Donna (Jenny Slate) is a late 20s stand-up comic with a day job in a bookstore, the film begins with her boyfriend dumping her in the toilets of the bar she does her routines in. As part of her recovery she at some point does the natural thing; gets drunk with a nice looking bloke (Max played with wry face pulling by Jake Lacey) and has a one night stand. Continue reading
film
The Dog
This documentary is about John Wojtowicz; who? The guy that Al Pacino played in Dog Day Afternoon (and if you are still asking who? stop reading this and go rent it right now).
John is famous for holding up a bank to pay for his lover’s sex change operation – and playing up to the media and the police the whole time. Continue reading
Vessel
Dr. Rebecca Gomperts sails a ship around the world, providing abortions at sea for women with no legal alternative. Because the ship is registered in a country where abortion is legal, Norway, as long as she moors in international waters she can offer women from countries where abortion is illegal or difficult to access the ability to take control of their own lives and fertility. Continue reading
All This Mayhem
If you only go to see one documentary this year this should be the one. It’s not just the sweeping cinematic grace that Eddie Martin has instilled in the look of the film but also the narrative arc of the story which is akin to a Shakespeare play. Continue reading
Pulp: a Film About Life, Death & Supermarkets
This is a bit of a love letter to Pulp and Sheffield. It’s funny and quirky and there are quite minimal talking heads with the band members themselves. Continue reading
Frank
Jon (Domhnall Gleeson) spends his days living with his parents in a no mark small town tweeting his lunch to his 18 followers dreaming of a new life as a rock star. A chance encounter finds him living in a remote farmhouse in Ireland recording an album with the enigmatic Frank (Michael Fassbender) and his avant-garde band. Continue reading
Mistaken For Strangers
This is a film by Tom Berninger, you don’t know him, but you might know his older brother Matt who is the lead singer of indie rock band The National. Ostensibly a documentary about The National, the film is actually about Tom; his search for meaning, purpose, and his own success in the shadow of his older taller more popular brother Matt. Continue reading
Miss Violence
I wonder why this film was made; it is gratuitous and vile.
Sure it is beautifully shot, but I hear Terry Richardson took a good photograph. Continue reading
Heli
Amat Escalante won the best director gong at Cannes 2013 with this his 3rd feature set in his home country of Mexico. Heli tells the story of the eponymous “hero” (played by newcomer Armando Espitia) who works in the local car factory and lives with his father, sister, wife and baby. When his sister Estela (a very young Andrea Vergara) gets embroiled in her boyfriend Beto’s (Juan Eduardo Palacios) money making scheme things go horribly wrong for the whole family. Continue reading
Before the Winter Chill
With the acting chops of Kristin Scott Thomas and Daniel Auteuil in the leads Before the Winter Chill (Avant l’hiver the more poetic French title) also has the merit of being a Philippe Claudel film. His I Loved You So Long won a BAFTA and this reunites him with his former muse Scott Thomas who plays Lucie, a housewife and grandmother who suspects her husband Paul (Auteuil) of having an affair. Continue reading
siren lane 