David Parkinson

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Empire
For 400 reviews, this critic has graded:
  • 39% higher than the average critic
  • 4% same as the average critic
  • 57% lower than the average critic
On average, this critic grades 7.3 points higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)

David Parkinson's Scores

  • Movies
  • TV
Average review score: 73
Highest review score: 100 Sansho the Bailiff
Lowest review score: 40 Tommy's Honour
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 239 out of 400
  2. Mixed: 161 out of 400
  3. Negative: 0 out of 400
400 movie reviews
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    • 92 Metascore
    • 60 David Parkinson
    Frenzy
    Hitchcock's penultimate film deals with many of his previous themes with typical grim comedy and insight into a psychopathic killer's mind.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 60 David Parkinson
    Lost Embrace
    Well-served by a laudably authentic ensemble, the director explores both character and ethnicity with a canny wit.
    • 63 Metascore
    • 60 David Parkinson
    Irma la Douce
    Lemmon and Maclaine fail to reproduce the chemistry from The Apartment but this slight film is not as ignorable as reputation suggests.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 60 David Parkinson
    About Elly (2009)
    Farhadi’s gifted storytelling and direction is on show again in a damning look at Iranian society.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 60 David Parkinson
    A Canterbury Tale
    Curious allegorical epic which was supposed to speak to Allied spirits during the second world war but was a trifle obscure in its symbolism even then.
    • 62 Metascore
    • 60 David Parkinson
    Darling
    Interesting portrait of the shallow nature of fame but overall this fails to engage on an emotional level.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 60 David Parkinson
    Victor Victoria
    Edwards and Andrews insisted on using the picture to drive another nail into her detested Mary Poppins image.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 60 David Parkinson
    My Dinner with Andre
    A completely merited cult favourite of the avant-garde genre. This is surprisingly compelling in places.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 60 David Parkinson
    The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog
    One of Hitchcock's earlier efforts that was hacked around a bit to take out some of the more ambiguous psychological elements by the editor but still retains the old Hitch charm.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 60 David Parkinson
    Mademoiselle Chambon
    A subtle and sensual character study.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 60 David Parkinson
    Archipelago
    Shot with grace and precision but paced with all the urgency of a Sunday afternoon stroll, Joanna Hogg's Haneke-lite study of an English middle class family is a well-crafted affair elevated by terrific moments.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 60 David Parkinson
    The Levelling
    Unflinching in its depiction of rural reality, this may be a dour drama, but it has been made with sincerity and an exceptional sense of place.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 60 David Parkinson
    My Architect
    You'll be left as much in the dark as the director about the personality traits that inspired the loyalty of three strong, intelligent women towards this self-centred, physically-resistible enigma.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 60 David Parkinson
    Ballets Russes
    One of the finest documentaries ever made about the performing arts, this magisterial history of the companies that danced under the name Ballet Russe will enchant dance aficionados and novices alike.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 60 David Parkinson
    Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry
    Klayman exploits the opportunity to follow a man at the eye of a cultural and political storm, although more detail on his creative process and private life would have welcome.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 60 David Parkinson
    The Gay Divorcee
    The second outing for Fred and Ginger which cemented their partnership can be irritating in it's romantic machinations but the Astaire flair is always winning.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 60 David Parkinson
    Saraband
    Insightful as ever but a little dated in the set-up and treatment of the shooting.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 60 David Parkinson
    As the Palaces Burn
    A fly-on-the-wall look at the band that will thrill fans but may not convert too many non-believers.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 60 David Parkinson
    Irma Vep
    Ultimately, Irma Vep doesn't quite have the courage of its convictions, but still provides plenty of scathing satire on the state of French cinema.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 60 David Parkinson
    The Pearl Button
    Despite the striking photography, this fascinating denunciation of 150 years of persecution and oppression lacks Guzmán's customary trenchancy and restraint.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 60 David Parkinson
    The Big Picture
    A few plot holes hold back what is otherwise a well cast and compelling picture.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 60 David Parkinson
    Which Way Is the Front Line from Here? The Life and Time of Tim Hetherington
    Unsurprisingly, considering the circumstances, this is less a meticulous study of photojournalist's art than an privileged and emotional look at the life of a friend and colleague.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 60 David Parkinson
    The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution
    While strong on establishment prejudice, the coverage of clashing egos and agendas isn’t always incisive.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 60 David Parkinson
    Gabrielle
    This looks and sounds superb. Isabelle Huppert and Pascal Gregory are splendid. But the over-archingly smug sophistication of the enterprise robs it of some much-needed human interest.
    • 50 Metascore
    • 60 David Parkinson
    Kelly's Heroes
    It’s instilled with the bite and bark of Bilko’s capitalist fervour, and has a fun line in cool, snappy dialogue, although never intending to be quite so broadly a comedy.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 60 David Parkinson
    Over Your Cities Grass Will Grow
    An intriguing and compelling documentary that provides insight into Kiefer's artwork.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 60 David Parkinson
    Head-On
    Ünel and the debuting Kekilli are as impressive as Akin’s atmospheric snapshots of Hamburg and Istanbul.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 60 David Parkinson
    Wings
    Clara Bow is mesmerising in this ahead-of-its-tie air force drama.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 60 David Parkinson
    How to Change the World
    This spends more time on the tensions between the dominant trio than their landmark campaigning.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 60 David Parkinson
    Bill Cunningham New York
    As Cunningham goes about his work chronicling changes in fashion and the city he loves, a portrait emerges of a man deserving of ever bit of the respect and esteem in which he's held. There's few sharp edges or dirt digging, but it's no less engaging for that.
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