Sandy’s Film Reviews

656 Films have been rated or reviewed by Sandy.

Little Women (2019): Very fine acting, photography & composition. Filmed in Alcott's original 17thC home. Terrific extras fit this 1857 classic into a modern context. Brilliant script & direction by Gerwig. Outstanding in every respect.
Knives Out (2019): Very funny American spoof on some Agatha Christie plots. Very up–to–date. Main false note was Daniel Craig's attempt at US pronunciation. Entertaining & enjoyable.
Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019): Subtle & sophisticated with very fine acting. Perhaps the storyline is rather predictable, but it's well worth watching.
Vivarium (2019): Very funny sci–fi fantasy/nightmare. Ice–cold & a bit too realistic to be a laugh. One aspect – self–sustaining estate agents are all too true!
Biggest Little Farm, The (2019): Charming; terrific photography. The hardship & joys of farming are shown. Key factors carefully omitted incl. the capital required (no bank would lend for such a project), the youth of the farmers & their failure to pay staff. Thus a misleading fantasy.
Seberg (2019): Stylish & substantial. Kristen Stewart as Civil Rights supporter Jean Seberg is outstanding. Persecuted to her death by the FBI in the years when America was 'great'. It's a heartbreakingly story ending with Nina Simone's bitter song, 'Sweet Melinda; DVD $29.95
Zama (2017): Another dull Argentinian drama! ALL Argentinian films starring Ricardo Darin are memorable and amusing c.f. those that don't Most countries have superstars – Emily Watson for instance – which make their movies marvelous. Argentina only has one.
Dark Waters (2019): Substantial drama–doc of great merit and relevance to NZ. Humble community takes on multi–national firm which has US government backing – and wins! Environmental theme. Ruffalo & Hathaway especially good & likeable. Even the Judges were convincing.
JT Leroy (Jeremiah Terminator LeRoy) (2019): Facile drama–doc. Well illustrates the superficiality of so many American relationships. The Writers' 'Party' in Paris was the nadir, although no worse than many French contemporary "cultural events".
What Keeps You Alive (2018): Very amateurish! Horror without tension. Terrible script & acting mediocre with boring camera work. Unconvincingly stupid. The most threatening aspect was the use of aluminum dinghies on a freshwater lake.

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Sandy’s Film Reviews