My Summer of Love 2004
Rich girl (Blunt), poor but feisty
girl (Press), ex-con fanatical Christian brother (Considine).
The actors are among my favourites but sadly, the story doesn’t work for me. A pity.
2* of 5
Absolute Beginners 1986
If I remember correctly, I didn’t
much like it the first time but I’m willing to give it another chance.
London 1958. Hot jazz. Cool jazz.
Teenagers. Rock’n’roll. Fashion.
Could’ve should’ve worked but it
doesn’t. The story is trite and boring. Kensit’s little girl voice is
irritating. But I’ll stick with it for Davies and Bowie.
They lift it slightly. As does dealing with racism towards the end.
2* of 5
The Wonder 2022
1862. An English nurse, Mrs Wright,
(Pugh) has been summoned to a job in Ireland to determine if a girl (Lord
Cassidy), who hasn’t eaten in four months but remains healthy, is a miracle or
a fraud.
It’s a beautiful and grim story of the madness and cruelty of religion.
4* of 5
Black Crab/Svart krabba 2022
Sweden
in the near future. Sweden at war with bombed out cities, ruthless soldiers,
desperate refugees.
Caroline
Edh (Rapace) and four other soldiers are sent across a frozen archipelago
behind enemy lines on a mission that could end the war. She is told that her
captured daughter has survived and they will be reunited if this suicidal
mission succeeds.
The visuals are stunningly beautiful, if grim and sometimes even grisly. It’s exciting as well and Rapace is always good.
3 ½* of 5
Finian’s Rainbow 1968
Finian (Astaire) and his daughter Sharon (Clark) leave Ireland to plant a pot of gold stolen from the leprechaun Og (Steele) near Fort Knox to grow more gold. The music is as silly as the story, the whole tone is loud and slapstick. The only thing saving this turkey is the sub-theme of black and white sharecroppers fighting racism and corruption to for a workers’ co-op.
2* of 5
King Maker/ I maktens skugge/ Mörkeland 2024
Twenty years later an election in Denmark is imminent. The ultra-right racist party is gaining support. The same journalist as in the first film is back, investigating the murder of a government employee, a young immigrant. Almost as good as the first film.
3 ½ * of 5
King’s Game/Den tredjemakten/Kongekabele 2004
Political
intrigues and journalistic scoops in film don’t usually interest me but Danish
films are often good so I’ll give it a try.
It’s actually quite exciting, the acting is very good and it deals with the importance of independent journalism.
3 ½, possibly even 4* of 5
