HiFi’s Film Reviews
About me: Movements restricted by an electronic bracelet, I daily escape into the limitless world of film, which I then review with an ignorance masked by boundless pretentiousness.
353 Films have been rated or reviewed by HiFi.
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016)
Remarkably, for a Michael Bay picture, it's populated with stereotypes instead of cartoons. Hence the three stars. 
Nightcrawler (2014)
Three excellent performances (Gyllenhaal, Ahmed, Russo) but really it works neither as satire nor as character study – I thought its aim was off and it was pointlessly nasty, but brilliantly done...
John Wick (2014)
The first half hour goes by at a snail's pace, then the film dispiritedly wanders through the usual tropes. Style over substance, and not much of either. Can't believe 86% on Rottentomatoes. WTF?
Invaders, The (TV Series) (1967-1968)- Enjoying this a lot, third time around – first saw it in the '60s! Paranoid and relentless, true, and cranked out in the sausage–factory manner of the era, but fairly gripping and replete with familiar character actors, which is enough to keep me happy.
Blackhat (2015)
Mann chucks in a few trademark action set–pieces but fails to enliven the relentlessly dull script. Zero–chemistry cast, wafer–thin characters, murky DV cinematography. Not good. 
Core, The (2002)- Stupidest movie, ever! But kind of fun...and I could feel the hand of Irwin Allen guiding it all from beyond the grave. PS somebody should have told the filmmakers that for shenanigans of this order the presence of Oliver Platt is de rigueur.
Firm, The (1993)- Solidly enjoyable, everyone plays together well, and that's Dave Grusin giving a masterclass in how to score a movie with just a piano.
Secret Window (2004)- The intriguing premise and the impressive cast got my hopes up, but they were dashed by the numbskull resolution, bah!
Zodiac (2007)- Slightly oppressive, putrescent look to the film which adds to the intense atmosphere. Long, detailed and, despite the subject matter's potential for exploitation, admirably unsensational. Solidly realised in every department.
It Follows (2014)- Beautifully photographed, and the score evokes John Carpenter's efforts. However, I found this desperately unsuspenseful, and wonder why all the accolades? The young cast are OK, but are scarcely required to do anything other than look blank. Puzzling...
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