The Europeans was the first period drama Merchant Ivory ever made, and feels like the prime example of what their output is usually accused of being: beautifully made but lacking in substance.
It’s based on a comedy-of-manners by Henry James, told here in a much more low-key way. I’m not sure that does the film many favours though, falling into a bit of an awkward gulf—too subdued for the original humour to come through, while still too lightweight to sustain that…
From the title I expected Beneath The 12 Mile Reef to be more of an undersea adventure, but (though a key part of the story—with some great deep dive setpieces threaded in) this is a lot more interested in the tensions between its Greek-American and ‘Conch’ characters, the sights of the Florida Coast there as a backdrop for their conflict.
Writer AI Bezzerides taps into themes of immigrant experiences, community and father-son relationships here (as he did in noir Thieves’…
Ziegfeld Girl tells 3 different stories in one, tracing the paths three young women (played by Judy Garland, Lana Turner and Hedy LaMarr) take after becoming showgirls in Florenz Ziegfeld’s revue.
Having a multi-character approach gives the film lots of areas to focus on, using each of these characters’ experiences to show very different sides of showbiz (the three women starting out in roughly the same place and diverging from there).
Lana Turner’s character really gets put through the wringer here:…
On one level The Horse Whisperer is sort of a better produced Hallmark movie, but this story is told with a strong emotional weight behind it that overcomes a lot of the more trite aspects here. It’s strongly character driven, giving the different relationships ample time to breathe and connect.
That highly personal focus makes a difference, telling an intimate story about broken people gradually healing in their own time. Kristen Scott Thomas is especially striking as the mother, playing…
Beyoncé, Jennifer Hudson and Jamie Foxx star in this musical drama from Bill Condon (based on the Broadway show) about a 60s girl group who soon begin to achieve fame onstage—all while their own personal relationships begin to struggle.
It’s beautifully done: Condon puts a lot into telling this story, bringing the classic musical from stage to screen with an exuberance that really shows his personal connection with it. An all star cast bring this to life, fictionalising real life…
Martin McDonagh returns in his fourth directorial outing with a project that pivots away from the crime-tinged stories of before to something much more low-key in feel, taking the focus to the characters and so letting their relationship dynamics move the story along by themselves.
Being second generation Irish (with parents that immigrated to the UK before he was born) this is the first time McDonagh has a film entirely place in his ancestral country, capturing the spirit of these…
