fairbrother’s Film Reviews

201 Films have been rated or reviewed by fairbrother.

You the Living (2007): A friend described it as a minimalist "musical", a notion which only makes it that much funnier, and stranger. Andersson's compassion for his subjects' predicament (life) delightfully offsets his Kubrickian formal rigour. Weirdly wonderful.
Trust (1990): I didn't like it at first. But once you get Hartley's tone, there's a wealth of humour, compassion, and wisdom to be savoured. "Off–beat" or "quirky" are too glib to encompass Trust's subtle depths, but they describe it's surface–charms to a tee.
Breaking the Waves (1996): Emily Watson makes Bess utterly real, she's fantastic. Von Trier's film has the chewy thickness of a novel (not least of all in length), but his camera creates urgent immediacy and intimacy all the way. Heartbreaking, and brilliant.
Dancer in the Dark (2000): Bjork's heartfelt performance (and bafflingly magical music) are the perfect foil to von Trier's formal irreverence and dogged sadomasochism. It's insane, even incredible. But it amazed and moved me more profoundly than anything I'd seen before.
Idiots, The (1998): A fascinating experiment – and a fascinating concept – yield some remarkable moments of gallows comedy, high–tension, and shocking tenderness. Not especially satifsfying overall, but impossible to dismiss (or comprehend without seeing for oneself).
Scarface (1983): The first half, following Tony's ruthless rise from homeless refugee to drug overlord, is stylish, scary, amoral pulp fiction. The second half takes an awful long time to spell out the obvious, wearing out our interest in the miserable characters.
Suspiria (1977): Manic editing, too–rich colour, dizzy camera–work, incredible sets, and (I reckon) the most terrifying score ever recorded for a film. Argento makes cinema of madness itself – crap script and acting, but such a scary, stylish trip, it demands recognition.
Before Sunset (2004): Not only improves on the original (impressive enough in itself), but provides a reflective contrast which actually enriches BOTH films! Hawke and Delpy are wonderful (they co–wrote, too). And it has one of the finest fade–outs I've ever seen. Sublime.
Before Sunrise (1995): Boy meets Girl, stripped to it's essence: they walk and talk and fall in love. By virtue of sharp writing, unobtrusive direction, and pitch–perfect performances, it makes for a captivating, refreshing, unshakable film that leaves you glowing.
Starship Troopers (1997): If the Nazis ran our world in the future, this would be their propaganda piece de resistence. It's a sick joke, I know, but it gives this tale of Ken & Barbie Killing Bugs a horribly funny, knowing edge to the shamelessness on display. Best CGI ever, too

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fairbrother’s Film Reviews