HiFi’s Film Reviews

353 Films have been rated or reviewed by HiFi.

Winter's Bone (2010): Tragic tale of people so poor they can\'t afford personalities. Lawrence\'s uncanny ability to keep a straight face despite severe tickling is well utilised. Well crafted, but uninspired – and uninspiring – storytelling. Oh, and the banjos...
Dirty Harry (1971): Without decoding the politics, this is a stylish procedural that turns into a battle between archetypes. Robinson has a Kabuki–like face and is one of the great lip–actors. Striking visual compositions, judiciously employed score.; DVD ~~$40~~ $30
Public Enemies (2009): Well, he left the cinematographer, the production designer and the actors to their own devices and had a holiday...hard to believe this is the director of \'Manhunter\' and \'Heat\'. A disappointment.
Guns of Navarone, The (1961): Enjoyable piffle, slightly better than \'Where Eagles Dare\'. Only Quayle and Baker manage to hold on to their dignity. The storm scene illustrates that, in the good old days, even the greatest stars sure worked hard for the money.
Nun's Story, The (1958): Very long, very precise depiction of religious life. Wonderful location shooting. Excellent supporting cast. Fairly understated for Zinneman. Hepburn \'disappears into the role\'.
Star Trek III - The Search for Spock (1984): The interstellar bromance continues. Sort of mac–and–cheese: comforting, familiar, of dubious food value and you feel slightly disgusted at yourself afterwards. But I did watch it all, so go figure. Oh, and Robin Curtis makes a better Saavik than Alley.
Star Trek - The Motion Picture (1979): Yes, the money\'s on screen, and they never let you forget it for a minute (twenty, actually, as they fly around the Enterprise before the plot lumbers into action). OK, but the next couple are better...
Star Trek II - The Wrath of Khan (1982): Yes: Alley, alternately sleepy and grumpy, who really doesn\'t grasp the way Vulcans act. Nice hair, Montalban! Also, nice quote (referencing \'Moby Dick\'). Probably the most consistently enjoyable instalment.
Star Trek IV - The Voyage Home (1986): I know I\'m rating this the same as III but they\'re all of a piece, really. In this one the comedic pluses are outweighed by Shatner\'s heroics (it must be in his contract). Piles on the implausibility at warp–speed.
Man Who Knew Too Much, The (1956): Infinitely superior to the original, IMHO. I love the way the external pressures make the couple more resourceful, but also show up the cracks in their relationship. The fight in the taxidermist's is pure Hitchcock – funny but unsettling. Great cast.

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HiFi’s Film Reviews