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  Film Review: I Am the Secret in Your Heart夏日的檸檬草 (2024) - Taiwan Rating: 8/10   Reviewed by Andrew Chan (Film Critics Circle of Australia) Support my goal of writing one film review per day in 2025 - https://www.patreon.com/neofilmreviews "I Am the Secret in Your Heart" is an enchanting Taiwanese romance film that delicately weaves a tale of love and longing. Directed by Lai Meng-chieh and adapted from Macchiato's novel, this film, set in the backdrop of a high school, follows the life of a seemingly ordinary schoolgirl, Wang Hsiao-hsia, beautifully portrayed by Moon Lee.   The narrative unfolds as...

  Film Review: Not Friends 第151個朋友 เพื่อน(ไม่)สนิท (2023) - Thailand Rating: 8/10   Reviewed by Andrew Chan (Film Critics Circle of Australia) Support my goal of writing one film review per day in 2025 - https://www.patreon.com/neofilmreviews In "Not Friends" (2023), Atta Hemwadee's directorial debut, the narrative unfolds with a poignant exploration of friendship, loss, and the complexities of human connection. Set against the backdrop of a Thai high school, the film introduces us to Pae, a new student grappling with bitterness and detachment. Anthony Buizeret delivers a compelling performance as Pae, capturing the character's emotional depth with nuance and authenticity....

  Film Review: City of Darkness 黑色城市 (1999) - Hong Kong / Taiwan   Rating: 4/10   Reviewed by Andrew Chan (Film Critics Circle of Australia)  Support my goal of writing one film review per day in 2025 - https://www.patreon.com/neofilmreviews In "City of Darkness," Donnie Yen and Collin Chou find themselves in a narrative that promises intrigue but ultimately falls short in execution. Yen's subdued role leaves much to be desired, offering little beyond his trademark fight scenes. Chou, cast as the cartoonish villain, struggles to inject depth into his character, resulting in a missed opportunity for complexity.   The...

  Film Review: April, Come She Will 四月になれば彼女は (2024) - Japan Rating: 7.5/10   Reviewed by Andrew Chan (Film Critics Circle of Australia) Support my goal of writing one film review per day in 2025 - https://www.patreon.com/neofilmreviews   In this captivating Japanese drama directed by Tomokazu Yamada, viewers are taken on a poignant journey through love, loss, and rediscovery. Set against the backdrop of Tokyo, the film weaves a delicate tale of Shun Fujishiro (Takeru Satoh), a psychiatrist on the brink of marrying his fiancée Yayoi Sakamoto (Masami Nagasawa). However, a letter from his past love, Haru Iyoda (Nana Mori),...

  Film Review: The Bricklayer 諜影縱橫 (2023) - USA Rating: 5/10   Reviewed by Andrew Chan (Film Critics Circle of Australia) Support my goal of writing one film review per day in 2025 - https://www.patreon.com/neofilmreviews   "The Bricklayer" is a convoluted action thriller that struggles to lay a solid foundation for its narrative. Directed by Renny Harlin, the film follows the reactivation of Steve Vail (Aaron Eckhart), a former CIA field agent turned bricklayer, as he is pulled back into the world of espionage to track down a vengeful former asset, Victor Radek (Clifton Collins Jr.). With a promising premise...