HiFi’s Film Reviews

353 Films have been rated or reviewed by HiFi.

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2011): A good cast drowning vertically (as Clive James would say) while Hallstrom, the cinematographer and the composer man the syrup–spigot. No truth, intelligence or drama and not much comedy. \'Drivel, Actually\'.
McKenzie Break, The (Escape) (1970): Detailed, authentic. Wonderful \'you are there\' cinematography. Good performances, and the characters aren\'t the usual cliches. It peters out a bit in the second half, but a superior example of this kind of thing. Well worth a look.
Eulogy (2004): This is pretty funny and has a charming, capable cast (there are some nice scenes of ensemble stonedness), but the script is a bit woolly – some character arcs defy belief, some go nowhere. Worth seeing just for Azaria – always comedy gold.
Killing, The - Series 2 (TV Series) (Forbrydelsen) (2009): Briefer, tighter, better than series 1. Very talky and pretty conventional, but addictive. The cadaverous Suurballe deserves his own show, and Grabol looks sensational in helmet and flak vest...; DVD $39.95
Semi-Tough (1977): Ritchie satirises the institutions but is characteristically gentle and generous towards the people involved. Great cast, with Reynolds underplaying nicely and Clayburgh just being wonderful.
Splice (2009): Natali\'s great, IMHO, but this is fairly weak. It needed more science (or more madness), some Cronenberg–level creepiness and the script could have been much tighter. Oh well, we\'ll just have to be happy with \'Cube\' and \'Cypher\' then.; DVD ~~$19.95~~ $14.95
Volver (2006): I\'ve never been an Almodovar fan, but I enjoyed this. There were sequences when I was drumming my fingers, but overall – great. Excellent performances, and the tricksiness – camera angles etc. – for once seems at the service of the story.
Rum Diary, The (2011): Lavishly mounted, but a bland Depp and too many scenes that don\'t have quite the requisite impact mean the full 470 proof isn\'t distilled from the promising ingredients. Rispoli\'s great, though.
Barney's Version (2010): After days of humdrum viewing this refreshingly grownup entertainment came as a real tonic. Understated yet evocative design and photography and a superlative cast (especially Hoffman and the incandescent Pike).
Runaways, The (2010): Dispiritingly safe trawl through Rawk cliches that needed someone like Larry Clark to bring it to life. Great design, and the cast do their best, but the evidence suggests Sigismondi couldn\'t write a shopping list or direct traffic.

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HiFi’s Film Reviews