The Dead Don’t Hurt (15)
Directed by Viggo Mortensen
★★★

 
ACTOR turned writer-director Viggo Mortensen takes one of my most hated tropes in the Western genre and gives it a fresh twist in this quietly powerful and slow burning drama about two star-crossed lovers and pioneers. 

Like most Westerns it involves a woman being raped and killed to propel the action forward which is unacceptable today even if it is portrayed in a surprising way. 

Set in the 1860s, it opens with Danish immigrant and former soldier Holger Olsen (Mortensen) watching the love of his life Vivienne Le Coudy (Vicky Krieps), who’s French-Canadian, die from a terminal illness.

It then shows how they met in San Francisco where she sold flowers for a living and how their romance blossomed. She agrees to travel with him to his isolated home near a quiet town in Nevada on the American frontier. The action continually moves from the past to the present, shedding increasing light on the latter. 

Both characters are immigrants who are fiercely independent and stubborn. Krieps gives a powerhouse performance as this trailblazing woman who lives life on her own terms. She calls out Olsen when he decides to join the civil war and fight for the union, leaving her to fend for herself for many years against the greed, corruption and ruthlessness of the unscrupulous men that run the town. Especially one of their wayward sons (Solly McLeon) who becomes taken with her and won’t accept no for an answer. 

Mortensen, who also produced it and composed the music, delivers a visually arresting, complex yet gritty and violent Western/tragic love story which explores the conflict between revenge and forgiveness. 

Its thought-provoking ending will haunt you for some time.  

Out in cinemas June 7. 

Rosalie (15)
Directed by Stéphanie Di Giusto
★★★

 
LOOSELY based on the life of early 20th century French “bearded lady” Clementine Delait, Rosalie is a wonderful examination of female empowerment and learning to feel comfortable in your own skin. 

Set in 1870s France, co-writer-director Stephanie Di Giusto’s gorgeously shot film is totally captivating as Rosalie (a bewitching Nadia Tereszkiewicz), harbouring a dark secret, marries indebted bar owner Abel (Benoit Magimel) who agrees to it for her dowry.   

Rosalie, who was born covered in hair, is forced to shave every day in order to blend in but when Abel discovers the truth he is repulsed by her and feels cheated.

In a bid to save his bar she grows out her beard to attract trade. She is surprisingly accepted by the local community (with a few exceptions) who come to their establishment in droves.

As her notoriety grows so do their daily takings. Can Abel learn to accept and love her for who she really is?

Tereszkiewicz is terribly moving as Rosalie while Magimel is wonderfully grumpy and conflicted as her husband as she faces discrimination, verbal and physical abuse and victimisation when the locals suddenly turn against her.

A tender and touching love story. 

Out in cinemas June 7. 

Riddle of Fire (12A)
Directed by Weston Razooli
★★★
 

 
THREE mischievous and unruly children embark on a wild odyssey across the American West going to unbelievable lengths in a bid to make their sick mother’s favourite blueberry pie. 

Beautifully shot on 16mm and looking like it is set in the 1970s (though it is meant to be present day, given the youngsters play video games and use mobiles) in its hippy tone and ambience this neo fairytale seems like a psychedelic trip.

It is both fantastical and whimsical and an ambitious directorial debut feature by Weston Razooli who also wrote, stars, produced and edited it.

The three kids played by Charlie Stover, Skyler Peters and Phoebe Ferro are adorable and completely enchanting as they face poachers, witches, fairies and huntsmen in their search for a speckled egg to make the infamous pie. 

You need to suspend all disbelief to enjoy.  

Out in cinemas June 7. 

Bad Boys: Ride or Die (15)
Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah
★★★
 

 
WHILE the franchise may be running out of steam, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence’s joyous on screen chemistry and double act is still going strong to save the day. 

Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah are back to direct the fourth film in the series in which Mike Lowrey (Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Lawrence) team up to clear the name of their late captain (Joe Pantoliano who appears in video form) who has been implicated in a major case of corruption with the cartel. 

Following a heart attack at Mike’s wedding Marcus has an epiphany meeting with Captain Howard on the other side. It is all Kumbaya after that. Lawrence slaps Smith across the face several times (a nod to slapgate?) at one point. 

It is loud and full of non-stop action and explosions with the finale set in an abandoned amusement park which houses a killer albino alligator named Duke. 

Entertaining, but retirement beckons, boys. 

Out in cinemas now.