fairbrother’s Film Reviews

201 Films have been rated or reviewed by fairbrother.

Lobster, The (2015): Not for all tastes – like any true delicacy. A strange, coal–black comedy worthy of Bunuel, this deadpan look at a very cruel world shocks and resonates in most unexpected ways. The cast are pitch–perfect too.
Blue Ruin (2013): If it seems slow and murky to start, rest assured its a strategy that pays off: the atmosphere of black comic tension builds, grips tight, and finally edges into tragedy. An admirably lean and original thriller.
Assassin, The (2015): Emphatically not an action movie but a slow, meditative mood piece, and as visually rich an evocation of another world as you'll ever see. If you prefer images over incidents, or The Moment over momentum, it's a gem.
Curb Your Enthusiasm - Season 1 (TV Series) (1999): Ever notice how it's life's most absurd trivia that conspires to humiliate us the worst? Larry has. Jewish humour at it's most excrutiating – I, for one, laughed like a drain.
Spectre (2015): On the down side, its overlong, with a pronounced Hollywoodism that begs for mockery. But the action's pleasurably preposterous, Seydoux makes a good fist of the Girl Role, and every shot's gorgeous. An entertaining entry (moreso than Skyfall anyway).
End of the Tour, The (2015): A superbly light touch for serious themes, and enthralling chemistry between the two leads, mean this film hooks you without you even realising it. Wise, witty, sad and true. Loved it.; DVD ~~$19.95~~ $14.95
Crimson Peak (2015): You can't miss what Del Toro's aiming for here, and its hard to begrudge him for it, but his tale's so in thrall to "classic" gothic–thriller tropes it feels more redundant than scary. Still: beautifully designed, and filmed, with very appealing lead
Ant-Man (2015): Underlines how risibly self–serious most superhero movies are – by delivering at least one intentional laugh for every unintended one. The plot is pure formula but the cast, and some cool action, make for acceptable fun.
Duke of Burgundy, The (2014): The dirty raincoat–brigade need not apply because this is cinema of the mind rather than the flesh: weird, witty, stylish, and teasing (in both senses of the word). The leading ladies both nail their tricky roles.
Sicario (2015): Underwhelming in narrative terms but, as a formal sensory experience, Sicario's impressive: the excellent music, camerawork, and editing here conjure that air of grinding menace which eludes many similar thrillers.

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fairbrother’s Film Reviews