May 30th
Rocketman
D-Day  3D: Normandy 1944
The Heiresses

What a varied batch of releases. The high-profile film about Elton John's rise to fame is so mainstream and sooooo entertaining, D-day is a worthy (if short) war doco, while The Heiresses is true art-house fare hailing from Paraguay. 

Rocketman
Director: Dexter Fletcher
Length: 121  min

© Paramount - Egerton is simply wonderful

as the flamboyant Elton John

Born Reggie Dwight, the little boy insufficiently loved by his parents became singing sensation Elton John (Taron Egerton). The movie traces the singer's career from childhood, through to the time he finally emerged from rehab, swapping self-loathing for self-esteem. The film takes the form of a fantasy/musical, with songs re-interepreted and scattered throughout the narrative. Fans wanting a straight biopic may not enjoy this, but I loved it. Egerton is a singer par-excellence, and his particular take on Elton's music is both gifted and moving. At times the narrative arc follows the tried and true formula (montages and all), but overall the vibrancy, pathos, joy and sheer brilliant musicality of it all overwhelms any reservations I may have. (Not to mention the knock-out costumes!) Jamie Bell plays Elton's lyricist Bernie Taupin, and the abiding friendship between the two is beautifully portrayed. Richard Madden (fresh from Game of Thrones) is wonderfully obnoxious as lover/manager John Reid. Egerton captures the conflicting aspects of Elton's personality - showmanship, shyness, self-destructiveness, insecurity, kindness - in a way that really makes you feel for him as a high-profile, talented but vulnerable human being. This is thoroughly first-class entertainment.
4 - highly recommended!

D-Day 3D: Normandy 1944
Director: Pascal Vuong
Length: 43 min
See it at IMAX for 2 weeks only from June 1

© IMAX - D-Day explained

You don't have to be a fan of war films to get a lot from this film event which commemorates the 75th anniversary of the historic D-Day landings. The film explains, in a way which can be understood by all age groups, the where, when, how and why of the historic event which changed the course of World War II. Aside from the impressive 3D, there are an imaginative variety of film techniques used, from animation (involving fabulous pop-up picture books), to evocative charcoal sketches, archival footage  and stunning CGI effects. As a short and sweet overview of this monumental event, this is a film worth seeing. 
3 - recommended!

The Heiresses
Director: Marcello Martinessi
Length: 95 min

© Palace - life seems to be getting fraught
for these long-term partners

Chela (Anna Brun)  and Chiquita (Margarita Irun) are two women from wealthy families in Ascension, Paraguay. They have lived together for 30 years, but now their debts are mounting and they are selling off family heirlooms to raise money. Chiqui's debts lead to her arrest for fraud and the usually shy retiring Chela finds herself earning money driving rich old ladies around. When she meets the younger and vibrant Angy (Ana Ivanova), Chela starts to rediscover long buried feelings.  This film has won truckloads of awards, including Best Actress for Brun. The critic consensus loves it to bits; the audiences not quite so much. I recognise it is a subtle and beautifully executed film, yet something about Chela's character exasperates me beyond measure. That aside, it is the sort of film that leads one to reflection afterwards about the nature of long-term relationships and how they can kill passion, along with a rare glimpse into a society, and its unusual prison system, that is seldom seen. Fans of the slow-burn relationship film should be rewarded.
3.5 - well recommended!