Venezia83: Out of the shadows

We're heading into the homestretch of the 83rd Venice Film Festival, but there are still big titles coming along every day, filling the red carpet with the biggest stars on earth. I only have notes on three movies here today, but the third one is almost four hours long (slightly longer with its 10-minute intermission). The first two are hotly anticipated awards season films, both of which slightly disappointed me. But we'll see how they catch on out there...

Bunker
dir-scr Florian Zeller; with Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz 26/UK ***.
Here's another complex melodrama from writer-director Florian Zeller, this time anchored in resonant performances from real-life couple Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz as a husband and wife who begin to doubt their connection due to events in their personal and professional lives. All of this feels somewhat contrived, and some of the big moments are predictable. But it carries several strong kicks along the way.

Company
dir Casey Affleck; with Adelaide Clemens, Emily Alyn Lind 26/US ***
There's an insistent emotionality to this genre-shifting dramatic thriller, which keeps us intrigued right through a story within a story within a story. So it is somewhat odd that this vividly made film is neither involving nor moving. Still, director-cowriter Casey Affleck creates lovely narrative rhythms that feel like they mean something profound. So there are several superb sequences, and plenty to think about.

Musk
dir Alex Gibney; with Elon Musk, Justine Musk 26/US ****
First-rate documentarian Alex Gibney has made another epic-length profile, and this time his subject didn't want to be involved. But that's not a weakness, because the film can be far more honest about the richest man in the world. Elon Musk is larger-than-life, so perhaps it's correct to depict him as an AI space god who speaks his words verbatim. And the film cleverly moves from casual observation to wide-eyed horror.

Full reviews will be linked eventually to Shadows' VENICE FILM FEST PAGE >

Venezia83: That face

We're now over halfway through the 83rd Venice Film Festival and this is where exhaustion begins to set in. Even that extra espresso doesn't seem to offer much of a boost. But the films are still excellent, a superbly mixed bunch of world premieres, so we never have a clue what we're about to see next. Here are notes on four more...

Hombre al Agua [aka: Man Overboard]
dir Gael Garcia Bernal; with Gael Garcia Bernal, Esmeralda Pimentel 26/Mex ****
Actor-filmmaker Gael Garcia Bernal fills this comedy-drama to overflowing with colourful Latin colours and rhythms, cleverly commenting on social and political realities while telling a wildly rambunctious story that deliberately echoes of melodramatic South American soaps. It's an entertaining romp that's funny, sexy and packed with sharply pointed jabs at society's almost invisible disparities and injustices.

Possible Love
dir-scr Lee Chang-dong; with Jeon Do-yeon, Cho Yeo-jeong 26/Kor ****.
Korean master filmmaker Lee Chang-dong makes movies that feel effortless. Even as they run to epic lengths, they glide along on interpersonal details and shifting conversations in everyday settings that somehow feel almost magical in the way they affect the jaggedly nuanced characters. And all the way along, Lee is taking on big issues that cut very deeply, in this case exploring how we allow our work to define us.

Arrested Memory
dir-scr Sabu; with Ethan Juan, Hsieh Ying-Hsuan 26/Tai ***.
Mixing violent thrills with a goofy sense of humour, this nutty action comedy from Taiwan ultimately finds resonance in a flurry of emotions. Japanese writer-director Sabu deploys the usual tropes of an a crime thriller, including shady cops, ruthless mobsters, hapless goons and innocent people in harm's way. But right in the middle of the story is a man grappling with his identity after a particularly horrific trauma.

Children of the Monkey [I Figli Della Scimmia]
dir Tommaso Landucci; with Riccardo Scamarcio, Fausto Russo Alesi 26/It ***.
There's an almost hushed tone to this Italian drama, which centres around a father who is struggling with the challenges life has brought his way, even though he knows better. Filmmaker Tommaso Landucci tells the story in a grounded, naturalistic way that feels sometimes rather underpowered. It's a tightly focussed and gently observational film that's anchored by its astute internalised performances. 

Full reviews will be linked eventually to Shadows' VENICE FILM FEST PAGE >

Venezia83: Take care

The 83rd Venice Film Festival is crawling with celebrities, whom I'm only seeing from a distance if I happen to be walking near the Sala Grande during a red carpet moment. I haven't attended press conferences, simply due to time constraints (and they aren't a priority for my coverage). But I do have a few interviews set up with actors and directors. Watch this space. Meanwhile, here are notes on another eclectic set of five films... 

The Echo Chamber
dir Andrea Pallaoro; with Alicia Vikander, Luca Marinelli 26/It ***.
Eight years after the death of master filmmaker Bernardo Bertolucci, his final screenplay has been made into a film. Director Andrea Pallaoro fully immerses the audience in this exploration of dependence and absence, as three characters swirl around each other in a fractured narrative. Much of it is darkly moving, even if many of the scenes feel rather random and meandering. And where it goes is painfully bleak. 

London
dir-scr Victor Di Marco, Marcio Picoli; with Victor Di Marco, Jessica Teixeira 26/Br ****
Beautifully shot in a style that mixes colourful textures with gritty reality, this Brazilian odyssey centres around an astonishing performance by Victor Di Marco, who also wrote and directed the film with Marcio Picoli. This is an involving exploration of how we long to define our identity, then worry about being put into a box once people think they know who we are. It's gorgeously messy and also deeply moving. 

Moonfish
dir-scr Daniel Zvereff; voices Morgan Spector, Lucy Liu 26/US *****
Simple but perfectly formed, this outer-space adventure resonates with big feelings about grief, isolation and a sense of purpose. Writer-director Daniel Zvereff animates this beautifully with hand-drawn imagery in glistening black and white. And the line art ripples with tiny details that add wit and emotion to the story, plus a remarkable sense of scale. It's beautiful to look at, and more powerfully involving than expected.

Diane in the Loop [Un Détour par Diane]
dir-scr Ann Sirot, Raphael Balboni; with Ninon Borsei, Sandrine Blancke 26/Bel ***.
Kicking off with a very cheeky dance number, and continuing with offbeat Wild West touches in present-day Belgium, this serious story is infused with an involving blast of black comedy. Filmmakers Ann Sirot and Raphael Balboni also use handheld cameras and freestyle editing to create a loose vibe, aside from the fantastical, artfully choreographed sex scenes. And the performances have a raw honesty. 

From Inside Out

dir Wim Wenders; with Peter Zumthor, Sophie Hunger 26/Ger ****
Continuing to push the possibilities of 3D filmmaking, Wim Wenders takes an immersive documentary look at the life and distinctively naturalistic work of Swiss architect Peter Zumthor. It's a strikingly intimate film that is packed with audacious artistic flourishes. While it feels overlong, it's also the kind of film in which we never know where we'll go next. And it becomes a remarkable ode to earthy creativity.

Full reviews will be linked eventually to Shadows' VENICE FILM FEST PAGE >

Venezia83: The crowd goes wild

It's the weekend, and I'm already exhausted as I cover the 83rd Venice Film Festival, but that's largely because of the blisteringly hot weather. Thankfully, the cinemas and the press workroom are cool, but I feel like I'm baking as I walk between them. Not exactly pizza and pasta weather. And I feel for the celebrities out there on the red carpet in their suits and sequins! Anyway, here are notes on five more very different films...

Don’t Look Back in Anger
dir Will Lovelace, Dylan Southern; with Noel Gallagher, Liam Gallagher 26/UK ****
After Oasis loudly broke up in 2009, launching a 2025 world tour was big news. Fans and the media waited impatiently to see if brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher could appear on-stage together after not speaking for 15 years. This energetic documentary recounts the process with sparky attention to detail, celebrating the band, the music and the global fanbase. And of course the power of forgiveness.

A Place to Heal [15/18]
dir Cedric Kahn; with Zoe Monpart, Malou Khebizi 26/Fr ***.
Because of its naturalistic acting and intimate camera style, this film feels like a documentary until plot points begin to creep in. Actor-director Cedric Khan cleverly puts the audience right into the middle of the action in a home for teens struggling with mental health issues, making sure that we feel the issues and emotions that swirl around both the kids and their carers. So the film is lively, edgy, funny and also darkly moving as it exposes the pain some young people must live through.

Our Share of Sand
dir-scr Shalini Adnani; with Maya Mehta, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub 26/Ind ****
Mohammed Zeeshan AyyubWarm and involving, this gentle drama from India has a subtle undercurrent of tension that emerges throughout the narrative, even as it remains a knowing coming-of-age story. Writer-director Shalini Adnani has a terrific eye for both characters and settings, capturing the rhythms of life in an intriguing corner of the world. And the characters emerge with strong personalities, each on his or her own journey. 

Falling House
dir Mohsen Gharaie; with Laleh Marzban, Rima Raminfar 26/Irn ***.
There's a lot of power in this ambitious Iranian film, which shifts from a family comedy into a dark drama, then dips into psychological horror territory. The extended running time makes the nastiness feel somewhat overwhelming, as a family is ripped apart from within. But filmmaker Mohsen Gharaie keeps the audience engaged with strong characters and some bleak resonance. 

Tijuana, Todavía [aka: Tijuana, Still]
dir-scr Gabriel Gutierrez Morales; with Humberto Busto, Petr Filimonov 26/Mex ****
There's a slice-of-life authenticity to this Mexican drama, which is set just across the border from California. This is the engaging story of an odd couple friendship that quietly develops into a deeper connection, maybe even romance. Writer-director Gabriel Gutierrez Morales and his fine cast are telling an important story that embraces humanity across cultures. And it finds lovely textures in its honest depiction of Mexican society.

Full reviews will be linked eventually to Shadows' VENICE FILM FEST PAGE >

Venezia83: Big heads

Now fully in festival mode, I'm neither eating nor sleeping enough here at the 83rd Venice Film Festival, largely because I'm watching too many movies. But the weather is glorious, so I will get out and explore this staggeringly beautiful city whenever I get some free time. Here are some more notes on film's I've seen, each of which allowed me to reconnect with a filmmaker who is often unnervingly gifted at both challenging and entertaining, starting with the best film here so far...

Wild Horse Nine
dir-scr Martin McDonagh; with John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell 26/UK *****
With his bracingly black wit, Martin McDonagh takes a satirical swipe at American foreign policy in this hilariously offbeat buddy comedy set on Easter Island in 1973. Using fiercely astute dialog that's never dumbed down for the audience, the film hits its target with razor-sharp zingers. It also finds a strongly emotional core in a story of two men in a very dark business who must grapple with their souls.

The Basics of Philosophy
dir-scr Paul Schrader; with Jack Huston, Sofia Boutella 26/US ***.
Unlike other filmmakers, Paul Schrader continues to explore issues of morality, religion and sexuality, unafraid  of the complexities and downright messiness in ideas and situations. Once again, this story touches on where these three meet, as a man grapples with whether he has control over his nature. The production design is oddly stark, and the music almost unnervingly light, but it definitely gets us thinking.

Queer Edward II
dir-scr Theo Rollason; with Derek Jarman, Tilda Swinton 26/UK ****
With comprehensive access, cinematographer Seamus McGarvey roamed the sets as Derek Jarman made his resolutely queer Edward II for the BBC in 1991. And director Theo Rollason now assembles this material to provide unusually resonant context for the period, including the project's collision with OutRage and the Aids epidemic. But most of all, it captures Jarman's sheer joy at doing what he was meant to do. 

House of the Wind [Maison du Vent]

dir-scr Auguste Bernard Kouemo Yanghu; with Josette Kwanya, Moudjeu Pouadeu 26/Cam ****

As the title suggests, this drama is set in a house through which a gentle breeze blows, as an elderly woman ponders the changing world. The film beautifully captures details of life in Cameroon, with warm humour and emotions that continually pull us deeper. While it feels over-long, it is beautifully written, directed and performed, with a fascinating story that has strongly personal insights alongside important points about the legacy of colonialism. And it encourages us to open our hearts.

Full reviews will be linked eventually to Shadows' VENICE FILM FEST PAGE >

Venezia83: Breaking news

The 83rd Venice Film Festival kicked off on Tuesday with the world premiere of Danny Boyle's new film Ink, with an extraordinarily glittering red carpet of celebrities in attendance. Of course, I watched the movie at another screening entirely, as the press is mainly kept at a distance from the stars these days. The weather is sunny and hot this year, so I'm enjoying my commutes across the lagoon from Venice proper (where I'm sytaying) to the Lido (where the festival is held). But the hunt for a reliable phone signal and/or wifi isn't quite as much fun. Still, there's always gelato to keep me smiling. Here are notes on five films...

Ink
dir Danny Boyle; with Jack O'Connell, Guy Pearce 26/UK ****
James Graham adapts his stage play for the screen, which is then turned into an explosion of imagery and sound by director Danny Boyle. It's the story of how tabloid reporting expanded in 1969 Britain, recounted with close-up camerawork, energetic cutaways and journalistic angst. At times, style drowns out substance, but there's also a sense of urgency as we see how news reporting got to where it is today. 

Bucking Fastard

dir-scr Werner Herzog; with Kate Mara, Rooney Mara 26/Ire ****
A genuine oddity, this fable-like film feels more like it came from Yorgos Lanthimos than Werner Herzog. But it's based on a true story, and the iconic German filmmaker brings his distinct quirkiness to an odyssey about two sisters who defiantly march to their own beat. And as the film crackles with charm and wit, their tenacious quest is for a world full of love, so the emotions continually catch us by surprise. 

Everest: The Other Side

dir Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi; with Jim Morrison, Hilaree Nelson 26/US ****.
Jaw-dropping cinematography puts us right on the slopes with intrepid climbers as they spend five years trying to do something unprecedented: after scaling the rarely climbed northern face of Everest, Jim Morrison and Hilaree Nelson intend to ski back down. Filmmakers Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi get fully involved, tracing huge emotional currents throughout this unpredictable story.

Agata the Writer

dir-scr Kuba Dorabialski; with Mia Wasikowska, Vedrana Bozinovic 26/Bos ***.
Defiantly resisting a standard movie narrative structure, Polish filmmaker Kuba Dorabialski wrote, directed, edited, photographed and composed the music for this ambitious meta-drama. The story is a fascinating exploration of the place where art and history converge, knowingly blurring lines between books, movies and journalism as an author confronts her motivations. While it's darkly intriguing, Dorabialski's approach is also indulgent and stylised, which leaves it feeling somewhat academic.

Salón de Belleza

dir Nathalia Acevedo; with Sam Louwyck, Erwan Kepoa Fale 26/Mex ***.

From Mexico, this experimental drama is shot in a richly immersive style that creates a hypnotically enigmatic ambience. Filmmaker Nathalia Acevedo is gifted at capturing details that reveal characters and settings in an unusually visceral way, telling an evocative story without the need for dialog. The lead character is simply called “the individual”, making him an everyman in a surreal but profoundly human odyssey. 

Full reviews will eventually be linked to Shadows' VENICE FILM FEST PAGE >

FrightFest: There's something out there

The 27th FrightFest wraps up tonight after bringing another colourful lineup of ghastly movies to appreciative Leicester Square audiences. And with so many world premieres, a lot of filmmakers and cast members have been mingling with their fans. Here are notes on six more films I caught, several of these are world premieres...

Ithaqua
dir Casey Walker; with Luke Hemsworth, Kevin Durand 26/Can ***.
Strikingly shot in the snowy Canadian wilderness, this film nicely captures the period and setting, and it's populated by characters who are intriguing and enjoyably messy. Filmmaker Casey Walker sets up the story robustly, revealing the relationships, clashes and challenges before things take a an even nastier turn. The tension that comes along is genuinely unnerving, especially as this turns into an original ghostly zombie horror.

Bad Karaoke
dir Robert J Steinmiller Jr, Chris Lightbody; with Lexi Underwood, Case Walker 26/US ***.
With terrific character details and a raucous sense of pitch-black humour, this nutty horror comedy gets increasingly gruesome over the course of about 24 hours in an isolated cabin in the woods. Directors Robert J Steinmiller Jr and Chris Lightbody gleefully poke fun at the perils of karaoke, as well as the tried and tested tropes of scary teen movies. And it's all mixed together with a steady stream of goofiness.

Do You Want to Play?
dir-scr Nick Lyon; with Quinn Aune, Maxwell Mushallo 26/US ***
There's an oddly over-serious tone to this teen horror romp, which quickly establishes the premise and characters with melodrama rather than engaging detail. Writer-director Nick Lyon deploys grisly imagery early on, then follows a hideously masked supernatural villain terrorising a group of teens who are blithely playing around with the occult. So even if it never feels very original, there's some fun to be had.

Dracula: The Night Around Us
dir-scr Chris Schwab; with Eric Toms, Marlene Mc'Cohen 26/US ***.
Loosely based on the Bram Stoker novel, this low-budget freakout uses minimal dialog and lots of murkiness to keep the audience on edge. Writer-director Chris Schwab has a lot of fun with both jolting jump cuts and yucky closeups, making the most of the superbly grainy film stock. Offhanded humour adds a superbly engaging tone to what is otherwise a rather wacky gothic nightmare with heavy emotional overtones.

Hyena [aka: Hy3na]
dir Matthew Ninaber; with Storm Steenson, Kristen Kaster 26/Can **
Opening with a barrage of colourfully violent craziness, this lurid thriller then cuts back three weeks to recount the story of a wildly unhinged serial killer. With a quick pace, director-cowriter Matthew Ninaber indulges in outrageous grisliness while infusing everything with snarky broad humour. So it's a bit frustrating that the plot feels so oddly thin, with fragmented strands and too many slinky montage sequences. Plus the obvious twist.

Valley View Motel
dir-scr Nick Psinakis, Kevin Ignatius; with Laura Im, Soulo Smith 26/US ***.

Even with a limited budget, actor-filmmakers Nick Psinakis and Kevin Ignatius inventively infuse this thriller with a superb 1970s vibe, using the camerawork, a churning score and groovy costumes and cars. The also adeptly channel the Coen brothers, keeping things blackly comical as they throw a bunch of very messy characters together, pushing them to acts of desperation. So the final act is expertly staged horror slapstick.

Full reviews will be posted on SHADOWS' FRIGHTFEST PAGE >