Monsieur Lazhar's theme -- new teacher stepping into a difficult situation -- certainly isn't uncommon, but nothing else about this film is what you'd expect.
Roger Brown is an art thief. He introduces himself to us in a voiceover: He's 5'6", he has a house he can't afford, a car he can't afford and a tall beautiful wife, Diana, who likes those things. She regularly attracts the attention of other men... all of them taller.
The beginning is quite cute, and the end has a fun musical finale, but the middle seems like an excruciatingly long hodge-podge of silliness.
If you're expecting this film to take on modern day controversies in the Catholic Church, it won't. But it does ask a serious question about humility and humanity in the Church hierarchy.
Bully is a documentary that not only follows bullying victims; it gives us a look at their whole environment -- parents, other kids, teachers and communities. We see there's no single cause of it, and that it can't be solved one kid at a time.
"What will she order? Nothing humdrum like coffee..." François and Nathalie enjoy replaying their first meeting at Les Cailloux. Falling in love was so easy then.
The fundamental reason for a campus-wide ban on firearms is to keep as few firearms on campus as possible -- a preventative policy. Ultimately, the policy hasn't made the campus less safe, only less risky.
Except for a few bizarre musical choices, the Kid With a Bike is totally low key and unsentimental. It's a gentle movie with a big heart.
This tricky, clever spoof on family/community life in academia starts out with some great stylistic elements inspired by mid-20th century mystery movies.
Just because it follows a typical romantic comedy trajectory doesn't mean it isn't a fun ride. There are many cute moments, lots of clever dialogue and some real on-screen chemistry.
Elizabeth Olsen gives an intense and totally believable performance as Sarah -- all the more impressive because there are no cuts or retakes.
