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HiFi’s Film Reviews

353 Films have been rated or reviewed by HiFi.

Magic in the MoonlightMagic in the Moonlight (2014)
2 stars (Good Try) Beguiling premise, with some funny lines, beautiful photography and a great cast, but it never comes to life. All dressed up with nowhere to go, drowning in verbiage and crucially lacking in charm.
Seeking a Friend For the End of the WorldSeeking a Friend For the End of the World (2012)
3 stars (Good Enough) Shortcomings? Sure, but nothing ruinous. Knightley kept in check, Carell convincingly multilayered. Well worth seeing, if only as the flipside to '2012'–style apocalyptic schtick.
In a World...In a World... (2013)Recommended
4 stars (Very Good) Familiar tropes, but in unexpected combinations and from inventively skewed angles. Nicely done, in every respect, and never precious. Bell is definitely one to watch.
Behind the CandelabraBehind the Candelabra (2013)Recommended
2 stars (Good Try) Beautifully appointed, at times credibly tender, but ultimately tedious. The mention of 'Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte' made me long for that film's Grand Guignol nastiness.
DVD $20 $10
PhilomenaPhilomena (2013)Aro Favourite
4 stars (Very Good) Didn't realise the film's power until I lost my temper relating it to someone. Understated and unsensational, with excellent performances from the two leads.
DVD $19.95 $14.95
LimitlessLimitless (2011)Recommended
2 stars (Good Try) It's a shame the scriptwriters hadn't taken the brain–enhancing drug. There were a couple of good scenes of people running. And as for Bradley Cooper, I have an abiding desire to see him punched in the face. But that's just me.
Wolf of Wall Street, TheWolf of Wall Street, The (2013)Aro Favourite
3 stars (Good Enough) Two–and–some hours of raucous, sometimes very funny (but repetitive) amorality, then Scorsese hedges his bets in a disappointingly conventional manner.
Journey to the Centre of the EarthJourney to the Centre of the Earth (1959)
4 stars (Very Good) Great fun, beautifully shot (in Carlsbad Caverns), terrific cast & score. A simple pleasure from a pre–CG era. And the subtext of the ending? Discuss...
Circle of FriendsCircle of Friends (1995)Recommended
3 stars (Good Enough) Safe and familiar territory, but nicely handled with plenty of good performances. The underrated Driver's film debut, and she shines.
Good Will HuntingGood Will Hunting (1997)
3 stars (Good Enough) Good performances, but essentially about fairly pleasant people facing fairly surmountable obstacles. Not that that's a bad thing: if the dramatic arc was any steeper it'd be a Charlize Theron movie, and nobody, least of all this writer, wants that.
DVD $19.95 $14.95

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