Mini Review - GOAT
GOAT (out Mar 12) from Sony Pictures Animation and the tale of goat trying to make his town's "roarball" sports team (it's like basketball). The themes are laid on a little too thickly with the "you can be anyone you want" stuff but it's an entertaining jaunt with plenty of action. Grade: B.
Mini Review - Arco
Arco (out Mar 12) has been nominated at the Oscars for best animated feature and brought back memories of Steven Spielberg's E.T. It's the story of young girl who meets a boy from the future and must help him find a way back to his family. It's a cool world (loved the robots) and an easy-to-follow storyline. Grade: A-.
Mini Review - The Plague
The Plague (Mar 12) won best feature from a first-time filmmaker at the Director's Guild Awards and is centred on power games amongst immature teenagers at a summer water polo camp. I've seen this theme covered with more emotional resonance (e.g. Eighth Grade) but was still interested in the story. Grade: B.
Mini Review - Anemome
Anemome (out Mar 12) marks the directorial debut of Ronan Day-Lewis. It's the tale of a man who, for reasons which are slowly revealed, has isolated himself from the world. While it's great to see Ronan's dad (Daniel Day-Lewis) on the big screen again, it's a meandering narrative that neglects its supporting characters (e.g. we barely get to know the wife and son). Grade: C+.
Mini Review - Midwinter Break
Midwinter Break (out Mar 5) is a slow-burn drama about an elderly Irish couple who travel to Amsterdam for a much-needed holiday. I'm a fan of actors Lesley Manville and Ciarán Hinds but the screenplay isn't offering enough. The finale is weak and several plot points (e.g. his alcoholism) are overdone. Grade: B-.
Mini Review - How to Make a Killing
How to Make a Killing (out Mar 5) is a sub-par comedy where star Glen Powell plays a New Yorker trying to kill off a bunch of relatives so that he'll be the sole heir to a family fortune. Relying heavily on narration, his actions are too silly. The ending is underwhelming. Grade: C+.
Mini Review - The Bride!
The Bride! (out Mar 5) is wild and messy. Directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Lost Daughter), it follows a Frankenstein's monster as he helps create a new monster to serve as his love interest. I like many of the ingredients (supporting performances, make-up, dark comedy) but there’s something lacking in the screenplay which holds the movie back. Grade: B-.
Mini Review - The Voice of Hind Rajab
The Voice of Hind Rajab (out Mar 5) is a stunningly told true story about a 5-year-old Palestinian girl trapped in a car in Gaza which has come under heavy fire from an Israeli tank. Told entirely from the perspective of a Red Crescent call centre and using actual recordings from the real-life event, it's a reminder of how powerful cinema can be. Nominated at the Oscars for best international feature film. Grade: A.