I feel blessed to have never met a Dragon Ball fan.– DRAGON BALL SUPER: BROLY
Read our latest English movie reviews.
by Sarah Scaddan
THIS GENERATION’S HITCHCOCK – US
Haunted by an unresolved trauma from her past and compounded by a string of eerie coincidences, Adelaide is increasingly certain that something bad is going to befall her family. After a day out, they return home to find four figures holding hands stand in the driveway. They’re terrifying opponents are doppelgängers of themselves. The violence, the tears, the screams, the jump scares are all familiar, but still done in a fresh way. Jordan Peele is this generation’s Hitchcock. One to watch (through your fingers).
Showing at Pathé Balexert, Cinéma Voltaire, Pathé Archamps.
FAST PACED ACTION – Dragon Ball Super: Broly
After the devastation of Planet Vegeta, three Saiyans were scattered among the stars, destined for different fates. While two found a home on Earth, the third was raised with a burning desire for vengeance and developed an unbelievable power. And the time for revenge has come. This film apparently delivers exactly what Dragon Ball fans want. I feel blessed to have never met a Dragon Ball fan.
Showing at Arena Cinemas, Cinéma Voltaire, Pathé Archamps
SMART, SHARP AND DECEPTIVE – The Kindergarten Teacher
Maggie Gyllenhaal plays a forty-year old kindergarten teacher living in Staten Island who is terminally bored with her banal middle-class existence. When she becomes convinced that her five-year-old student is a child prodigy she tries to nurture his talents, but finds herself unravelling as the project turns into an obsession.
Showing at Les Cinémas du Grütli.
HALF BAKED PSYCHO-DRAMA – The Death & Life of John F Donavan
A decade after the death of an American TV star, a young actor reminisces the written correspondence he shared with him, as well as the impact those letters had on both their lives. It tells the story of the star and the boy in parallel, by an impressive cast (Nathalie Portman, Susan Sarandon, Thandie Newton, Kit Harrington, Kathy Bates, Michael Gambon)
Which should be ok right? Not so. Clumsy scenes, odd editing, embarrassing accents and altogether one film to avoid.
Showing at Cinéma Voltaire, Pathé Archamps.
STAN AND OLLIE
Laurel & Hardy, one of the world’s great comedy teams, set out on a variety hall tour of Britain in 1953. Diminished by age and with their golden era as the kings of Hollywood comedy now behind them, they face an uncertain future. Fabulous performances by Steve Coogan as Stan Laurel and John C Reilly as Oliver Hardy, this is essentially a touching love story about two performers who lived to make each other laugh.
Showing at Cine 17, Pathé Balexert.
NICOLE KIDMAN LOOKING A BIT ROUGH – Destroyer
Nicole Kidman plays detective Erin Bell who, as a young cop, was placed undercover with a gang in the California desert with tragic results. When the leader of that gang re-emerges, she has to finally reckon with the demons that destroyed her past. There is no doubt that Nicole Kidman is a fabulous actress, but I find her unnatural lack of aging quite off-putting. In Destroyer she looks a bit ropey, meaning I could concentrate on her powerful, haunting performance rather than wondering what surgery she has had.
Showing at Cinerama Empire.
JUST ANOTHER MARVEL MOVIE – Captain Marvel
The story follows Carol Danvers as she becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes when Earth is caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races. Set in the 1990s (with awesome 90’s soundtrack), Captain Marvel is predictable yet pleasing enough.
Showing at Arena Cinemas, Pathé Balexert, Cinema Voltaire,
Pathé Archamps.
TIME FOR A HISTORY LESSON – Mary Queen of Scots
A dramatic but unreliable account of Mary’s tenuous rule over Scotland and deadly rivalry with Elizabeth I of England. Think soap opera with better costumes.
Showing at Ciné 17, Cinérama Empire, Pathé Balexert, Cinema Voltaire, Cinéma Rouge et Noir.
MULTI AWARD-WINNING: A Star is Born
More than a remake, this is a new take on this tragic love story. Bradley Cooper plays a seasoned musician who fall in love with a struggling singer (Lady Gaga). A vibrant and compelling romantic tragedy with exceptional performances by Gaga and Cooper. Cooper produced and directed this film which makes me love him even more, if that’s at all possible. Not a film just for the ladies, it is bringing grown men to tears too.
Showing at Arena Cinema.
THE MECHANICS OF POWER – Vice
Christian Bale plays Dick Cheney, the former U.S. Vice President in this biographical comedy/drama. Bale nails it as the resilient, backstabbing, front-stabbing, ruthlessly ambitious Cheney.
Showing at Cinérama Empire.
THE BAD GUY WHO’S REALLY A GOOD GUY – Ralph breaks the Internet
The sequel to Wreck-It Ralph, video bad guy Ralph, leaves the comfort of his game to save his best friend and her video game, Sugar Rush. Funny, entertaining with some heartfelt moments.
Showing at Pathé Balexert.
A COMPLICATED RELATIONSHIP – The Wife
Joe and Joan Castleman have been married for 40 years. Joe has a public role as a Great American Novelist soon to be awarded the Noble Peace Price. Joan is the woman behind the scenes. The Wife is a clever, subtle and moving portrait of a hidden woman brought to life by a fantastic performance by Glenn Close.
Showing at Cinérama Empire, Ciné 17.
EVERYTHING IS AWESOME – Lego Movie 2: The Second Part
An ambitious, complex and predictably frenetic sequel, which totally clicks into place (see what I did there?). Personally, I don’t need to ever see another Lego movie, but this will appeal to small humans.
Showing at Ciné 17, Pathé Balexert.
WACKY TAKE ON HISTORICAL DRAMA – The Favourite
It’s the early 18th century, England is at war with France and a frail Queen Anne (played brilliantly by Olive Coleman) occupies the throne. She has little interest in ruling the country, preferring to play with her many pet rabbits and other eccentric activities. Her close friend and lover, Lady Sarah Churchill (Rachel Weisz) governs the country in her stead. When an impoverished cousin (Emma Stone) of the Queen joins the staff and becomes close to Lady Sarah and the Queen, things start to get interesting. A genuinely funny, wacky take on a historical drama
Showing at Ciné 17, Les Scala, Pathé Balexert.
LAST IN THE TRILOGY – How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
Now chief and ruler of Berk alongside Astrid, Hiccup has created a gloriously chaotic dragon utopia. When the sudden appearance of female Light Fury coincides with the darkest threat their village has ever faced, Hiccup and Toothless must leave the only home they’ve known and journey to a hidden world thought only to exist in myth. Visually stunning and poignant way to end this beloved trilogy.
Showing at Pathé Balexert
BUG SAGA – Miniscule – Mandibles from Far Away
Dialogue free bug saga that will charm all ages. In the conditioning unit of a small chestnut can factory in a quiet little country village as winter slowly settles, a young ladybug gets trapped by accident in a cardboard box shipped to the Caribbean. His parent sets off for the paradise archipelago to find his little kiddy bug and free him.
Showing at Pathé Balexert.
MULTI-AWARD WINNING – Green Book
When Tony Lip (Mortensen), a bouncer from an Italian-American neighbourhood in the Bronx, is hired to drive Dr. Don Shirley (Ali), a world-class Black pianist, on a concert tour from Manhattan to the Deep South, they must rely on “The Green Book” to guide them to the few establishments that were then safe for African-Americans. Confronted with racism, danger-as well as unexpected humanity and humour-they are forced to set aside differences to survive and thrive on the journey of a lifetime. Green Book recently won three Golden Globes including best motion picture.
Showing at Ciné 17, Arena Cinemas, Pathé Balexert, Cinéma Voltaire.Le City and Cinéma Rouge et Noir.
AIR GUITARS AT THE READY – BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY
A celebration of Queen and the unique Freddie Mercury, played expertly by Rami Malek (Mr Robot). Bohemian Rhapsody follows the band from conception onwards, and if you love rocking out to Queen hits, this will be a good 2 hours and 14 minutes of your life. It is not a documentary, glossing over some of the elements of Mercury’s identity and life that make him so absolutely fascinating, but great entertainment.
Showing at Arena Cinemas, Pathé Balexert.
FOR DETAILS AND TICKETS:
For details and tickets: –
Pathé Balexert https://pathe.ch/en/cinema-geneva.html#/
Ciné 17 http://www.cine17.ch
Cinérama Empire http://www.cinerama-empire.ch
Arena La Praille https://www.arena.ch/fr/geneve
Les Scala http://www.les-scala.ch
Cinelux https://www.cinelux.ch
Le City http://www.les-scala.ch
Cinéma Bio https://www.cinema-bio.ch
Cinéma Rouge et Noir www.cine-rouge-et-noir.fr
Cinéma Voltaire www.cinema-voltaire.net
Cinéma La Patio www.cinegex.fr
Pathé Archamps www.cinemaspathegaumont.com
Seen any good movies lately?
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