The day after the Oscars were awarded seems a good time to talk about films. I was really pleased the Olivia Coleman won Best Actress for her performance in The Favourite which I thought was a mesmerising, fast moving and engaging romp. She was terrific as the lonely, sad and ill (gout) Queen Anne. And Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone were great as the … [Read more...] about Oscar! Oscar!
Films
MIFF 2018 – Two Stars / One Stars
I'm often asked whether I walk out of films at MIFF. The answer is; not often. In part because I like to sit in the middle and it's very distracting to others if I stumble out midway through. Though that's not an impediment if something is truly terrible. I have a friend who sits on the edge of a row on the side aisle to allow easy exits and he … [Read more...] about MIFF 2018 – Two Stars / One Stars
MIFF 2018 – Three Stars
Six feature films and two documentaries got three stars from me. This includes my three biggest disappointments of the festival I had really been looking forward to the first three features in this list based on their reception at the Cannes Film Festival. There you go; responses to films, like all art, is such a personal thing! I've put the … [Read more...] about MIFF 2018 – Three Stars
MIFF 2018 – Four Star Documentaries
When I started going to MIFF many years ago, and even when I returned after a long absence, it was documentaries that I sought out because you often didn't get to see them elsewhere. Nowadays they're more readily available on SBS, Netflix etc. so I don't focus on them as much during the festival. I do enjoy a good one, and this year there were … [Read more...] about MIFF 2018 – Four Star Documentaries
MIFF 2018 – Four Star Feature Films
The division between five and four stars is always tricky. These 15 feature films were very enjoyable experiences, and outside the festival I would probably rave about them to all and sundry. But when handing out festival stars, one is ruthless! I'd recommend all of these so check them out if they come to a cinema near you over the next twelve … [Read more...] about MIFF 2018 – Four Star Feature Films
MIFF 2018 – Five Star Documentaries
I enjoyed all of the documentaries I saw at MIFF 2018, giving five stars to these four. I'm including my contemporaneous tweets to show my immediate responses. They were all on a par really but if I had to order them by preference I'd put them this way: The Eulogy This lets Geoffrey Tozer's talent blaze. Different theories about his decine. Janine … [Read more...] about MIFF 2018 – Five Star Documentaries