Film Festivals 2005
Once again the wide world of cinema offers a cache of captivating films. From France the delightful 'Look at Me', Tony Gatlif's 'Exils' and horror/slasher 'The Ordeal'. 'Hotel Rwanda' and documentary 'Darwin's Nightmare' unlock some of Africa's darkest secrets while from Hong Kong came the diverse '2046' and Stephen Chow's comic tour de force 'Kung Fu Hustle'. From the US, Gregg Araki's disturbing 'Mysterious Skin', 'Birth' with Nicole Kidman and understated Southern pot-boiler 'Undertow'. Stand-out documentaries also included 'Wal-mart: The High Cost of Low Price', the incredible 'DiG!' and from North Korea a fascinating insight with 'A State of Mind'.
Head-On (2005)
8/10
Director: Fatih Akin
Starring: Birol Unel, Sibel Kekilli, Catrin Striebeck, Guven Kirac
Two desperate Turkish immigrants in Hamburg, Sibel and Cahit, meet at a psychiatrist's. She needs to escape her conservative family; he's a heavy drin... Read more
The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse (2005)
6.2/10
Director: Steve Bendelack
Starring: Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton, Reece Shearsmith, David Warner, Michael Sheen
The freakish and bizarre inhabitants of Royston Vasey are unleashed on an unsuspecting world in this movie spawned from the cult TV series. All the f... Read more
Howl's Moving Castle ( Blu-ray ) (2004)
8.2/10
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
With its otherworldly beauty and charm Miyazaki's magical tale of adventure and self-discovery is testament to his limiltiless imagination. 18-year-ol... Read more
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence ( Blu-ray ) (2004)
7.6/10
Director: Mamoru Oshii
This highly anticipated sequel sees the return of Batou, the Section 9 cyborg cop who has almost nothing of his human self left - just a part of his b... Read more
Night Watch ( Blu-ray ) (2004)
6.5/10
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Starring: Konstantin Khabensky, Vladimir Menshov, Valeri Zolotukhin, Mariya Poroshin
In 14th Century Russia two warring factions of vampires called a delicate truce. Overshadowing this peace is an ancient prophecy, one that foretells o... Read more
Kung Fu Hustle ( Blu-ray ) (2004)
7.8/10
Director: Stephen Chow
Starring: Stephen Chow
Charismatic Hong Kong comedy legend Stephen Chow's ('Shaolin Soccer') frenetically paced martial arts spoof is a delirious mix of quickfire gags, surr... Read more
Shake Hands With The Devil: The Journey of Romeo Dallaire (2004)
8.2/10
Director: Peter Raymont
In the North American spring of 1994, the world was gripped by OJ Simpson and his gloves, as 800, 000 men, women and children were literally hacked to... Read more
Overnight (2004)
7.1/10
Director: Mark Brian Smith, Tony Montana
Starring: Troy Duffy, Taylor Duffy, Mark Wahlberg, Jake Busey, Willem Dafoe, Billy Connoll...
When budding filmmaker Troy Duffy sold his screenplay, 'The Boondock Saints', to Harvey Weinstein at Miramax Films for a hefty sum, Harvey even offere... Read more
Inside Deep Throat (2004)
6.8/10
Director: Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato
Starring: Narrated by, Dennis Hopper, Linda Lovelace, Harry Reems, Alan Dershowitz, Larry...
Documentary filmmakers Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato ('The Eyes of Tammy Faye') take on the '70s cultural phenomenon that was 'Deep Throat'. Fascin... Read more
Machuca (2004)
7.8/10
Director: Andres Wood
Starring: Matias Quer, Ariel Mataluna, Manuela Martelli, Aline Kuppenheim, Federico Luppi
In 1973 Chile's democratically-elected socialist government was overthrown by a US-led coup that initiated the ruthless dictatorship of Augusto Pinoch... Read more