HiFi’s Film Reviews

353 Films have been rated or reviewed by HiFi.

Cruel Sea, The (1952): There\'s a wonderful moment when a seaman watches a blazing ship sink: all you see is his reaction. A film from another age: the actors act, the audience uses its imagination. Great stuff.
North by Northwest (1959): The thing that struck me this time was how incredible Ernest Lehman\'s script is. A classy, timeless entertainment. AND Eva Marie Saint!; DVD ~~$24.95~~ $18.70
Hatari (1962): A wonderful film of miraculous warmth and ease. Thrilling action, but my favovrite scenes are between Martinelli & Red Buttons. Terrific.
Battle: Los Angeles (2011): Gosh, almost total rubbish. Every stale old (and new) war–movie cliche gets an airing. Terrible score.
My Life In Ruins (2009): Leaden pacing, flaccid comedy, national stereotypes, 'important' lessons. Dreyfus (on autopilot) is having fun, I most emphatically was not.
Sense and Sensibility (1995): Beautifully mounted (interiors by Vermeer?) and a wonderful cast. The way careless words evoke a symphony of hurt on Thompson\'s face: stunning. It\'s worth watching the film just for her performance.
Smell of Reeves & Mortimer, The (TV Series) (1993): Not so much a comedy as a parallel universe ruled by a surreal, mind–altering Morecambe and Wise. Wonderful songs – \"Like a shrimp in a suitcase laying on a window ledge...\". Just go there, you won\'t be sorry...; DVD $29.95
Adam's Rib (1949): Very good, but fairly leaden in places. I know it\'s heresy, but I preferred \'Pat & Mike\'. David Wayne seems to be having the most fun as an acid–tongued gadfly in love with Hepburn\'s character.
Pat and Mike (1952): Terrific. I know it\'s heresy, but I enjoyed this more than \'Adam\'s Rib\'. Great chemistry between the stars, great supporting players. Still smiling, me.
Bored to Death (TV Series) (2009): Terrifyingly familiar narcissistic child–men in a Wes Andersony NY. The female characters are ciphers, but this is funny, inventive and has a genuine tenderness to it. Danson: incredibly deft comic actor. The show: magic.

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HiFi’s Film Reviews