Tokyo-Ga
Dir: Wim Wenders
1985
****
Tokyo-Ga is made out of love for the great director Yasujiro Ozu and raises the Question - is there anything left of his world? The simple answer is no, not really, but little reminders like the little boy at the train station who refuses to stand, reminding Wenders (and most fans I'd imagine) of many of the young characters in Ozu's films, really do make this film what it is. It's a love letter written out of the greatest respect and gratitude. Okay, it does get a little self indulgent at times, that seems to be quite typical of Wender's documentary projects but it's very moving towards the end, particularly during the emotional interview with Ozu's regular camera man. That scene alone makes it worth a watch, although you should probably see a least a couple of Ozu's classics first. It's interesting to now watch this film as a document of 1985's Tokyo, sadly even more of Ozu's world has gone but this great document is now a capsule of a time, an idea and a way of life. Two levels of nostalgia in just one film.

Salon Kitty
Dir: Tinto Brass
1976
****
Tinto Brass has quite a reputation but I thought Salon Kitty was actually quite good. There I was expecting one of the most debauched and disturbing Nazisploitation films of all time and what I actually got was a half decent history lesson with a bit of nudity thrown in for good measure, although it is based in a brothel so to have no nudity would have been historically inaccurate (that's my opinion and I'm sticking to it). This film is usually classed as shocking and is often thrown in with Salo, Sweet Movie, Caligula etc and it's really no where near as shocking (unless you find pubic hair offensive?). It's shocking for a couple of seconds and then you see it (enjoy it even) for what it is. I thought it was directed beautifully and I really liked the songs.

Dog City: The Movie (AKA Jim Henson's Dog City: The Movie)
Dir: Jim Henson, John van Bruggen
1989
****
"Dog City..everybody wants to go..Dog City..Everybody in the know...Dog City!" Okay, so Dog City isn't the best Jim Henson project but it's still got every bit of his charm that makes his work so magical. It has also convinced me that every film would be improved by a Rolf the Dog narration. It's funny but young kids wont get it, this is for big kids and Henson fans. I mean, Rolf the Dog narrates, what's not to love about that? It also has one of the best theme songs ever in the history of cinema.

Loving Memory
Dir: Tony Scott
1971
****
Loving Memory was Tony Scott's second short film (that at 57 minutes isn't that short) and is probably a million miles from the films he is remembered for. It is filmed in beautiful black and White and has a real eerie charm about it without it becoming menacing or disturbing which is quite a feat considering the macabre subject matter. David Pugh has got to be one of the best corpses there has ever been, I didn't see him move once. This is a great little film, worth seeking out.

State and Main
Dir: David Mamet
2000
****
The performances are good and the idea is very sharp but it's the quick paced and witty script that really makes State and Main the success it is. David Mamet is a great writer, a better writer than director but I thought he did a great job here, especially as he never once makes it easy for himself. He avoids all cliches and even when the plot may seem predictable, he follows it up with something unexpected. Intelligent and feelgood, a winning combination although deadpan doesn't seem to go down well these days but this ensemble piece shows it at its best. 

Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life

Dir: Joann Sfar

2010

*****

Gainsbourg is a refreshing biopic that skillfully avoids all the usual cliches found in the genres. Maybe it takes someone other than a film director to tackle films like this, personally I think getting someone like Joann Sfar, a well known and much loved graphic artists (who knows a bit about Gainsbourg) was a brilliant decision. It is both visually stimulating and beautifully shot, I would argue that you wouldn't need to know anything about Gainsbourg before watching this film, but that said, fans need not worry, the mix of fact and myth suits the legend of Gainsbourg perfectly.There will undoubtedly be things you didn't know about Gainsbourg but all the more interesting 'Half-truths' are all accounted for and the film is all the better for it. Personally I loved it, it's the best biopic I've seen for a very long time and I thoroughly recommend it!

As Above, So Below
Dir: John Erick Dowdle
2014
****
John Erick Dowdle's Found Footage style horror film As Above, So Below is a film that doesn't really stick to one sub-genre. Horror films are the most varied of all the genres but the best ones are the ones that surprise with originality and intelligence. As Above, So Below's strength is that it is actually a clever thriller with scary bits, a good story with tension and suspense and not just ghostly faces slightly off screen. The story is a little bit Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade but forgivably so. What starts out as a spooky cave excursion turns into a surreal nightmare, a quite compelling one at that. I usually don't like found footage films but this was fairly light on shaky camera tricks and was easy to watch, although I'm not sure this element brought anything extra, conventional filming would have been just as effective. The acting is marginally better than average too and the conclusion was not a disappointment. I'm being generous with my rating, it's not perfect by any means but the inventiveness and creepiness towards the end was quite thrilling. The slasher film is dead and although I don't think the Found Footage genre has reached its full potential, with films like this it is well on its way. The film also wins best film poster of the year.