Pithy Reviews (10)

Short reviews of rare-ish movies, just to pass the time...

Utu (Geoff Murphy, 1984)

Part western, part ethnic cinema, part exploitation, part historical war epic, with hints to Shakespeare, the New Zealand film "Utu" is a quite odd, but very enjoyable piece.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Jesus of Montreal (Denys Arcand, 1989)

Biblical allegory, set in the world of French-Canadian theater. However, it does seem to be more a movie about the artistic corruption, as our "Jesus" is a young actor who refuses to compromise his integrity or accept censorship. Very impressive visuals, as well...

Rating: 4 out of 5

Deus e o Diabo na Terra do Sol (Glauber Rocha, 1964)

Also known as "White Devil, Black God", this is one of the most impressive film of the Cinema Novo movement, from one of its leading directors. An esoteric, mystical depiction of social unrest and religious practices in rural Brazil, it definitely should not be missed, even though it isn't exactly an easy watch.
Rating: 4 out of 5