As I haven’t posted anything here for a while, here are some miscellaneous short movie reviews of a load of random stuff I’ve been watching lately…
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009)
Razor-sharp, brutal and fast-moving thriller as a disgraced journalist and traumatised computer hacker investigate a string of 40-year-old murders. Depraved men carry out sadistic fantasies on vulnerable woman before meeting their match in the eponymous Lisbeth, a talented but violent misfit.
4/5
The Great Gatsby (1974)
Suitably sweaty and detached adaptation of the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, hampered by some stilted performances but well shot and reflecting the growing sense of disgust experienced in the book.
3/5
Shall We Dance (1937)
Ginger Rogers likes to-may-toes and Fred Astaire likes to-mah-toes in this far-fetched farce where two entertainers marry each other to scotch rumours that they are already married. Eric Blore gets the funniest lines as the flustered hotelier who winds up in a jail he can’t pronounce the name of.
3/5
Coffee And Cigarettes (2003)
Jim Jarmusch serves up coffee, cigarettes and baffling dialogue to an ensemble cast. The increasingly surreal appearances of major stars playing versions (and relatives) of themselves is the main interest here, with Steve Coogan, Alfred Molina and members of the Wu-Tang Clan stealing the show.
2/5
Dancer in the Dark (2000)
Lars Von Triar takes the Dogme 95 principles and subverts them in this heartbreaking modern musical. Great performance and songs from Björk.
4/5
Patriot Games (1992)
Attempts to be an intellectual thriller but never gets around to explaining either the hero or the villains’ motivations to any satisfying depth. Some imaginative scenes and interesting presentational tricks, but lacks convincing drive.
3/5
For a Few Dollars Less 