Film

Film Indexed by Director:

A

Alegria, Oskar

The Search for Emak Bakia – Oskar Alegria and the search for the clown within. (SFF Film Review)

Alfredson, Thomas

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy: Tomas Alfredson does the 1970′s with understated flair

Allen, Woody

Midnight in Paris – Woody’s letter to himself.

To Rome with Love – Woody Allen and the whistle-stop tour does Italy

Vicky Christina Barcelona – Woody Allen and the impossibility of our desires. (Film review)

Almodovar, Pedro

Volver – Pedro Almodovar blurrs the boundaries between life and death.

The Skin I Live In: Almodavar at his most disturbing best.

Anderson, Paul Thomas

“The Master” review – Paul Thomas Anderson and the Death-Drive

Magnolia – Falling frogs and coincidence, Paul Thomas Anderson Style. (Film Review)

Punch Drunk Love – Paul Thomas Anderson and the Rom-Com. (Film Review)

Anderson, Wes

SFF: Moonrise Kingdom – Wes Anderson and the fun of films

Anh Hung, Tran

Norwegian Wood: Death, grief and sex.

Antonioni, Michelangelo

Red Desert : Michelangelo Antonioni embraces colour

Audiard, Jacques

Rust and Bone – Jacques Audiard’s film on Melodrama. (film review)

Ayer, David

End of Watch – David Ayer takes the cop buddy movie a little deeper.

Ayoade, Richard

Submarine – A journey through a genre.

B

Baumback, Noah

Frances Ha – Noah Baumback grows a heart and cires “Look at my girlfriend!” (Sydney Film Festival Film Review)

Berger, Pablo

Blancanieves – Pablo Berger and the rediscovery of beauty past. (SFF Film Review)

Bergman, Ingmar

Persona: Bergman’s film of obsession and control.

The Hour of the Wolf: The decent into madness at Bergman’s behest.

Fanny and Alexander: Bergmans final triumph

Berninger, Tom

Mistaken for Strangers – The National, The Berningers and rock stars. (Sydney FF Film Review)

Bigelow, Katherine

Zero Dark Thirty – Katherine Bigelow takes out Osama bin Laden. (Film Review)

Boyle, Danny

Trance – Danny Boyle and the philosophy of memory and identity.

Bresson, Robert

Au Hasard Balthazar: Life in a world that hates us.

The Trial of Joan of Arc: Bresson answers Dreyer with sound

Mouchette: The Muses never talk to each other, but sometimes they dance.

Film review: Pickpocket. Robert Bresson

Bujalski, Andrew

Computer Chess – Andrew Bujalski reminds us that Computers used to be exciting. (Sydney FF Film Review)

Buñuel, Luis

The Young One – Luis Buñuel does English / American

That Obscure Object of Desire – Luis Buñuel and the universality of desire.

Diary of a Chambermaid: Bunuel at his best.

Los Olvidados: Bunuel introduces us to the real street urchins Dickens never knew.

Las Hurdes: Luis Bunuel and the surrealist documentary

Luis Bunuel: The Phantom of Liberty – A review

C

Carax, Leo

SFF: Holy Motors – Leos Carax and the question of Free Will

Carruth, Shayne

Upstream Color – Shane Carruth asks who are we when “it” takes over? (Sydney FF Film Review)

Chabrol, Claude

Les Cousins – Chabrol takes the French New Wave on a descent to Hell.

Madam Bovary: Claude Chabrol takes on a classic

Chan-Wook, Park

Stoker – Park Chan-Wook and his ode to Hitchcock. (Sydney FF Film Review)

Chytilová, Věra

Daisies – Věra Chytilová offers us jouissance and the abundant Libidinal economy.

Cianfrance, Derek

The Place Beyond the Pines – Derek Cianfrance and the testosterone high. (film review)

Clooney, George

The Ides of March: Bit of a yawn really.

Clouzot, Henri-Georges

Le Corbeau: The Raven – Clouzot teaches us the power of gossip

Cocteau, Jean

Les Enfants Terribles: A Jean Cocteau and Jean-Pierre Melville masterpiece.

La Belle et la bête – Jean Cocteau re-imagines fairytales. (film review)

Coppola, Sophia

The Bling Ring – Sophia Coppola and the cult of celebrity. (SFF Film Review)

Cowperthwaite, Gabriella

Blackfish – Gabriela Cowperthwaite with a “just the facts” look at the dark side of SeaWolrd. (Sydney Film Festival Film Review)

Cronenberg, David

A dangerous Method – Cronenberg spins a Jungian yarn.

D

Daniels, Lee

The Paperboy – Lee Daniels and the question of what went wrong with a butchered script. (film review)

Delpy, Julie

FFF:Le Skylab – Julie Delpy does family

del Toro, Guillermo

Pacific Rim – Guillermo del Toro and tweenage passion. (Film Review)

Dominik, Andrew

Killing them Softly – Andrew Dominik reveals America is a business.

McDonagh, Martin

Seven Psychopaths Review – Martin McDonagh goes cute n’ clever on the art of the screenplay.

Dulac, Germaine

The Seashell and the Clergyman – Antonin Artaud, cinema and abstraction. (Film review / analysis)

E

Epstein, Rob

Lovelace – Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman tell half a tale that’s true. (film review)

F

Fassbinder, Rainer Werner

Fox and his Friends – Fassbinder on sex

Beware of a holy whore: Fassbinders take on film

In a year with 13 moons – Fassbinder and the desperation of love

Lili Marleen: Fassbinder’s take on Nazism.

Love is Colder than Death – Fassbinder starts out with a bang.

The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant – Fassbinder and the art of woman

The American Soldier – Fassbinder does Godard

Mother Küsters goes to Heaven – Fassbinder and the the question of what comes after exploitation.

Martha – Fassbinder takes us to the darkest place. (Film Review)

Ali: Fear Eats the Soul – Older Woman Younger Man Fassbinder style (Film Review)

Fear of Fear – Fassbinder predicts the medicated society. (Film Review)

God’s of the Plague – Fassbinder and the haunted power of the image (film review)

Querelle – Fassbinder does Genet. (film review)

Katzelmacher – Fassbinder makes his first “bourgeois” film. (film review)

Whity – Fassbinder and the dark side of the Western. (film Review)

Fedorchenko, Aleksei

The Fourth Dimension – Korine, Fedorchenko and Kwiecinski take us to another place. (Sydney Underground Film Festival)

Feinnes, Sophie

The Perverts Guide To Ideology – Slavoj Žižek says we are responsible for our dreams. (Sydney FF Film Review)

The Perverts Guide to Cinema – Slavoj Žižek and the reality of cinematic fiction. (film review)

Fellini, Federico

La Strada: A tale trapped between earth and sky

Fincher, David

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: David Fincher goes Hollywood on Sweden

Fleischer, Ruben

Gangster Squad – Ruben Fleischer’s good v’s evil. (film review)

Forman, Miloš

Loves of a Blonde: Miloš Forman knows it’s difficult to be ‘normal’

The Firemen’s Ball: Controversy in the Prague Spring.

Forster, Marc

World War Z – Brad Pitt and Marc Forster show us it’s cool to be PC (Film Review)

Franco, James

Francopherenia – James Franco on the complexities of being James Franco (Sydney underground Film Festival)

Franju, Georges

Eyes Without a Face: Georges Franju teaches us about horror

Fricke, Ron

Samsara – Ron Fricke and Mark Magidson guide your meditation. (film review)

G

Gervasi, Sasha

Hitchcock – A Wikipedia guide to Psycho from Sasha Gervasi. (Film Review)

Glawogger, Michael

SFF: Whore’s Glory – Sex, money and death with Michael Glawogger.

Godard, Jean-Luc

Bande à part – Godard celebrates the outsider.

À bout de souffle – At breaths End – Breathless 52 years on.

Contempt – Enjoy a little Avant-Godard

Paris vu Par: Godard gathers up his friends to show us Paris.

Pierrot le Fou – Godard and the ecstasy of words.

2 or 3 Things I know about her – Jean Luc Godard whispers meaningfully. (Film Review)

Le Gai Savoir – Godard teaches while we experience the Joy of Learning. (film review)

Goldberg, Evan

This is the End : Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg do Bromance, again. (Film Review)

Gomes, Miguel

Tabu – Miguel Gomes and the endless beauty of cinema. (film review)

Gosling, Maureen

This Ain’t no Mouse Music – Chris Simon and Maureen Gosling remind us things need to be captured or they will be lost. (Sydney FF Film Review)

Guy, Sebastien

Nerve – Sebastien Guy at the very start of something. (Sydney Film Festival Film Review)

H

Haneke, Michael

SFF: Amour – Michael Haneke and the question of the end.

71 Fragments of a chronology of chance – Haneke ice cold. (film review)

Funny Games – Haneke holds a mirror. (film review)

Time of the Wolf – Haneke and the start of all things at the end of the World. (Film Review)

The Piano Teacher – Jelinek and Haneke and Austria. (film review)

Herzog, Werner

Stroszek: Herzog and the ultimate road trip

Heart of Glass – Herzog hypnotizes everyone.

My son My son what have ye done – Lynch and Herzog team up.

Nosferatu (1979) – Herzog’s classic take on a classic

The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser: How do your smarts measure up?

Herz, Juraj

Spalovac mrtvol (The Cremator) – A film by Juraj Herz

Hillcoat, John

Lawless: Nick Cave and American violence.

Hitchcock, Alfred

Rope – Hitchcock tricking you into seeing what’s “there” when it’s the unspeakable “there.”

The Lady Vanishes – Hitchcock makes something out of nothing

Shadow of a Doubt – Hitchcock offers us a little Freud.

Honoré, Christophe

FFF: Beloved – Les Bien-Aimes, songs, mothers and daughters.

Ma Mere – Christophe Honoré and Bataille on the silver screen. (film review)

Huzarik, Zolatan

Szinbad – beauty in the profoundly ugly from Zoltan Huzarik

I

Imamura, Shôhei

The Eel: Dark, sweet, odd Japan.

J

Jackson, Peter

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – What’s not to love after all? (film review)

Jazquot, Benoit

Farewell My Queen – Benoît Jacquot and the object of desire between women. (French Film Festival film review)

Jarmusch, Jim

Permanent Vacation – Jim Jarmusch starts his journey of cool. (film Review)

Dead Man – Jim Jarmusch, William Blake and the death of America. (film review)

Stranger than Paradise – Jim Jarmusch and the deadpan comedy of the absurd. (film review)

Johnson, Rian

Looper – A mothers love will save us all.

K

Kachyna, Karel

The Ear – They’re watching you.

Kargman, Bess

First Position – Bess Kargman and the complicated world of child dancers. (film review)

Kawalerowicz, Jerzy

Mother Joan of the Angels – Jerzy Kawalerowicz and repression in “Devil Possession” films. (film review)

Korine, Harmonie

The Fourth Dimension – Korine, Fedorchenko and Kwiecinski take us to another place. (Sydney Underground Film Festival)

Sping Breakers – Harmony Korine goes wild. (film review)

Kosinski, Joseph

Oblivion – Joseph Kosinski celebrates 70′s sci-fi. (film review)

Kravitz, Tony

Dead Europe – Tony Kravitz tells us we are what we believe. (Film Review)

Kristjánsdóttir, Kristín

Grandma Lo-fi: The Basement Tapes of Sigrídur Níelsdóttir (Antenna Documentary Film Festival)

Kurosawa, Akira

High and Low – Akira Kurosawa asks which is heaven and which is hell?

Ikiru – Akira Kurosawa and what it means to live

Rashomon – Stories, lies, perspectives and human weakness.

Seven Samurai – Akira Kurosawa starts a trend.

Kurzel, Justin

Snowtown: Australian Gothic

Kwiecinski, Jan

The Fourth Dimension – Korine, Fedorchenko and Kwiecinski take us to another place. (Sydney Underground Film Festival)

L

LaGravenese, Richard

Beautiful Creatures – Richard LaGravenese and the love of a good script. (film reviews)

Larrain, Pablo

No – Pablo Larraín and the question of selling out. (film review)

Legrand, Gilles

You Will Be My Son – Gilles Legrand films the pathological fear of death.

Lellouche, Sophie

FFF: Paris-Manhattan review

Linklater, Richard

Before Midnight – Three writers and one of the best couples in cinema. (SFF Film Review)

A Scanner Darkly – Richard Linklater and the separation of left and right brain. (film review)

Dazed and Confused – Richard Linklater and the horrors of teenage life. (Film Review)

Lloyd, Pyllidia

The Iron lady – Nothing to see but Meryl Streep

Loach, Ken

SFF: The Angels Share – Ken Loach and the power of feeling good through Whiskey.

Luketic, Robert

Paranoia – Robert Luketic and The not-so-Firm remake. (film review)

Lvovsky, Noemie

Camille Rewinds – Noémie Lvovsky realises sometimes bad things happen for good reasons. (film review from the French Film Fest)

M

McDonagh, Martin

Seven Psychopaths Review – Martin McDonagh goes cute n’ clever on the art of the screenplay.

McDonalid, Ian

Algorithms – Ian McDonald reminds us, four moves in we are all blind. (Sydney Film Festival review)

Maccarone, Angela

FFF: The Look – Charlotte Rampling gives us a self portrait through others.

McKenzie, Catriona

Satelite Boy – Catriona McKenzie brings the land to our laps. (Film Review)

Maddin, Guy

Keyhole – Guy Maddin dreams of Ulysses (Sydney Underground Film Festival)

The Saddest music in the World – Guy Maddin makes morbid arty self-consciousness fun. (film review)

Malick, Terrance

Why I won’t be reviewing Terrence Malick

Meise, Sebastian

Outing – Discussion of the ultimate taboo: Antenna Documentary Film Festival

Mehta, Deepa

Midnight’s Children – Deepa Mehta squashes generations into two hours. (SFF film review)

Melville, Jean-Pierre

Jean Pierre Melville: Un Flic

Mendes, Sam

Skyfall – how to do Bond for over 50 years (film review)

Mendoza, Brillante

SFF: Captive – Brillante Mendoza goes Political

Menzel, Jiří

Larks on a String: Jiří Menzel and Bohumil Hrabal defeat totalitarianism with spirit.

Closely Watched Trains: The Czech New Wave consistently ahead of its time.

I served the King of England – Jiri Menzel’s take on Bohumil Hrabal just after the Prague Spring.

N

Němec, Jan

Diamonds of the Night – Heartbreaking beauty by Jan Němec in his first film.

The Party and the Guests: Jan Němec – the film they banned for years.

Netzer, Călin Peter

Child’s Pose – Călin Peter Netzer and oppressive mother regimes. (SFF Film Review)

Newell, Mike

So Many Great Expectations – Mike Newell and the ninth version.

O

Ole Gerster, Jan

Oh Boy – Jan Ole Gerster tells us to say goodbye to a certain type of Berlin. (Sydney Film Festival Film Review)

Olds, Ian

Francopherenia – James Franco on the complexities of being James Franco (Sydney underground Film Festival)

Ophüls, Max

The Earings of Madame de: 1950′s French Cinema chic

Oppenheimer, Josh

The Act of Killing – Josh Oppenheimer brings the documentary to the forefront of film making. (Sydney FF Film Review)

Oshima, Nagisa

Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence: One of the best war films ever made.

The Empire of the Passions: Japan at its most passionate.

Ozon, Francoise

8 Femmes – Francois Ozon alludes to anything and everything.

Francois Ozon: Film as art, art as film.

Water Drops on Burning Rocks – Ozon uses Fassbinder to get steamy.

P

Pálfi, György

Final Cut Ladies and Gentlemen – György Pálfi and the film of 500 films. (Sydney FF Film Review)

Petzold, Christian

SFF: Barbara – Christian Petzold asks do I go or do I stay.

Phillips, Todd

The Hangover 3 – What’s not to love? (film review)

Polanski, Roman

Carnage: Roman Polansky in real time.

Death and the Maiden: Dorfman’s guide to Hell

Roman Polanski: A film Memoir – Laurent Bouzereau let’s the camera roll. (Film Review)

Potter, Sally

Ginger and Rosa – Sally Potter and the problem with girl/women (Sydney Film Festival Film Review)

Press, Richard

Bill Cunningham New York: Depth behind the frivolity of fashion

Q

R

Ramsay, Lynne

We need to talk about Kevin: Cinematic quality in a sea of ambiguity.

Reider, Thomas

Outing – Discussion of the ultimate taboo: Antenna Documentary Film Festival

Renoir, Jean

The Rules of the Game – Greatest film ever made.

Resnais, Alain

Last year at Marienbad Results in an Amorous Event – Detail from seiminar by Alex Ling

Last Year at Marienbad – One of the great art works of 20th Century.

Private Fears in Public Places – Alain Resnais shows us our naked human heart. (film review)

Hiroshima Mon Amour – Resnais and Duras and the tragedy of memory. (Film review)

My American Uncle – Alain Resnais and the thing that drives us. (Film Review)

Night and Fog – Resnais asks who is to blame and reminds us we have to know. (Film Review)

Rivette, Jaques

Céline and Julie go boating – The quiet achiever of the French new wave goes epic.

La Belle Noiseuse – Jaques Rivette toys with artistic temperament.

Va Savoir – Jacques Rivette and the subtle pleasures of the Nouvelle Vague

Robelin, Stephane

FFF: And if we all lived together – A very enjoyable senior moment.

Rohmer, Eric

Love in the Afternoon: Rohmer and the end of Six moral tales.

My Night at Maud’s – Eric Rohmer and the spirit of the Nouvelle Vague

The Bakery Girl of Monceau – Eric Rhomer comes alive!

Rosenfeld, Lauren

Captive Radio – Lauren Rosenfeld and the power of the human voice to reach accross the jungles of terror. (Sydney Film Festival short film review)

Russell, David O.

The Silver Linings Playbook – David O. Russell gives us a rom-com for the severely depressed. (film Review)

S

Saakyan, Maria

The Lighthouse – Maria Saakyan shows us Armenia as a dream

Schepisi, Fredric

The Eye of The Storm – sex and molestation for those over 55.

Schwartz, Jeffery

I am Divine – Jeffrey Schwarz gives us a “What’s-not-to-love” look at the most beautiful woman in the world. (Sydney Film Festival Film Review)

Scorsese, Martin

Hugo: Scorsese can do family flicks! Who knew?

Seidl, Ulrich

Paradise: Love – Ulrich Seidl and the uglienss of unmet desire. (SFF Film Review)

Simon, Chris

This Ain’t no Mouse Music – Chris Simon and Maureen Gosling remind us things need to be captured or they will be lost. (Sydney FF Film Review)

Soderbergh, Steven

Side Effects – Steven Soderbergh and the twisting plot combined with the old chestnut. (film review)

Behind the Candelabra – Steven Soderbergh and the ‘appropriate gay’. (film review)

The Soskas

American Mary – The Soska Twins take on Bod.Mod. (film review)

Stillman, Whit

Damsels in Distress – Whit Stillman back after thirteen years. (Film Review)

Sukurov, Alexander

SFF: Faust – Sokurov reads between the lines.

Szumowska, Małgorzata

FFF: Elles – A day in the life of journalistic integrity.

T

Tarentino, Quentin

Django Unchained – Tarantino and the Spaghetti Western (film review)

Tarkovsky, Andrei

Solaris – The film Tarkovsky didn’t like.

Tavernier, Bertrand

Coup de torchon (Clean Slate) – Bertrand Tavernier and the dark comic side of French Colonialism. (film review)

Teshigahara, Hiroshi

Woman of the Dunes: Existentialism at its disturbing best.

Thatcher, Ben

Short Film – Homecoming. (C’me on! We’ve ALL been there)

Trapero, Pablo

White Elephant – Pablo Trapero and the snapshot of the now. (Sydney FF Film Review)

Truffaut, Francoise

Jules and Jim: Genius locked away in a moment in time.

FFF: The last Metro – Truffaut and the mightiest of tensions

The Soft Skin – Truffaut recommends fidelity in marraige – or else. (film review)

Tykwer, Tom

Cloud Atlas – The Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer make the most expensive independant film of all time. (film review)

U

V

Vallée, Jean-Marc

Cafe de Flore – Music, ritual, religion and life.

Van Groeningen, Felix

The Broken Circle Breakdown – Felix Van Groeningen and the attraction of opposites. (Sydney Film Festival Film Review)

Van Sant, Gus

Restless: Gus Van Sant’s take on death.

Various

Destricted – The place where art and pornography connect. (film review)

Vinterberg, Thomas

The Hunt – Thomas Vinterberg and the Salem Witch Hunts. (film review)

Vláčil, František

Marketa Lazarová – The greatest Czech film of all time

The Valley of the Bees – František Vláčil tells a tale of obsessive horror.

Adelheid – František Vláčil places all his hope in what goes on between two people. (film review)

Von Trier, Lars

Melancholia: An exquisite chicks flick.

Melancholia Non Grata: Lars von Trier and the Infinite Sadness

The Kingdom Pt 1 – tons of fun the von Trier way. (film review)

Breaking the Waves – Lars Von Trier and the infinite sadness. (film review)

Antichrist – Lars Von Trier and extreme grief. (Film Review)

W

Wachowskis

Cloud Atlas – The Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer make the most expensive independant film of all time. (film review)

Westmeier, Inigo

Dragon Girls – Inigo Westmeier and the Kung Fu girls of the Shao Lin. (Sydney Film Festival Film Review)

Wenders, Wim

Land of Plenty – Wim Wenders as a friend of America (film review)

A trick of the Light – Wim Wenders reminds us the German’s did it first. (Film Review)

Wexler, Tina

Hysteria – Enjoyment at its peak.

Winding Refn, Nicholas

Drive: A boys film the girls will love.

Only God Forgives – Nicolas Winding Refn and the Oedipus reach. (Sydney Film Festival Film Review)

Pusher Three: I am the Angel of Death – Nicolas Winding Refn completes his ode to Goodfellas. (Film Review)

Pusher 2: With Blood on my Hands – Nicolas Winging Refn and one of the best sequels ever made. (film Review)

Pusher – A young director leaves the womb. (Film Review)

Winterbottom, Michael

The Look of Love – Michael Winterbottom’s missed opportunities. (SFF Film Review)

Wiseau, Tommy

The Room and The Roomsical – the worst film ever made moves to theatre. (Film and theatre review)

Wright, Joe

Anna Karenina – Joe Wright and Tom Stoppard squeeze Tolstoy down to theatre size (film review)

X

Y

Z

Zaccai, Jonathan

SFF: Play it like Godard – Jonathan Zaccaï pokes fun at precociousness

Zeitlin, Benh

SFF: Beasts of the Southern Wild – A film for the Bourgeoisie.

Zilberman, Yaron

Performance (A Late Quartet) – Yaron Zilberman’s astonishing debut. (film review)

Zobel, Craig

Compliance – Craig Zobel and the Bullit County McDonalds Case. (Film Review)

Zwart, Harald