Rob Aldam
Tomatometer-approved critic
Movies reviews only
| Rating | T-Meter | Title | Year | Review |
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Savage Waters (2022) |
Savage Waters is an ode to those who dare to dream. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Feb 15, 2023
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Poor Agnes (2017) |
Poor Agnes is a deft mixture of psychological warfare, black comedy and knowing horror. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Feb 06, 2023
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Million Dollar Pigeons (2022) |
Million Dollar Pigeons is an eye-opening insight into a world you probably didn’t even know existed. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Feb 02, 2023
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January (2021) |
January works thanks to its ability to linger in the shadows, just out of reach. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Jan 24, 2023
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Iron Butterflies (2023) |
While Roman Liubyi’s documentary doesn’t really bring anything new to the table, is does approach its subject matter in a methodical and rounded way. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Jan 23, 2023
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Slow (2023) |
A persuasive meditation on modern romance - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Jan 22, 2023
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When It Melts (2023) |
A powerful story of loneliness and trauma. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Jan 22, 2023
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Corsage (2022) |
There is sparkle and sparks in writer/director Marie Kreutzer’s quasi-historical film but it’s Krieps’s performance which makes it stand out. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Dec 19, 2022
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Jurassic Punk (2022) |
A fascinating documentary about an area of modern big budget cinema which is often overlooked. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Dec 13, 2022
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Adrift in Tokyo (2007) |
A surprisingly deep offbeat indie comedy drama - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Dec 12, 2022
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Rimini (2022) |
While it’s beautifully shot, it’s a comedy drama which lives or dies by the performance of Thomas, and he’s magnificently terrible. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Dec 09, 2022
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Blanquita (2022) |
A thoughtful drama which rolls a number of issues into the story of its eponymous lead. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Dec 09, 2022
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Eternal Spring (2022) |
A powerful critique of state oppression. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Dec 09, 2022
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Mr. Bachmann and His Class (2021) |
Bachmann’s unusual methods rub up against the often-harsh realities his pupils find themselves in, but the importance of the work he’s doing can’t be understated. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Dec 07, 2022
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Christmas Bloody Christmas (2022) |
Puts the slaying back into the festive season, with bells on. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Dec 06, 2022
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The Driver (1978) |
An effortlessly cool crime thriller which has never looked better - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Dec 01, 2022
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Nr. 10 (2021) |
While it’s an overused phrase, it really is best going in cold. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Nov 30, 2022
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Last Film Show (2021) |
A heart-warming drama about the power and pull of cinema. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Nov 30, 2022
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Goodbye, Don Glees! (2021) |
A poignant coming-of-age story which covers a lot of ground. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Nov 29, 2022
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Tori and Lokita (2022) |
They conjure great performances from their two leads, who bestow an authenticity on Tori and Lokita. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Nov 29, 2022
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Scrap (2022) |
It’s both a fascinating insight into how we can re/upcycle the objects we use and a telling reminder of the damage our lifestyles is having on the environment. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Nov 23, 2022
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Leonor Will Never Die (2022) |
Leonor Will Never Die is a scrappy low-budget meta-action romp which, despite its flaws, is highly entertaining. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Nov 22, 2022
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The Trial (1962) |
The material struggles to transport itself into a cinematic environment, but we’re taken on a journey in The Trial which is both a faithful portrayal and something new entirely. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Nov 21, 2022
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The Teckman Mystery (1954) |
An entertaining and lively espionage drama. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Nov 18, 2022
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Reservoir Dogs (1992) |
While it borrows generously from a number of other films, the way Tarantino structures his crime drama is a breath of fresh air. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Nov 17, 2022
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The Draughtsman's Contract (1982) |
Ensuring that The Draughtsman’s contract is a feast for the ears, eyes and mind. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Nov 17, 2022
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Much Ado About Dying (2022) |
Much Ado About Dying is the best kind of documentary. It will make you laugh and cry. It will also make you pause for thought. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Nov 15, 2022
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My Neighbor Adolf (2022) |
A surprisingly sweet take on a difficult issue. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Nov 14, 2022
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Geographies of Solitude (2022) |
Geographies of Solitude captures both the fragility and isolation of this living and breathing island environment. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Nov 13, 2022
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A Compassionate Spy (2022) |
A Compassionate Spy celebrates an ordinary, yet extraordinary, life. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Nov 13, 2022
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The Elephant 6 Recording Co. (2022) |
An entertaining and lively foray into the minds of these musical mavericks. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Nov 12, 2022
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In Viaggio: The Travels of Pope Francis (2022) |
A thoughtful film which considers the role of the head of a major church in the modern world. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Nov 12, 2022
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Innocence (2022) |
Innocence is a powerful argument for urgent change. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Nov 11, 2022
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The March on Rome (2022) |
While The March on Rome is engaging and informative, it also meanders towards the end. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Nov 10, 2022
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Aurora's Sunrise (2022) |
Her memoir, Ravished Armenia, also lays at the heart of the film - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Nov 10, 2022
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The Great Basin (2021) |
It’s a fascinating watch and Yoshio Kitagawa’s cinematography picks out the beauty of the natural environment. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Nov 10, 2022
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The Human Trial (2022) |
The Human Trial is a difficult watch at times but does a great job of giving the viewer an idea of what it feels like to participate in a medical study. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Nov 09, 2022
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No Bears (2022) |
No Bears is one of his most ambitious works yet and while it tackles a number of serious issues, there’s always room for his wry humour. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Nov 08, 2022
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Retrograde (2022) |
Capturing the final nine months before the fall of Kabul, Retrograde is a scathing portrait of abandonment, incompetence and gross negligence. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Nov 08, 2022
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Audrey Rose (1977) |
While some of the acting is overwrought and the story occasionally grates, this choice adds extra layers to what is a fascinating, intelligent and thoughtful psychological drama. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Nov 07, 2022
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The Sleeping Tiger (1954) |
The Sleeping Tiger is a hardboiled thriller which plays with a number of elements around the human condition. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Nov 04, 2022
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Final Cut (2022) |
While Final Cut is an ode to filmmaking and a meta masterclass in production, there’s not much of a beating heart. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Nov 04, 2022
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Nocebo (2022) |
Director Lorcan Finnegan (Vivarium) tackles abuse and exploitation through a plot laden with smoke and mirrors. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Nov 03, 2022
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Return to Dust (2022) |
A beautifully made drama which highlights the plight faced by ordinary Chinese citizens living in the countryside. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Nov 03, 2022
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Meet Me in the Bathroom (2022) |
A happy nostalgia trip through a lively and fun period of indie music - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Nov 02, 2022
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Good Night Oppy (2022) |
Good Night Oppy is an enthralling look at the next stage of man’s journey into space. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Nov 02, 2022
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Soft & Quiet (2022) |
Soft & Quiet goes to places other films fear to tread. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Nov 02, 2022
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Hunt (2022) |
Hunt revels in this atmosphere of suspicion and fear to create an entertaining espionage thriller. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Nov 01, 2022
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Eve's Bayou (1997) |
A rich and rewarding tale of trust and betrayal, set within a tight framework. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Oct 31, 2022
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Lost Highway (1997) |
Creates a vivid and infernal dreamscape which will drill its way into your psyche. - Backseat Mafia
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| Posted Oct 27, 2022
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