“Protektor”: of Nazis and Faustian bargains
Marek Najbrt’s superior Second World War drama begins with a crisp montage of bicycle chains, spokes and gears. A pedal powered score wheels the audience into 1942 and the aftermath of the...
Category: Film and movies
“Nowhere Boy”: not lovable, but definitely all Lennon
The subtle beauty of “Nowhere Boy” has to do with how it works on so many levels at once. Are you a Beatles or a Stones fan? Who was your favourite Beatle, John or Paul? Do you think John was a...
What really matters about “American: The Bill Hicks Story”
I’m going to break my golden rule and write this in first person. I figured I owe Bill Hicks this much. I’d been a massive fan since I saw him on Channel 4 years ago. I loved him the same way I...
London Film Festival: “Giulia Doesn’t Date At Night”
By blurring the audience’s focus right from the opening shot, director Giuseppe Piccioni starts as he means to go on. As we adjust our vision, we realise we are in a swimming pool. The dazzling...
London Film Festival: “Glorious 39” doesn’t inspire much empathy
Mark Farnsworth is currently reviewing selected films from the London Film Festival. As a child, British director Stephen Poliakoff would drive around with his father at night, looking into rich...
London Film Festival: “Dear Lemon Lima” is darling
Mark Farnsworth is currently reviewing selected films from the London Film Festival. Early on in “Dear Lemon Lima,” dreamy Vanessa is told by her specky git of a boyfriend, Philip, “You need to...
London Film Festival: “The Disappearance of Alice Creed”
Mark Farnsworth is currently reviewing selected films from the London Film Festival. The camera is low, prowling and probing through a car park kicked on by the jittery score. A van is jimmied and...
“Twilight”: captain’s log
If we’re afraid we’re going to fail at something, then we’ll do anything to procrastinate. I'm convinced that it’s because we simply don’t want to contemplate the idea of failure until we...
London Film Festival: “Astro Boy” and enjoyable environmentalism
Mark Farnsworth is currently reviewing selected films from the London Film Festival. Osamu Tezuka’s classic manga strip “Astro Boy” has just received a bubblegum and lipstick makeover in David...
London Film Festival: “The Exploding Girl”
Mark Farnsworth is currently reviewing selected films from the London Film Festival. The soothing sound of passing cars, the fluttering reflections of sun-kissed trees and a sleeping girl in the back...