FALLING
To say this passionate drama is a labour of love for Viggo Mortensen is a huge understatement. He makes a remarkable directorial debut while his eloquent screenplay features a couple of incidents from his own childhood. He produces, composes the score and plays the piano for the soundtrack. And as if all these were not enough, he also plays the leading role of John Peterson, a middle-aged gay man forced by circumstances to re-examine his relationship with his deeply unpleasant father Willis (Lance Henriksen).
The story begins in the early sixties when John was a little boy living a happy existence on their farm until his loving father begins to turn nasty and abusive towards his family. The action intercuts with the past and the present where the almost saintly John needs to sort out his father’s affairs following his increasing symptoms of dementia…
The performances are tremendous – Lance Henriksen is very effective as a monster of man, a deeply homophobic and conservative individual, who never misses an opportunity to cause offense all around him. Mortensen’s controlled performance is a perfect study of quiet patience and dignity – a sensitive man utterly unflinching towards his father’s endless insults and verbal abuse.
A touching film worth seeing just for the amazing performances alone!
COUNTY LINES
Writer/director Henry Blake makes an impressive debut with this harrowing film inspired by true events. It tells the story of a lonely, vulnerable 14-year-old called Tyler (Conrad Khan) who is taken advantage by the charismatic Simon (Harris Dickenson). Their first casual meeting soon leads into an unlikely friendship and recruitment into a dangerous drug-selling network…
It is a grim, bleak tale but also curiously optimistic like a faint light at the end of the tunnel. An essential film about the dangers and exploitation of young, vulnerable children with excellent performances especially by newcomer Khan.
CROCK OF GOLD: A FEW ROUNDS WITH SHANE MACGOWAN
An amazing documentary from the expert music film director Julien Temple, who puts his sharp editing skills to great effect in celebrating his subject’s life.
Shane MacGown is the unlikely Irish hero who found fame in London during punk rock and later with the Poques. An epic film mixing animation, archive material and interviews with members of his family and friends including Johnny Depp, who also acts as producer. A real treat for music fans!
HOST
If you want to go to the movies and escape from months of lockdown and endless zoom meetings, this is not for you! Six friends organise their usual zoom get together during lockdown, but this time instead of having a quiz or a gossip, they decide to invite a medium for a séance. Unsurprisingly, the evening’ s entertainment fails to go according to plan…
The setting is rather familiar, but the performances are fresh and engaging. It is suitably creepy but most importantly at 57 minutes running time it certainly does not outstay its welcome.
DIGITAL DOWNLOADS & DVD RELEASES
HAPPIEST SEASON
Clea DuVall’s delicious Christmas comedy is one of the best of its kind in recent years. She tells the story of Abby (Kirstin Stewart), a free-spirited young woman very much in love with Harper (Mackenzie Davis). She wants to propose but first she needs to spend Christmas with Harper’s family, who know nothing about their relationship…
It is beautifully scripted with delectable performances. There is a genuine chemistry between Stewart and David, but their scenes are threatened to be eclipsed whenever scene stealer Daniel Levy makes an entrance as Abby’s best friend and confidant. Levy fresh from his SCHITT’S CREEK success cements his reputation as one of the most watchable young actors around.
JUNGLELAND
The story of two brothers Stanley (Charlie Hunnam) and Lion (Jack O’Connell), who travel across the country in search of the American Dream. They live dangerously in the world of knuckle boxing but still dreaming of hitting the big time despite threats from a brutal crime boss.
British actors Hunnam and O’Connell along with Jessica Bardem, as the girl they meet along the way, are very persuasive as Americans under Max Wnkler’s efficient direction.
VISUAL ACOUSTICS – THE MODERNISM OFJULIUS SHULMAN: This terrific documentary celebrates the masterly vision of the great architectural photographer Julius Shulman, whose incredible work brought to light many iconic modern houses, especially those in the Californian desert. Dustin Hoffman lends his voice for the narration in this must-see film about modern art!
TRIPPING WITH NILS FRAHM: I must confess I have never heard of Nils Frahm but after watching this celebrated composer and artist performing live in concert in a beautiful Berlin theatre, I am now a huge fan. An utterly mesmerising, satisfying experience and a must for any music lover especially during these difficult times! (MUBI)
LONDON KOREAN FILM FESTIVAL: An eclectic choice of films from this year’s Festival screened in London cinemas and online across the UK: MOVING ON marks the impressive directorial debut of Dan-bi Yoon, who tells the touching story of two kids after they move into their grandfather’s house. INTIMATE STRANGERS follows a group of childhood friends, who along with their wives spend an evening at a housewarming dinner party, where deep secrets are about to be revealed. ASHFALL is an epic, spectacular blockbuster to rival Hollywood disaster movies, where the whole Korea is not only threatened by a nuclear explosion but also by an earthquake and an erupting volcano. GULL is a daring film from first time filmmaker Kim Mi-jo, who tells the story of a middle-aged woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown. UNDERDOG is a lovely animation feature about a pack of dogs abandoned in the country by their owners and struggling to survive.
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