Kumiko The Treasure Hunter // Fish without water

KUMIKO THE TREASURE HUNTER
Directed by David Zellner
Starring Rinko Kikuchi

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS AND IS RECOMMENDED TO BE READ AFTER SEEING THE FILM

It’s interesting that the title of the film labels her the Treasure Hunter, as if that is the only thing she is. She plays other roles but this is who she is. It may be easy to say that the film turns her into an archetype but because through Kikuchi’s brilliant performance as Kumiko, she escapes that fate and turns her character into somebody who is truly complex. I learned to care about her but I was also frustrated with her. I laughed at her but felt extremely guilty afterwards.

Starred Up // Caged Kin

STARRED UP

Directed by David Mackenzie

Starring Jack O'Connell and Ben Mendelsohn

Family forms a kind of a prison and the sentence is for life. Our kin determines two things that make up who we are: genetics and upbringing. Even if we distance ourselves or become separated from our families, their presence will always be there, whether its from memories or from the likeness that we see when we look at a mirror. Starred Up takes the prison drama and elevates it by focusing its attention towards the relationship between a father and a son. It is a relationship that is simultaneously destructive and loving, the bonds of which cannot be unshackled. 

Three Reasons // Drag Me To Hell

DRAG ME TO HELL

Directed by Sam Raimi

Starring Alison Lohman, Justin Long and Lorna Raver

Inspired by Criterion's Three Reasons series I sum up in, yes you guessed it, three reasons why I love the films I love.

Only God Forgives // Detached pointlessness

ONLY GOD FORGIVES

Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn

Starring Ryan Gosling, Kristin Scott Thomas, Yayaying Rhatha Phongam, Vithaya Pansringarm

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS



I really wanted to like this film. I really did.

Film Talk // Back to black

There's a noticeable trend happening in the movies lately. Ever since The Artist won the Best Picture Oscar back in 2012 it reminded audiences around the world how exciting and beautifully cinematic it is to shoot films in black and white.

Mood Indigo // Joys and sorrows

MOOD INDIGO (2013)
Directed by Michel Gondry
Starring Audrey Tatou, Romain Duris, Gad Elmaleh, Omar Sy

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS

Love, life and death. Three enormous themes beautifully tackled by one of the most inventive and original directors working today. Michel Gondry is best known for Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind and this may be as good if not better than that modern classic.

Spring Breakers // Flashing Lights

Spring Breakers

Directed by Harmony Korine

Starring Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, Rachel Korine, Ashley Benson and James Franco

This review contains spoilers

First, I'm going to try and describe the film in one paragraph. I'm not going to summarise what happens because you can probably do that in one sentence. I'm going to describe it by what the experience of watching it was like because the film is essentially an experience. The kind that is hard to forget.