Other Films Watched | LFF 2022
/
© BFI London Film Festival 2022
Here, you'll find quick, mini-reviews about films I watched throughout this year's London Film Festival that I didn't have time to write a full, lengthy article about. By clicking on the titles below, you'll be redirected to the respective review.
The Banshees of Inisherin Decision to Leave Causeway My Policeman
She is Love The Menu She Said
© 2022 20th Century Studios All Rights Reserved.
The Banshees of Inisherin
Directed by: Martin McDonagh
Written by: Martin McDonagh
Starring: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Kerry Condon, Barry Keoghan
Runtime: 114 min
Synopsis: Lifelong friends Pádraic (Colin Farrell) and Colm (Brendan Gleeson) find themselves at an impasse when Colm unexpectedly puts an end to their friendship. A stunned Pádraic, aided by his sister Siobhán (Kerry Condon) and troubled young islander Dominic (Barry Keoghan), endeavors to repair the relationship, refusing to take no for an answer. But Pádraic's repeated efforts only strengthen his former friend’s resolve and when Colm delivers a desperate ultimatum, events swiftly escalate, with shocking consequences.
Review: The Banshees of Inisherin is a classic tragicomedy from Martin McDonagh: genuinely hilarious and deceptively inconsequential until it ceases to be. Despite the expected tonal shift, the narrative follows an even darker path than expected, and the turning point is capable of leaving some viewers "lost" for a while. Nevertheless, the filmmaker delivers a brutal, shocking story about friendship and the importance of some alone time. Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson are absolutely brilliant, as are Kerry Condon and Barry Keoghan. One of the most stunning films of the year - gorgeously shot by Ben Davis - in addition to being accompanied by a lovely yet haunting score (Carter Burwell).
Rating: B+
© CJ Entertainment
Decision to Leave
Directed by: Park Chan-wook
Written by: Chung Seo-Kyung, Park Chan-wook
Starring: Tang Wei, Park Hae-il
Runtime: 138 min
Synopsis: From a mountain peak in South Korea, a man plummets to his death. Did he jump, or was he pushed? When detective Hae-joon (Park Hae-il) arrives on the scene, he begins to suspect the dead man's wife Seo-rae (Tang Wei). But as he digs deeper into the investigation, he finds himself trapped in a web of deception and desire.
Review: Decision to Leave is far from Park Chan-wook's best works, but it's still an intriguing, layered story about obsession and "forbidden love". It captures the viewer's full attention during the engaging first part, where the central theme and the respective romance appear to be in sync. However, momentum is lost with the repetitive, lengthy second half in which the same narrative points are approached without the same impact. Surprising humor provides a good balance, but it strangely ceases to be used after a certain point.
Rating: B-
© A24
Causeway
Directed by: Lila Neugebauer
Written by: Ottessa Moshfegh, Luke Goebel, Elizabeth Sanders
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Brian Tyree Henry, Linda Emond, Jayne Houdyshell, Stephen McKinley Henderson
Runtime: 92 min
Synopsis: An intimate portrait of a soldier struggling to adjust to her life after returning home to New Orleans.
Review: Causeway possesses detailed, subtle performances by Jennifer Lawrence and Brian Tyree Henry - excellent chemistry - who truly carry the film on their shoulders. Lila Neugebauer doesn't bring anything new to the military subgenre of "veteran returns home", but she knows how to give the spotlight to the actors, making the best possible decisions for them to shine. Formulaic and predictable but interesting enough for fans of these types of stories.
Rating: B-
© Amazon Studios
My Policeman
Directed by: Michael Grandage
Written by: Ron Nyswaner
Starring: Harry Styles, Emma Corrin, Gina McKee, Linus Roache, David Dawson, Rupert Everett
Runtime: 113 min
Synopsis: Three young people - policeman Tom (Harry Styles), teacher Marion (Emma Corrin), and museum curator Patrick (David Dawson) - embark on an emotional journey in 1950s Britain. Flashing forward to the 1990s, Tom (Linus Roache), Marion (Gina McKee), and Patrick (Rupert Everett) are still reeling with longing and regret, but now they have one last chance to repair the damage of the past.
Review: My Policeman lacks everything: energy, surprises, good performances, and an interesting story. A hollow, dull, instantly forgettable movie that fails to deliver anything of merit. Harry Styles reveals many problems when a scene needs to be carried by him, even turning dramatic moments into laughable line deliveries. The older cast saves this from a total disaster by trying to sail the whole film to safe harbor. Not only is it by far the worst movie of the festival, but it's also difficult to find similar competition in 2022.
Rating: D-
© Signature Films
She is Love
Directed by: Jamie Adams
Written by: Jamie Adams
Starring: Haley Bennett, Sam Riley, Marisa Abela
Runtime: 82 min
Synopsis: Estranged for more than a decade, a divorced couple revisits the past while remaining open to new beginnings.
Review: She is Love definitely holds a remarkably unique style, but one that fails to emotionally grab the audience. Haley Bennett and Sam Riley share amazing chemistry, Marisa Abela brings some fun into the film, and the cast’s improvisation skills are admirable. However, the extreme close-ups, shaky cam, abrupt cuts, and chaotic editing make it a frustrating viewing. Whenever a scene is able to break through the screen and reach the hearts of everyone watching, a creative/technical decision comes to remove all emotion attached. Not for the general moviegoer.
Rating: C-
© Searchlight Pictures
The Menu
Directed by: Mark Mylod
Written by: Seth Reiss, Will Tracy
Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, Ralph Fiennes, Hong Chau, Janet McTeer, Judith Light, John Leguizamo
Runtime: 106 min
Synopsis: A couple, Margot (Anya Taylor-Joy) and Tyler (Nicholas Hoult), travel to a coastal island in the Pacific Northwest to eat at an exclusive restaurant, Hawthorn, where the reclusive, globally celebrated Chef Julian Slowik (Ralph Fiennes) has prepared a lavish tasting menu for select special guests. Slowik's motivation begins to rattle the diners as it becomes increasingly apparent that his elaborate menu is designed to catalyze a shocking finale.
Review: The Menu is one of the biggest personal disappointments of the year. Mark Mylod's film boasts inspired performances by the entire cast - Ralph Fiennes and Nicholas Hoult stand out - and some clever satirical moments, but pretty much nothing else works. Humor falls completely flat - except for the sequences à la Masterchef Australia. Screenplay follows surprisingly generic paths, being a mystery without any minimally impactful shock. Characters lack depth, and the anti-elite message is too evident and insignificant. It should still get an overall positive reception.
Rating: C-
© Universal Pictures
She Said
Directed by: Maria Schrader
Written by: Rebecca Lenkiewicz
Starring: Carey Mulligan, Zoe Kazan, Patricia Clarkson, Andre Braugher, Jennifer Ehle
Runtime: 133 min
Synopsis: Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan star as New York Times reporters Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor, who together broke one of the most important stories in a generation - a story that helped propel the #MeToo movement, shattered decades of silence around the subject of sexual assault in Hollywood and altered American culture forever.
Review: She Said proves that even a formulaic, overlong movie can still be incredibly compelling and emotionally impactful. The haunting true story of Harvey Weinstein's accounts of sexual abuse is approached with heartfelt care, dedication, and respect for the victims. Everything is elevated by absolutely brilliant performances from the cast, most notably Zoe Kazan. Even without significant innovations, Maria Schrader keeps the narrative interesting with the help of Nicholas Britell's score. It deserves to be seen by everyone.
