philhoad

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Pictures of Ghosts review – Brazilian auteur haunted by his hometown’s decline
Kleber Mendonça Filho offers a poetic but somewhat unfocussed memoir-essay about place, cinema and time

Phil Hoad

28, Nov, 2023 @7:00 AM

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The Mystery of Mr E review – Sophie Hannah’s quirky musical murder mystery
Adapted from a school play by crime writer Hannah, this low-budget British whodunnit lacks the cinematic flair to match its clever songs and plotting

Phil Hoad

21, Nov, 2023 @7:00 AM

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Driving Madeleine review – hankies at the ready as a life is told in flashback
Line Renaud and Dany Boon give low-key, sincere performances as they reunite for an eventful cab ride through Paris

Phil Hoad

13, Nov, 2023 @1:00 PM

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The Jester review – fairground horror puts a lot of imagination into its carnage
Paul Daniels from hell despatches its victims with style but feeble plotting means film adds up to not a lot

Phil Hoad

07, Nov, 2023 @7:00 AM

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I Am Urban review – powerful memoir of lost children in Leeds is played for larks
A strong cast including an intense turn from Fraser Kelly as the 11-year-old title character can’t stop the gritty ambition of the story sliding into schmaltz

Phil Hoad

31, Oct, 2023 @7:00 AM

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Blank review – author held hostage by AI as near-future thriller enters Misery territory
There’s some inspired direction as Misery meets Ex Machina in this sci-fi psychological thriller

Phil Hoad

30, Oct, 2023 @1:00 PM

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Arles or nothing … can shiny culture bridge a serious French social divide?
The Luma Foundation’s gleaming Gehry-designed arts centre towers over a French city struggling with debt, drugs and poverty – so who really benefits from the city’s resurgence?

Phil Hoad

26, Oct, 2023 @9:00 AM

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Hell House LLC Origins: The Carmichael Manor review – backstory of horror haunting
Three intrepid film-makers set out to investigate spooky goings-on at a remote property. If you suspect this plot was worn out, you’d be wrong

Phil Hoad

25, Oct, 2023 @8:00 AM

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Night of the Hunted review – claustrophobic state-of-the nation sniper thriller
A woman stops for petrol and is stalked by an unknown shooter in Franck Khalfoun’s nihilistic parable

Phil Hoad

17, Oct, 2023 @12:00 PM

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Over the Bridge review – intricate Nollywood drama takes on corruption in Lagos
This gritty tale is undermined by melodramatic touches, but Ozzy Agu shines in the lead role and debut director Tolu Ajayi shows flair

Phil Hoad

09, Oct, 2023 @10:00 AM

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Dangerous Waters review – yacht survival thriller becomes gender flipped Steven Seagal
Odeya Rush gets a decent showcase in John Barr’s undeniably entertaining family drama, unsubtle and faintly ludicrous

Phil Hoad

09, Oct, 2023 @8:00 AM

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Evangelion: 3.0+1.01 Thrice Upon a Time review – surreal visual brilliance
Hideaki Anno’s four-part reworking of his philosophical 90s anime classic Neon Genesis Evangelion reaches its conclusion with an emotional father-son confrontation

Phil Hoad

03, Oct, 2023 @6:00 AM

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