Possum (2018)

A disgraced puppeteer returns to his parental home where the reunion with his stepfather brings unexpected memories.

'Possum' is a psychological film, largely artistic, almost abstract. Extremely well acted by Sean Harris, the film is deep, but haunting, intelligent, but rambling and repetitive, the invested art seeming much more suitable for a short.

Director:  Matthew Holness     

With: Sean Harris, Alun Armstrong, Andy Blithe, Ryan Enever

Rating: 7/10

The Stranger (2022)

Henry Teague befriends a guy who seems to be like-minded in a bus ride, and the rest of the events continue from there.

'The Stranger' is a thriller drama based on a real police case that happened in Australia. The film starts innocently, leaving no clue as to which direction it will take, and evolves slowly, adding abstract elements combining drama and sudden and broken visual and audio effects that create a feeling of mismatch and cause the viewer feeling a drastic need to repair the universe. Excellent acting by the two main protagonists.

Director:  Thomas M. Wright    

With: Joel Edgerton, Sean Harris, Jada Alberts, Cormac Wright

Rating: 8/10

The Banishing (2020)

The family of a priest, his wife and daughter, moved in the 1930s to a house offered by the church, but the house has a sinister past.

'The Banishing' is a classic recipe horror film, which has a very slow development and a very mixed style, with many questionable choices. The dramatic elements in the family's story are a distraction that was not necessary and the ending only helps to give rise to more questions. In terms of style, it is well made and the cast carries the film brilliantly despite the film's shortcomings.

Director:  Christopher Smith      

With: Jessica Brown Findlay, John Heffernan, Anya McKenna-Bruce, Sean Harris, John Lynch

Rating: 7/10

The King (2019)

Povestirea circumstantelor devenirii rege al lui Henric al V-lea si desfasurarea bataliei de la Agincourt.

O dramatizare a unui episod istoric din timpul razboiului de 100 de ani ce isi permite multe licente poetice, inspirat fiind de scrierile lui Shakespeare. Bine scris si foarte bine jucat, The King poate fi gustat de un public variat. Lupta interna a lui Hal e foarte bine pusa in scena de Timothée Chalamet, unul din marile talente ale generatiei curente de actori. 

Prezenta lui Robert Pattinson, ca britanic in rolul Delfinului Francez, in antagonism cu francezul Timothée Chalamet in rolul regelui britanic este un deliciu surpriza, bine aranjat si bine primit.

Regia:  David Michôd    

Cu: Timothée Chalamet, Sean Harris, Ben Mendelsohn, Joel Edgerton, Tara Fitzgerald, Robert Pattinson, Lily-Rose Depp

Rating: 8/10

Also read in English

Macbeth (2015)

Macbeth, o capetenie locala scotiana, incepe sa aiba ambitii neortodoxe dupa ce primeste prevestiri de la trei vrajitoare legate de devenirea sa ca rege al Scotiei.

O ecranizare minunata a celebrei tragedii Shakesperiene. Desi toata lumea vorbeste in rima, autenticitatea te loveste la fiecare scena, fie ea de lupta fie de monolog depresiv. Vorbit in engleza Evului Mediu, e recomandata vizionarea cu subtitrare in engleza, deoarece limba lui Shakespeare - ceea de zi cu zi la vremea ei - include multe cuvinte arhaice si prescurtari de cuvinte pentru a pastra ritmul liric. 

Personajele principale comit fapte fara scuza, dar producatorii au decis sa le creeze un context ce ar putea explica starea mentala a acestora cand au ales calea negativa: Macbeth si sotia sa isi ingroapa un copil in prima scena din film. Dar apoi continuie cu evolutia mentala prescrisa de Shakespeare: paranoia si vinovatie fara limita ce sunt palpabile si reusesc sa traverseze bariera ecranului.

Regia: Justin Kurzel

Cu: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Paddy Considine, David Thewlis, Sean Harris, David Hayman, Elizabeth Debicki

Rating: 9/10

Also read in English