David Mouriquand
This week at the kino: Korean triple bill
Catch Bong Joon-ho‘s Palme D’Or-winning "Parasite", plus Lee Chan-ong’s "Burning" as part of EXBlicks' ongoing Korean new wave fortnight, the Arsenal's series of period Korean cinema kicks off, and more happening in the Berlin film world this week. Read more
Parasite ⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆
OUT NOW! Unmissable, Bong Joon-ho’s uncompromising and borderline unclassifiable masterwork became the first Korean film to win Cannes’ Palme d’Or. Read more
Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil ⋆ ⋆
OUT NOW! A sequel was all but inevitable (if delayed) but the uninspired narrative results in a depressingly by-the-numbers effort. Read more
Don't miss EXBlicks New Korean Cinema special
Kicking off on Oct 15 through Oct 31, Exberliner and Lichtblick Kino are celebrating the Korean wave with a fortnight of Hallyuwood's best new cinema. Opening with Park Chan-wook’s "The Handmaiden", come early for Korean tapas from Yam Yam Berlin! Read more
This week at the kino: Doc fest, shark horror and a nihilistic clown
Catch the Arsenal's Lynne Ramsay retrospective with a 35mm projection of her debut film "Ratcatcher", plus doc fest Dokuarts kicks off, horror survival flick "47 Meters Down: Uncaged", "Joker", and more happening in the Berlin film world this week. Read more
Joker ⋆⋆⋆⋆
OUT NOW! While "Joker" is bold it's not quite the tour de force many hoped for. Who has the last laugh? Definitely Joaquin Phoenix. Read more
Dora And The Lost City Of Gold ⋆⋆⋆
OUT NOW! This live-action take is a charming bit of fun that should delight tweens and keep more seasoned viewers awake to catch the final credits. Read more
"We pushed for something totally insane": Joker's Todd Phillips
INTERVIEW! "Joker" hits Berlin screens on Oct 10, we met director Todd Phillips to find out more about his deep dive character study on the demented clown prince of crime, working with Joaquin Phoenix and his take on whether he made a political film. Read more
This week at the Kino: Reformed skinheads and a Berlin-based comedy
Catch big-hearted Berlin comedy "Datsche", neo-Nazi drama "Skin" and new observational documentaries "Ama-San" and "Normal". Plus a strong possibility of a sneak preview of "Joker", and more happening in the Berlin film world this week. Read more
Gemini Man ⋆
OUT NOW! Ang Lee's detour into the sci-fi action genre only highlights how expensive effects can’t make up for an aggressively formulaic screenplay. Read more
Normal ⋆⋆⋆
OUT NOW! At times clumsily moralistic, "Normal" looks at the rigid and generation-spanning mechanisms that define gender in contemporary Italian society. Read more
Datsche ⋆⋆⋆
OUT NOW! Lara Hewitt’s feature debut is a fish-out-of-water comedy with a big heart, addressing the topics of nationality and community in a gentle way. Read more
This week at the kino: Two film fests and a Harry Potter marathon
Aussie gems, audience favourites and a 24-hour Potter marathon, plus catch horror b-movie "Ready or Not", Berlinale Grand Jury Prize winner "By The Grace Of God", and more happening in the Berlin film world this week. Read more
Ready Or Not ⋆⋆⋆
OUT NOW! Whether you’re in the mood for some schlocky thrills or trying desperately to convince your special someone that weddings are a terrible idea, look no further. Read more
Midsommar: Pro & Con
OUT NOW! A contemporary break-up movie disguised as 70s-style folk horror. One of the year’s finest films, or one that never hits the heights of its obvious influences? Read more
Macall Polay
The Goldfinch ⋆⋆
OUT NOW! A valiant attempt at Donna Tartt's 2013 Pultizer Prize-winning novel, but somehow it ends up a sprawling drama that never builds to anything memorable. Read more
Celebration ⋆⋆⋆
OUT NOW! This behind-the-scenes documentary follows grand fashion poohbah Yves Saint-Laurent preparing his final show. A quietly fascinating character study, just not of who you’d expect. Read more
This week at the kino: Human rights and a space odyssey
Catch the Brad Pitt starring space epic "Ad Astra", Berlinale prize winner "System Crasher", the Human Rights Film Festival and more happening in the Berlin film world this week. Read more
Francois Duhamel
Ad Astra: Pro & Con
OUT NOW! A futuristic deconstruction of masculinity packaged as a big-budget sci-fi spectacular, or a case of an empty vessel making a pretty noise? Read more
Yana Blajeva
Rambo: Last Blood ⋆
OUT NOW! What should have been a fitting swansong to an action icon turns out to be an offensive dud. Read more