Desert Dancer

Dancing is an expression of freedom. It is the quintessential affirmation of life.  Anyone who would prevent this beautiful art is vermin…the lowest form of humanity.  My opinion.

Director Richard Raymond’s Desert Dancer is based on the true-life story of Afshin Ghaffarian (Reece Ritchie), an Iranian student with a passion to dance, while living under an authoritarian regime that forbid it.  

Afshin formed a small, underground group of dancers that, ultimately, felt the need to show their work to an audience.  This necessitated going a hundred kilometers out of Teheran into the desert for their performance…all this while being sought by regime thugs.

An excellent cast, including Frieda Pinto, Tom Cullen and Marama Corlett keeps Writer Jon Crocker’s script lively.  

Though Editors Chris Gill and Celia Haining could have tightened some scenes, the principal segments are powerful.

Anyone who dances should see this film and be thankful they live in a society that supports this and all the arts.

I give Desert Dancer a 4 out of 5.

Ex Machina

Ex-cellent Machina says it all!  Writer/Director Alex Garland has hit a home run with this pleasant surprise.

I say “pleasant surprise,” because I did not really expect to see this film.  But, a change in plans gave me the opportunity.  Lucky me.

Everything about this film is right-on.  Oscar Isaac finally gets to show his true talent in Garland’s crackerjack script.  Domhnall Gleeson (About Time) is a superb counterpoint to Isaac.  And, Alicia Vikander…well, what can I say except… “Super!”

Cinematographer Rob Hardy captures the beauty of the local and Production Designer Mark Digby’s sets. Editor Mark Day put it together with fine precision, helped by Geoff Barrow’s and Ben Salisbury’s wonderful score.

The film takes on the subject of Artificial Intelligence and anyone who enjoyed Luc Besson’s Lucy or Spike Jonze’s Her has to see this interesting take on our possible future.

I give Ex Machina a 4+ out of 5.

Furious 7

Aces!  That’s James Wan’s Furious 7. 

If you’re not familiar with the Fast and Furious franchise, (Where have you been?) then you have to know it’s more than an action vehicle.  It’s about family.  Not a blood family, but a family of friends, who stick to each other no matter what.  And, over the course of seven films, they become the audience’s family, as well…even more so with the death of actor Paul Walker.

 Furious 7 is certainly going to vie for Best Action Film of 2015 and is a fitting close to the franchise.  Writer Chris Morgan’s script is non-stop thrills with a fitting end that’s a tribute not only to Paul Walker and the rest of the cast, but the fans, as well.

Go and enjoy.  I give Furious 7 a 4+ out of 5.

Woman In Gold

Director Simon Curtis was the right choice for telling the story of Woman In Gold, handling it with charm and grace.  

It’s the story of an octogenarian Austrian American woman (Helen Mirren), who, on the death of her sister, finds papers that indicate the famed painting known as The Woman in Gold by Gustav Klimt is rightly her family’s property and not that of the Austrian Government. 

She hires a young lawyer (Ryan Reynolds) to look into the matter and, ultimately, they sue the Austrian Government for its return.

The film is in the style of All The President’s Men and Philomena, moving methodically from obstacle to obstacle.  Alexi Kaye Campbell’s script is smart and crisp and Mirren and Reynolds work together in smooth counterpoint.

Woman In Gold gets a 4 out of 5.