Reviews by Jeff Robson

Order by: Date, A–Z

• 
  Lake Of Fire (2006)

  Review preview for Lake Of Fire

  A powerful, restrained work which sets out the arguments on both sides.

  Documentary on the abortion debate in America, which arouses passionate feelings on both sides.
• 
  Late September (2012)

  Review preview for Late September

  Sanders’ melancholic, low-key meditation on human relationships in many ways seems the perfect film for a typical British summer – somewhat gloomy overall but with an underlying warmth and occasional flashes of brilliance.

  A group of friends start to question their lives after a 65th birthday celebration turns sour.
• 
  Last Man Standing (1996)

  Review preview for Last Man Standing

  As Brucie bursts into yet another room and unloads his automatics into yet another group of anonymous heavies you’ll find it hard not to think that this has all been done before – and better.

  A mysterious stranger arrives in a small town and begins to play two rival gangs off against one another...
• 
  Last Screening (2011)

  Review preview for Last Screening

  The implausibilities pile up to a ludicrous extent and by the time the climax arrived I’m afraid I’d ceased to care what happened to any of them.

  The projectionist of a small-town French cinema leads a murderous double life.
• 
  Last Waltz In Sarajevo (1990)

  Review preview for Last Waltz In Sarajevo

  Rattles along at a cracking pace, attaining a truly epic feel despite an obviously limited budget.

  A tragicomic look at the events preceeding the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand.
• 
  Laurence Anyways (2012)

  Review preview for Laurence Anyways

  Poupaud and Clement subtly delineate their character’s changes while maintaining an intensity that keeps the audience involved amid all the flashy distractions.

  A teacher and aspiring writer in Nineties Montreal tells his girlfriend he wants to live as a woman.
• 
  Local Hero (1983)

  Review preview for Local Hero

  In retrospect, Local Hero can be seen as a high point for all concerned.

  An American company attempts to buy up a Scottish village for pennies so it can site an oil refinery there, but the locals have other ideas.
• 
  Lost Embrace (2004)

  A young Jewish man comes to terms with his identity and copes with the trauma of an absent father, helped and hindered by his eccentric family and friends.
• 
  Magicians (2007)

  Review preview for Magicians

  This is one of those films you keep hoping will step up a gear while slowly realising it won’t.

  Magic duo Harry (Mitchell) and Karl (Webb) part company after an unfortunate accident, but a national magic contest tempts them to reunite.
• 
  The Magic Flute (2006)

  Review preview for The Magic Flute

  A bit kitsch and over the top, but in a good way.

  A First World War officer, concussed by a shell blast, is transported to a magical world in which he must undertake a quest to rescue a beautiful princess.
• 
  Man Of Iron (1981)

  Review preview for Man Of Iron

  A crucial historical document, but also a great film.

  At the height of the Solidarity movement, a Polish TV journalist is assigned by the government to undermine an independent trade union leader.
• 
  Marlene (1984)

  Review preview for Marlene

  Schell makes a virtue of necessity and constructs the film as a fragmented and elusive Chinese puzzle.

  An unconventional documentary about the life and work of the legendary German actress and singer.
• 
  Meet Dave (2008)

  Review preview for Meet Dave

  It’s a pleasure to report that Meet Dave, while by no means a total career resuscitation, is surprisingly bearable, despite having a ‘back of an envelope’ premise.

  A spaceship in human form, crewed by tiny aliens, comes to earth to retrieve an orb vital to the future of their planet.
• 
  Mishima: A Life In Four Chapters (1985)

  Review preview for Mishima: A Life In Four Chapters

  In the end, the Mishima enigma remains elusive, which is perhaps the point.

  The controversial life and shocking death of one of Japan's most famous authors.
• 
  The Man Who Would Be King (1975)

  Review preview for The Man Who Would Be King

  An amazing piece of work.

  Two schemers plot a coup in the Middle East.
• 
  Monsieur Lazhar (2011)

  Review preview for Monsieur Lazhar

  Superior stuff, highly recommended.

  An Algerian teacher helps the class of a Montreal grade school cope with the aftermath of a tragedy.
• 
  Mrs Ratcliffe's Revolution (2007)

  Review preview for Mrs Ratcliffe's Revolution

  The trouble is there’s not that many laughs for a comedy, and the few there are trade on stereotypes.

  In 1968, an idealistic schoolteacher moves his family to East Germany in order to experience life in a Communist paradise. But his family, especially his wife, are not so eager.
• 
  My Best Friend (2006)

  Review preview for My Best Friend

  Leconte’s film constantly amuses and surprises, genuinely uplifting while making very clear that people can be a bit rubbish sometimes.

  A successful antiques dealer, challenged by his dinner companions to introduce his best friend for a bet, realises he doesn’t have one.
• 
  My Brother Is An Only Child (2007)

  Review preview for My Brother Is An Only Child

  A tough, compelling tale of just how unhappy families can get, given the wrong circumstances.

  Two brothers growing up in small town Italy in the 1960s devote themselves to opposite ends of the political spectrum. Then they both fall in love with the same girl.
• 
  Never Let Me Go (2010)

  Review preview for Never Let Me Go

  Never Let Me Go arrives trailing a lot of hype and carrying a considerable weight of expectation. Happily, it more than delivers.

  Adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's best-selling novel about love and loss.
• 
  The Nine Muses (2010)

  Review preview for The Nine Muses

  It’s definitely not everyone’s cup of tea, having more the feel of a gallery installation than a feature film.

  A poetic exploration of mass immigration in postwar Britain.
• 
  Nintendo Quest (2015)

  Review preview for Nintendo Quest

  As it progressed, Jay’s enthusiasm for the ruling passion of his life, and McCallum’s paternal affection for his somewhat unworldly bezzie mate, won me over.

  A Canadian gaming fan sets out to acquire all 678 Nintendo games.
• 
  The Old Curiosity Shop (1934)

  Review preview for The Old Curiosity Shop

  Does a no-nonsense, often inspired job of tackling one of his lesser-known and least-admired works.

  A young shopgirl and her grandfather flee from London to escape an evil moneylender.
• 
  Once Upon A Time In The West (1968)

  Review preview for Once Upon A Time In The West

  This is what Westerns, and movies as a whole, are all about.

  Restored version of Leone's epic western.
• 
  One False Move (1992)

  Review preview for One False Move

  It’s one of the most perfect examples of this quintessentially American genre that I’ve ever seen

  A small town sheriff prepares to to apprehend a trio of criminals heading his way.
• 
  OSS 117: Lost In Rio (2009)

  Review preview for OSS 117: Lost In Rio

  The team’s eye for a good sight gag and ear for an unwittingly crass pronouncement remains intact, as does their intimate knowledge of, and obvious affection for, the movies they’re sending up.

  A top French secret agent hunts a Nazi war criminal in Rio and meets a beautiful woman with an agenda of her own.
• 
  The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)

  Review preview for The Outlaw Josey Wales

  At times Eastwood's character and the journey he undertakes have the resonance of Greek myth.

  A Missouri farmer caught up in the Civil War vows revenge after his life is destroyed by Union guerrillas.
• 
  Our Man In Havana (1959)

  Review preview for Our Man In Havana

  The innate absurdity of the secret agent’s life, with all its paranoia and double standards, has rarely been so elegantly and mercilessly skewered.

  An expatriate vacuum cleaner salesman is recruited as a Secret Service operative in Cuba.
• 
  Paradise Lost (2006)

  Review preview for Paradise Lost

  Despite a running time of barely 90 minutes, this film seems to take an age to get to the point.

  A gang of backpackers find themselves terrorised in the Brazilian jungle.
• 
  Perrier's Bounty (2009)

  Review preview for Perrier's Bounty

  The plot meanders and doesn’t stand up well to scrutiny.

  A Dublin wastrel finds his troubles piling up when he attempts to pay off a debt to a gangster.
• 
  Photograph Of Jesus (2008)

  Review preview for Photograph Of Jesus

  It’s all entertaining enough – but, perhaps inevitably given the context, it does have the feel of a promo film.

  Documentary focusing on the bizarre requests by the Getty Images picture archive.
• 
  Rebellion: The Litvinenko Case (2007)

  Review preview for Rebellion: The Litvinenko Case

  Anna Politkovskaya...emerges as a truly heroic figure and the rage Nekrasov feels at anyone who could consider taking her life to be a justifiable ‘means to an end’ is palpable.

  Documentary charting the exile of Alexander Litvinenko, who was poisoned by polonium in 2006.
• 
  Richard Herring: Hitler Moustache (2010)

  Review preview for Richard Herring: Hitler Moustache

  This is challenging comedy in the best sense.

  Richard Herring’s latest one-man show, about reclaiming the toothbrush moustache from its most infamous wearer.
• 
  The Rocker (2008)

  Review preview for The Rocker

  After a slow and largely laugh-free start, this does build up a reasonable head of steam, with enough smart lines and well-timed physical comedy to keep its head above water.

  The original drummer of an Eighties hair metal band gets a second chance at stardom when his nephew’s group makes it big.
• 
  Reach (2009)

  Review preview for Reach

  If you’ve ever wondered what kind of job Ingmar Bergman would make of directing a Pixar short, now’s your chance to find out.

  A robot given the gift of life has just one limitation... the length of his cable.
• 
  Red Rock West (1993)

  Review preview for Red Rock West

  Stick a Johnny Cash CD on, fix yourself a JD and a Bud, then settle down for some good, thoroughly unclean fun.

  A drifter is mistaken for a hitman and falls in love with the woman he’s supposed to kill...
• 
  Road (2014)

  Review preview for Road

  There’s no doubt that the film-makers know this world inside out and their cameras dig into every corner of it.

  Adrenaline-fuelled tale of a family who have dominated road racing for more than 30 years.
• 
  Rocco And His Brothers (1960)

  Review preview for Rocco And His Brothers

  The taut, literate screenplay is always cohesive and displays a frankness regarding the earthier aspects of the story that a Hollywood film of the time could simply never have countenanced.

  A family from the rural south fight for unity and purpose in post-war Milan.
• 
  Round (2008)

  Review preview for Round

  I’d defy anybody not to be amused (and impressed) by Serpico’s dexterity.

  Man’s place in the history of the Earth, told through hand shadow performance.
• 
  Rush (2013)

  Review preview for Rush

  Undoubtedly a classy mainstream product.

  The rivalry between Formula One drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda comes to a fateful head at the 1976 German Grand Prix.
• 
  Sabotage (1936)

  Review preview for Sabotage

  A gem of cinematic storytelling.

  A cinema owner working for foreign agents is instructed to plant a bomb in Piccadilly Circus.
• 
  The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea (1976)

  Review preview for The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea

  It all builds to a climax that should be ludicrous but instead manages to be satisfyingly strange and sinister.

  A troubled young boy becomes jealous when his widowed mother falls in love with an American seaman.
• 
  Salt (2010)

  Review preview for Salt

  If it weren’t so po-faced it might pass as a bit of good, guilty fun.

  A CIA agent goes on the run when a Russian defector names her as a deep cover assassin set to trigger a plot against the United States.
• 
  Say Yes (2001)

  Review preview for Say Yes

  Kept to a compact 80-90 minutes this could have been a classic, but the director spins it out past the point of believability.

  A young couple on holiday in rural South Korea encounter a psychopathic stranger.
• 
  Sicko (2007)

  Review preview for Sicko

  Moore’s sense of outrage is as keen as ever, as is his showman’s instinct for what makes good documentary cinema.

  Michael Moore investigates corruption in the American health insurance industry.
• 
  A Single Man (2009)

  Review preview for A Single Man

  Firth produces a subtle and deeply moving performance.

  A middle-aged college professor tries to come to terms with the death of his long-term boyfriend.
• 
  Sing Your Song (2011)

  Review preview for Sing Your Song

  It’s impossible not to admire Belafonte's courage and commitment.

  Documentary charting the career of Harry Belafonte - singer, actor and political activist.
• 
  Solomon Kane (2009)

  Review preview for Solomon Kane

  Solomon Kane has a respect for its source material and a willingness to balance its money shots with proper story-telling that transcend its genre limitations.

  A pirate who forfeits his soul to the Devil renounces evil but is forced to take up arms again to protect a Puritan family.
• 
  Sons Of Cuba (2009)

  Review preview for Sons Of Cuba

  Definitely one of the best pieces of ‘non-fiction cinema’ i’ve seen in a long while.

  Children at Havana’s state-run boxing academy prepare for the national championships.
• 
  The Spell (2009)

  Review preview for The Spell

  A real misfire that ends up looking like a cross between a below-par Hammer House Of Horror episode and one of the ‘scary’ photo stories from Jackie.

  A young girl from a broken home becomes involved in black magic, with sinister results.