instead of showing, is highly predictable and with badly thought out character actions. How this film got so much on screen talent involved with it I shall never know.

1/5

A lot better than expected

Dumbo (2019)

Directed by Tim Burton this film stars Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito and Eva Green. In 1919 two children discover that a baby elephant can fly.

I was actually really surprised to find that Tim Burton directed this film, there is an emotional and touching core to this film I just would not expect from Burton. This film has a real heart to it, way more so than any of Disney's live action adaptations so far. There are some nice visuals and Burton's usual mastery of design.

4/5

Anatomy of an early lip sync

Polin Performs “The Anatomy of a Draftee” (1905)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this is an early short film staring Polin. A man lip syncs to a song.

There is a nice back drop to this song and a decent level of energy from the performance. Otherwise there is not a huge amount to say about this one other than it is a competent early use of lip syncing. The whole shot is just a single static shot.

3/5