Week In, Week Out
Weekly collections of five mini-reviews capturing a wide range of films—old and new, obscure and iconic. A personal film journal in snapshots, offering quick, insightful takes on whatever’s been on the screen lately.
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Movies of the Week #7 (2023)
Diamantino (2018): If you’re looking for an(other) unusual movie, look no further. This is a trip, both visually and narratively, and the only thing I can say against it, is that Diamantino reveals its cards too soon, lacking a gut-punching finale. That said, if you want to find out how a global football icon, fluffy Read more
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Movies of the Week #6 (2024)
Love and Death (1975): A whimsical Woody Allen partakes in philosophy, Russian lit and Bergman references in this much appreciated satire. Starring alongside the ever-excellent Diane Keaton, both playing their characters with childlike foolishness and enthusiasm, Love and Death scores highly on the quotability scale, even if one needs to be decent at remembering gushes Read more
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Movie of the Week #5 (2024)
Pentru mine tu ești Ceaușescu (2021): Sebastian Mihăilescu stood out with the controversial Mammalia (2023) last year, but his debut feature should ruffle considerably fewer feathers, while staking its own claim for your attention. In an unconventional (and artsy) documentary, Mihăilescu challenges a group of teenagers to audition for the role of young Nicolae Ceaușescu, Read more
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Movies of the Week #4 (2024)
Navalny (2022): There are many reasons to feel down when thinking of the current (geo)political climate, with the state of affairs in Russia near the top of the list. I only knew of Navalny by reputation before this and I’m not sure I really know a heck of a lot more after it. Sure, he’s Read more
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Movies of the Week #3 (2024)
Silver Servers (2023): As a big tennis fan and actual practitioner, I look forward to any tennis-related movie-materials. This little documentary I came across on HBO Max follows four octogenary+ tennis players, readying themselves for the ITF Senior World Championships. It might be a cliche, but it is emboldening to see people at that age Read more
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Movies of the Week #2 (2023)
Master and Commander The Far Side of the World (2003): One of the few promising mainstream movies of the 00s that I had not seen, this reteaming of Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany is an exciting seafaring flick. The visuals and sound effects steal the show, but the movie also achieves something that often eludes Read more
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Movies of the Week #1 (2024)
“Lost in America” (1985) delves into the complexities of relationships and the allure of adventure, while “This is the End” (2013) offers a refreshing take on doomsday movies with its meta-humour and memorable finale. “Time Bomb Y2K” (2023) captures the essence of the Y2K crisis through archival footage, and “Fast Charlie” (2023) delivers an entertaining… Read more
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Movies of the Week #52 (2023)
This summary covers various film reviews. “Un héros très discret” is praised for its storytelling and Mathieu Kassovitz’s performance, “The Hunger Games” prequel receives mixed feedback, “Thanksgiving” is noted for its gore and satire, “The Creator” is criticized for lacking nuance and a satisfying finale, and “Next Goal Wins” is described as lighthearted but unimaginative. Read more
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Movies of the Week #51 (2023)
The Christmas movie landscape of 2022-2023 presents a mixed bag of festive films, each with its own charm and shortcomings. “This is Christmas” stands out with a stellar cast including Timothy Spall and Alfred Enoch, delivering an uplifting story about commuters organizing a Christmas party, despite its cheesy moments. “Your Christmas or Mine” features Asa… Read more
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Movies of the Week #50 (2023)
Man with a Movie Camera (1929): I picked this up for no clear reason whatsoever and with just as little background knowledge. Dziga Vertov’s “urban life” cinematic diary is amazing. Without a narrative, it just shows instances of the day to day, but with such dynamic vibrancy that the movie feels way ahead of its Read more
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Movies of the Week #49 (2023)
The Holdovers (2023): After the dud that was Downsizing, a rare blip in Alexander Payne’s illustrious directorial career, he returns with one of his best movies yet. Set in the magical 70s (seriously, any movie set in the 70s and 80s is basically playing the game with cheat mode on), Paul Giamatti plays a grumpy Read more
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Movies of the Week #48 (2023)
“De ce mă cheamă Nora când cerul meu e senin” delves into the life of Romanian cultural icon Nora Iuga, paralleling the documentary “Iris” in its exploration of an artist’s journey against historical backdrops. It offers a nuanced portrayal of Nora, blending her artistic legacy with personal stories. “Scrapper” presents a hopeful father-daughter dynamic, with… Read more
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