losriley-91482 Reviews

American Assassin (2017)

Intriguing thriller with great fight scenes

[7/10 · 5 October 2023]

Slightly shocked not to see Shiva Negar ( Annika ) listed in the top billed cast.

Her portrayal of Annika elevates this film from being a gung ho flag waver to a more complex and grown up thriller.

The cast is flawless in their portrayals which keeps the viewer invested in their journies and emotional and physical sacrifices.

A film that is based on a best selling novel. This is apparent in the quality of character portraits. They are relatable yet also semi-superheros in the action sequences. This is one of the fun aspects of the film. I would recommend it as a face passed and engaging film.

The film is really well paced and compelling.

Gone Girl (2014)

Octopus and Scrabble

[1/10 · 13 February 2020]

This film is so bad. The plot is painful. The acting wooden. The dialogue is jarring. I watched it all in disbelief at how bad it was. Even the editing is inconsistent. The furnishings are more interesting than the actors. Avoid.

Burning (2018)

Lyrical, beautiful and graceful

[9/10 · 18 January 2020]

Burning is a gentlely paced film with wonderful performances by the leading actors. The direction and cinematography are granted time that you seldom experience in modern cinema. So many fundamental questions are raised by this story. What is of value in our lives and what is superficial and superfluous? It is a joyful to experience the freedom to get to know the central character so well. As a viewer who grew up in the country side then moved to the city it made me yearn for my youth. To experience life in a more visceral way and have the freedom to contemplate ones existance.