Amusing and sentimental by turns this Serbian feature is a look at what happened to the women when the men were all gone after the war. With twisted characters contrasting out of place innocence Tears for Sale is dark and sexy and funny. Continue reading
Smells like a desert storm – The Stoning of Soraya M
Based on the book of the same name by journalist Freidoune Sahebjam The Stoning of Soraya M is a brutal look at life for women in a small village in Iran in 1986. Continue reading
Smells like bleach and honey – The Maid
Set in an upper class neighbourhood in Chile The Maid is a delight. It was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at this year’s Golden Globes and winner of the Grand Jury Prize at last year’s Sundance and it is easy to see why. Continue reading
French Film
Jed (Hugh Bonneville) prepares to interview French filmmaker and self-appointed expert on the nature of love – Thierry Grimandi (Erica Cantona). The worldly and somewhat jaded Jed is dead-set on dismissing the auteur’s musings as pompous and, well French, until his own relationship with Cheryl (Victoria Hamilton) starts to fall apart and he is forced to re-evaluate the illusive subject. Continue reading
Smells like sweet weak tea – Charlie St Cloud
Tragedy strikes in the first 10 minutes of Charlie St Cloud – after setting us up with an all American hero with a cute younger brother and a hard working but single mom; Charlie dies…and then lives! Continue reading
Smells like a lot of sweaty palms – Exam
This is a pacey thriller that does not disappoint in terms of suspense. It is set in the near future and deals with all too real issues. Gripping throughout the ensemble cast of varying abilities bring Stuart Hazeldine’s script to life in this tense home grown film. Continue reading
Smells like a well-known wood stain – Knight and Day
This summer blockbuster starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz has “hate me” written all over it but despite all efforts it’s hard to hate this film. There is indeed some wooden acting and some hokey dialogue and plot points you could fly a plane through but overall this film is a bit R*****l. Continue reading
Smells like Doors are on fire – When You’re Strange
This is a lively fresh paced film by Tom DiCillo. As documentaries go it manages to show off how amazing the band were without descending into blind hero worship. Continue reading
Smells like bank holiday Monday – Clash of the Titans (2010)
Our favourite robot Sam Worthington battles his way through this latest Hollywood remake with muscle. The starry cast adds to the overall blockbuster feel and when you are through with star spotting let the holes in the story wash over you. Continue reading
Smells like a pile of brown stuff – Army of the Dead
“Skelingtons are very very scary” when you are 9 and watching Jason and the Argonauts on TV on Easter Sunday. However, they are not scary when used to little effect in this monotonous humourless film. Continue reading
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