An exotic locale in beautiful Portugal, an unaffected and powerful performance by a star actress and existential worriment. This is what you can expect from “Frankie,” an ensemble film directed by Ira Sachs that’s asthmatic and lacks energy but fascinated me, nevertheless, because of its main actress Isabelle Huppert and her incredible on-screen presence. Huppert is one of France’s ... more >
ARCHIVES
CANNES FESTIVAL – A so-so “Frankie” gets elevated by a great performance by Isabelle Huppert
"Frankie" is in the running for a Palme D'Or
Song of the sea
[Cartoon Saloon]
David Rawle, Brendan Gleeson and Fionnula Flanagan
Directed by Tomm Moore
“Song of the sea” is a spectacular film that explores the Celtic myth of Selkies, a mystical being that can change form between human and seal, through a simply-told and heartwarming story about a brother and a sister. “Song,” a traditionally-animated film, is also a visual feat. And despite a few moments in which the visual eclipses the story “Song” is a successful continuation of animation ... more >
The Guard
Dark-buddy-cop-action-comedy: a new genre is born
Brendan Gleeson, Don Cheadle, Mark Strong and Liam Cunningham
Directed by John Michael McDonagh
What's a veteran Irish cop to do? There he is, tending to his rounds of bar fights and domestic disturbances, stealing drugs off of car wreck victims, indulging in lovely imported visitors from “the agency,” thinking nothing of selling the IRA back their lost-and-found weapons. His sleepy coastal town isn’t the first place that you would suspect for a major drug deal to take place in. But ... more >