All articles by Allan Hunter – Page 68

  • Reviews

    Out Of Control

    2002-08-22T00:00:00Z

    Director: Dominic Savage. UK. 2002. 90 minsAn angry, nihilistic drama told with gut-renching conviction, Out Of Control confirms writer-director Dominic Savage as the standard bearer for the raw, social realist traditions established and refined by Ken Loach and the late Alan Clarke. A largely improvised story intended for transmission on ...

  • Reviews

    The Eye (Oko)

    2002-08-19T00:00:00Z

    Directors: Oxide and Danny Pang. Hong Kong-Thailand. 2002. 98minsAn atmospheric blend of psychological thriller and eerie ghost story, The Eye sees director brothers Danny and Oxide Pang follow the highly stylised, hitman thriller Bangkok Dangerous (which won the FIPRESCI prize at Toronto two years ago) with a successful foray into ...

  • Reviews

    The Guru

    2002-08-16T00:00:00Z

    Dir: Daisy von Scherler Mayer. UK-US. 2002. 94minsFeatherweight, feel good escapism, The Guru grafts a modish Bollywood sensibility on to a tried and tested fish-out-of-water comedy scenario. The end result is technically polished candy floss that tries desperately hard to please, with a cartoonish approach and casual disregard for basic ...

  • News

    Tomorrow La Scala withdrawn from Edinburgh

    2002-08-13T04:05:00Z

    Francesa Joseph's debut feature Tomorrow, La Scala! has been withdrawn from its UK premiere slot at this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival (Aug 14-25).Well received at Cannes, the film centres on small operetta company's staging of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd in a maximum-security prison. It is understood an unresolved copyright ...

  • Reviews

    My Little Eye

    2002-08-07T00:00:00Z

    Dir: Marc Evans. UK-US-Fr. 2002. 95mins.Ratings-hungry reality television meets The Blair Witch Project in My Little Eye, an effective, low-budget chiller that leaves its distinctive imprint on the scary movie tradition. Manoeuvring skilfully within genre requirements, director Marc Evans achieves an impressive balance between atmospheric, slow-burning suspense and the kind ...

  • News

    Edinburgh unveils full festival line-up

    2002-07-10T10:00:00Z

    The 56th Edinburgh International Film Festival (August 14 - 25) will open with the UK premiere of Lynne Ramsay's acclaimed Morvern Callar and close with Christopher Nolan's hit thriller Insomnia.Gala screenings joining previously the announced titles: Tadpole, The Guru, Rabbit Proof Fence, 8 Femmes and Changing Lanes include Mark ...

  • News

    Edinburgh unveils impressive festival line-up

    2002-07-10T04:05:00Z

    The 56th Edinburgh International Film Festival (August 14 - 25) will open with the UK premiere of Lynne Ramsey's acclaimed Morvern Callar and close with Christopher Nolan's hit thriller Insomnia.Gala screenings joining previously the announced titles: Tadpole, The Guru, Rabbit Proof Fence, 8 Femmes and Changing Lanes include Mark ...

  • Reviews

    Tomorrow La Scala

    2002-07-02T00:00:00Z

    Director: Francesca Joseph. UK. 2002. 108 mins. Funny, stylish and deeply moving, Tomorrow La Scala! is a little gem of a first feature from award-winning documentary filmmaker Francesca Joseph. Inspired by the director's own experiences and partially improvised over three weeks of workshops, it finds real depth and feeling in ...

  • Reviews

    Une Pure Coincidence

    2002-07-02T00:00:00Z

    Dir: Romain Goupil. France. 2002. 92mins.Friends for more than 30 years, a group of radicals rediscover their passion for direct action in Une Pure Coincidence. The result is a timely, entertaining documentary notable for its warm spirit and light humour. Lacking a professional polish or great visual appeal, it is ...

  • Reviews

    Le Pays Du Chien Qui Chante

    2002-07-02T00:00:00Z

    Dir: Yann Dedet. France. 2002. 95 mins. A quirky, unassuming first feature from highly respected editor Yann Dedet, Le Pays Du Chien Qui Chante displays a number of agreeable qualities without every blossoming into compelling viewing. Possessed of a gentle nature and a quiet humour, it may charm a few ...

  • Reviews

    17 Fois Cecile Cassard

    2002-07-02T00:00:00Z

    Dir: Christophe Honore. France. 2002. 105mins. A patchily promising first feature from writer turned director Christophe Honore, 17 Fois Cecile Cassard charts a woman's agonising struggle to rebuild her life after the devastating death of her husband. Told in 17 snapshots of moments that define her journey from abject misery ...

  • Reviews

    Angela

    2002-06-27T00:00:00Z

    Dir: Roberta Torre. Italy. 2002. 95mins. Dispensing with the musical numbers that peppered her first two films, but remaining true to her fascination with the character and people of Palermo, Roberta Torre still adds little new to the well-worn themes of Angela. Based on true events from the mid-1980s, the ...

  • News

    Edinburgh's new director reveals first festival titles

    2002-06-17T04:05:00Z

    Gary Winick's Sundance prize-winner Tadpole, Roger Michell's Summer box-office hit Changing Lanes with Ben Affleck and Samuel L Jackson and Mike Leigh's much admired Cannes contender All Or Nothing are among the first titles confirmed for this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival. Leigh is expected to attend what will ...

  • Russian Ark (Russkij Kovcheg)
    Reviews

    Russian Ark (Russkiy Kovcheg)

    2002-06-02T00:00:00Z

    Director: Alexander Sokurov. Russia. 2002. 96 mins.

  • Reviews

    Once Upon A Time In The Midlands

    2002-05-31T00:00:00Z

    Dir: Shane Meadows. UK. 2002. 104 mins. Director's FortnightExtensive critical acclaim has failed to generate great audience enthusiasm for the previous films of British hyphenate Shane Meadows. A broad, bittersweet comedy, his third feature Once Upon A Time In The Midlands should tip the balance in the opposite direction. A ...

  • Reviews

    Sex Is Comedy

    2002-05-31T00:00:00Z

    Dir: Catherine Breillat. France. 2002. 92 mins. A welcome reprieve from the joyless intensity of such recent succes de scandale as Romance and A Ma Soeur, Sex Is Comedy allows Catherine Breillat to reveal the kind of light touch and easy humour that some critics may have thought was beyond ...

  • Reviews

    The Pianist

    2002-05-27T00:00:00Z

    Director: Roman Polanski. 2002. 148 mins. In Competition Working from material close to his own childhood experiences in war ravaged Poland, Roman Polanski has created his most satisfying film in twenty years. Old-fashioned, stately and a little uneven, The Pianist recovers from a disappointing start to mature into a restrained ...

  • News

    Cannes 2002: tough choices for Palme readers

    2002-05-24T04:05:00Z

    Constantly improving after far from auspicious beginnings, Cannes 2002 should finally settle in the memory as a robust and rewarding vintage. Filled with uncompromising auteurist statements, exciting discoveries and tender explorations of the human condition, it was a Festival to restore anyone's faith in the health and vigour of world ...

  • Reviews

    Sweet Sixteen

    2002-05-22T00:00:00Z

    Director: Ken Loach. UK. 2002. 106mins. Screened in Competition.Continuing the rich collaboration between director Ken Loach and screenwriter Paul Laverty, Sweet Sixteen puts a very human face on the plight of the socially disadvantaged in modern Britain. The heartrending tragedy of a Scottish teenager struggling for his small share of ...

  • Reviews

    Morvern Callar

    2002-05-22T00:00:00Z

    Dir: Lynne Ramsay. UK. 2002. 97mins. Screened in Director's FortnightA mesmerising journey through the hidden depths of a woman's soul, Morvern Callar confirms writer-director Lynne Ramsay as one of the most audacious and uncompromising British filmmakers of her generation. Poetic, stunningly beautifully and untainted by crass commercial concerns, it is ...