fairbrother’s Film Reviews

About me: Aro resident and incorrigible video nerd.

201 Films have been rated or reviewed by fairbrother.

JFK (1991): The facts are dubious; the form manipulative; and the rhetorical sanctimony laughable. But if you want an epic movie–vision of All–American Paranoia, JFK's as grand and vivid as they get. Gauche, gripping hackery.
Muppets Most Wanted (2014): A bit long but much more fun than the ho–hum 2011 movie: I, for one, was belly–laughing throughout. The iconic puppet–personae endure (just), the human cast's enthusiasm is infectious, and McKenzie's songs are irresistible.
Lodge, The (2019): Lures us into a snowy fog of dread, unsure where we are, before twisting the emotional blade with disturbingly calm curiosity. The logic is risible but the chills work. Fine score and cinematography. Keough and the two kids "play" well together.
Apocalypto (2006): I'll leave appraisal of its cultural depiction to more educated voices. As evocation of Jungle Life Long Ago, it's uniquely atmospheric; as a grisly fight–and–flight thrill–ride, it's vividly intense, but does jump the shark bad in its climactic minute
Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019): 'Painterly' by nature as well as by name. The performances and formal precision are quietly captivating and, cumulatively, very moving. Just gorgeous.
Nightingale, The (2019): Heed the censor's warning: this one hurts. But rightly so. The two leads make a great duo, their fraught relationship is complex and poignant. If the final act drags (at least 2 false climaxes too many), overall it remains a searing vision.; DVD ~~$20~~ $15
Mirror (Zerkalo) (1974): A Soviet Art Film may sound like death to some but, believe, this one's a hands–down masterpiece. Opaque, fragmented, hallucinatory; you may not be able to explain it, but you'll be utterly hypnotised, and its images will never let you go.
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015): A gloriously berserk thrill–ride. At 2 hours, the non–stop action does finally get a bit monotonous. But fair's fair: for eye–popping vision and breath–taking mayhem, this runs turbo–charged rings around any comparable pop–spectacle.; DVD $19.95
Suspiria (2018): Formally stunning and proudly pretentious, in that good way which can make cult classics, but over–length finally exposes the limits of conceit and material alike. The first death scene's a sadistic doozy; hated the climax, loved the coda.
True Detective - Season 1 (TV Series) (2014): The mystery itself is generic cliche (with loads of sexist baggage), but the characters and mood really get under the skin, and keep us riveted. Evocative cinematography and music choices augment the two excellent lead performances.; Blu-Ray ~~$25~~ $18.75

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fairbrother’s Film Reviews