Skip to main content

Reviews by Val Kermode

Order by: Date, A–Z

  • 27 Dresses (2008)
    Review preview for 27 Dresses

    I can’t think of one original thing in this film.

    Val Kermode · 3 out of 5
    A perpetual bridesmaid is torn between loyalty to her sister and passion for her sister's fiance.
  • 5 Broken Cameras (2011)
    Review preview for 5 Broken Cameras

    This is a deeply personal account of life in Palestine, and also one which sends out a strong political message.

    Val Kermode · 4 out of 5
    A Palestinian journalist chronicles his village’s resistance to a separation barrier being erected on their land and in the process captures his young son’s lens on the world.
  • Airplane! (1980)
    Review preview for Airplane!

    Surely one of the funniest movies of all time.

    Val Kermode · 5 out of 5
    When the crew of a plane suddenly gets sick, only one man can land it safely, and he's afraid to fly.
  • Another Year (2010)
    Review preview for Another Year

    No one knows better than Mike Leigh how to pick away at that surface of competence and affability that we all like to affect and reach beneath it to those fears we all carry with us.

    Val Kermode · 4.5 out of 5
    Mike Leigh drama about family, friendship and ageing.
  • Abuelas (2011)
    Review preview for Abuelas

    It's a story which has been told many times now. But this short film finds a fresh way to tell it.

    Val Kermode · 4.5 out of 5
    An elderly woman talks about the disappearance of her pregnant daughter under military rule in Argentina.
  • Ali Shan (2009)
    Review preview for Ali Shan

    Neither beautiful nor inspiring.

    Val Kermode · 1 out of 5
    The experience of awaiting sunrise on Taiwan's Ali Shan Mountain.
  • All About Steve (2009)
    Review preview for All About Steve

    The very worst thing about this film is its message.

    Val Kermode · 1 out of 5
    A crossword puzzler follows the cameraman she's smitten with all around the country.
  • Ama Dablam (2007)
    Review preview for Ama Dablam

    I found myself being drawn in by the charming “boys’ adventure” approach.

    Val Kermode · 3.5 out of 5
    A group of climbers take on one of the world's most challenging mountains.
  • Awake (2007)
    Review preview for Awake

    Extremely well done.

    Val Kermode · 4.5 out of 5
    A man wakes up during surgery, unable to move, and hears doctors plotting his murder.
  • The Big Picture (2010)
    Review preview for The Big Picture

    Romain Duris is excellent as the main character.

    Val Kermode · 4 out of 5
    Paul Exben has the perfect life, but when he finds out that Sarah, his wife, is cheating on him, a rush of blood provokes Paul into a fatal error.
  • Biutiful (2009)
    Review preview for Biutiful

    Bardem gives a stronger, more all-encompassing performance here than we have seen in any of his previous films.

    Val Kermode · 4.5 out of 5
    Barcelona's underworld as seen through the eyes of a hustling single dad.
  • The Betrayal (2008)
    Review preview for The Betrayal

    This is a very moving story, and I wish I could give the film more praise.

    Val Kermode · 3 out of 5
    The epic story of a family forced to emigrate from Laos after the chaos of the secret air war waged by the US during the Vietnam War.
  • Blindness (2008)
    Review preview for Blindness

    As well as being entertaining, this is a film which has some serious things to say.

    Val Kermode · 4 out of 5
    Chaos reigns as an epidemic of blindness starts to spread with alarming speed.
  • Born in USSR (2010)
    Review preview for Born in USSR

    A nice idea which could have been better executed, even on a low budget.

    Val Kermode · 2 out of 5
    Animated allegory about the USSR.
  • Bride Wars (2009)
    Review preview for Bride Wars

    With a title like this you know pretty much what to expect.

    Val Kermode · 2 out of 5
    Best friends become bitter enemies after inadvertently scheduling their weddings for the same day.
  • Burma Soldier (2010)
    Review preview for Burma Soldier

    Their choice of this one man to symbolise the oppression of a whole nation makes this a strong and impressive film.

    Val Kermode · 4 out of 5
    The story of former Burmese soldier Myo Mint who, after becoming disabled in action, educated himself with banned books and became a campaigner against the civil war.
  • Café De Flore (2011)
    Review preview for Café De Flore

    The film is beautiful, often mesmerising and the soundtrack is superb.

    Val Kermode · 2.5 out of 5
    Lonely people whose love binds them in painful situations are united by music.
  • Capitalism: A Love Story (2009)
    Review preview for Capitalism: A Love Story

    In sheer entertainment terms this is Moore's best yet.

    Val Kermode · 4 out of 5
    A documentary about laissez faire capitalism and its effect on American society.
  • The Class (2008)
    Review preview for The Class

    Teachers everywhere will give a smile of recognition as an experienced teacher takes a new colleague through his class list – “nice, nice, not nice, not nice at all…”

    Val Kermode · 4 out of 5
    Quasi-documentary about a group of Parisian school kids.
  • A Complete History Of My Sexual Failures (2008)
    Review preview for A Complete History Of My Sexual Failures

    Brave, honest (up to a point) and sufficiently engaging to make you want a happy ending.

    Val Kermode · 3.5 out of 5
    Does what it says on the tin - a personal documentary about a subject for which most blokes will have sympathy.
  • Coco Before Chanel (2009)
    Review preview for Coco Before Chanel

    There is some verve in the early singing scenes, but overall I was left with the impression that breaking all those conventions was a long, hard slog.

    Val Kermode · 3 out of 5
    A look at the early life of the famous Coco Chanel.
  • Creation (2009)
    Review preview for Creation

    This is a film which seeks to convey emotional truth rather than historical accuracy.

    Val Kermode · 3 out of 5
    A look at the personal conflicts Charles Darwin experienced when deciding whether or not to publish his theory of evolution.
  • Cuban Skateboarding Crisis (2007)
    Review preview for Cuban Skateboarding Crisis

    This is a film with a heartfelt message behind the adventure shots.

    Val Kermode · 3 out of 5
    Documentary about the way in which the US blockade of Cuba has affected young skateboarders there.
  • Defiance (2008)
    Review preview for Defiance

    Everything is fairly predictable and heavily signposted.

    Val Kermode · 2 out of 5
    Four brothers escape Nazi occupied Belarussia and hide out in the woods with other rebels, plotting to rescue their fellow Jews.
  • Do It Yourself! (2010)
    Review preview for Do It Yourself!

    What comes over very strongly in the film is that Vivienne is an endearing mixture of the anarchic and the down to earth.

    Val Kermode · 3.5 out of 5
    Documentary about fashion designer, punk icon and cultural provocateur Vivienne Westwood.
  • The Duchess (2008)
    Review preview for The Duchess

    Not quite the costume drama some may have expected.

    Val Kermode · 3.5 out of 5
    The true story of an aristocrat who came into conflict with the political and moral system of her day.
  • Duplicity (2009)
    Review preview for Duplicity

    Needed a more crackling central relationship to keep it interesting.

    Val Kermode · 2 out of 5
    Two former corporate spies scheme to swindle their bosses.
  • Eagles Over London (1969)
    Review preview for Eagles Over London

    A simple, fast-paced adventure.

    Val Kermode · 2.5 out of 5
    Germans infiltrate a British squadron in a bid to sabotage a radar warning system.
  • The Edge Of Heaven (2007)
    Review preview for The Edge Of Heaven

    Akin’s screenplay is intricate and original, and his story is ultimately an affirmation of the strength of personal bonds over the political.

    Val Kermode · 3.5 out of 5
    A young man of Turkish descent travels to the old country to look for the missing daughter of his father's girlfriend.
  • Enchanted (2007)
    Review preview for Enchanted

    A simple idea delivered so cleverly that it holds your attention from the opening of the storybook right up to its fairytale ending.

    Val Kermode · 4.5 out of 5
    Exiled to modern New York City, a fairytale princess collides with the real world.
  • The End Of America (2008)
    Review preview for The End Of America

    Wolf argues her case with passion.

    Val Kermode · 3 out of 5
    Naomi Wolf explores political changes in the US.
  • Firaaq (2008)
    Review preview for Firaaq

    Both the style and the quality of the acting are somewhat uneven, giving the impression that more time and care was taken with some story strands than others.

    Val Kermode · 2.5 out of 5
    The story of how the Hindu-Muslim riots that ravaged Gujarat in 2002 altered the lives of a number of different characters.
  • Fireflies In The Garden (2008)
    Review preview for Fireflies In The Garden

    Has the feel of an authentic autobiography, where nothing is straightforward.

    Val Kermode · 4 out of 5
    A son struggles to deal with his abusive father.
  • Flame And Citron (2008)
    Review preview for Flame And Citron

    It is refreshing to see a film which refuses to romanticise this subject matter.

    Val Kermode · 2.5 out of 5
    Two resistance fighters face treachery and are torn over their feelings for a beautiful woman.
  • The Flaw (2010)
    Review preview for The Flaw

    Sington has found a range of economists and experts who explain in clear language the roots of the crisis.

    Val Kermode · 5 out of 5
    An investigation of how the stock market crash really happened, explaining the complex financial issues involved in easily understood terms.
  • Flow: For Love Of Water (2008)
    Review preview for Flow: For Love Of Water

    What this film shows, by visiting communities around the world, is that issues of pollution are often intrinsically linked to issues of ownership.

    Val Kermode · 3.5 out of 5
    Examination of the global water crisis.
  • Flying Monsters 3D With David Attenborough (2010)
    Review preview for Flying Monsters 3D With David Attenborough

    This is a serious documentary of the quality we have come to expect from such series as Life On Earth.

    Val Kermode · 4 out of 5
    Giant flying 3D dinosaurs introduced by everybody's favourite natural history presenter.
  • Fool's Gold (2008)
    Review preview for Fool's Gold

    Ray Winstone really should have known better, though his accent – American Deep South via London East End – is possibly the funniest thing in the film.

    Val Kermode · 1.5 out of 5
    An estranged couple rock the boat while treasure hunting.
  • Fred Claus (2007)
    Review preview for Fred Claus

    There is not nearly enough in this moralistic tale to appeal to adults and not enough excitement for children.

    Val Kermode · 1.5 out of 5
    Santa's older brother is asked to help out at the North Pole, and everyone gets more than they bargained for.
  • Genova (2008)
    Review preview for Genova

    Colin Firth gives possibly his best performance yet.

    Val Kermode · 3.5 out of 5
    In a foreign city, a young girl begins to catch glimpses of the mother she lost in a car crash.
  • The Good Night (2007)
    Review preview for The Good Night

    Jake Paltrow has given us a film which is bold and thought provoking. The trouble is, it is also depressing and a lot of it is dull.

    Val Kermode · 2.5 out of 5
    A pop-star turned jingle writer seeks solace from his midlife crisis in his dreams.
  • Gomorrah (2008)
    Review preview for Gomorrah

    In its style, its performances and its confident direction, this film is a triumph.

    Val Kermode · 5 out of 5
    Five interweaving stories paint a brutal portrait of organised crime in Naples.
  • Gun Fight (2011)
    Review preview for Gun Fight

    Kopple makes room here for opponents to state their case, although it's clear throughout which side she's on.

    Val Kermode · 4 out of 5
    An exploration of the politics of gun control in the US.
  • High Heels (1991)
    Review preview for High Heels

    Almodóvar is so confident that he can afford a little self-mocking.

    Val Kermode · 4.5 out of 5
    A woman who lives in the shadow of her mother finds herself locking horns with her after her husband is killed.
  • The Hoax (2006)
    Review preview for The Hoax

    Hallström successfully captures the style of the Seventies, aided by a breezy original score by Carter Burwell. He also shows us the dark undercurrents of the period.

    Val Kermode · 4 out of 5
    A writer creates a media sensation with his fake biography of Howard Hughes.
  • Hollow Triumph (1948)
    Review preview for Hollow Triumph

    Like many a film noir of its time, the plot is quite predictable, but the joy is in seeing how it all unfolds.

    Val Kermode · 3.5 out of 5
    A criminal tries to adopt the identity of a doctor who looks just like him.
  • The Hollywood Complex (2011)
    Review preview for The Hollywood Complex

    The team did build quite strong emotional ties with these families.

    Val Kermode · 3 out of 5
    A visit to a special apartment complex and training centre for would-be child stars.
  • The Honor Code (2012)
    Review preview for The Honor Code

    Argues that what is needed is not a change in the law but a change in the way of thinking.

    Val Kermode · 3 out of 5
    An animated exploration of the tradition of honour killing, asking how it might be brought to an end.
  • Hope (2010)
    Review preview for Hope

    The film contains some beautiful photography, and its subjects are presented with dignity and humour. It is a pity that it soon becomes rambling.

    Val Kermode · 2.5 out of 5
    A visit to a Turkish village scarred by war whose cyclical approach to time is confounded by the young people's desire to leave for the city.
  • The House Bunny (2008)
    Review preview for The House Bunny

    Anna Faris plays ditsy like a young Goldie Hawn, though not nearly so well.

    Val Kermode · 1 out of 5
    A cast-off Playboy bunny is put in charge of a sorority house.

News and features

Paul Rowley on moving to New York, the Pulse massacre, and Gays Against Guns

Going out laughing Kat Butterfield and Daniel Audritt on hitting the jackpot with Life Goes On

Cash on delivery Ben McKenzie on economics, belief, cryptocurrency and Everyone Is Lying To You For Money

Going ape Antonin Niclass on character creation, empathy and animated short Into The Forest

Freeform Will Niava on grief, new immigrant experiences and Jazz Infernal

In silence Emir Kumova on child marriage in Türkiye, moral challenges and making The Witness

Taking a ride into liminal spaces Katharine Round on making documentary Ghost Town

More news and features

Festival coverage

Festivals
Cannes festival coverage, 2026

We're bringing you all the latest news and reviews from the Cheltenham International Film Festival, the Leeds International Film Festival, the Thessaloniki International Film Festival and Tallinn Black Nights.



We're looking forward to the French Film Festival and DOC NYC.



We've recently brought you coverage of the Belfast Film Festival, Halloween Frightfest, the Scottish Queer International Film Festival, Newfest, the London Film Festival, the New York Film Festival and Grimmfest.



Read our full for more.


Visit our festivals section.