Author: Spotlight on Film
Providing in-depth reviews of films since 2011.
“The Lobster” Review
The Lobster [2015] – ★★★★1/2 “This is just to show how easy life is when there is two of something rather than one”, says the Hotel Manager in The Lobster, as one of the protagonist’s hands is restrained using a small lock. This is pretty much what this film is all about: a near-future society…
30 Most Hauntingly Beautiful Film Scores
Mainly instrumental and in no particular order: The Last of the Mohicans (1992) – R. Eldelman/T. Jones – “Promontory” Schindler’s List (1993) – John Williams – Main Theme The Village (2004) – James Newton Howard – “The Gravel Road” The Piano (1993) – Michael Nyman – “The Heart Asks Pleasure First” Blood Diamond (2006) –…
“Chinese Puzzle” Review
Chinese Puzzle (Casse-tête chinois) [2013] – ★★★★ Chinese Puzzle is the final film in Cédric Klapisch’s travel trilogy (other films are L’Auberge Espagnole (2001) and Russian Dolls (2004)). The film presents Xavier, a French writer (Romain Duris (Populaire (2012)), who leads a confused and stressful life in Paris. When his girlfriend of 10 years, Wendy (Kelly…
“Inception” Score is Edith Piaf Song in Slow Motion
This is a dated article now written by Brandon Kim and posted July 30th, 2010, 2:07 PM [13/09/2014 accessed], but for the fans of Nolan’s “Inception” (2010) who haven’t seen this yet, it will be a very interesting read. “The Edith Piaf song, “Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien” is used by characters in “Inception” as an alarm to wake from dreaming. It’s a lovely touch, but one exploited by composer Hans Zimmer in assembling the film’s entire score.”
“Sleepy Hollow” Review
🪓 Burton’s lavishly gothic period film is a top-notch mystery, combining intrigue, romance and horror, while also not forgetting to pay tribute to the original source material.
Ayoade’s “The Double” vs. Villeneuve’s “Enemy”
The question of personal identity and its duplication have been fascinating people for centuries. From Edgar Allan Poe’s William Wilson to Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, the theme has been pervasive in almost every form of art. When it comes to films, such works as Sommersby (1993), Face/Off (1997), The Prestige (2006) and Black Swan (2010) may…
“12 Years a Slave” Review
12 Years a Slave [2013] – ★★★★★ Coming from Steve McQueen (director of Shame (2011)), 12 Years a Slave can now be comfortably described as this year’s cinematic sensation. The film, based on a self-autobiographical novel by Solomon Northup, tells the story of a black free man, who lives a happy family life in Saratoga, New York…
Philip Seymour Hoffman (1967 – 2014)
“My passion to develop as an actor didn’t have anything to do with people knowing me. I had no idea that would happen. To become famous, to become a celebrity is something that I thought happened to other people” (Philip Seymour Hoffman).
20 “Must-See” Italian-Language Films
In no particular order: 1) Cinema Paradiso (1988) 2) Life is Beautiful (1997) 3) Facing Windows (2003) 4) L’Eclisse (1962) 5) Bicycle Thieves (1948)
“The Departed” Review
The Departed [2006] – ★★★★★ “When I was your age, they would say we can become cops, or criminals. Today, what I’m saying to you is this: when you’re facing a loaded gun, what’s the difference?” (Frank Costello) Martin Scorsese’s crime thriller The Departed, winner of an Academy Award…
“Leave Her to Heaven” Review
With a fascinating story, good direction and great cinematography, the film becomes a timeless classic story of an obsessive love and its consequences. As is the case with many films of that period, Leave Her to Heaven also boasts outstanding acting work and Gene Tierney gives the performance of her career.
“The Great Gatsby” Review
The Great Gatsby [2013] – ★★★1/2 🚗 Extravagant and “modern”, the classic book adaptation is flawed, but its production design still wows, and DiCaprio’s mysterious turns inject much needed emotion and “substance”. It is hard to adapt such a beloved American classic as The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. There will be many critics pointing…
“Flight” Review
Flight [2012] – ★★★★ After years of animation production, Robert Zemeckis returned with an action film titled Flight in 2012, depicting an alcoholic pilot of a passenger plane whose crash sets a chain of events forcing the pilot to confront his addiction. After the crash, Captain Whip Whitaker (Denzel Washington) befriends another drug-addict, Nicole (Kelly Reilly),…
10 Classic Novels I would Love to be Made into Major Films
1. Notre-Dame de Paris (Victor Hugo) 2. The Beautiful and Damned* (F. Scott Fitzgerald) 3. The Quadroon (Mayne Reid) 4. The Stranger* (Albert Camus) 5. The Captain’s Daughter (Alexander Pushkin)
“Insidious” Review
Insidious [2010] – ★★★★ 👻 An imperfect, but “effective” and genuinely scary work from a talented director. Insidious, directed by James Wan (Saw (2004), Dead Silence (2007)), is one of those few psychological horror films that are genuinely scary without sliding into ridiculousness or dullness, and that also provides good entertainment in terms of fascinating…
“Oscar and Lucinda” Review
Oscar and Lucinda [1996] – ★★★ 🎲 The film is as odd and uneven as its main characters, but there is still something delightful happens when Fiennes meets Blanchett. Oscar and Lucinda is based on the novel by Peter Carey, and tells the story of a young Australian heiress Lucinda Leplastrier (Cate Blanchett), with the…
20 Entertaining Legal Dramas
Clint Eastwood’s Juror #2 may be making headway this year, but it is just one in a series of brainy films about jurors, law and manipulation of both.
Heath Ledger (1979 – 2008)
Today marks the 5th year since Heath Ledger passed away. This outstanding actor captured the world audience’s hearts in a teen comedy 10 Things I Hate About You (1999), and then remained and grew in popularity until his untimely demise in 2008. Awarded the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for portraying Joker in Nolan’s…
“A Royal Affair” Review
A Royal Affair [2012] – ★★★★★ 👑 A masterfully-executed historical drama, showing one of the most important and exciting periods in Danish history. Nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Foreign Language Film category, this critically acclaimed Danish/Swedish film has so far been unable to pass unnoticed in any country. The engrossing story of a young Princess,…
Spotlight on Film 