In-Depth Film Reviews since 2011 (previously dbmoviesblog)
Costner’s sweeping, imperfect saga is an unapologetic return to the roots and conventions of a classic western.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is a gory brew of some fifty different beetle-juices mixed together in a super-fast Burtonian blender.
For all its lapses in portraying romance, The Promised Land is still an inspiring, relentlessly gritty tale of one undying determination, an indomitable will to achieve the impossible against all odds.
Originating as the fishing village of Edo on the Sumida river in Japan, the city of Tokyo is currently one of the world’s most magnificent capitals. The metropolis, boasting more than thirty-six million inhabitants in its widest reach, fuses and lets coexist modern and traditional cultures like no other city on the planet does, capturing…
Neighboring Sounds is a handsome, but lethargic tale of urban cacophony.
Elegantly presented with sensitive performances, A Cup of Coffee and New Shoes On is an introspective study of copying with one frightening medical diagnosis that also taps into the unfathomability of a twinship bond.
What are “the films of this century”? Perhaps it is the best films of any given year, or those that experimented the most with cinematic genres, techniques and styles? Perhaps it is the ones that dived the deepest into their subject matters or explored previously unexplored subject terrains? Inspired by Sight & Sound magazine’s list…
…an intimate look at the working conditions of one textile factory in India.
By stringing together important historical footage surrounding the 1992 Los Angeles riots, as well as past and present interviews, the piece becomes an insightful, educational documentary, albeit suffering from its own all-encompassing ambition.
“What kind of world is this that can send machines to Mars and does nothing to stop the killing of a human being?” (Jose Saramago). “The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.” (Albert Einstein) This year marks 30 years since the Rwandan genocide, whereby some 500.000-800.000 people lost their lives, with the perpetrators being armed…
When it comes to police corruption, you cannot get better films than those made in the 1970s, 1980s or 1990s, when cinema finally became free from certain traditional constraints and confident and bold to finally focus on topics that question authority and uncover suspect behaviour on the part of governmental officials and those in power….
This is a documentary of a real-life case that inspired award-winning film The Beasts (2022) by Rodrigo Sorogoyen. This tale of personal injustice and crime suffered in paradise-like region of Spain is a noteworthy, emotional documentary piece.
There are bits of greatness scattered throughout this film, and even if Ferrara does not manage to convince us entirely, these pieces, as well as Dafoe’s acting, make Tommaso a very curious film, indeed, especially character-wise.
Have you ever wondered about animation ideas or projects that were in existence at some point (or even near-completion!), but, unfortunately, never saw the light of day? There are apparently many such cases, and, no wonder, as it is not just creativity and ideas that need to be considered, but also talent on offer, financing,…
Almost plotless, The Perfect Days does not break new grounds, but actor Kōji Yakusho shines bright, making the result a heart-warming tribute to Tokyo.
An Academy Award-nominee brews a storm in a cup of tea.
The Boy and the Heron is Miyazaki’s “fever-dream”, a symbolism-driven animated tour de force full of adventure, wonder and insight.
From Hans Christian Andersen’s Thumbelina to Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels and beyond, the public fascination with “little people” has transformed into the multitude of stories, which often juxtaposed the wider, often harsher world with these people’s smallness and vulnerability. Equally, many films followed suit, and below are seven films, from thought-provoking animations to experimental oldies,…
They Shot the Piano Player [2023] – ★★★ 🎵 The animation vividly introduces us to the great Brazilian pianist and the music scene of his time, but falls short of being an engaging investigation-focused drama. They Shot the Piano Player focuses on the investigative journey that one journalist (Jeff Harris) undertakes to find out what…
An intelligent, nuanced, attentive and very much focused courtroom drama with some remarkable performances.
Spotlight on Film 