Category Archives: Reviews

FILM REVIEW: David O’ Russell’s ‘American Hustle’

Posted on December 21, 2013 by admin

By Ray Bennett The jazziest American filmmaker since Robert Altman, David O’Russell makes it three top-flight jams in a row with his rambunctious and hugely enjoyable comedy “American Hustle”. Like Altman, Russell assembles expert side-men and women, provides the key … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on FILM REVIEW: David O’ Russell’s ‘American Hustle’

FILM REVIEW: Alexander Payne’s ‘Nebraska’

Posted on December 7, 2013 by admin

By Ray Bennett Alexander Payne’s “Nebraska” is as rich and engaging as its monochrome images of the American northwest are crisp and daunting. A road picture about dashed aspirations and misguided dreams with some kind of redemption, it’s like a … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on FILM REVIEW: Alexander Payne’s ‘Nebraska’

FILM REVIEW: ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’

Posted on November 22, 2013 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Prince Philip once landed at Heathrow and someone asked him how was his flight. The Prince said, ‘Have you ever been on a plane? It was like that.” Much can be said of movie sequels. … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on FILM REVIEW: ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’

THEATRE REVIEW: ‘Much Ado About Nothing’

Posted on September 24, 2013 by admin

James Earl Jones and Vanessa Redgrave in ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ at the Old Vic through Nov. 30. By Ray Bennett LONDON – To cast a pair of old-timers – James Earl Jones, 82, and Vanessa Redgrave, 76 – as … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, Theatre | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on THEATRE REVIEW: ‘Much Ado About Nothing’

TIFF FILM REVIEWS: ’12 Years a Slave’, ‘The Railway Man’, ‘Philomena’

Posted on September 13, 2013 by admin

By Ray Bennett TORONTO – Of three major films at the Toronto International Film Festival that deal with slavery – “12 Years a Slave”, “The Railway Man” and “Philomena” – it’s no surprise that the most gripping is the one … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Reviews, TIFF Toronto International Film Festival | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on TIFF FILM REVIEWS: ’12 Years a Slave’, ‘The Railway Man’, ‘Philomena’

TIFF FILM REVIEW: Streep, Roberts in ‘August: Osage County’

Posted on September 12, 2013 by admin

By Ray Bennett TORONTO: At the start of “August: Osage County” an ageing poet and lifetime alcoholic leaves his family home to go drown in the lake and as the film goes on, the puzzle is why he hadn’t done … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Reviews, TIFF Toronto International Film Festival | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on TIFF FILM REVIEW: Streep, Roberts in ‘August: Osage County’

TIFF FILM REVIEW: Thompson, Bronson in ‘The Love Punch’

Posted on September 12, 2013 by admin

By Ray Bennett TORONTO: An embarrassment for all concerned, “The Love Punch” is an irredeemably stupid concoction that aims to please the older crowd by showing middle-aged, middle-class people behaving as foolishly as possible.

Posted in Film, Reviews, TIFF Toronto International Film Festival | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on TIFF FILM REVIEW: Thompson, Bronson in ‘The Love Punch’

TIFF FILM REVIEW: Ron Howard’s ‘Rush’

Posted on September 11, 2013 by admin

By Ray Bennett TORONTO – Ron Howard’s Formula 1 racing picture “Rush” is top-class entertainment as it relates the 1970s rivalry between two very different drivers with intense drama on and off the track. Chris Hemsworth (“Thor”) stars as charismatic … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Reviews, TIFF Toronto International Film Festival | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on TIFF FILM REVIEW: Ron Howard’s ‘Rush’

TIFF FILM REVIEW: Daniel Radcliffe in ‘Kill Your Darlings’

Posted on September 10, 2013 by admin

By Ray Bennett TORONTO – Poetry and poets have seldom fared well in movies and “Kill Your Darlings”, in which Daniel Radcliffe plays “Howl” creator Allen Ginsberg as a young man, is no exception. Directed by New York filmmaker John … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Reviews, TIFF Toronto International Film Festival | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on TIFF FILM REVIEW: Daniel Radcliffe in ‘Kill Your Darlings’

TIFF FILM REVIEW: Alfonso Cuaron’s ‘Gravity 3D’

Posted on September 10, 2013 by admin

By Ray Bennett TORONTO – Digital and 3D filmmaking will win more fans if the movies are anywhere as good as Alfonso Cuaron’s spectacularly fine “Gravity”. The picture shows none of the seams of CGI as it depicts with breath-taking … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Reviews, TIFF Toronto International Film Festival | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on TIFF FILM REVIEW: Alfonso Cuaron’s ‘Gravity 3D’