Film Review

The Stoning of Soraya M

A heavy handed portrayal of a brutal true story. Whilst it struggles to lend any real depth to some of its central characters, this offering from writer/director Cyrus Nowrasteh is a powerful depiction that sticks in the mind. Prepare for conspiracy, betrayal, guilt and one of the most horrific on-screen deaths imaginable.

Forget Me Not

Take a stroll through London with Tom and Eve, two star-crossed young hipsters trying to make sense of their messed up lives, finding solace and comfort in each other’s conversation. Or rather, don’t. In fact, do anything else rather than watch this deeply underwhelming love story.

Morning Glory

A film that has nothing to do with erections. Despite the name.

Zebra Crossing

A brand spanking new South London film from the fresh faced Sam Holland, Zebra Crossing is far from pedestrian.

Enemies of the People

In the 1970′s the former Cambodian government, the Khmer Rouge, was responsible for the deaths of nearly two million people. This documentary follows journalist Thet Sambath as he slowly gains the trust of Nuon Chea, Brother Number Two, of the former regime and the others who perpitrated the killings – looking to gain an insight into what exactly happened and an official admission of guilt.

The Warrior’s Way

This visually appealing ‘action’ film sets a terrific standard as an entertaining feature – but struggles with a less than engaging story and disappointing climax.

London Boulevard

London Boulevard has a great premise. Guns and money, seedy thugs and intelligent crooks, and the chance for freedom in an unforgiving world. Unfortunately, the story jumps around looking for direction, avoiding the avid gunfire of genuine performances from Ray Winstone, David Thewlis and even Colin Farrell, and in the end falls head first in a ditch for trying too hard.

Despicable Me 3D

The heat is on to be the best gosh darn villain the world has ever seen. And when your competition is out nicking the Egyptian pyramids and other great wonders of the world, you know you’ve got to up your game. So Gru sorts himself out with the ultimate secret weapon in his grand master scheme; three orphan girls. And before you get the wrong idea, he doesn’t put them through an intensive training course and turn them into child soldiers, rather, he uses the power of cookie selling to get the ball a-rolling.

Restrepo

Marketed during its Edinburgh Film Festival run as “the Afghanistan war film that renders all others unnecessary”, Restrepo is the work of two war correspondents who’ve seen more action than most. An artfully documented account of 15 months embedded in Afghanistan’s deadly Korangal valley, this film captures the highs and lows of warfare from the viewpoint of the men who were there. An intimate account of friendship and firefights in one of the world’s most dangerous environments.

Police, Adjective

Police, Adjective is the latest in what we Brits would call “Romanian New Wave Cinema”. However, director Corneliu Porumboiu would dismiss us in true Eastern European fashion, perhaps by waving a shawl in our face and spitting “ptooey” at the phrase, which he calls “problematic”. Regardless of genre, Police, Adjective (winner of the Jury Prize at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival) is the antithesis of a cop film, replacing running about with batons with endless trudging round Eastern Europe in the same old jumper.