Sandy’s Film Reviews

50 Films have been rated or reviewed by Sandy.

Gregory's Girl (1981): Enjoyable today; very funny in a special gentle way. All wonderful characters – I especially liked Gregory's very together little sister, Madeline. Very witty, with a very good plot. Well worth watching. Innocence is timeless.
City of God (Cidade de Deus) (2002): Brilliant symbolic opening and unrelenting thereafter.rnVery interesting documentary extras.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004): Lovely to see Kate Winslet in an over–the–top role. Tom Wilkinson is great, too; I especially liked his bright blue tie. But this American comedic style is kinda stupid & hard all at once; no subtlety. A triumph of style over substance.; DVD ~~$19.95~~ $14.95
Something Wild (1986): Superior camera work, editing & great music! Immensely entertaining, with a surprise every minute! Great fun and seriously different. Terrific pace & rhythm and a great cure for the blues.
This Beautiful Fantastic (2016): Sheer magic throughout. A delightful, funny and moving tale written by the director. Interview with him (extras) is worth watching. Beautiful ensemble acting; top performances. Remains long after in the memory.; DVD $29.95
Living (2022): Clunky, with a cliched melodramatic script. But loved the magical appearance & disappearance of umbrellas in the rain! Weak direction, lacking intelligence. S. African directors b.1983 couldn't know 1952 London, so should stay with what they understand.
Decision To Leave (2022): Brilliant police procedural & whodunit full of ironic jokes and romance, Korean–style. Very watchable. A sense of civic and personal duty runs so deep in Korea that the film's laughs may be missed by foreigners. Knowing the tragedy of Manchuria helps.; DVD $29.95 | Blu-Ray $34.95
Circle, The (2000): Amazingly, only 1 main character was an actor. Interview w/Panahi in Extras. Iran & Afghanistan are the sole Islamic states, ironically created by US destruction of secular govts, though Brooks' book & SOLA (look it up) show hope is still alive.
Passengers of the Night, The (Les passagers de la nuit) (2021): Very convincing & interesting characters. Real & loving. Charlotte Gainsbourg is wonderful – very 3D. A wholly memorable film outstanding in all respects. Such a film could never be made in Hollywood without degenerating into cliche.; DVD $29.95
Night of the 12th, The (La Nuit du 12) (2022): A socially aware policier! Psychological focus; not an "action movie". Complex & convincing, and very modern. An exploration of the differences between men & women. Gripping & thought–provoking, all filmed in the beautiful setting of the French Alps.

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Sandy’s Film Reviews