Category Archives: Reviews

TIFF FILM REVIEW: Al Pacino in ‘The Humbling’

Posted on September 5, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett Barry Levinson’s “The Humbling”, starring Al Pacino as an actor past his prime, is an example of how a lousy novel can sometimes make a good movie. Philip Roth’s pretentious and sexist 2009 novel tells of an … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Reviews, TIFF Toronto International Film Festival | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on TIFF FILM REVIEW: Al Pacino in ‘The Humbling’

TIFF FILM REVIEW: Downey Jr. and Duvall in ‘The Judge’

Posted on September 5, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett Robert Downey Jr. stakes a claim as a serious actor in David Dobkin’s family and courtroom drama “The Judge” and thanks largely to past master Robert Duvall he makes it. It’s a familiar tale. The two stars … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Reviews, TIFF Toronto International Film Festival | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on TIFF FILM REVIEW: Downey Jr. and Duvall in ‘The Judge’

TIFF FILM REVIEW: David Cronenberg’s ‘Maps to the Stars’

Posted on September 5, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett David Cronenberg has made some terrific pictures but his latest, “Maps to the Stars”, is not one of them. Filled with bile, it spins a risible yarn about two generations of a family who find that lust … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Reviews, TIFF Toronto International Film Festival | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on TIFF FILM REVIEW: David Cronenberg’s ‘Maps to the Stars’

THEATRE REVIEW: ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’

Posted on July 26, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett Simon Brett’s adaptation of “The Importance of Being Earnest” at the Harold Pinter Theatre is not a straightforward production of the classic Oscar Wilde comedy as all the performers are far too old for their characters but … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on THEATRE REVIEW: ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’

FILM REVIEW: Richard Linklater’s ‘Boyhood’

Posted on July 11, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett Richard Linklater’s latest film is about a mother and her son and daughter but he has titled it “Boyhood” and it becomes clear that he sees it as an exercise in nostalgia. It will strike a chord … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on FILM REVIEW: Richard Linklater’s ‘Boyhood’

FILM REVIEW: Darren Aronofsky’s ‘Noah’ (spoilers)

Posted on April 1, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett Darren Aronofsky’s epic “Noah” is uproarious fun because it’s hard to tell if it’s an impressionist but serious take on the biblical tale or a giant piss-take. (Note: This review contains many spoilers.) It has splashy special effects, … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on FILM REVIEW: Darren Aronofsky’s ‘Noah’ (spoilers)

FILM REVIEW: Scarlett Johansson in ‘Under the Skin’

Posted on March 14, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett The vivid old Scots word “eldritch” could have been coined for Jonathan Glazer’s spooky new film “Under the Skin” starring Scarlett Johansson as an alien on the prowl in Scotland. Based on Michael Faber’s novel of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Reviews | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on FILM REVIEW: Scarlett Johansson in ‘Under the Skin’

FILM REVIEW: The Coen Bros.’ ‘Inside Llewyn Davis’

Posted on January 19, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – In the 1960s, the sign that it was time to leave a party was when the humourless bloke with the beard pulled out his guitar. The Coen Bros. make that guy the focus of “Inside … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Music, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on FILM REVIEW: The Coen Bros.’ ‘Inside Llewyn Davis’

FILM REVIEW: Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’

Posted on January 16, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Martin Scorsese’s “The Wolf of Wall Street” is a blend of “Wall Street” without the great speeches, “Caligula” with the decadence and the porn and “Scarface” with the drugs but without the machine guns. It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on FILM REVIEW: Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’

FILM REVIEW: Robert Redford in ‘All Is Lost’

Posted on December 26, 2013 by admin

By Ray Bennett Robert Redford gives a career-best performance as a man alone in peril aboard a sailing craft in the Indian Ocean in J. C. Chandor’s first-class thriller “All Is Lost”.

Posted in Film, Reviews | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on FILM REVIEW: Robert Redford in ‘All Is Lost’