Category Archives: comedy

7,0-7,9, comedy, crime, drama,, female director, romance,

“The Party” by Sally Potter (UK, 2017)

The Work of Sally Potter

The Party

Good use of space, great acting, theatrical (unity of space, time and action)

Cast: Kristin Scott Thomas, Patricia Clarkson, Bruno Ganz, Cherry Jones, Emily Mortimer, Cillian Murphy, Timothy Spall
Director: Sally Potter
Writer: Sally Potter
Cinematographer: Aleksei Rodionov
Editor: Emilie Orsini, Anders Refn

6,0-6,9, comedy, drama,, female director

“Bitch” by Marianna Palka (USA, 2017)

Bitch

A wife who’s treated like a dog by her family becomes a dog
Unfortunately, just like her previous feature, this original idea with good humor doesn’t bring us anywhere. Interesting use of sound

Cast: Marianna Palka, Jason Ritter, Jaime King, Brighton Sharbino, Rio Mangini, Kingston Foster
Director: Marianna Palka
Writer: Marianna Palka
Cinematographer: Armando Salas
Editor: Brett W. Bachman
Composer: Morgan z Whirledge

8,0-8,9, comedy, drama,, female director

“Toni Erdmann” by Maren Ade (Germany, 2016)

Toni Erdmann (2)

Very surprising movie / Strong direction
A father and a daughter who haven’t much to say to each other, a father and a daughter that so much separates and that so much unites.

Cast: Peter Simonischek, Sandra Hüller, Lucy Russell, Vlad Ivanov, Hadewych Minis
Director: Maren Ade
Writer: Maren Ade
Cinematographer: Patrick Orth
Editor: Heike Parplies

7,0-7,9, comedy, drama,, female director, romance,

“Everyone Else” by Maren Ade (Germany, 2009)

Everyone Else

The love relationship between Gitty and Chris is defined by a fierce drive towards independence and a communion of every moment at the same time. It is opposed to the relationship between Sanna and Hans, which is defined as Sanna being subjected to the patriarchal principles of Hans.

Cast: Birgit Minichmayr, Lars Eidinger, Hans-Jochen Wagner, Nicole Marischka
Directed by Maren Ade
Written by Maren Ade
Cinematography by Bernhard Keller
Film Editing by Heike Parplies

7,0-7,9, comedy, drama,, female director

“Infinitely Polar Bear” by Maya Forbes (USA, 2014)

First feature

Infinitely Polar Bear

Many good things about this movie: good humor, good dialogues, very good acting by Ruffalo. Add to this the efficient way to stage multiple facets about minorities  (depressed parent, mixed-race family, single father household, etc,).
The way the two daughters evolve and learn how to cope with their lovable but manic-depressive father is remarkable.

Cast: Mark Ruffalo, Zoe Saldana, Keir Dullea, Beth Dixon, Georgia Lyman
Director: Maya Forbes
Writer: Maya Forbes
Director of Photography: Bobby Bukowski
Music by Theodore Shapiro
Film Editing by Michael R. Miller

7,0-7,9, comedy, drama,, female director

“Lady Bird” by Greta Gerwig (USA, 2017)

Lady Bird

Nuanced approach of all the things on which the life of a teenage girl is built / Excellent acting, great editing! However, a too “uniquely American” comedy, as Christopher Gray puts it.

Cast:  Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Tracy Letts, Lucas Hedges, Timothée Chalamet, Beanie Feldstein
Director: Greta Gerwig
Writer: Greta Gerwig
Cinematographer: Sam Levy
Editor: Nick Houy
Composer: Jon Brion

6,0-6,9, comedy, female director, romance,

“Love Of My Life” by Joan Carr-Wiggin (Canada, 2017)

Love Of My Life

Same theme and situations as in her first feature [how to recapture a husband who cheats on you and revive love after having been married for so many years?] with a middle-aged woman as lead (compliment), but in a weaker scenario that some surprising moments do not beef up, with not much content added.
Still very good dialogues and very good acting by Anna Chancellor!

Cast: Anna Chancellor, John Hannah, Hermione Norris
Director: Joan Carr-Wiggin
Writer: Joan Carr-Wiggin
Cinematography by Bruce Worrall

7,0-7,9, comedy, female director, romance,

“If I Were You” by Joan Carr-Wiggin (UK, 2012)

if I were you

Two women fight for the love of one man by manipulating him and each other Paralleling King Lear – a role that the female lead endorses – three men fight for the love of the heroin
Good acting and dialogues
According to the few ratings available, critics and public are certainly divided!

Cast: Marcia Gay Harden, Leonor Watling, Joseph Kell
Director: Joan Carr-Wiggin
Writer: Joan Carr-Wiggin
Music by Paolo Buonvino, Guy Farley
Cinematography by Bruce Worrall