It does its subjects the courtesy of letting them speak for themselves, but this often the equivalent of handing them enough rope.

~ Jennie Kermode -

It does its subjects the courtesy of letting them speak for themselves, but this often the equivalent of handing them enough rope.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The action is nicely choreographed and despite the lengthy running time most of the film is nicely paced, with a number of genre in-jokes to help it hold viewer attention.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The action is nicely choreographed and despite the lengthy running time most of the film is nicely paced, with a number of genre in-jokes to help it hold viewer attention.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Rather than trying to establish a thesis of her own, Janisse allows her interviewees to deliver contradictory viewpoints on key issues, and the film is richer for it.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Rather than trying to establish a thesis of her own, Janisse allows her interviewees to deliver contradictory viewpoints on key issues, and the film is richer for it.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Underscoring this film are potent themes about masculinity, identity and self-expression. There is also a fair bit of action, and not just of the mountain adventure variety.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Underscoring this film are potent themes about masculinity, identity and self-expression. There is also a fair bit of action, and not just of the mountain adventure variety.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Blackshear pulls off quite a trick by giving us the impression that things are as bad as they can get and then delivering something still more devastating.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Blackshear pulls off quite a trick by giving us the impression that things are as bad as they can get and then delivering something still more devastating.

~ Jennie Kermode -

What Josiah Saw simmers throughout, always potent, always dangerous.

~ Jennie Kermode -

What Josiah Saw simmers throughout, always potent, always dangerous.

~ Jennie Kermode -

This film is long overdue.

~ Jennie Kermode -

This film is long overdue.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Hong Eui-jeong directs with such assurance and such flair that it's hard to believe this is her first feature.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Hong Eui-jeong directs with such assurance and such flair that it's hard to believe this is her first feature.

~ Jennie Kermode -

One of the most strikingly original Japanese horror movies of its era.

~ Jennie Kermode -

One of the most strikingly original Japanese horror movies of its era.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Such a handsomely shot, gloriously stylised piece of work that it can stand alongside the best of the genre proper.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Such a handsomely shot, gloriously stylised piece of work that it can stand alongside the best of the genre proper.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Ultrasound is a slippery little puzzle of a film. It's cleverly put together and really quite neatly tied together, though not every viewer will successfully unravel it or, for that matter, make it to the end.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Ultrasound is a slippery little puzzle of a film. It's cleverly put together and really quite neatly tied together, though not every viewer will successfully unravel it or, for that matter, make it to the end.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Though aspects of its story stretch credulity even within the bounds of fantasy and it is at times spectacularly silly, it is delivered with rare style and panache.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Though aspects of its story stretch credulity even within the bounds of fantasy and it is at times spectacularly silly, it is delivered with rare style and panache.

~ Jennie Kermode -

It's tightly structured but ambitious in scope and often reminiscent of Soviet cinema in both style and thematic arc.

~ Jennie Kermode -

It's tightly structured but ambitious in scope and often reminiscent of Soviet cinema in both style and thematic arc.

~ Jennie Kermode -

If you're a fan of Three Stooges-style silent slapstick but wish it came with a lot more gore, then, Sweetie, you won't believe what a treat you are in for

~ Amber Wilkinson -

If you're a fan of Three Stooges-style silent slapstick but wish it came with a lot more gore, then, Sweetie, you won't believe what a treat you are in for

~ Amber Wilkinson -

I didn't hate it, but if I wanted to watch more than two hours of the undeniably weird doing the inexplicable, The Sparks Brothers is also in cinemas.

~ Andrew Robertson -

I didn't hate it, but if I wanted to watch more than two hours of the undeniably weird doing the inexplicable, The Sparks Brothers is also in cinemas.

~ Andrew Robertson -

Simple tricks like painting sets pink and amassing large piles of low cost everyday objects enable the filmmakers to create a distinctive fantasy landscape on a very low budget.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Simple tricks like painting sets pink and amassing large piles of low cost everyday objects enable the filmmakers to create a distinctive fantasy landscape on a very low budget.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Although The Story Of Southern Islet undoubtedly attracts with its remarkable aesthetics, especially beautiful slow shots, emphasising the magical, mysterious atmosphere, it is an hermetic film.

~ Mateusz Tarwacki -

Although The Story Of Southern Islet undoubtedly attracts with its remarkable aesthetics, especially beautiful slow shots, emphasising the magical, mysterious atmosphere, it is an hermetic film.

~ Mateusz Tarwacki -

Its various elements gradually fit together to create something which is unsettling in all the right ways, yet somehow sweet at the same time.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Its various elements gradually fit together to create something which is unsettling in all the right ways, yet somehow sweet at the same time.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The central problem here is a common one in fantasy epics: it does go on a bit.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The central problem here is a common one in fantasy epics: it does go on a bit.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The sheer quantity of imitable violence in the film is likely to frighten censors around the world.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The sheer quantity of imitable violence in the film is likely to frighten censors around the world.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Scott McClellan’s gorgeous black and white photography picks out every detail of the actors’ faces yet masks them in shadow at crucial moments, allowing truths to emerge only slowly.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Scott McClellan’s gorgeous black and white photography picks out every detail of the actors’ faces yet masks them in shadow at crucial moments, allowing truths to emerge only slowly.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Holding it all together is a heartbreaking performance by Barbieri.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Holding it all together is a heartbreaking performance by Barbieri.

~ Jennie Kermode -

A great vocal performance by Daniel Amerman – sans words but full of emotion – combines with deftly rendered animation to give the humble cup lots of personality.

~ Jennie Kermode -

A great vocal performance by Daniel Amerman – sans words but full of emotion – combines with deftly rendered animation to give the humble cup lots of personality.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Despite the whole thing being incredibly messy, it's eye-gogglingly enjoyable at the same time.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Despite the whole thing being incredibly messy, it's eye-gogglingly enjoyable at the same time.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The landscape within which all this takes place is spectacular: a richly imagined, fully fledged fantasy world.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The landscape within which all this takes place is spectacular: a richly imagined, fully fledged fantasy world.

~ Jennie Kermode -

With a focus throughout on Poly's achievements as a writer, the film makes room for her to speak for herself as much as possible: to be heard, not just seen.

~ Jennie Kermode -

With a focus throughout on Poly's achievements as a writer, the film makes room for her to speak for herself as much as possible: to be heard, not just seen.

~ Jennie Kermode -

One of the cleverest and most entertaining comedies of the year.

~ Jennie Kermode -

One of the cleverest and most entertaining comedies of the year.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Weirdly, this spectacular mess of a film delivers, for those patient enough to get to them, a few moments of brilliance.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Weirdly, this spectacular mess of a film delivers, for those patient enough to get to them, a few moments of brilliance.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Kazuaki Seki’s playful satire sticks closely to comic book form.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Kazuaki Seki’s playful satire sticks closely to comic book form.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Ambiguity lurks in the shadows and there's a doubling up and a doubling down.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Ambiguity lurks in the shadows and there's a doubling up and a doubling down.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

It’s shock comedy with no sense of impact or context, because before you can let the shock set in, the movie is running full steam ahead toward another disgusting episode.

~ Jeremy Mathews -

It’s shock comedy with no sense of impact or context, because before you can let the shock set in, the movie is running full steam ahead toward another disgusting episode.

~ Jeremy Mathews -

The chemistry is there in the performances, enabling us to translate the physics.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The chemistry is there in the performances, enabling us to translate the physics.

~ Jennie Kermode -

An exquisitely crafted piece of work.

~ Jennie Kermode -

An exquisitely crafted piece of work.

~ Jennie Kermode -

A brief slice of life delivered through wonderful, fresh performances.

~ Jennie Kermode -

A brief slice of life delivered through wonderful, fresh performances.

~ Jennie Kermode -

At first glance, one can feel the enormous amount of work, heart and effort put into the completion of this epic animation.

~ Mateusz Tarwacki -

At first glance, one can feel the enormous amount of work, heart and effort put into the completion of this epic animation.

~ Mateusz Tarwacki -

Not only are there goldfish emblems absolutely everywhere, but the lives of fish and humans sometimes blur.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Not only are there goldfish emblems absolutely everywhere, but the lives of fish and humans sometimes blur.

~ Jennie Kermode -

A sort of freefall trip through both the director’s subconscious and the Cambodian underbelly.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

A sort of freefall trip through both the director’s subconscious and the Cambodian underbelly.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Edoardo Vitaletti packs his frames with detail, even when the decoration is relatively sparse.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Edoardo Vitaletti packs his frames with detail, even when the decoration is relatively sparse.

~ Jennie Kermode -

It disappoints a bit on the monster front and it’s extremely uneven, with a dose of political satire that’s too broad for most adults and will bore most kids, but when it hits the mark, younger viewers will love it.

~ Jennie Kermode -

It disappoints a bit on the monster front and it’s extremely uneven, with a dose of political satire that’s too broad for most adults and will bore most kids, but when it hits the mark, younger viewers will love it.

~ Jennie Kermode -

If this hits the spot for you, you’ll probably be in stitches throughout, caught in a repetitive cycle of laughter – but if it doesn’t, you’ll be a bit lost.

~ Jennie Kermode -

If this hits the spot for you, you’ll probably be in stitches throughout, caught in a repetitive cycle of laughter – but if it doesn’t, you’ll be a bit lost.

~ Jennie Kermode -

There’s a huge amount of ambition in Renata Pinheiro’s film.

~ Jennie Kermode -

There’s a huge amount of ambition in Renata Pinheiro’s film.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Hamabe is impressive in a role which is more challenging this time around because most viewers will already know what Yumeko is capable of.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Hamabe is impressive in a role which is more challenging this time around because most viewers will already know what Yumeko is capable of.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Production designer Eri Sakushima and costume designer Atsuko Shiraishi have done a magnificent job of bringing the manga's striking imagery to life.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Production designer Eri Sakushima and costume designer Atsuko Shiraishi have done a magnificent job of bringing the manga's striking imagery to life.

~ Jennie Kermode -

An evocative, atmospheric film which packs a lot into its short runtime.

~ Jennie Kermode -

An evocative, atmospheric film which packs a lot into its short runtime.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Taute favours real stunts over CGI and puts his team through their paces with some serious challenges, adding a certain frisson to the film which just doesn’t exist when only pixels are at stake.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Taute favours real stunts over CGI and puts his team through their paces with some serious challenges, adding a certain frisson to the film which just doesn’t exist when only pixels are at stake.

~ Jennie Kermode -

A charming film which will appeal to viewers of all ages.

~ Jennie Kermode -

A charming film which will appeal to viewers of all ages.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Mostly played out as a two-hander, this is a film which combines ambitious world-building with an intimacy and specificity that draw the viewer in.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Mostly played out as a two-hander, this is a film which combines ambitious world-building with an intimacy and specificity that draw the viewer in.

~ Jennie Kermode -

One of the most tightly plotted and sharply observed pieces of science fiction to grace our screens for some years.

~ Jennie Kermode -

One of the most tightly plotted and sharply observed pieces of science fiction to grace our screens for some years.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Beneath the kitsch visual language of 1950s advertising, a sharp intelligence is at work

~ Jennie Kermode -

Beneath the kitsch visual language of 1950s advertising, a sharp intelligence is at work

~ Jennie Kermode -

Stefania Tortorella makes a delightful heroine, with Gloria switching overnight from sweet but downtrodden store assistant to a woman with the kind of glow that makes everybody want to be near her.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Stefania Tortorella makes a delightful heroine, with Gloria switching overnight from sweet but downtrodden store assistant to a woman with the kind of glow that makes everybody want to be near her.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Concerns around privacy, bodily autonomy and the intrusion of the State into private life loom large in this all too viable dystopian tale.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Concerns around privacy, bodily autonomy and the intrusion of the State into private life loom large in this all too viable dystopian tale.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Bursting with creative energy.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Bursting with creative energy.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko has a unique charm.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko has a unique charm.

~ Jennie Kermode -

A sweet tale which explores the precariousness of late childhood, as young people take on more responsibility for the world around them and come to carry more secret pain.

~ Jennie Kermode -

A sweet tale which explores the precariousness of late childhood, as young people take on more responsibility for the world around them and come to carry more secret pain.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The way that director Lee Haven Jones frames male and female characters is intriguing, with classic gendered shots reversed.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The way that director Lee Haven Jones frames male and female characters is intriguing, with classic gendered shots reversed.

~ Jennie Kermode -

This is one film about pursuing a dream that might actually be useful to people thinking of doing so themselves.

~ Jennie Kermode -

This is one film about pursuing a dream that might actually be useful to people thinking of doing so themselves.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Director Rueben Martell also makes great use of the snowy forest setting.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Director Rueben Martell also makes great use of the snowy forest setting.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Directed by Masashi Ando, this is absolutely gorgeous... For all its beauty though, it labours.

~ Andrew Robertson -

Directed by Masashi Ando, this is absolutely gorgeous... For all its beauty though, it labours.

~ Andrew Robertson -

It’s not a straightforward attempt to track down the spy. Lenay is more interested in exploring the question from a phenomenological point of view.

~ Jennie Kermode -

It’s not a straightforward attempt to track down the spy. Lenay is more interested in exploring the question from a phenomenological point of view.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Its Jurassic Park style themes concerning failed Utopias passed through the prism of Sixties politics and activism have a certain childlike simplicity to them and, as such, are likely to prove more endearing to some audiences than others.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Its Jurassic Park style themes concerning failed Utopias passed through the prism of Sixties politics and activism have a certain childlike simplicity to them and, as such, are likely to prove more endearing to some audiences than others.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Coming Home In The Dark takes us to familiar places and renders them strange.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Coming Home In The Dark takes us to familiar places and renders them strange.

~ Jennie Kermode -

It’s astonishing to realise that this is Reis’ first screen role.

~ Jennie Kermode -

It’s astonishing to realise that this is Reis’ first screen role.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Timely in its exploration of how we determine what’s real and how easy it is for what seems like legitimate research to become unbalanced and lead to strange places.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Timely in its exploration of how we determine what’s real and how easy it is for what seems like legitimate research to become unbalanced and lead to strange places.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The film is pretty hit and miss.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The film is pretty hit and miss.

~ Jennie Kermode -

This is a decent little thriller which benefits from very strong design.

~ Jennie Kermode -

This is a decent little thriller which benefits from very strong design.

~ Jennie Kermode -

High concept films like this can easily go awry, but Makoto Ueda’s script somehow manages to stay on the ball throughout.

~ Jennie Kermode -

High concept films like this can easily go awry, but Makoto Ueda’s script somehow manages to stay on the ball throughout.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Cummings and McCabe want to have it all - and go a fairly long way towards getting it.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Cummings and McCabe want to have it all - and go a fairly long way towards getting it.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

A crime thriller whose lead characters are influenced by crime thrillers, caught up in a fantasy which repeatedly smacks up hard against the real world.

~ Jennie Kermode -

A crime thriller whose lead characters are influenced by crime thrillers, caught up in a fantasy which repeatedly smacks up hard against the real world.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Full of rough edges and unexpected moments, Baby, Don’t Cry! captures life in the raw.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Full of rough edges and unexpected moments, Baby, Don’t Cry! captures life in the raw.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Beautiful to look at, as well as anarchic and contemporary.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

Beautiful to look at, as well as anarchic and contemporary.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

Nothing is taken too seriously - there's plenty of teasing within the group itself - but respect is shown for the effort that has gone into all this.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Nothing is taken too seriously - there's plenty of teasing within the group itself - but respect is shown for the effort that has gone into all this.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Reece is very much an actors’ director and he draws out splendid performances from his cast.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Reece is very much an actors’ director and he draws out splendid performances from his cast.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Putting Covid-19 in a monster movie context is psychologically significant: it gives us the power to imagine its defeat.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Putting Covid-19 in a monster movie context is psychologically significant: it gives us the power to imagine its defeat.

~ Jennie Kermode -

There’s a genuine unpredictability to Honey Bunch, both structurally and thematically.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Where the episodes work is when they have a driving, kinetic energy about them. When they don't it's repetitious loop.

~ Donald Munro -

The film, directed by feature debutant Shaun Dozier, retains the density of dialogue you might expect from a stage play but, by leaning into the theatrical nature of the proceedings, Dozier is in some ways able to make this into a virtue.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

A very effective piece of low budget storytelling.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Coogan is well cast in this tricky role, moving easily from humour to heartbreak..

~ Jennie Kermode -

Manizha Bakhtari may not be a household name but after watching Natalie Halla’s documentary you’re likely to think she ought to be.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Sung’s own camera plays tricks, placing objects too close in the foreground so that parts of an image are out of focus, like an incomplete memory.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The concept, narrative, dialogue, cinematography and action sequences are elements of Scanners that can't be faulted.

~ Donald Munro -

The film hangs on Pemberton’s performance, and he imbues Doug with a sweetness that makes us feel for him despite his deeply misguided actions.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The screenplay written by the filmmaker and Andrea Piva is a proper masterwork, from the basic plotting to the intelligent, insightful dialogue.

~ Marko Stojiljkovic -

From the start, there is something different about this film.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Despite the anger at the unfairness of what has gone before, this is ultimately a warm-hearted, life-affirming film.

~ Jennie Kermode -

It is a ride, okay, and it is a bit nauseating and therefore not sterile.

~ Marko Stojiljkovic -

It’s also striking to think that when Leila is looking forward into the future, she is already, in some senses, looking at our recent past, which only reinforces the sense of the cyclical and ongoing nature of her themes.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Thorne still comes across as being at the stage where many aspects of her work are experimental. She’s yet to settle into her style.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The characters work well...but there’s never quite enough energy to events.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Ahmed doesn’t need to include war footage for us to feel its weight and understand its shadow.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The colour elements prove all the more striking when in contrast to black and white.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The beautiful cinematography, the bluesy jazz score and the gentle pace of the film are beguiling, but Masciari makes sure that we don’t lose sight of the ridiculous.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Shot over 17 years, it mingles intimate personal moments with visceral concert footage, its musical sequences knitted together with some of the best editing you’re likely to see this year.

~ Jennie Kermode -

A very effective piece of low budget storytelling.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Having set up all the elements of a thriller, the film proceeds to untangle them in a refreshingly different and mature way.

~ Jennie Kermode -

[Hart] doesn’t turn up the volume, but uses tone and repetition so effectively that the film becomes a microcosm of the real experience.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Once again, Guiraudie proves himself the master of setting up a mystery by the means of perfect script economy that functions strictly on “need to know” basis.

~ Marko Stojiljkovic -

It’s ironic that a film about a family who have built a perfect facsimile of a life for themselves should feel so overly constructed itself

~ Amber Wilkinson -