Flare: Men in love

The British Film Institute's 33rd Flare: London LGBTQ+ Film Festival is just past its halfway point, and as always I'm enjoying the mix of provocative movies and great conversations with filmmakers, programmers and other journalists. This is a seriously social festival! And the quality of the films, many of which are difficult to find on a big screen, is very high. Meanwhile, I'm also watching the weekly theatrical releases as they are screened to the press - so the usual Critical Week section is below these Flare highlights...

The Blond One [Un Rubio]
dir-scr Marco Berger; with Gaston Re, Alfonso Baron 19/Arg ****.
As with Marco Berger's other films, this drama captures an easy masculinity that blurs lines of sexuality as a group of fit young men circle around each other. The film is quiet and observational, telling its story in offhanded moments rather than big plot points. It's a strikingly involving, moving exploration of the nature of relationships, transcending the gay genre to explore both deeper human emotions and larger societal issues.

Papi Chulo
dir-scr John Butler; with Matt Bomer, Alejandro Patino 18/US ***.
Irish filmmaker John Butler traces an offbeat friendship in this engaging comedy-drama, which takes a turn that adds a complex exploration of a deep theme. It's a charming story with intriguing characters who interact in honest, messy ways. So while the events in the movie sometimes tip over the top, the story and characters remain easy to identify with... FULL REVIEW >

Tucked
dir-scr Jamie Patterson; with Derren Nesbitt, Jordan Stephens 18/UK ****
Warm and moody, this British drama has an earthy honesty to it that's instantly engaging. It's the story of an offbeat, unlikely friendship, but filmmaker Jamie Patterson resists the usual cheap humour or sentimentality. Instead, each belly laugh is tinged with prickly emotion. And it's remarkable that the film maintains a sense of cheeky optimism even in the story's intensely moving darker moments. Packed with surprises, it's well worth seeking out... FULL REVIEW >

Nevrland
dir-scr Gregor Schmidinger; with Simon Fruhwirth, Paul Forman 19/Aut ****
First-time Austrian filmmaker Gregor Schmidinger demonstrates his love of film history with a psychological thriller that stylistically echoes masters from Cocteau to Kubrick to Noe. Digging deeply into the mental state of the protagonist, this bold and involving film can't help but unnerve the audience as it drags us down a psychedelic rabbit hole that involves suppressed sexuality, a nervous disposition and serious daddy issues.

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C R I T I C A L   W E E K 

There were a pair of big screenings of animated movies, starting with Disney's live-action revamp of the classic Dumbo, a lively, engaging film that maintains some of Tim Burton's quirky sensibilities. It was also my first visit to the newly revamped Odeon Leicester Square, London's largest cinema which is now full of comfy recliners. British voice cast members Joe Sugg and Caspar Lee introduced the screening of Wonder Park, a frantic adventure with a terrific premise but little in the way of story, pace or message. And Mel Gibson and Vince Vaughn star in Dragged Across Concrete, the latest genre-buster from S Craig Zahler, which is sharply well made, entertaining and jaw-droppingly nasty, but about twice as long as it needed to be.

This coming week's non-festival screenings include the superhero romp Shazam, the Stephen King remake Pet Sematary and the Aretha Franklin doc Amazing Grace.

LFF: Start the party without me

The 62nd London Film Festival kicked off on Wednesday evening with Steve McQueen's Widows. Unfortunately, I was halfway around the world at the time, in the tiny town of Kavieng on New Ireland island in Papua New Guinea. A family event (more on that in another post) took me away from the London Film Festival for 10 days this year - my 22nd year covering the event. I've seen several films beforehand, and will be back to binge on movies over the final five days. So my coverage won't be quite as deep as usual. But here we go with some highlights from the first three days, starting with something bracingly original (pictured above)...

Border [Gräns]
dir Ali Abbasi; with Eva Melander, Eero Milonoff 18/Swe ****
This Swedish film is such a genre mash-up that it's relentlessly surprising, with an engaging through-line that also makes it darkly satisfying. Mixing comedy, romance, mystery, horror and Norse mythology, each scene provides a thrill of the unexpected as secrets are revealed and the interconnections between the rather oddball characters continually shift... FULL REVIEW >

Colette
dir Wash Westmoreland; with Keira Knightley, Dominic West 18/UK *****
Much more than a period biopic, this inventive film digs beneath the surface of its people and situations to offer both a refreshing angle on history and a bold comment on the world today. Finally, it ends up feeling bracingly current, exploring both gender issues in ways that are both honest and understated. And it's beautifully written, directed and performed... FULL REVIEW >

Lizzie
dir Craig William Macneill; with Chloe Sevigny, Kristen Stewart 18/US ***.
The sensational true story of Lizzie Borden is told in an intriguingly naturalistic style by filmmaker Craig William Macneill. It's a remarkably thoughtful film, packed with insinuating plot points and earthy performances. And Macneill uses deliberately choppy editing to drop hints and reveal the chain of events out of sequence. It's rather chilly, and very cleverly made... FULL REVIEW >

Mandy
dir Panos Cosmatos; with Nicolas Cage, Andrea Riseborough 18/Bel ***.
Set in 1983, this film has a strong period vibe, echoing the era's horror thrillers everything from the themes to the typeface. Benjamin Loeb's grainy widescreen cinematography and Johann Johannsson's haunting score further add to the tone. Filmmaker Panos Cosmatos creates a deliciously deranged mix of grisly violence and witty characters, although the inevitable climactic carnage is at least 30 minutes too long... FULL REVIEW >

The Breaker Upperers
dir-scr Madeleine Sami, Jackie van Beek; with Madeleine Sami, Jackie van Beek 18/NZ ****
With this engaging comedy, the Kiwi duo Jackie van Beek and Madeleine Sami keep up a steady stream of hilarious gags from beginning to end in each of their roles: as writers, directors and actors. Much of the film has the awkward, absurd tone of Taika Waititi's work (he's a producer), creating riotously sloppy characters who are deeply likeable even when they're doing something painfully stupid.

Papi Chulo
dir-scr John Butler; with Matt Bomer, Alejandro Patino 18/Ire ***.
Irish filmmaker John Butler traces an offbeat friendship in this engaging comedy-drama, which takes a turn that adds a complex exploration of a deep theme. It's a charming story with intriguing characters who interact in honest, messy ways. So while the events in the movie sometimes tip over the top, the story and characters remain easy to identify with.

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CRITICAL WEEK

I haven't had time to check out what films are showing in Port Moresby - it's rather nice not to think about it, frankly! Meanwhile, First Man is hitting US and UK cinemas this week...