60-second cinema

9.5 out of 10 When a woman brings her family to live in her childhood home the last thing she expected was for her son to make some invisible friends. These friends begin to play paranormal games with the boy (Simon). These games unearth a family secret resulting in his mysterious disappearance. A dramatic turn of events follow; depicting a mother's struggle to come to terms with the loss of her child. I have to admit that initially I found the Spanish with sub-titles a little distracting but the storyline (which keeps you guessing up until the very end) was so compelling that I soon forgot about it. A good phrase to describe this film would be "less is more" as it leaves a lot to imagination (which is my personal preference for this genre). It is very well made and provoked a dramatic response from the audience in places. Impressive performances all round but most notably by the child actor, Roger Princep, who plays Simon. Overall this is a gripping, spine-chilling, t...

7 out of 10 The first hour or so of this oil-prospecting drama was truly excellent. It had me feeling involved from the get-go and felt like a thoroughly rounded film. As for what followed... well, it was a fitful experience. Perhaps that was the intent, reflecting the break-down of the lead character and a questioning of the sense of direction both in the story and in the lead's life. Thing is, this break-down seemed to go on forever. Surely when you do this kind of thing with a film, each turn of events has to represent something new? Here, however, each subplot (not the right word at all) was simply another example of how things were turning to shit, despite increasing commercial success. It wasn't filling in another piece of the jigsaw — it was placing the same piece over and over again. I lost any ability to sense, or even care that much about, where the film was going. Despite this disjointed feel to the plot, there's still plenty to recommend the film. The act...

9 out of 10 This film is based on the real life story of Edie Sedgwick — often described as the first It Girl and Andy Warhol's muse. The "poor little rich girl" moves to 1960's New York to become a star after being inspired by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's and finds herself immersed in the debauched world of Warhol's "Factory". Most notable performances are from Guy Pearce (formerly of Mike from Neighbours fame!) as Andy Warhol and Sienna Miller whose brilliant portrayal of Edie changed my perception of her from being "one of those girls who are famous for being famous" to "serious actress" (ironic eh?) This is a dark film, there are some scenes which leave little to the imagination and the insight into Edie's childhood is chilling at times! Overall definitely worth a watch! The extras on the DVD include interviews with Edie's family and "friends" which also make interesting viewing!

8 out of 10 This is a film about a man who has a stroke and gets 'shut-up' syndrome and literally spends the rest of the film 'shut-up', a bit like being inside a diving bell, where no one can hear you, hence the reference to the butterfly in the film title. But take heart, its not a bleak as it sounds as although the film is in french and subtitled (some blatantly wrongly I may add), the film does actually convey a sense of hope as the man attempts to struggle to entertain himself with his memory's of his pre-knackered life and with his visions and dreams, some of which I have to admit to being a little disappointed in. But, being recently diagnosed with a similarly disabilitating disease, with which I struggle to move my left toe, I can relate to what he was going through. I would however probably have had more imaginative flights of fancy, probably involving lions, motorbikes and knockers and stuff. Unbelievably, during is period of 'shut-upedness',...

7 out of 10 Western adventure with a difference. Tommy Lee Jones carries out a promise to bury his best friend back in his home town, after he was killed unlawfully and by mistake by the US Mexican border patrol. I liked it, but there again I like Westerns; apart from the stories, one of the attractions is the scenery: wonderful landscapes of wide open spaces (not necessarily in this particular film).

8 out of 10 Feasible story of ex-military man searching for his apparently awol son. Despite bureaucracy and lies, he discovers how over-zealous horseplay combined with brutalised sensitivities of armed forces result in his son's death. Wonderfully underplayed by Tommy Lee Jones in his usual manner. Not a lot of laughs in this one, but a decent film nonetheless.

8 out of 10 True story of a young man disillusioned with the material world who decides to live with nature in Alaska. He leaves the home of his parents whom he sees as less than perfect (aren't we all?), and travels around the US doing various jobs to get together enough money to buy provisions to enable him to live frugally on meagre rations and with what nature can provide in the wilds of Alaska. Tragic ending for a good but anguished young man who eventually comes to terms with life, but is felled by illness and hence starvation; he is found by hunters two weeks too late.

6 out of 10 Ambitious and ruthless oil man pursues his goal to succeed, while hoping that others fail. His only redeeming feature, as far as I am concerned, is that he is a non-believer. His endeavours and cunning bring him wealth, but ultimately he is alone.