“Cisterne poses important questions about adolescent identity and touches on the blossoming of artistic expression in ‘Vandal,’ but the concealed fury of each character ultimately remains an enigma (along with their understanding of the real world).”
“‘Miss and the Doctors’ reminds of François Truffaut with a shade of Demy; ‘Jules et Jim’ holding ‘The Umbrellas of Cherbourg.'”
“‘Breathe’Â works on various levels thanks to Arnaud Potier’s cinematography, Laurent’s polished direction and the magnetic charisma of the leads.”
“Bencherif exudes that rare type of charisma one can’t teach.”
“‘The World Made Straight’ is essentially a poor man’s ‘Out of the Furnace’… Still, it’s a memorable spotlight for the always-mesmerizing Minka Kelly.”
“A Hendrix biopic can be tackled in a variety of ways, but a director should either commit to gonzo audio/visual techniques or simply let the performances take over.”
Q.V. Hough on the Influence of Francesco Rosi
“Joaquin Phoenix delivers yet another iconic performance in ‘Inherent Vice’ and has now become one the most charismatic actors of the last 20 years.”
“The interactions between Mitchum and Takakura offer a jolting look at man’s acceptance of grief, but the technical aspects of The Yakuza transform the film to a higher level.”