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Short Film Reviews Welcome to the UK Film Review page for short film reviews . Here you will find some of the best and brightest sparks in a sea of cinema. Filmmakers from across the globe submit their short films to us to be reviewed, and our Contributors lovingly dissect them. If you would like one of our team to write a film review of your short film, please use the form below or visit our Submit Your Film page Our short film reviews are written by passionate film critics across the UK and aim to highlight and promote terrific filmmaking when we find it. We are always honest with our reviews, so if you are looking to submit your short film for review, please do so knowing that we will not alter what we have said because you don't like it. There is a wealth of amazing talent in the short film industry, and we hope by writing film reviews about this underexposed creativity we can get your movies to a new audience...but we need your help. Please join in the chatter on our social media channels so that we can grow our community and share the joy. Use the buttons in the footer to Like us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter, and Subscribe to us on YouTube #supportindiefilm. Get Your Short Film Reviewed ↓ alexjames96 Apr 19 2 min A Happy Ending Short Film Review alexjames96 Apr 19 2 min Shear Disturbance Short Film Review alexjames96 Apr 19 2 min Watch What I Do Short Film Review alexjames96 Mar 17 2 min After Hours Short Movie Review alexjames96 Mar 17 2 min Cinerama (Music Video) Short Film Review Chris Olson Mar 1 3 min Film Podcast: George Clooney Rowing Biopic Scoops Film of the Month Chris Olson Feb 22 3 min Film Podcast: Anthony Hopkins drama crowned "Film of the Month" alexjames96 Feb 17 2 min Mannequin Short Film Review alexjames96 Feb 17 2 min The Separation Short Film Review alexjames96 Feb 17 2 min Bare Foot Short Film Review William Hemingway Jan 18 8 min Filmmaker Interview with Jiwon Lee alexjames96 Dec 19, 2023 2 min Dominion Short Film Review alexjames96 Dec 19, 2023 2 min Homecoming (Music Video) Short Film Review alexjames96 Dec 19, 2023 2 min Sunset Drive Short Film Review Chris Olson Nov 28, 2023 5 min Filmmaker Interview with Alexander Ratter alexjames96 Nov 16, 2023 2 min Purely Cosmetic Short Film Review alexjames96 Nov 16, 2023 2 min What Remains Short Film Review alexjames96 Nov 16, 2023 2 min Sheep F-cked In the Head Short Film Review Chris Olson Nov 13, 2023 3 min Filmmaker Interview with Aimie Willemse alexjames96 Oct 13, 2023 2 min Uncharted Expedition Short Film Review More Film Reviews Tsoro Da Ruwa Joe Beck Bardo Jason Knight Seine Patrick Foley The Devil Makes Work Jason Knight Ramgog! Joe Beck Botching Chris Buick Another Mother's Day Patrick Foley Original Skin Joe Beck Voyager Jason Knight Depression Is A Beast William Hemingway Gunslingers Patrick Foley Red Lantern Chris Buick Tomorrow Joe Beck Maiken William Hemingway Denmark Doesn't Exist Patrick Foley The Call William Hemingway bad lunch. Joe Beck Kenny Patrick Foley Cast Away Joe Beck The Protégé Chris Buick On My Level William Hemingway Changing Tides Patrick Foley Jane Austen's Period Drama Joe Beck Company Chris Buick Boy.With.Angel.Wings William Hemingway Load More Reviews What is a short film review? A short film review is often written by a movie critic and it's their opinion on a film that is less than sixty minutes long. Short film reviews still explore every aspect of a movie. How do I write a short film review? Writing a short film review needs to cover multiple aspects of the movie. Including the script, the characters, performances, cinematography, score & sound design, editing and so on. How long should a film review be? A film review should be as long as the house style. Some publications provide lengthier reviews than others. A general minimum word count would be 300. How much money do film critics make? Film critic salaries depend massively on their publication. Many film critics are freelancers, meaning they get paid per review and sometimes this is based on word count. Making money through film reviews can be challenging.

Film Reviews Here at UK Film Review we like to tackle all kinds film reviews. Our writers come from all walks of life, and feel passionate about critiquing the movies they watch. From the latest Theatrical Releases to Short Films, Indie Films, Documentaries and even Animation, the contributors of UK Film Review are as eager to please as Dev Patel in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011). If you are a filmmaker, or are working in film PR and want to promote one of your clients, please get in touch using the Submit Your Film button under the drop-down menu for Home. Take a look at our list of film reviews below from some of the hottest releases in UK cinemas. Simply click the image of the review you would like, or the title of the movie. Or use the search button to find the movie you are looking for. We have given any feature length film a star rating (out of 5) in order to help viewers sort the Citizen Kanes from the Waterworlds, the Inceptions from the Transformers. Michael Bay will be given a fair film review from our writers, but that probably will not go in his favour. Speaking of Filmmakers, head over to our Filmmaker Features page for awesome articles about some of the best filmmaking geniuses who ever lived. Movie Trailers are also available, either underneath the film reviews, or on the Movie Trailers page. And lastly, if you like your film reviews verbalised. Simply because reading is boring and listening is marvellous, then make sure you Subscribe to the UK Film Review Podcast. Our critics offer up some banterous opinions on the best and worst movies across all genres. Head over to the Podcast page, or click this link to go straight to iTunes. If you would like to read or view any of the following, simply use the navigation. Alternatively, you can click on one of the images to read the film reviews here, or simply have a ganders at the lovely movie artwork on display. Remember to listen to film reviews on our regular film podcast. GET REVIEWED average rating is 4 out of 5 Seine Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Queen of the Deuce Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Babes Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Freydís and Gudrid Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 The Roommate Contract Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 I Saw the TV Glow Read Review average rating is 2 out of 5 The Strangers: Chapter 1 Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Faceless After Dark Read Review average rating is 2 out of 5 Another Mother's Day Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Back to Black Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Evil Does Not Exist Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever Read Review Chris Olson Mar 8 2 min Film Podcast - Dune: Part 2 Chris Olson Mar 1 3 min Film Podcast: George Clooney Rowing Biopic Scoops Film of the Month Jan 20, 2023 3 min TAR FILM REVIEW Taryll Baker Oct 13, 2022 2 min Empire of Light - Film Review Oct 11, 2022 3 min Bones and All LFF Review Oct 7, 2022 3 min White Noise (2022) LFF Review Sep 20, 2022 2 min Sanctuary TIFF Review UK Film Review Sep 13, 2022 5 min FrightFest 2022 Highlights May 25, 2022 3 min Top Gun: Maverick Film Review Apr 23, 2022 3 min The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent Film Review Spoilers in our film reviews As with all digital forms of expression sometimes people may find something that upsets them online. Spoilers can often be one of these things! Whilst we do our best to ensure that major plot points, twists, character deaths and celebrity cameos are not found in our reviews, it can sometimes be difficult to judge what each and every film lover on the planet would to be a spoiler. If you feel that one of our film reviews contains one too many details then please do let us (politely) know using our social media platforms. We may then take serious action, such as expelling the critic responsible from this and every other movie publication past and present, declaring war against the studio for leading our writer into temptation, or we may do nothing at all. To be honest, it is most likely going to be the latter unless some serious rules have been broken. You may also see some movie trailers in our reviews that could also contain potential spoilers. In which case anyone who is hoping to avoid these should probably not click the play button on them. Or click the play button, turn the sound down on your device, then leave the room for a least 28 minutes whilst the trailer finishes and leaves your life naturally. You may be wondering what you could do with all 28 of those minutes! Why not read some more film reviews on another device? Or make a short film of your cat playing with a piece of string? Spend it wisely guys and gals.

Latest Film Reviews average rating is 5 out of 5 Grand Tour Read Review average rating is 1 out of 5 Tsoro Da Ruwa Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Bardo Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Seine Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Queen of the Deuce Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Anora Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 The Devil Makes Work Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Babes Read Review average rating is 2 out of 5 The Shrouds Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Spirit of Friendship Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Freydís and Gudrid Read Review average rating is 5 out of 5 Emilia Perez Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Kinds of Kindness Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Ramgog! 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Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Kenny Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 The Fall Guy Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Cast Away Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 The Protégé Read Review average rating is 2 out of 5 On My Level Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Changing Tides Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 The Storm Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Challengers Read Review average rating is 5 out of 5 Jane Austen's Period Drama Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Mother Maker Lover Taker Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Humane Read Review average rating is 1 out of 5 Cruel Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Company Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Boy Kills World Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 The Beast Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 No Mercy Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Infested Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Paddling Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Boy.With.Angel.Wings Read Review average rating is 2 out of 5 Wait Till It Drops Read Review average rating is 5 out of 5 Fugue Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Circus Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 It Could Be You Read Review average rating is 2 out of 5 Bestias Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Back to Black Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 The People's Joker Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Alba Rosa Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 OBA OMO (The King Child) Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 IRAN: A People Forever in Revolution Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Hello in Here Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Guilty Read Review average rating is 2 out of 5 Devon Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 I am the Wanderer: Director's Cut Read Review average rating is 5 out of 5 My Obsession with Death Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Death of a Mule Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Clodagh Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Alleviate Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Whippy Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 The Other John Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Straight Through Crew Read Review average rating is 5 out of 5 Civil War Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 What I'm Hiding From You Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Sting Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Rooftops Read Review average rating is 2 out of 5 The Siren Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Music to Die For Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Who We Were Read Review average rating is 2 out of 5 The Founder Effect Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Monkey Man Read Review average rating is 2 out of 5 The First Omen Read Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Femme Read Review average rating is 2 out of 5 Disrupted Expectations 2: Becoming the Research Director Read Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Wicked Little Letters Read Review

HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Seine Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Patrick Foley | Posted on: May 24, 2024 Directed by: Dan Horrigan Written by: Dan Horrigan Starring: Tim Klotz Davenport, Lee Bane Seine is a poignant and poetic look at vagrancy, dignity and humanity that aims to redefine how viewers consider homelessness and the people who end up trapped in the cycle. It’s a genuine and authentic short that is sure to leave an impression, thanks to inspired structuring and powerful performances from its lead. An ex-taxi driver (Tim Klotz Davenport) who ended up living on the streets of London recounts a meeting that changed his life. Now working as a debt collector, he looks back on a friendship he briefly formed with another homeless man (Lee Bane) who has since passed. Left with questions and recollections, he tries to make sense of a harsh and uncaring world that makes kindness and openness a choice, and how people can find dignity even in degrading circumstances. Dan Horrigan sets lofty ambitions with Seine. Set in monochrome and overlayed with a haunting monologue in a Scottish accent, the film could easily drift into a stagey and overly serious self-parody in attempts to tug on heartstrings. But Horrigan’s emotional, intelligent script, and Tim Klotz Davenport’s considered, authentic delivery means that the heart of the film pulls out. The reliable, tested tropes employed serve their purpose in this sense rather than taking over the film, highlighting the central themes of friendship and common humanity rather than overshadowing them. Told in a dreamy, floating state in which viewers are left to speculate timing and truth, audiences are absorbed into the protagonists’ troubled existence in an overbearing, ominous London. Wracked by guilt and insecurity, the film feels like a confession of sins, a desperate plea for penance of a man who made a choice that might have saved his life, but that many others never get the chance to take. The narrative excels in capturing this unusual experience and equating the end and beginning of the man’s story, making for both a fascinating character study and a tragic gritty chronological look at the complexities of homelessness. Davenport’s performance in the lead role is exceptional. Underneath a hardened, harsh shell, lifelong wounds and traumas seem to seep out of his weary eyes. The film’s closing shot is truly affecting, simple yet destined to drag the tears from viewers as a precision-strike summarisation of the film’s examination of just what dignity means. Lee Bane similarly lands his role as a mysterious fellow vagrant, leaving breadcrumbs for both the protagonist and viewer to contemplate. The film isn’t perfect, with a score that grows a little repetitive, and the stagey-ness does feel a little ‘amateur theatre production’ in moments such as the shaving scenes, which feel like they do not land with the intended impact. Yet these don’t undermine the brilliant emotional construction or break immersion in the story. Horrigan has made something truly moving with Seine, a film that will leave a mark of its audience and shines a genuinely thoughtful, uncompromising light on homelessness. About the Film Critic Patrick Foley Digital / DVD Release, Short Film, Indie Feature Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

FILM REVIEWS UK UK Film Review is a film reviews website based in London, UK. We promote films and movie trailers from around the world and support indie films that would usually find it hard to find the spotlight against the bigger films of cinema. From the latest blockbusters, to small indie cinema, we tackle as many films as we can. Reviewing them from all aspects, not just how many digital landscapes they blow up using CGI. We also review short films in the UK and internationally, helping filmmakers to promote their movies and raise their profile. If you would like to have a short or indie film reviewed by us, please submit all info using the button below. Take a look around, enjoy the spoils of filmmaking, film festivals and artistic expression. Our merry band of film critics are constantly hard at work, writing film reviews, or watching movie trailers for some of the most exciting movies coming out in UK cinemas. So to keep their morale up, please be nice...or at least funny if you choose to troll. Because, in the immortal words of Rick Moranis in the movie Spaceballs, "Keep firing A**holes!". By the way, on this film reviews website, you may see several references to Spaceballs. If you have not seen that classic Mel Brooks film, you MUST seek it out and tell us what you think. SUBMIT YOUR FILM Are You a Film Podcast Fan? Film critics Chris Olson and Brian Penn host a monthly podcast for all types of film fans! ​ Whether you like the latest blockbuster releases, or streaming is your thing - we have you covered. ​ We even review short and independent films on the podcast. ​ Our final review is usually for a "Nostalgia" pick - something from the past worth revisiting. Previous picks for this have included Jaws, The Fly, and Good Will Hunting. ​ Search UK Film Review Podcast wherever you like to listen and join our global community of film lovers. Film Reviews from UK film critics LATEST REVIEWS Grand Tour Tsoro Da Ruwa Bardo Seine Queen of the Deuce Anora The Devil Makes Work Babes The Shrouds Spirit of Friendship Freydís and Gudrid Emilia Perez Load More

Music Video Reviews One of the most exciting sub-genres our critics review is music videos. They are often incredible pieces of storytelling, either in their own right or aligned with the song playing over them. On this page you will find a great selection of music video reviews from the team of critics at UK Film Review. ​ If you are a filmmaker or artist who would like us to review your music video, submit your film here . ​ When it comes to reviewing a music video, the process differs slightly from perhaps a narrative short film or documentary. The music has to be explored far more intimately than if it were a soundtrack because that's where the story originates from rather than being added further down the line. Music videos do conform to genres but these are often musical genres rather than film categories, for example pop, folk, rock, rap etc. So this will also influence the music video review our critics write because the target audience is going to be considered. ​ Music videos may take a variety of forms or even combine different aspects to create a different effect on the viewer. For example, it is common for a music video to contain a small narrative, as well as live performance footage. Top filmmakers making music videos will be able to immerse you into the song and story without leaving you feeling like you have just watched a promo piece. ​ Choreography is also a common trait in music videos, with dance sequences and flash mobs recurring - often in pop music videos. Editors of music videos will have their work cut out to ensure the choreography looks tight and engaging without it feeling staged or lifeless. ​ Hopefully the array of music video reviews you see below will include some gems for you to peruse. Don't forget to scroll to the bottom of the article, as we often include the actual music video so you can watch it for yourself. Rooftop Screamers Joe Beck Hot Chip Eleanor Swati Verma A New Kind of Life Jason Knight Vaarwell - Quarter Life Crisis - EP Campaign Patrick Foley KYTLY - "Neverending" Patrick Foley Rebel Rob Jones Millais Flower Honey - Sugarless Rob Jones Som.1-Ultimatum Jason Knight My Brain Does Not Compute William Hemingway alexjames96 Mar 17 2 min Cinerama (Music Video) Short Film Review alexjames96 Dec 19, 2023 2 min Homecoming (Music Video) Short Film Review alexjames96 Nov 16, 2023 2 min Sheep F-cked In the Head Short Film Review Theo Aug 1, 2022 2 min Service for The King short film review Chris Olson Sep 28, 2021 2 min Stroke Code Music Video Review Alicia Moore Sep 22, 2021 3 min COVID 19 Music Video Review More Film Reviews

HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Grand Tour Film Review average rating is 5 out of 5 Critic: Jack Salvadori | Posted on: May 25, 2024 Directed by: Miguel Gomes Written by: Miguel Gomes Starring: Gonçalo Waddington, Crista Alfaiate It’s the journey, not the destination Few films aim to lift the audience to a different dimension. Even fewer actually succeed in such a daring quest; Miguel Gomes’ extraordinary new film, Grand Tour , manifests this transcendental power that could only be described as pure cinema, questioning the very essence of reality and fiction and eventually finding the answer to organically embrace both. Framed by the crumbling colonial empire at its sunset, the film opens in 1918 with British civil servant Edward awaiting his fiancée Molly at Mandalay station, in Burma, joining him in the Far East after many years apart. But just before she is about to disembark from her transatlantic, he gets cold feet and runs away. And so the titular "Grand Tour" begins, with Edward hopping on an odyssey across many iconic cities all over South East Asia- and Molly relentlessly nipping at his heels in each stop. The chase, marked by minimal telegrams and narrated in the native languages of the characters’ ever-changing locations, soon becomes playfully complicit, as Molly refuses to give up her lover despite Edward’s punctual desertions. An odd screwball comedy, to an extent, in which the protagonists never share a scene together. But after all, “this is a Portuguese film”, reminds us Gomes, sardonically. Yet, the greatness of this film relies in its form. The story experimentally unfolds switching classically staged scenes with documentary inserts from modern times, shot by Gomes as he was writing the screenplay while retracing the "Grand Tour" himself. The period, fictional scenes are old-fashionably black&white and take place inside handcrafted studio sets, while the contemporary footage is voyeuristically captured in the streets, observing the unexpected grace in the real world, mostly showing faraway and forgotten storytelling ways, precursors of cinema, such as folkloristic dances, shadows and puppets shows. These inserts serve as a brilliant device to merge fiction with reality, the spectacle of the world and the intimacy of vision, proving that the world of cinema and the real world are complimentary of each other, and allowing Edward to fade away in the environment, as he longs to hide and disappear. The contemporary cuts are drastically reduced as we follow Molly’s travels, since, opposite to her lover, she has a more proactive and vital approach, she wants to live and therefore is more physically present. If you don’t sigh at the sound of Singapore slings, Tibetan temples and Saigon’s monkeys, you might be immune to this film’s charm. The fascination relies in its exhilarating depiction of exotic fetishism, the romantic, illusory westernised gaze upon South-Asian iconography. Casablanca was shot in a backlot in Los Angeles, and you wouldn’t find anything like "Rick’s Café Americain" in its real namesake. And yet, there’s something that lures any cinephile to that dreamy fictitious place instead, a place that can only exist in light form, on a silver screen. The legendary East in Grand Tour belongs to the same cinematic map, cruising on a fabricated nostalgia whose roots are part of our collective imagery but that never actually belonged to us. According to the Portuguese filmmaker, the ticket to embark on this journey across space and time is belief. A faith that relies in the images, and that the viewers must have in order to appreciate the magic on screen. There is too much effort to show reality on film, and it’s good to believe in the unbelievable again. About the Film Critic Jack Salvadori Film Festival < All Reviews Next Film Review >

HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Tsoro Da Ruwa Film Review average rating is 1 out of 5 Critic: Joe Beck | Posted on: May 25, 2024 Directed by: Abu-bakr S. Adamu Written by: Abu-bakr S. Adamu Starring: Shuaibu Abubakar Sadiq Aquaphobia is an extreme fear of water that is not related to a physical condition or illness, and it is fairly common, particularly with those that are unable to swim. Hydrophobia is something different, it’s a fear of water related to a late-stage rabies infection. People with hydrophobia often have muscle spasms when they hear, see or taste water. When you consider how much we as humans encounter water, and how we rely on it as a necessity, it must be absolute hell to live with either, whether medically diagnosed or otherwise. ‘Tsoro Da Ruwa’ depicts the pain of living with this fear, though it’s far too shallow, and ultimately dismissive, with regards to the fear it wishes to shine a light on. ‘Tsoro Da Ruwa’ translates very literally from Hausa - a native language in Nigeria - to English, as ‘Fear and Water’. The bluntness and almost lack of effort put into the title - putting two simple words together in the most unimaginative way possible - reflects the lack of ideas or invention present in the film itself. There’s nothing profound on other in ‘Tsoro Da Ruwa’, though it is a story that should provide ripe opportunity for nuance and thought, with writer and director Abu-bakr S. Adamu instead choosing the easiest and most boring route for the screenplay to follow. The film follows young boy Ibrahim (played by Shuaibu Abubakar Sadiq) who has been grounded in his home for three days. He says that he can’t remember who he is and that he’s not the Ibrahim he knew. His father sits on guard outside the house, reading his newspaper and listening to his radio, whilst Ibrahim spasms and shakes at the sound of water being poured into a bucket. These spasms seem serious, with a fittingly trippy effect to go with it, so it is a great surprise to see him sneaking off with his friends to go and hang out by the RIVER. There’s no motive for this at all, just sheer stupidity, as a boy suffering from hydrophobia, knowing that he’s spasming because of the water, decides to knowingly disobey the measures put in place for his own good, and go towards the source of his spasms. The stupidity of the screenplay by Abu-bakr S. Adamu is only matched by its shallowness. Though we are led to believe that Ibrahim’s hydrophobia is severe, and that he is suffering a great deal, it is magically resolved by the power of friendship. These are friends whom Ibrahim isn’t even shown to have that great a strong bond to. We don’t understand the depth of their relationship, nor is there any suggestion of camaraderie between them, and so ultimately the supposedly life-changing condition that Ibrahim was suffering with is overcome with ease by something that isn’t even evident throughout the film. ‘Tsoro Da Ruwa’ is a strikingly bad film. It takes an idea which could make for a better film that has something to say, and instead is a frustratingly uninventive film that fails to take any risks. Ibrahim’s hydrophobia would surely be at its worse in a pool as shallow as this film. About the Film Critic Joe Beck Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Bardo Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: May 25, 2024 Directed by: Michael B. Clifford Written by: Geoff Thompson Starring: Luke F Dejahang, Sarah Ridgeway, Wil Johnson An aspiring writer struggles to deal with his unhappy and unstable wife. The heroe of this short is Bardo (Dejahang), the titular character. Bardo is a family man, he practices karate and works in a sawmill and as a bouncer, however he has a dream and that is to become a writer. Unfortunately, things are not good at home, as his partner Hecuba (Ridgeway) has a drinking problem and is cruel towards him and their son. Bardo makes quite an intriguing character. Played dramatically by Dejahang, he is a man who loves writing whenever he gets the chance, telling stories to his friends and taking karate lessons with an instructor (Johnson) who is a no-nonsense and wise type when it comes to giving lessons. Bardo is a likeable, friendly, clever and hard-working guy and he is constantly writing in a notebook, which he believes is the work that will kick-start his career. The most negative thing in his life appears to be Hecuba, who could be classified as the antagonist, a cold individual who disapproves of her partner's ambition to become a writer and her harsh behaviour brings Bardo and their child down. Interestingly, Ridgeway plays two characters in this film: Hecuba and Anne Marie, a fellow student at the karate classes. Why is this? What is the significance of this? Is Hecuba's appearance true and Anne Marie's is fake or vice versa? Bardo seems to be the only who sees these two people with the same face, therefore one plausible assumption could be that the character of Anne Marie is the kind of person that Bardo would want his partner to be: a kind, helpful and caring woman. A lot of praise goes to Ridgeway's performance, effectively portraying two people with very different personalities. Her acting skills are more evident in Hecuba, particularly when that character gives a dramatic monologue, expressing her unhappiness. A short and powerful film that has at its core a damaged relationship and the idea of pursuing dreams. By combining these two, the film creates a painful story about struggles and depression, however one that is not without hope for better things to come. The strong acting is one of the highest qualities, along with David Cawley's beautiful cinematography and Tuomas Kantelinen's dramatic score. About the Film Critic Jason Knight Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >

HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Queen of the Deuce Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Brandon Thomas | Posted on: May 23, 2024 Directed by: Valerie Kontakos Written by: Valerie Kontakos, Despina Pavlaki, Christos Asteriou Starring: chelly Wilson New York City in the 1960s and 1970s occupies its own special corner of film history. Films like Taxi Driver , The French Connection , and The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 paint a vivid picture of Manhattan at the time. Long before chain restaurants, toy stores, and Disney actors lined the streets near Times Square, X-rated theaters, peep shows, and violent crime reigned supreme. Despite the roughness of the area, it was still home to a lot of people. Queen of the Deuce focuses on one such family, and specifically the matriarch who also just happened to run a mini porn empire. Director Valerie Kontakos’s documentary delves into the rich history of one Chelly Wilson as told in the present day by her children, grandchildren, and various other family members. Originally from a small Jewish community in Greece, Chelly left Europe for America before the start of World War II. After marrying, having children, and working a modest job, Chelly found herself the owner of property throughout New York City. By the time the early 1970s rolled around, many of these properties were X-rated theaters (one of which Chelly lived above). Larger than life individuals often make the best subjects of this kind of documentary and Chelly Wilson is no exception. From the start, it’s easy to see why people were so drawn to her. She was magnetic, feisty, testy, and loving sometimes all in the span of a single interaction. Chelly’s family lovingly talk about how she held court in her apartment with friends, neighbors, and family. Everyone would be under her spell. Sometimes this may have even included members of the local mafia. Kontakos skillfully weaves tales of Chelly’s history and her present in the 1970s and 80s into the fabric of Manhattan of the time. Chelly was a woman who faced adversity from an early age, and the mean streets of New York weren’t about to intimidate her. There are low points in her story for sure, but much of The Queen of the Deuce is filled with stories of how loved and admired she was. Much of the film is filled with family videos and photographs that help to amplify the stories. This visual history is an enormous asset to Kontakos, who doesn’t have to completely fall back on standard talking head footage. Queen of the Deuce does an admirable job of touching on the history of New York City of the time, but even better is how the film showcases the love and respect a family can share throughout the ages. About the Film Critic Brandon Thomas Theatrical Release, Documentary < All Reviews Next Film Review >

HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS Anora Film Review average rating is 4 out of 5 Critic: Jack Salvadori | Posted on: May 23, 2024 Directed by: Sean Baker Written by: Sean Baker Starring: Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn Sean Baker’s downbeat vision of America is back with his latest film, starring Mikey Madison as a colourful stripper, Anora, chasing her golden dream. Sex work is a familiar ground for the independent filmmaker, having addressed the topic in his distinct way since his very first movie. Never preachy, the director aims to remove the stigma of sex work by making universally relatable stories, dense with humour rather than moralistic messages. His winning formula to forge honest characters is giving them dignity and strength, resulting in believable portraits that never verge into caricatures, powerful enough to carry the film on their own realistic shades: the story will just follow. In this class comedy, money can indeed buy happiness- at least until trouble catches up. Opposite realities clash, as Ani, a New York based escort, or “erotic dancer”, as she prefers to be called, falls in love with Ivan, a Russian ultra-rich and spoilt daddy’s boy, while performing a lap dance. Ani grabs the opportunity presented on a silver platter, and she is suddenly cast in a champagne flavoured world of excess in the form of mansions and private jets. She might be in for the money, but the fun reckless fun they together is genuine, and it is photographed in a much more polished look compared to Baker’s signature grainy aesthetic, mirroring the lavish nature of this luxurious universe. The fairytale unfolds until Ivan’s parents become aware of their son’s impulsive wedding, and immediately send their goons to salvage the situation and bring the kids back to planet earth. The modernised Pretty Woman turns rather into Nights of Cabiria , as our Cindarella lives in a capitalist kingdom where magic does not exist and romanticism is traded for realism. The promiscuous newly-weds’ vicissitudes are rich in humour, resulting in an exhilarating comedy which always remains grounded in reality that scored constant applauses during its premiere. According to Baker, “without humour, any given situation is not real”, and with Anora he confirms to be one of the most important voices in contemporary American cinema. About the Film Critic Jack Salvadori Film Festival < All Reviews Next Film Review >

HOME | FILMS | REVIEWS The Devil Makes Work Film Review average rating is 3 out of 5 Critic: Jason Knight | Posted on: May 23, 2024 Directed by: Colin O'Reilly Written by: Colin O'Reilly Starring: David Philpott, Ben Shockley, John Powell A troubled man reflects on his tormented life. This dark short film explores the life of a person who has been in prison and believes that they have failed in life. The film has a duration of four-and-a-half minutes and it is edited in a way that makes it feel like a trailer. It begins with Lawrence (Philpott), a middle-aged man covered in tattoos, sitting in an underground walkway. The film then moves on to the time when he was in prison, with himself socialising with other inmates, inmates working out and others fighting. Then he and other fellow prisoners are attending a service in a chapel, before Lawrence's Parole Board hearing takes place. According to FilmFreeway, Philpott had been in prison and had no acting experience, yet he delivers a decent performance as an individual who sees himself as no-good and is filled with regrets. His character does not speak directly and his voice is his voice-over, narrating rather negative things about Lawrence and life in general. The film uses Lawrence in order to tell a downbeat story about life's struggles and to explore life in prison. A dramatic scene that stands out takes place in a chapel, where a priest (Powell) tells the story of how Judas lost the opportunity to be good by betraying Jesus. The significance of this story appears to be that Lawrence can identify with Judas on the grounds that they both lost their way in life. The reason of his imprisonment is not revealed, however that is not important, what is important is that the viewer knows that he has lived an unfruitful life. The short has been awarded for the cinematography and it is easy to see why, as the artistry that O'Reilly' put on that is remarkable and his editing also deserves recognition, which utilises dissolve techniques effectively. The soundtrack consists of two tracks by American musician and songwriter Moby, those two being Snowball and Lilly . The former is heard throughout the majority of the film and it certainly helps to create a dramatic atmosphere. This is a dark story. It is a story that looks into some of the harsh realities of life such as crime, prison and regrets. It is a story about a person who made bad decisions and now lives in sorrow. It provides a pessimistic view regarding the world and it does so with a great deal of drama. About the Film Critic Jason Knight Short Film < All Reviews Next Film Review >