Centering on a Finnish ski team’s attempt to cheat their way to Olympic glory, A PATRIOTIC MAN lacks the zeal or focus that might make its satire compelling.
Silent Heart
Bille August’s latest effort is a fantastic family ensemble piece that expertly recalls and echoes seminal Dogme 95 film Festen, a well deserving recipient of the 2014 Bodil Award for Best Danish Film.
The Grump
Dome Karukoski’s adaptation of Tuomas Kyrö’s popular and comical novel fails to hit the mark, fumbling its way into becoming a mediocre family comedy with more cringes than laughs rather than a rich social satire.
Rams
Grímur Hákonarson’s Un Certain Regard-winner is a thoroughly competent story of isolation and legacy, though its narrative simplicity renders it somewhat neutered.
Raspberry Boat Refugee
RASPBERRY BOAT REFUGEE is an enjoyable film that offers interesting insights into Swedish and Finnish culture, while examining the relationship between them.
21 Ways to Ruin a Marriage
21 Ways to Ruin a Marriage, from director Johanna Vuoksenmaa, is a rom-com that actively defies genre conventions and, for that, it is a pleasant success.
Easy Money II: Hard to Kill
Easy Money II: Hard to Kill suffers from the law of diminishing returns, delivering a more formulaic and derivative take on the gangster film than its predecessor, though it is saved by the strength of both its director and cast.
Remake
Remake is a found-footage drama that succeeds on the basis of its experimentation with the form, but is ultimately let down when the drama betrays its overly devised story and dialogue, devoid of the spontaneity that would make such a project work…
Easy Money (Snabba Cash)
The first film in Daniel Espinosa’s crime trilogy is fast-paced, captivating, and despite an increasingly complicated and convoluted plot, it never loses its audience.
Spooks and Spirits
Ágúst Guðmundsson’s Icelandic comedy is an enjoyable enough watch, but never delves deep. Hints of emotional insight within the narrative remain unresolved yet some great comedic performances and absurd situations manage to carry the film forward.