Category Archives: Reviews

TIFF FILM REVIEW: Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Prisoners’

Posted on September 10, 2013 by admin

By Ray Bennett TORONTO – The positive reviews of Canadian director Denis Villeneuve’s second film, a police procedural titled “Prisoners”, are a puzzle since “Criminal Minds” has done this stuff better week in and week out on TV for a … Continue reading →

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TIFF FILM REVIEW: Jude Law in ‘Dom Hemingway’

Posted on September 9, 2013 by admin

By Ray Bennett TORONTO: Petite and cultured Jude Law in his new film “Dom Hemingway” aspires to become a tough-guy London gangster type and fails risibly. He’s bulked up and balding but he’s more Phil Collins than Jason Statham in … Continue reading →

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TIFF FILM REVIEW: ‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’

Posted on September 9, 2013 by admin

By Ray Bennett TORONTO – “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” is altogether earnest and honourable with fine performances by Idris Elba and Naomie Harris but its natural home appears to be television rather than the movies. Director Justin Chadwick is … Continue reading →

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FILM REVIEW: Woody Allen’s ‘Blue Jasmine’

Posted on September 2, 2013 by admin

By Ray Bennett TORONTO: Woody Allen’s “Blue Jasmine” is the work of a seasoned filmmaker in full command of his considerable gifts as he tells of two sisters who each in their way rely on the kindness of strangers. Cate … Continue reading →

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THEATRE REVIEW: Lester and Kinnear in ‘Othello’

Posted on April 26, 2013 by admin

By Ray Bennett Nicholas Hytner’s production of “Othello” at the National Theatre has drawn rave reviews from UK critics and in the theatre it was easy to be consumed by the power of the play and the great acting, but … Continue reading →

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An evening at the Idler with Tinker and Sir Tim

Posted on April 1, 2013 by admin

By Ray Bennett Dudley Sutton (pictured above) says that although he has done a few, he prefers not to record his poetry and songs, which is a great shame for posterity but makes his performance at the Idler Academy, along … Continue reading →

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FILM REVIEW: Kathryn Bigelow’s ‘Zero Dark Thirty’

Posted on January 25, 2013 by admin

By Ray Bennett Kathryn Bigelow’s taut and exciting “Zero Dark Thirty” tells how a single-minded CIA officer drove the decade-long hunt for Osama Bin Laden and does not stop for politics or personal lives. Unlike Ben Affleck’s CIA film “Argo”, … Continue reading →

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FILM REVIEW: Steven Spielberg’s ‘Lincoln’

Posted on January 25, 2013 by admin

By Ray Bennett Steven Spielberg has done a very bold thing with his film “Lincoln” and elected with Daniel Day Lewis to portray a truly great man over one intense period toward the end of his life rather than attempt … Continue reading →

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FILM REVIEW: Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Django Unchained’

Posted on January 20, 2013 by admin

By Ray Bennett In all that time Quentin Tarantino spent in his storied video store as a young man, you’d think he would have seen one or two decent films instead of the rubbish he re-peddles. There might be a … Continue reading →

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FILM REVIEW: Woe are they: ‘Les Miserables’

Posted on January 11, 2013 by admin

By Ray Bennett Fans of the musical “Les Miserables” guarantee that it will make you cry, and they are right. Like the stage show, the film is a near three-hour wallow in a swamp of misery with an endless litany … Continue reading →

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