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Sep 13

Contagion (2011)

Directed by: Steven Soderbergh

3 stars

A woman develops flu-like symptoms on her way back from the far east.  Within days, she is dead. Soon, people are dropping like flies, as the highly contagious disease moves from person to drinking glass to person to hand-rail and so on.  The Centres for Disease Control weigh in, as does the WHO and assorted independent medics (Elliott Gould as a rather sketched-in maverick doctor, flying the flag for the “rules are for other people” school of infectious disease control).  So do the cranks, represented by internet journo Alan “Don’t Believe Anything They Tell You” Krumwiede (Jude Law).  Within weeks we are dealing with mega-deaths, and the army is on the streets.  Can a vaccine be developed? Read more

Sep 13

Breathing (2011)  
Atmen

Directed by: Karl Markovics

4 stars

Nineteen year-old Roman (Thomas Schubert) divides his time between the juvenile detention centre outside Vienna where he has been held for five years, and day-release jobs that he seems not to want to hold down.  He is withdrawn, uncooperative and sullen, but more fearful than aggressive.  He is shut in by more than walls, and appears to have liitle interest in release.  But with another parole hearing approaching, he takes a job with the municipal undertakers. Read more

Sep 12

1 Comment

Extraterrestrial (2011)

Directed by: Nacho Vigalondo

4 stars

Julio (Julián Villagrán) awakes in the apartment of a woman (Julia, played by Michelle Jenner) he can barely remember from the previous night.  Their awkward, hangover-hazed conversation is soon interrupted by their discovery that the phones and TV are not working, Madrid is deserted and a four-mile diameter spaceship is hovering over the city. Read more

Sep 12

The Deep Blue Sea (2011)

Directed by: Terence Davies

4 stars

In post-war London, Hester (Rachel Weisz) is unhappily married to Sir William Collyer (Simon Russell Beale), a much older man in thrall to his mother.  She falls for Freddie (Tom Hiddleston), a glamorous Battle of Britain fighter-pilot, but the romance is soon as faded as the one-room apartment they move into.  As Freddie turns increasingly hostile, and William tries to get her back, Hester attempts suicide, but is unsuccessful in every respect. Read more

Sep 12

Shame (2011)

Directed by: Steve McQueen

5 stars

Handsome executive Brandon (Michael Fassbender, looking more than ever like a young Christopher Plummer) can attract beautiful women with ease, but does not enter into relationships, preferring one-night stands, hookers and porn.  He avoids contact with his only relative, fragile sister Sissy (Carey Mulligan), and is increasingly distracted at work. Read more

Sep 12

Lipstikka (2011) 
Odem

Directed by: Jonathan Sagall

3 stars

Two old friends, Lara (Clara Khoury) and Inan (Nataly Attiya), both living in London, meet after a long separation.  Over the course of a day, and with numerous flashbacks to earlier stages of their lives, we learn how something about how they reached this point. Read more

Sep 11

2 Comments

You’re Next (2011)

Directed by: Adam Wingard

3 stars

Produced, it is rumoured, especially for the Midnight Madness theme at TIFF 2011, You’re Next presses every single button on the slasher-horror control pad – repeatedly.   And that’s not a criticism.  Going upstairs alone? Check.  Ignoring warnings? Check.  He’s behind you?  Check.  These, and many more, are served up with great style. Read more

Sep 11

Among Us (2011)
Onder Ons

Directed by: Marco van Geffen

2 stars

Ewa (Dagmara Bak) arrives from Poland to work as an au pair for Peter (Guy Clemens) and Ilse (Rifka Lodeizen) and their toddler, Stijn.  Difficult to communicate with, she seems reluctant to go out, and becomes increasingly eccentric in her behaviour, despite making friends with another Polish au pair, Aga (Natalia Rybicka).  Eventually, she is dismissed by Peter and Ilse and returns home. Read more

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