May 7th
De Gaulle
June Again
Greenland
Another week - more new releases - and streaming simply goes on and on! This week a fascinating WW2 drama about an iconic man, a family dramedy about Alzheimers, and a streamed apocalyptic blockbuster. something for everyone.
De Gaulle
Dir: Gabriel Le Bomin
Length: 108 mins
 |
© Palace - great appeal to
history buffs |
Nominated for 3 Cesars (the French Academy Awards) including Best Actor for Lambert Wilson, this film hones in on a brief but critical time in the life of the iconic French general (later to become President) Charles de Gaulle. The film focuses on the events of June 1940. During this seminal point in France's history, the government capitulated to the Nazis, while the General escaped to Britain and finally got British PM Churchill (Tim Hudson) on side. From there he broadcast regular radio messages of encouragement to the French resistance. This slice of war history is a compelling portrayal of a courageous man, firm in his convictions and in his love for his family, which makes for an important sub-plot as wife Yvonne (Isabel Carre) and de Gaulle's three children must flee their Paris home for their safety. 4 - highly recommended
June Again
Dir: JJ Winlove
Length: 99 mins
 |
© Studio Canal - the cruelty of dementia and
lost identity feature in this heart-warming tale |
Strong-willed matriarch and ex-business woman June (Noni Hazelhurst) has been living in a nursing home for five years, suffering dementia and barely able to recognise her daughter Ginny (Claudia Karvan), or son Dev (Stephen Curry). One day, miraculously, the fog lifts and she enters a short window of clarity, which doctors say will not be permanent. Doing a runner from the home, she finds her kids only to discover a series of family crises have eventuated in her absence. She resolves to put things right. Like a hybrid between The Father and Awakenings, this film has some wonderful aspects and a few clunky ones. Hazelhurst is wonderful, walking the fine line between comedy and poignancy. Karvan and Curry are also highly credible as the grown kids who are estranged from each other, and all at sea in their life's goals. The moments inside June's head, as she reflects upon a past love in her life, are beautifully done. Many scenes lead us to reflect upon the nature of identity and how it is intertwined with memory. The accelerated timeline of everything that happens as June tries to "mend the world" is what stretches my credibility, but if one just goes along with this sweet-hearted film, it will provide a moving, warm, if at times, schmaltzy viewing experience. 3.5 - well recommended
Greenland
Dir: Ric Roman Waugh
Length: 119 mins
Streaming on Amazon Prime
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© Amazon Prime - get ready for some
nail-biting apocalyptic adventure |
Feeling like streaming a bit of apocalyptic drama with action-man Gerard Butler? Follow the perilous and traumatic adventure of John Garrity (Butler) and his family (estranged wife and small son) as they attempt to flee to safety when a comet heads straight for earth, creating a predicted "extinction event". I really approached this with a "ho-hum, here's more of the same" attitude, but was pleasantly surprised to experience a very exciting and tense story that actually felt quite believable. The characters are well drawn out, the action scenes are gripping, and the destroyed cities world-wide disturbingly well created through the fine SFX. When you just need to veg out with some heart-stopping entertainment, this could be the one. As far as disaster movies go, this one is is a winner!4 - well recommended
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