Stephen Dalton - The Film Verdict

On Falling

Posted by Stephen Dalton | Sep 19, 2024 | Festivals, San Sebastian 2024 |

Backed by Ken Loach’s production company, writer-director Laura Carreira’s debut feature ‘On Falling’ is a well crafted but grindingly glum depiction of poverty, alienation and soul-crushing low-wage work.

Stranger Eyes

Posted by Stephen Dalton | Sep 6, 2024 | Featured, Festivals, Venice 2024 |

A kidnap thriller rooted in surveillance, voyeurism and the unkindness of strangers, Yeo Siew Hua’s third feature ‘Stranger Eyes’ is the first ever Singaporean film to compete for the Golden Lion in Venice

Mistress Dispeller

Posted by Stephen Dalton | Sep 6, 2024 | Festivals, Venice 2024 |

Director Elizabeth Lo explores China’s novel solutions to infidelity and marital crisis with her intimate love-triangle documentary ‘Mistress Dispeller’.

Peacock

Posted by Stephen Dalton | Sep 5, 2024 | Festivals, Venice 2024 |

A professional friend-for-hire wakes up to the horrors of his soul-destroying job and hollow lifestyle in Austrian writer-director Bernhard Wenger’s sharp-witted, superbly acted black comedy ‘Peacock’.

Joker: Folie à Deux

Posted by Stephen Dalton | Sep 4, 2024 | Festivals, Spotlight, Venice 2024 |

Joaquin Phoenix and director Todd Phillips return to their billion-dollar killer-clown origin story with the music-stuffed, lavishly staged but dramatically flawed sequel ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’.

Author: Stephen Dalton

On Falling

Stranger Eyes

Mistress Dispeller

Peacock

Joker: Folie à Deux