Becoming Astrid sweetly tells the tale of the origin of an author you’ve forgotten
‘Becoming Astrid’ is a highly Swedish movie, but it avoids the common tropes of the biopic… continue reading
Foreign
Swedish film Border asks: Who is the real monster here?
‘Border’ is a weird sort of indie movie, blending fantasy and drama into an unusual mix… continue reading
Big Brother makes a strong case that Donnie Yen may be able to save the world
‘Big Brother’ stars martial arts superstar Donnie Yen as the coolest teacher in the world… continue reading
The Island is a slow burn take on Lord of the Flies for Chinese cinema
‘The Island’ takes its time to really delve into the weird romance of a being stranded on an island… continue reading
Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days completes a complex but entertaining Korean fantasy epic
’Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days’ is a fascinating fantasy tale that tries to be a sort of new Korean fantasy classic… continue reading
Lu Over the Wall is a pleasant, family friendly escape into trippy weirdness
‘Lu Over the Wall’ becomes a bit more than the sum of its parts by embracing a truly bizarre aesthetic… continue reading
The Monkey King 3 is a fun if befuddling addition to the Chinese film series
‘The Monkey King 3’ is a sequel that may be incomprehensible to those unfamiliar with the mythology… continue reading
The Villainess isn’t high art, but it is quite a lot of fun
‘The Villainess’ is an over the top revenge fantasy just crazy enough to work… continue reading
Menashe is a drama of poignancy and a unique look at an insular world
‘Menashe’ is a small story about a father and son set against an unknown world… continue reading
Past Life goes for high complexity in a mature Israeli drama
‘Past Life’ shows some of the depth possible after decades of artistic maturity with a tale based on a real story just as complicated… continue reading
This is Not What I Expected is a charming take on a Chinese rom-com
Food leads to love in ‘This is Not What I Expected’… continue reading
Dramatic thriller Elle ups the Frenchness by twenty
The French psychological thriller ‘Elle’ is an absorbing, bizarre play from Paul Verhoeven… continue reading
Kill Zone 2 on Blu Ray is typical gonzo kung fu melodrama
‘Kill Zone 2’ is out on Blu Ray, and it’s a fun, if not amazing martial arts movie… continue reading
Phantom of the Theatre mixes horror thrills with an old school Chinese romance
‘Phantom of the Theatre’ is likely not the next crossover hit, but it does the job… continue reading
Marguerite steals an American idea and makes it astonishingly French
‘Marguerite’ is that odd French hybrid of tragicomedy and farce you’ve seen before… continue reading