Reviews by Rollo Tomasi

'I'm Not There' is a poetic but less than revealing biopic. You don't need to be fanatical about Bob Dylan to like this film, It doesn't tell anything the average fan doesn't know already. The hook is in the stylistic, innovative way this biopic is executed, and how the actors capture the various cells of this musicians life. I kinda wanted to dismiss the film early on but it hooked me before I could shrug it off as profound mundanity. Haynes turns the biopic on it's head as if it's written by the subject himself, as if each of the six cells are Dylan's own fantastical view of himself. It doesn't always work, sometimes it feels just too odd and quirky for its own good, but regardless of this you just can't help but love it. Stand-out's, for me were Cate Blanchett as folk-gone-rock traitor Bob and one I totally unexpected from thirteen-year-old Marcus Carl Franklin, the kid really done got the blues. Dylan has always said there is no point to his music 'It Just Is', the same goes for Haynes film. He has created a new genre with I'm Not There... long live the bioddity!

A relentlessly brutal early-nineties odyssey that is so real you can almost smell the stench of London's underbelly in each cell. David Thewlis is amazing as the anti-hero, Johnny. So much so I'll probably see him as this character no matter whom he plays from now on. Johnny's rants are worth the rental fee alone.

I'm experiencing similar events to the Linney and Hoffman's characters within my own family, so this film really hit home. The Savages subtle brand of humour and thoughtfulness make for a deeply funny, superbly acted film. I haven't seen Tamara Jenkins directorial debut 'Slums of Beverly Hills' but if it's half this good I won't leave it long.

This film is a feast to the senses, I swear it's that well crafted I could smell it. Although Pitt gives an adequate performance the real stars here are Roger Deakins (cinematography), Nick Cave & Warren Ellis (music), and Casey Affleck as the creepy and highly annoying coward that is Robert Ford. One of my faves of 2007.

It's not hard to see why Francisco Vargas' feature length debut earned an official selection at Cannes. El Violin is an honest and brutal social depiction of corruption in the Mexican peasant fields. Hollywood should look beyond the border and take note.

Lynne Ramsay's debut feature is a stylish, gritty slice of realism that is so strikingly shot you forget that you're watching a film. I wish I hadn't took so long to get around to seeing Ratcatcher, that is my only regret.

Werner Herzog's passion and enthusiasm for Dieter Dengler's remarkable story make Rescue Dawn stand-out amongst the best of a long tradition of p.o.w. films, a genre one could be forgiven for thinking had taken its last breath. A fascinating study of the strength of human will, grit and determination. I haven't seen Bale this good since The Machinist. I still prefer 'Little Dieter Needs To Fly' but I don't regret Werner's decision to dramatise Dieter's story now I've seen the results.

At last! A thriller with a plot that hasn't been diluted for wide release multiplex audiences. Its a little dry in places but the plot becomes more elaborate by virtue of the timeline on events which is cleverly done . One of Clooney's better performances.

A thought provoking and emotionally absorbent film. By the end of the film you'll be questioning your own choices in life. It doesn't matter to me what language Mads Mikkelsen is speaking in a film, his face and mannerisms are an international language of their own.

The poster quotes read "It will pin you to your seat", "Riveting", "Volatile". It's all three thanks to a brilliant Ryan Gosling performance. However, it's hard to get behind this film too much when the story-teller omits such important things like telling/showing us what initially drove Danny to turn his hatred on to his own people. I find it hard to believe that it was built on classroom debate alone. Reverse antisemitism is a pretty inspired topic to cover and the film is a tough and emotional one, it's just that unlike the title I wasn't a believer on the whole.