★★★★
Modernism, in the UK at least, has garnered a muddied name, a casualty of the sixties concrete blocks that are so resented by traditionalists. South Korean documentarian and video essayist Kogonada may well change minds in his modestly beautiful feature debut, a romantic study of life in the so-called ‘mecca of modernism’. Influenced by the reflective strains of Japanese cinema, Columbus is softly composed and structured with impressively assured restraint.
★★
Hadi Hajaig defines his style as ‘genre with something else’. In the case of Blue Iguana, that something else is immaturity, sexism and a shed load of unconvincing fake blood. This belongs in that avenue of cinema that considers a splutter of ‘you repulsive testicle’ at the end of a sentence enough to make a joke.
★★★★
A character as complex, perhaps even contrived, as Joan Castleman must inspire discussion and disagreement. One thing all should agree is that, in Björn Runge’s big screen adaptation of The Wife, she has been brought to breathtaking life by a career-best Glenn Close. Of course, it helps that the tale is compelling and the director assured but there’s no denying that this is an acting masterclass.
The Film Blog 