Critical Week: Pucker up

This week I attended the UK premiere of Jeanne du Barry, which opened last year's Cannes Film Festival. And there was a very rare red carpet appearance by Johnny Depp, who introduced the film with filmmaker-costar Maiwenn. It's a great film, a lavish true costume drama with an earthy edge to it. (Yes, I snapped pics for Instagram as always - see below). And then there was the lively press screening of Luca Guadagnino's new film Challengers, which stars Zendaya, Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist in perhaps the most detailed love triangle ever put on film. It's absolutely breathtaking cinema.

BEST OUT THIS WEEK:
If Only I Could Hibernate
Jeanne du Barry • The Book of Clarence
Boys on Film 24 Happy Endings
ALL REVIEWS >

Also this past week, I caught up with Matthew Modine as a cycling coach in Hard Miles, a warm-hearted true story that feels a bit obvious but still inspires. Jo Hartley leads an ensemble of British comical actors in the hilarious mock-doc Swede Caroline, although the plot spirals out of control. The French Canadian comedy-tinged romance The Nature of Love is a bracingly honest look at the rules of attraction, beautifully directed and played by a terrific ensemble cast. The Mexican drama All the Fires finds new things to say in a darkly involving coming-of-age story. I attended the premiere of the bracingly energetic music doc Bass Impact, which outlines the history of dubstep with real flair. And we also had the short film compilation Boys on Film 24: Happy Endings, which is said to be the final edition of the long-running series (I've covered all of them).

This coming week I'll be watching Justice Smith in The American Society of Magical Negroes, Nikki Amuka-Bird in Jericho Ridge, the historical drama Kidnapped, the German drama Elaha, and two spider-based horror movies: Infested from France and Sting from Australia. I also have two stage performances to attend.

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Flare: Let your colours burst

The 35th BFI Flare continues to run online this year, and it's a bit sad to think of BFI Southbank being so empty these days, without lively screenings, special events and of course the parties. At least the smaller number of films in the programme have been uniformly strong, a terrific mix of entertainment and more pointed themes. I've even been able to do a couple of interviews with actors and filmmakers (using webcams of course). Everything is available online this year at BFI FLARE until March 28th, with timed-ticketed screenings of the features and free access to the shorts, including this year's Five Films for Freedom. More on those here next week. In the meantime, here are a few more feature highlights, including my favourite festival film so far...

Colors of Tobi [Tobi Színei]
dir Alexa Bakony; with Tobias Benjamin Tuza, Eva Ildiko Tuza, 21/Hun ****
This Hungarian fly-on-the-wall documentary observes the life of a trans teen and his impact on his family and community. While noting the vicious public homophobia this young person faces, the film centres on parents and friends who are genuinely working through issues to support him. The film is sharply well-edited, bringing out resonance that highlights bigger themes, while filmmaker Alexa Bakony recounts a powerful story in a straightforward, compelling way. FULL REVIEW >

Cowboys
dir-scr Anna Kerrigan; with Steve Zahn, Jillian Bell 20/US ****
Spectacular Montana landscapes add natural beauty to this modern-day Western, which takes on complex issues with sensitivity and big-hearted humour. Writer-director Anna Kerrigan tells the story with beautifully observed style, quietly catching the perspective of a child who's looking for someone to see him for who he is. The story perhaps bites off more than it can chew, overcomplicating an already important central theme. But it's involving and strikingly well-made. FULL REVIEW >

Sweetheart
dir-scr Marley Morrison; with Nell Barlow, Jo Hartley 21/UK ****.
Packed with jaggedly witty observations, this British comedy gets into the mind of a teen who thinks her life couldn't get any worse. Writer-director Marley Morrison tells a hugely engaging story about a character brought to vivid life by gifted actor Nell Barlow. The pacing may meander in the middle, but this is a breathtaking feature debut, and one of the most astute movies about adolescence in recent memory. FULL REVIEW >

The Obituary of Tunde Johnson
dir Ali LeRoi; with Steven Silver, Spencer Neville 19/US ****
Taking on enormous issues in an inventive way, this brightly well-made drama is superbly directed by Ali LeRoi from an astute script by Stanley Kalu. The film takes on huge things things people face in seemingly perfect lives, hinging on the experience of a wealthy Black teen. It's long and a little scattershot in its approach, but the vivid characterisations make it riveting. And the raw urgency is breathtaking. FULL REVIEW >

Note that all full reviews will be linked on the site's BFI FLARE page.