Cruella’s Film Reviews

23 Films have been rated or reviewed by Cruella.

Where Angels Fear to Tread (1991): Coming of age Victorian gay scene contrasted from England to Italy. No subtitles, hope you understand Italian. Io lo parlo.Incredible cast.
My Boy Jack (2007): Carey Mulligan Revival//Love watching early Carey. Spiffing WWII – young man trying to get into the casualty lists. Like my dad. Loved every minute.
Beatriz at Dinner (2017): Salma, stop making American movies. They are as predictable as snow in April. Boring twats and vegans on quaaludes.
Bleak House (Mini-series) (2005): Weird camera angles and abrupt swings from character to character. Andrew Davies pulls it off. My favourite Dickens. Highly recommended, unless you get vertigo.
Death of Stalin, The (2017): Really angry. Stalin killed millions. Film a farce, but GOOD farce. Will this inspire film history? Doubt it. Sauna room scene the best.rn
Judging Amy (TV Series) (1999-2005): Tedious but Feisty//Binge watched. Thought it was remake – Judge Judy. Way too hot betw. sis and bro. His girlfriend a cougar. Watch and see why USA is tired.; DVD $49.95
Last Black Man in San Francisco, The (2019): Gentrification and Red Lining/ Sensitive and joyful script, some really sad bits, worth watching for the history of San Fran and the friendships explored. 40 Acres & Mule influence.
Certain Women (2016): Forget Me2. Here are all the cliches of sexy women in small towns. They only sleep with married men and are all secret lesbians who turn in good men gone bad to save their professional status. Ho Hum, been there, burned the T–shirt.
Clouds of Sils Maria (2014): No accident that Racine's and Rilke's languages grace this exploration of emotion in the sterile Swiss Alps. The snake enters Eden with a vulpine roar – and the winner is the audience.
2046 (2004): Thought 'Get Happy' was my fav, but nah. Such style, and this time, I get to play along with the main actors. Straight up, I just love that little girl from CTHD, but the MAN – yum. Definitely a film for ex–RNZ miseries and the hopeless in love.
25th Hour (2002): Missing America. A Spike Lee Joint, Irish instead of Dagos. Puerto Rican girl. Honour. Trust. Dope. Post–9/11. Great script. Terse acting. Aced. Only understood by us natives, Sho Nuff.
Goya's Ghosts (2006): Goya: incredibly talented and sadly, very money–hungry. rnNatalie Portman: two different women. What else is new? rnJavier Bardem: darn scary, same as NCFOM. rnVarious Aristocrats: Haughty. Have their heads chopped. rnGood history lesson & costume
Baker, The (2007): Crunchy humour provides satisfying meal.rnSend–up of Hit Men / Small Town Introversion / Romance.rnWould be just Killing to a Kiwi audience – it could have been set here :–)
Goodbye, First Love (2011): I don't remember being this incredibly soppy about my first love. The jeune fille in the lead role runs the gamut of emotions from A to B. But she certainly ain't no Hepburn. Avoid.; DVD $29.95
Things to Come (L'avenir) (2016): Quiet and intelligently competent – incredible lack of clichés. Huppert superb, her character both likable and annoying. Edith Scob devastatingly funny as an aging self–centred model. Family relationships, French politics, both beautifully drawn.
Elles (2011): A subtle film. No diatribe from a militant feminist viewpoint; much style with moments of psychic pain. A professional woman with a deadline, a sexist husband and a demanding son. She sees herself in the whores: they confront what they could have been.; DVD $29.95
Fantastic Fear of Everything, A (2012): Fantastic flop. Even diehard Simon Pegg fans will cringe. Waste of Amara Karan, though she made a brave effort.
Results (2015): Ostensibly a send up of the gym/personal trainer world. The characters were so awful the title should have been 'Repulsive'. Not many moments of hilarity but many of heartfelt self–analysis. In lycra. Cringeworthy. Only for Guy Pearce fans.
One Day (2011): SPOILER Incredibly immature priapic man/soppy unconfident woman know each other for years. Finally get together – heaven – except that as she cycles thru an archway, I thought if she were hit by a truck it would improve the film – guess what.; DVD ~~$15~~ $7.50
Children of Men (2006): Made in 2006, predicts refugee crisis & rise of the fascist state. 2027: Illegal aliens kept in cages by armed soldiers, police everywhere. Disturbing, enthralling: a gripping story, vivid characters – political and social commentary so relevant.
Endeavour (TV Series) (2012): Very well done; scripts are vetted by Colin Dexter. The attempt to characterise young Morse by clues about old Morse from the books is perfection. Only one episode put me off; each episode shows how carefully the writers are creating the characters.
Dogtooth (Kynodontas) (2009): Outstanding if grim view of childhood and brutality in a surreal setting. The acting is competent and capable considering the difficult matter. Thought–provoking and sometimes repugnant.; DVD $29.95
Easy A (2010): Blatant rip–off of "Ten things I hate about you", with the obligatory "Risky business" dancing around the room scene. Good movie if you want something cute and brainless to vege out to.

Main menu

Section navigation menu

Cruella’s Film Reviews