BRIGHT NIGHTS (Helle Nächte) ★★☆☆☆
D: Thomas Arslan (Gold).
S: Georg Friedrich, Tristan Göbel, Marie Leuenberger, Hanna Karlberg.
So much narrative & character space left empty of profundity. With this and GOLD, Arslan underwhelms as a filmmaker.
THE PARTY ★★☆☆☆
D: Sally Potter (Ginger & Rosa, Rage, Yes, Orlando).
S: Patricia Clarkson, Bruno Ganz, Cherry Jones, Emily Mortimer, Cillian Murphy, Kristin Scott Thomas, Timothy Spall.
Bar Clarkson's choice put-downs, this is woeful. Over-the-top, substandard, obvious theatrics.
MR. LONG ★★½☆☆
D: Sabu (Chasuke’s Journey).
S: Chen Chang, Sho Aoyagi, Yiti Yao, Junyin Bai.
Derivative crime flick, elevated by expert heart-string pulling. The score and atmosphere hook.