Film Dictionary

October 10, 2024

The Seed Of The Sacred Fig (2024) ****

Set during the anti-hijab protests in Iran, it's a tense, surprising drama about an investigative judge who finds himself in a tug-of-war against his wife and two daughters. The film was secretly shot in Iran by dissident director Mohammad Rasoulof, who is now wanted by the police in his own country, where he has been sentenced to eight years in prison, flogging, a fine and the confiscation of property. However, he managed to escape from Iran to attend the Cannes Film Festival, where he received a Special Award for his film.

September 9, 2024

The Substance (2024) ***

Excellent body horror movie starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley.

Civil War (2024) ***

The film tries hard to hide its political message, but there are more than enough hints as to where its actual sympathies lie. Nick Offerman's president is a barely disguised Donald Trump, Jesse Plemons' genocidal soldier doesn't need to carry a tiki torch to be easily identifiable, and the numerous mentions of Charlottesville aren't subtle at all. A weird (and unlikely) alliance between Texas and California aside, it's basically an anti-MAGA allegory masquerading as an anti-war one.

Drive-Away Dolls (2024) ***

Enjoyable comedy about two lesbians crossing paths with a group of inept criminals.

Challengers (2024) ***

Perverse drama about a love triangle involving two tennis champions.

August 30, 2024

Kinds Of Kindness (2024) *****

Yorgos Lanthimos' greatest film to date, a constantly surprising cinematic puzzle of the highest order.

July 7, 2024

Kalak (2024) ***

Excellent Danish drama set in Greenland.

Dahomey (2024) ***

Fascinating documentary about the repatriation of 26 royal treasures from France to Benin.

Grand Tour (2024) **

A strange journey across Asia. Winner of the Best Director Award at the Cannes Film Festival.

The Girl With The Needle (2024) *

Depressing Danish drama about miserable people suffering from unhappiness.

Una Historia de amor y guerra (2024) *

Very silly Mexican comedy that tries very hard to be some kind of allegory of the tragic destiny of that country, but fails miserably.

April 4, 2024

Taste (2024) ***

Jaw-dropping music video starring Sabrina Carpenter and Jenna Ortega. Gory and hilarious.

Like A Good Neighbaaa (2024) ***

Hilarious State Farm commercial making fun of Arnold Schwarzenegger's accent.

Espresso (2024) ***

A stunning videoclip by Sabrina Carpenter.

The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent (2024) ***

Tense short film about courage. Winner of the Palm d'or for best short film at the Cannes Film Festival.

March 3, 2024

Baby Reindeer (2024) ***

One of the most talked about TV series of 2024, based on a true story.

Fallout (2024) ***

Exciting post-apocalyptic TV series about half of humanity surviving in underground shelters and the other half fighting for survival on the surface.

Agatha All Along (2024) ***

Surprising TV series about witches, hexes, covens and spells.

Jimmy Carr: Natural Born Killer (2024) ***

"You can't go around apologizing for jokes. They're jokes. So I've got a plan. The next time I get cancelled over a joke, the next time I upset people with a joke, I'm gonna come out on the day of the cancellation, I'm gonna make a statement, a public statement. I'm gonna say, I've rehearsed this, I'm gonna say 'I'm SORRY!' And the people I've offended will say 'You don't really mean that apology.' And I'll say 'So you're saying I can say something and not mean it.' Now you're getting it."

February 2, 2024

Dune: Part Two (2024) **

Slightly better than the first part.

January 1, 2024

Argylle (2024) *

Except for a terrific dance sequence with Dua Lipa and Henry Cavill at the very beginning of the film, this is a truly awful spy comedy starring Bryce Dallas Howard and Sam Rockwell.