The kids are all right (2010)

A pair of lesbian mums and their teenaged children are introduced to the biological dad. Hilarity ensues.

This is a typical Sundance film, which means it's a conventional comedy about an unconventional family that still manages to be a pro-family, family values film.

Nevertheless, it can still put a conservative board of film censors in a tizzy.

Read my full review at Fridae, first published on 23 February 2011.

True Grit (2010)

A precocious 14-year-old browbeats the meanest, baddest US Marshall in the land to bring justice to her family.

In their remake, the Coen brothers decide to play up the inherent comedy in the premise...

Because you can't really get any funnier than pairing up a violent, pragmatic old man with a naive, idealistic and precocious girl in a western.

Read my full review at Fridae, first published on 23 February 2011.

Never let me go (2010)

We follow a bunch of special children in a special school to their adulthood and eventual deaths as clones with no purpose other than to be emergency organ supplies.

As a science fiction movie set in what appears to be an authoritarian dystopia, Never let me go can be compared to Gattaca.

Never let me go is far more sentimental. And like Remains of the day, Ishiguro seems to suggest that one's greatest triumph is in submitting to the wheel of fate.

Read my full review at Fridae, first published on 23 February 2011.

Rabbit Hole (2010)

When bad things happen to good people, it provokes a sense of pity in the audience.

Rabbit Hole introduces us to one such Good Person, and then proceeds to show what a passive-aggressive dick she is, especially in her grieving.

This turn by Nicole Kidman is bolstered by all-round strong ensemble acting by the cast, and is one of the year's underrated gems.

Read my full review at Fridae, first published on 16 February 2011.

What women want (我知女人心) (2011)

Yes, this is a remake of the Mel Gibson/Helent Hunt romcom of the same name.

A cautious, competent, slick remake at the hands of Chen Daming, one of many Chiense New Wave directors graduating from social satire to strictly mainstream fare.

It's still an unimaginative effort that doesn't justify its existence.


Read my full review at Fridae, first published on 16 February 2011.

Triangle (2009)

To say that Triangle is the 12 Monkeys of slasher film is to say that it's the best fucking horror film I've ever seen and oh my god, it's brilliant. Like in genius.

It's a film where the nightmare of infinite regress becomes more terrifying than the slasher himself.

And that my friend, is pure genius.

Read my full review at Fridae, first published on 2 January 2011.

If you are the one 2 (非诚勿扰 2) (2010)

Feng Xiaogang makes a rare return to biting social satires of modern China with this film.

A couple having a wacky trial cohabitation provide enough brilliant sketches skewering modern Chinese marriages and sexual politics.

There's so much swiping at China's nouveau riches and their consumerist lifestyles, you'd think Feng is a Marxist filmmaker in a capitalist society.

Read my full review at Fridae, first published on 1 February 2011.

I love Hong Kong (我爱HK开心万岁) (2011)

Sinophone cinema has a unique genre called the Chinese New Year movie.

It's sort of analogous to the "holiday movie" that's set exactly on the holiday itself.

If you're in the market for holiday movies, you'll be able to tolerate, even welcome the waves of nostalgia, pithy depictions of community and neighbours, and the loving bond of families that the film throws at you.

Read my full review at Fridae, first published on 1 February 2011.