Books to order

84, Charing Cross Road (1987)

Directed by David Jones this film based on the book of the same name stars Anne Bancroft, Anthony Hopkins and Judi Dench. In 1949 an American woman begins corresponding with and buying rare books from a bookshop in London.

This is a gentle film that puts you in mind of the matinee pictures of an earlier era but despite it's gentleness it never succumbs to melodrama. There is some charm and personality to the film which does do a good job of showcasing the different and changing worlds of New York and London in the period it is set in. Anne Bancroft may be the highlight but Anthony Hopkins performance is spot on as always.

3/5

.. justice and the American way

Truth (2015)

Written & directed by James Vanderbilt this film based on real events stars Cate Blanchett, Robert Redford, Topher Grace and Elisabeth Moss. Reporters for CBS look into claims that President Bush skipped out on his National Guard service.

It is interesting to see a press investigation where things go wrong for once but as to what extent the film itself shows the truth there is probably some room for debate. While I found the film enjoyable I am not sure it is overly insightful. There is a good cast who seem a bit underused but otherwise the film is fairly well made.

3/5

The little people

Elstree 1976 (2015)

Written & directed by Jon Spira this documentary was crowd funded. A selection of bit part players and extras from the original Star Wars film are interviewed about their experiences.

This is a fairly interesting but gentle look into the world of those that played the smaller or tiny roles in one of the biggest pop culture films of all time. I enjoyed the film and it's focus on the people rather than the film itself and it provided a fresh take on things. Maybe it would have been nice to see some interviews from crew as well but this is still a good watch.

3/5

Registering

Captain America: Civil War (2016)

Directed by the Russo brothers this film has a large cast including Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson and Sebastian Stan. Captain America and Tony Stark fall out over the future of the Avengers, should the remain free or submit to government oversight?

Essentially this is a third Avengers film sneaking in under the radar as a Captain America film and it does attempt to explore the interesting topic of the responsibilities and rights of heroes. Some times the plot does bog down a little bit and the film does feel like it has to go through a check list of story items to get to the conclusion but it is still entertaining. I enjoyed the scale of the film even if the script could have been a little slicker.

3/5

Not the dirty dozen

Suicide Squad (2016)

Written & directed by David Ayer this comic book film stars Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Jared Leto and Joel Kinnaman. Some of the biggest villains of the DC universe are forced to work together on a dangerous mission.

No one is ever going to accuse this film of being a great work of art and while the pacing is hit and miss this is a fun film at times. Clearly the script could have done with a bit more work but this is a passable effort. The direction is okay with the action set pieces but some of the performances are a bit patchy.

3/5

Merc with a mouth's movie

Deadpool (2016)

Directed by Tim Miller this film based on the comic of the same name stars Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, Ed Skrein and T.J. Miller. Our protagonist falls in love, gets cancer and kills a lot of people.

While the plot of this film is pretty basic it does a job and is constructed in a non linear fashion to keep the audience well entertained. What sells this film is the mix of puerile comedy and self awareness that are refreshing for the genre as well as putting a new twist on things. Ryan Reynolds fits the role really well and for a smaller budget super hero film the special effects are really good.

4/5

How to be selfish

How to be Single (2016)

Directed by Christian Ditter this film stars Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson, Alison Bree and Leslie Mann. Four women looking for lust or love live in New York.

Aiming to bring something new to the genre this film very quickly reverts to a lot of the tropes it is trying to subvert. At times this seemed to be just nasty people doing selfish things to each other so that the story could roll around to giving the moral it wants to. I suppose the performances are not too bad but this film was unremarkable in my opinion.

2/5

Turning prison to a profit

A Prophet (2009)

Directed by Jacques Audiard this film stars Tahar Rahim, Niels Arestrup, Adel Bencherif and Reda Kateb. A 19 year old man is sent to adult prison for the first time and is forced to join a gang connected to the Corsican Mafia.

While there might but be a ton of new ideas here this is a really good character study of a man rising up the ranks in the crime world. The prison setting has a real air of authenticity to it and the plot is always grounded. I enjoyed the direction which has a few interesting touches to it and all the performances are strong.

4/5

Cow 'ard

The Cow's Husband (1931)

Directed by Dave Fleischer this animated short film stars Bimbo the dog. Our hero stars as a bullfighter who gets more than he bargained for fighting a bull.

This is a pretty simple cartoon that has a fair amount of slapstick comedy. Nothing is overly impressive here but the story and jokes are serviceable. Likewise the animation pretty much on par with that of the period and is unremarkable.

3/5

Egregious ending

Ma Ma (2015)

Written & directed by Julio Medem this film stars Penelope Cruz, Luis Tosar, Asier Etxeandia and Alex Brendemuhl. A woman finds out she has breast cancer and makes friends with a man who lost his wife and daughter in a car accident.

Starting out really well I found the second half of this film to be a disappointment as the characters do some really questionable things without the film raising an eye brow. In the end the film feels a bit overly sentimental which is a shame as it started out as such a good look at a tough subject. There are decent performances from the cast but the script needed some more work in my opinion.

2/5

Shouldn't have bothered

Zoolander 2 (2016)

Directed by and staring Ben Stiller this comedy sequel also features Owen Wilson, Will Ferrell and Penelope Cruz. Ten years after the events of the first film our “hero” has to prove his is a competent father to get his child back.

Having to wait so long for a sequel it is fair to say that this film was not worth the wait. The plot is a half hearted attempt at a satire of The Da Vinci Code or something and makes up for it's lack of content with a parade of unnecessary cameos. I suppose the film is well directed but the comedy is also scrapping the bottom of the barrel at times.

2/5

The after effects of terror

Mumbai Meri Jaan (2008)

Directed by Nishikant Kamat this film stars R. Madhavan, Irrfan Khan, Soha Ali Khan, Paresh Rawal and Kay Kay Menon. We follow several fictional characters through the effects the 2006 Mumbai train bombings have on them.

It is really interesting to see the point of view of a different culture on terrorism and this film does a fairly good job of looking at the reactions to a terrorist attack. I especially liked the character of the journalist used to exploiting tragedy found on the side of the fence but all the characters stories are interesting. Some of the special effects for the attack itself are questionable but otherwise this is a well made film.

4/5

Hateful hula

Betty Boop's Bamboo Isle (1932)

Directed by Dave Fleischer this cartoon has the voice of Mae Questel and music from The Royal Samoans. Bimbo and Betty Boop find themselves on a tropical island.

Oh boy. Despite having a live action introduction from the Royal Samoans this cartoon gets pretty damn racist pretty damn fast. There are stereotypes and black face so it's hard to find anything to praise about this cartoon.

2/5

Love and laughter at the system

Hail, Caesar! (2016)

Written & directed by the Coen brothers this film stars Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Alden Ehrenreich, Ralph Fiennes and Scarlett Johansson. In 1950s Hollywood a studio fixer tries to keep the wheels turning despite being surrounded by clashing eccentrics.

There is a lot to enjoy about this film that mixes both satire of and reverence for the days of the classic Hollywood studio system. While I do not think the plot goes anywhere especially interesting it is always fun and entertaining. I loved a lot of the touches that really capture both the good and the bad of old Hollywood.

3/5

Not evolved

X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)

Directed by Bryan Singer this comic book sequel stars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence and Oscar Isaac. Awakened after millennia of sleep the first mutant seeks to take control of the world from humans.

Taking one of the classic villains from the comic books this film never really gets to grips with it's antagonists repugnant views on evolution. While this is an enjoyable romp it does repeat a lot of the territory we have seen with these characters before, Magneto in particular. Largely the film is well made but does make a few unnecessary changes to characters from the comics, otherwise it is a fine watch.

3/5

The Force is with me and I am one with the Force

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

Directed by Gareth Edwards this film stars Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Mads Mikkelsen and Donnie Yen. A young woman is forced into help the rebellion on the promise of finding her father.

To start with the bad clearly this is Disney's first signal of intent when it comes to milking the franchise to death. Most of the characters are not as well fleshed out as they could be and the character arcs could have done with a little more work. It does take the film a bit of a while to get going as well, for some the opening acts will drag a little. Some of the cinematography is a bit dingy at times but in my opinion was not out of place with the tone of the film.

With all that being said there is a ton of stuff to love about this film. Taking the black and white world we are used to in Star Wars this film does an excellent job of adding shades of grey to the universe and that is one of the film's biggest strengths. There is a huge amount of fan service in the film but it works perfectly helping seamlessly tie the film in with Episode IV and never feels indulgent.

This is not a prefect film but what it attempts and pulls off in the end is truly impressive. Few would have the guts to attempt a film like this, especially in the franchise it is apart of. Where the film falls short it can be over looked because where it succeeds it does so in a way no Star Wars film has done since Episode VI.

4/5

Hole-y

Risen (2016)

Directed by Kevin Reynolds this film stars Joseph Fiennes, Tom Felton, Peter Firth and Cliff Curtis. After the crucifixion a Roman officer is given the job of tracking down the body of Jesus when it disappears.

Compared to most religious films this is not a heavy handed or overly preachy film but it does not have a lot of meat to it. The plot offers little new or refreshing and adding in the Roman officer does not really give a different point of view on the usual Christian tale. Some of the acting is a bit suspect which does not help matters either especially when comparing this to the biblical epics of past eras.

2/5

Not stealing art

The Train (1964)

Directed by John Frankenheimer this film stars Burt Lancaster, Paul Scofield and Jeanne Moreau. In 1944 the French resistance attempt to stop the Germans taking a train load of French art back to Germany before Paris falls.

Very loosely inspired by real events this film is more action orientated than anything that happened in real life. The film does at least make some attempt to look at the cost paid by resistance fighters and occupied people which is the film's real saving grace. Mostly the film is well made and it does not show that there was a change of directors early in production.

3/5

Not so special

Midnight Special (2016)

Written & directed by Jeff Nichols this film stars Jaeden Lieberher, Michael Shannon, Joel Edgerton, Kristen Dunst and Adam Driver. Two men attempt to protect a boy with special powers from a cult and the government.

No doubt trying to hit that familiar Spielberg in my opinion this film falls short as it fails to offer any real answers of titbits for speculation. I also found the film to be lacking some key scenes to give the characters any real development. Some of the special effects also came off as a bit cheap to me.

2/5

Never dull

Begone Dull Care (1949)

Directed by Normal McLaren and Evelyn Lambart this short film has music by the Oscar Peterson Trio. We see a sequence of images animated to jazz music.

Much like the other short films of McLaren and Lambart this short does a good job of combining music and abstract animation. The shapes and colours are all scratched or painted by hand and fit well with the music. Beyond the face value of the piece it is harder to see much depth though.

3/5

Wooden woes

Serena (2014)

Directed by Susanne Bier this film based on the novel of the same name stars Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Rhys Ifans. In the Depression era boy meets girl and they run a logging business together in North Carolina.

Collecting together an impressive cast this film fizzles, failing to offer much of interest. There are changes from the novel which have a big impact on the finale of the film as well which may put off some fans of the book. Jennifer Lawrence is impressive as always but is about the thing that does impress apart from some of the landscape in this film.

2/5

The jilted on the grand tour

Queen (2014)

Directed by Vikas Bahl this film stars Kangana Ranaut, Rajkummar Rao and Lisa Haydon. After getting jilted two days before her wedding a young Indian woman decides to go on her honeymoon to Europe anyway.

Nothing is massively original about this coming of age story but it is a nice twist seeing someone from India come to Europe to “find themselves” as opposed to the other way round which we see so often in Western media. The plot is always fairly safe in terms of the path of our protagonist even if the supporting characters are a bit more out there. I enjoyed the film and the performances but I am not sure it took enough risks for my taste.

3/5

Time passing with a blur

31/75: Asylum (1975)

Directed by Kurt Kren this is an experimental film from the structural movement. We see a field over a number of days with various parts of the image covered.

This film is not really to my taste and the exploration of the partially covered image did not do much for me. What I did enjoy about the film was it's subject which is a nice country scene shown over a period of time. Not for everyone but some may find this enjoyable.

3/5

Simple crooks lacking narrative hooks

God's Pocket (2014)

Directed by John Slattery this film based on the novel of the same name stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Richard Jekins, Christian Hendricks and John Turturro. A small time crook's step son is killed at work leaving him trying to scrape together the cash for a funeral.

While this film has a great cast the material is not especially impressive, this is kind of a Scorsese lite film. The plot has little of interest to say but does have a couple of cool moments. John Slattery's direction is steady but not remarkable.

3/5

Bird shit

A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence (2014)

Written and directed by Roy Andersson this film stars Nisse Vestblom and Holger Andersson. Two men try to sell toy jokes and a bunch of other odd stuff happens.

It could be that I am missing the cultural context for this film but it never connected with me. There is barely a plot connecting the scenes and I found little humour in the film. This is one of the few films I have come close to turning off because I was bored of it.

2/5

A grumpy old man paints

Mr. Turner (2014)

Directed by Mike Leigh this film based on real events stars Timothy Spall, Dorothy Atkinson, Marion Bailey and Paul Jesson. We follow the life of eccentric painter Joseph Mallord William Turner.

Taking various scenes from the life of Turner this film is more of an impression of a man's life rather than a strict biopic. While I enjoyed the film I am not sure it is fully accurate and I am not sure it ever truly enlightened me on it's subject. Clearly the best part of the film is Spall's performance as he grunts and grimaces his way through the film.

3/5

Less in every way

Secret in Their Eyes (2015)

Directed by Billy Ray this remake of the Argentinian film of the same name stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Nicole Kidman and Julia Roberts. Thirteen years after the murder of a teenage girl a former FBI agent returns to the city it happened in claiming to have finally found the killer.

Picking up an all star cast this remake unfortunately ends up being weaker than the original but is still a decent film. I was not a fan of most of the changes and all round this feels like a film that fails to make the most of what it has. Even the direction is weaker in comparison lacking that impressive sequence from the football stadium in the original.

3/5

A broken point

Point Break (2015)

Directed by Ericson Core this remake stars Edgar Ramirez, Luke Bracey, Ray Winstone and Teresa Palmer. A man looking to turn his life around and become an FBI agent is sent undercover to investigate some extreme sports criminals.

Combining an extreme sports highlight reel with an suspect plot this is not the greatest film you are going to ever see. What back story there is relies on mumbo jumbo and things do not always make sense. I enjoyed the action sequences but the direction regularly fails to pull back and use a long shot to show the figures in the landscapes they are in.

2/5

Milking it

Manthan (1976)

Directed by Shyam Benegal this film stars Girish Karnad, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Smita Patil and Naseeruddin Shah. A veterinarian and his team travel to a village in rural India to encourage the locals to set up a milk cooperative.

An early example of crowd funding this film despite being funded by milk farmers themselves shows a balanced narrative rather than being pure propaganda. Showing both the positive and the negative sides of characters the film explores the economic and caste issues with a good amount of depth. There are good performances from the cast and the direction is solid as well.

4/5

Ignored

Exit (2014)

Written & directed by Hsiang Chienn this film stars Shiang-chyi Chen, Ming-hsiang Tung and Ming-Hua Pai. A middle aged woman neglected by all around her finds herself drawn to a hospital patient who is similarly ignored by those around him.

Moving at a glacial pace this film is not for everyone but if you can stand it the slow, considered nature of this film is a good watch. We get to see a woman facing the menopause and how her life around her is breaking down. I enjoyed the performances which are largely wordless as well as the direction which lets events unfold naturally.

5/5

Shit, man

Hitman: Agent 47 (2015)

Directed by Aleksander Bach this film based on the computer game series stars Rupert Friend, Hannah Ware, Zachary Quinto and Ciaran Hinds. A mysterious assassin helps protect a young woman looking for her father.

Missing either 30 minutes from the film or the script this story makes little sense instead it blusters through a bunch of action set pieces. I do not know why Hollywood can not make a decent film based on a video game but this is yet another failure in the category. I suppose Rupert Friend does his best as the emotionless title character but there is not much to praise here.

2/5

A modern day Loudun

Beyond the Hills (2012)

Written & directed by Cristian Mungiu this film based on real events stars Cosmina Stratan, Cristina Flutur and Valeriu Andriuta. Two young woman that grew up together in an orphanage are reunited when one goes to visit the other who is now living as a nun.

Taking a story of religious ignorance of mental health this is a low key but good film. The plot takes it's time to unfold and while initially appears to be the story of two people who can not reconcile their different wishes for each other it takes a darker turn. I enjoyed the film and the location shooting provides a great backdrop.

4/5

Swirls

Yantra (1957)

Directed by James Whitney this is an animated short film. We see a swirl of colours morphing and changing in an abstract animation.

No doubt there is skill in creating such patterns with hand animation and this film is entertaining. Beyond it's superficial level I did not find much more to this film but I did enjoy it at least. The version I saw of this film was not of the highest quality and I am not sure if that was the fault of the recording or the original.

3/5

The hollow dream of driving a Bombay taxi

Gaman (1978)

Directed by Muzaffar Ali this film stars Farooq Shaikh, Jalal Agha and Smita Patil. Unable to find work in his home village a man leaves his wife and mother behind to search for work in Bombay.

This is a story of the cycle of poverty and how even trading a rural life for an urban one offers no release. Slow moving at times the film still manages to cover a couple of years in the life of it's characters and the montage sections help indicate the passing of time. The direction and acting is decent, the songs used in the film were award winning but did not do much for me.

4/5

A voyage in the great outdoors

The Revenant (2015)

Directed by Alejandro G. Inarritu this film based on a novel based on real events stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson and Will Poulter. After his group is attacked by native Americans and he himself is mauled by a bear a man is left for dead in the wilderness.

Historical accuracy in terms of events and characters is thrown out of the window in this film even if it does try to be more accurate in other ways. When you get past what the film is not, it is an interesting tail of survival and revenge. There is some great camera work and landscape photography as well as impressive performances from the cast.

4/5

Wagner meets bugs bunny

What's Opera, Doc? (1957)

Directed by Chuck Jones this cartoon has voices from Mel Blanc and Arthur Q. Bryan. The demigod Siegfried (Elmer Fudd) goes rabbit hunting.

This is the classic parody of Wanger's operas and the cartoon does a great job of lampooning the style. The plot may not be especially deep but it provides a good stage for some silly behaviour. While the animation is on par with other Warner Brothers cartoons of the era the use of music stands it a bit above it's contemporaries.

4/5

Breaking the log jam

Las Acacias (2011)

Directed by Pablo Giorgelli this film stars German de Silva and Hebe Duarte. A trucker driving from Paraguay to Argentina has a woman and her baby as passengers.

This is a very simple, minimalist story that will not be to the taste of everyone. There is very little dialogue and little happens to the characters on their journey but the slowly warming relationship does have some charm to it. I enjoyed the film but did wish there was a bit more to it.

3/5

Three knocks and let him in

The Babadook (2014)

Written & directed by Jennifer Kent this film stars Essie Davies and Noah Wiseman. A widowed nurse struggles to raise her son who has a fear of monsters.

Exploring the long lasting effects of grief and the fears of being a bad parent the monster in this film provides a great metaphor for the film's themes. While a lot of familiar images and tropes of the genre are here the film twists them well enough to provide a fresh spin on things. I really enjoyed the direction that understands to hint rather than show and the performances of the young son.

5/5

Is love enough?

By the Sea (2015)

Directed, written by and staring Angelina Jolie Pitt this film also features Brad Pitt, Melanie Laurent and Miels Arestrup. An American married couple struggling with their marriage go on holiday in the south of France and spy on the newly weds staying next door.

While this film may be a bit slow moving for some I really enjoyed it. The plot very much focuses on the struggle of the older couple to deal with their issues but does so in a very human way. I enjoyed the performances and the film echoes an older art house feel.

4/5

Not your dad's dad's army

Dad's Army (2016)

Directed by Oliver Parker this film based on the television show of the same name stars Toby Jones, Bill Nighy and Catherine Zeta Jones. In 1944 members of a bungling squad in the home guard hunt for a Nazi spy.

Dad's Army while being a classic part of television history was never of earth shattering quality and neither is this reboot. Plodding along much like it's characters the film is not overly funny and at times never really captures the feel of the original. Michael Gambon is probably the best casting in this film but largely this film is unremarkable.

2/5

A legend let down

Mary Kom (2014)

Directed by Omung Kumar this film based on a true story stars Priyanka Chopra, Darshan Kumar and Sunil Thapa. A young woman from Manipur takes up boxing and becomes a national hero in India.

Taking a deeply fascinating story this film unfortunately adds in so many of the usual cliches and fictions that it is a real disappointment. There are still parts of the film you can enjoy but the film never properly tackles the character problem (the protagonists anger/stubbornness) or the world problem (corrupt sports federation) either. While I really like Priyanka Chopra as an actress and she gives a decent performance I also think not casting an actress of Tibeto-Burman decent is a bit questionable given some of the views in Indian society.

2/5

A puddy cat

Tweetie Pie (1947)

Directed by Friz Freleng this animated film has voice acting from Mel Blanc and Bea Benaderet. Cat meets bird, cat attempts to eat bird but has his plans thwarted repeatedly by the bird and human intervention.

This is a classic slapstick cartoon with plenty of gags that make up for the simple plot. There is plenty to laugh at and some hints of the surreal cartoon comedy of the era without going over the top. The animation is decent but not above anything else of the period.

4/5

Trying to squeeze blood from a stone

The Squeeze (2015)

Written & directed by Terry Jastrow this film claiming to be based on a true story stars Jeremy Sumpter, Jillian Murray, Christopher McDonald and Katherine LaNasa. A young golfer from a small town falls under the sway of a professional gambler.

It is hard to find anything to praise about this film as it has paper thin characters and a dire script. Little makes sense in terms of how the characters act and some points are so cheesy as to make you want to pull your own hair out. The claims of being based on a true story are more than dubious to say the least.

1/5

Canadian captain, my captain

Monsieur Lazhar (2011)

Direcred by Philippe Falardeu this film stars Mohamed Said Fellag, Sophie Nelisse, Emilien Neron and Danielle Proulx. In Montreal an immigrant takes over a class of elementary students whose previous teacher hung herself in their classroom.

There is plenty of scope for this film to fall into over the top melodrama but it handles it's subject matter sensitively. Managing to explore the problems of both the pupils and the immigrant teacher the film does a good job of looking at modern student/teacher relationships in difficult times. The cast, both young and old, give good performances as well.

4/5

Colliding with the dream

Concussion (2015)

Written & directed by Peter Landesman this film based on real events stars Will Smith, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Alec Baldwin. An African immigrant working as a pathologist in Pittsburgh takes on the NFL over the risks of degenerative brain injuries to it's players.

Not necessarily completely accurate this film gives a general idea of the struggle to get the NFL to admit the risks it's players are under. I enjoyed the way the film expands it's subject matter to encompass the American dream in general even if it does push a little to fair in it's conspiracy claims against the NFL. As always Will Smith gives a good performance in the lead role but I would have liked to have seen a bit more of the victims presented in the film.

3/5

Shape and Synth

Synchromy (1971)

Directed by Norman McLaren this animated short film continues the director's exploration of the medium. Colours shapes move to a synthetic sound track.

As with many experimental shorts that are out there this is a good mix of animation and sound. The images fit the sounds well and work as a visualization for what we are hearing. While you would not call this outstanding for what it is it is a good short film.

3/5

The colonel knows best

The Double (2013)

Directed by Richard Ayoade this film based on the novella of the same name stars Jesse Eisenberg and Mia Wasikowska. A timid and downtrodden office worker meets his much more confident double.

Taking Dostoyevsky and pairing it with a Terry Gilliam style world provides a great adaptation filled to the brim interesting content everywhere you look. I really enjoyed the exploration of identity but would have liked to have seen a little more uncertainty in the reliability of the protagonist. It is hard to pick faults with this film as it is an excellently directed and acted adaptation that I would highly recommend.

5/5

Dude, where's my sister's wedding present

Mere Dad Ki Maruti (2013)

Directed by Ashima Chibber this film stars Saqib Saleem, Rhea Chakraborty and Ram Kapoor. A young man borrows that car that is supposed to be a gift for his sister's impending wedding but losses it.

As comedies go this film has the occasional funny moment but is not consistently funny through out. The protagonist is hard to sympathise with given his immature attitude and there is the odd homophobic and transphobic comment in the script which do not help matters either. All in all this is kind of a sub par effort with not much to praise.

2/5

Dreams of pizza

The Crow's Egg (2015)

Written & directed by M. Manikandan this film stars J. Vignesh, V Ramesh and Iyshwarya Rajesh. When a new pizza place opens up next to the slum they live in two young boys become obsessed with trying pizza.

It is hard for me not to compare this film to The Bicycle Thief (1948) as it captures a tale of poverty and coming of age against a world that is uncaring and corrupt. I really enjoyed the plot which is not a sentimental feel good affair and instead manages to gently introduce the viewer to the exploitations the boys face even if they are unaware of it. There are some really good performances from the two central young cast members too.

4/5

Not che

Camino (2015)

Directed by Josh C. Waller this film stars Zoe Ball, Nacho Vigalondo and Francisco Barreiro. A photo journalist heads to Colombia to travel with a rebel leader and his squad of soldiers.

There is not a huge amount of plot to this chase film but what there is works pretty well for motivating the action. Vigalondo does not really convince as a charismatic rebel leader which is partly due to the script and does take away from the film some. I enjoyed the action sequences and there are a couple of nice moments that make good use of Zoe Ball's talents.

3/5

Despite my falling interest

Despite the Falling Snow (2016)

Written & directed by Shamin Sarif this film based on a novel by Sarif stars Rebecca Ferguson, Charles Dance, Sam Reid and Oliver Jackson. The niece of a man who defected from the Soviet Union during the cold war returns to Russia in 1992 to out what happened to her missing aunt.

At times this film threatens to go somewhere interesting but always ends up disappointing. In my opinion the short run time means the characters are never fully explored and there are too many contradictions in the plot. The cast do their best but this project was made from a flawed, predicatble script.

2/5

The snoot shoot

Rooty Toot Toot (1951)

Directed by John Hubley this animated film has voice acting from Thurl Ravenscoft and Annette Warren. A woman named Frankie stands trial for shooting her man Johnny in a bar.

This is a fun little court room comedy with some enjoyable music. Lampooning the noir genre this is not the best parody you will ever see but will hold your attention for the full 7 minute run time. Even if the plot is not overly interesting this is still a well made short.

3/5

Not a total joy

Joy (2015)

Written & directed by David O. Russell this film inspired by real events stars Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Edgar Ramirez and Bradley Cooper. A single mother who has to support her whole family dreams of breaking out of her hand to mouth life style by being an inventor.

Mixing in plenty of fiction this is not exactly a factual tale and it is none too subtle either at times, the opening acts themselves are especially heavy handed. Creating a slightly off beat world this film hints at Wes Anderson territory at times with a touch of David Lynch, no doubt amplified by the presence of Isabella Rossellini. While I enjoyed parts of the film and the cast I do not think this os Russell's best work so far.

3/5

Turns out marriage after all

O Kadhal Kanmani (2015)

Written & directed by Mani Ratman this film stars Dulquer Salmaan, Nithya Menen, Prakash Raj and Leela Samson. A young Tamil couple adverse to marriage decide to have a short affair and go against convention by living together.

Seeking to go against the traditional values this film is some what disappointing in heading to a conclusion where the lovers inevitably get married anyway. While I enjoyed the film it is not an especially interesting romance and never explains why the male character is so against marriage. The execution of the film is decent but does not stand out apart from the cool anime style introduction.

3/5

That's jazz folks

The Old Man of the Mountain (1933)

Directed by Dave Fleischer this film has voices & singing from Mae Questel, Cob Calloway and Bonnie Poe. Betty Boop has a run in with the old man of the mountain.

Fairly raunchy for it's time and using jazz heavily this film was controversial in it's day but will not offend modern audiences. Certainly the film is entertaining and more than a little suggestive. I enjoyed the cartoon but it is not overly remarkable.

3/5

Fails to arc

Cub (2014)

Directed b Jonas Govaerts this film stars Maurice Luijten, Stef Aerts, Evelien Bosmans and Tits De Voogdt. Belgian cub scouts go camping in the woods and run into something nasty.

With a pretty decent set up this is an average horror film that unfortunately never really explores it's own back story enough to give the film real weight. There are decent enough scares but the protagonist characters are not exactly always ones you want to root for. With some more work this could have been a really interesting coming of age horror film but it does not really get there.

2/5

Face off/many faces on

Eyes Without a Face (1960)

Directed by Georges Franju this film stars Pierre Brasseur, Edith Scob and Alida Valli. A medical professor abandons ethics in attempts to get his daughter a face transplant.

This should be a pretty average b-movie but the solid direction elevates the film. Showing how to achieve as much as possible on a limited budget this film does an excellent job of hinting at rather than showing it's more macabre elements. Stuck behind a mask for most of the film Edith Scob gives a good performance as the haunted and haunting daughter of the protagonist.

4/5

Failure to help

Excision (2012)

Written and directed by Richard Bates Jr. this film stars AnnaLynne McCord, Traci Lords, Ariel Winter and Roger Bart. An 18 year old girl with strange obsessions struggles to fit in at school as well as deal with her over bearing mother and younger sisters illness.

Taking a look into some seriously messed up stuff this is an exploration of a misfits dark fantasies that are fairly unique compared to what we have seen on screen before. While the plot does shock and go in unusual directions it does not seem especially deep. There are good performances from the cast and the direction is adequate.

3/5

Before Lassie

Rescued by Rover (1905)

Directed by Cecil Hepworth & Lewin Fitzhamon this film stars Blair, May Clark and Barbara Hepworth. While a nurse takes a child in a pram for a walk she is distracted and her charge is snatched away.

This is a pretty simple story that is the daddy of films about hero dogs. While this short is enjoyable there is not a huge amount to it. The execution is decent enough but this is better known as a land mark film than it's lasting quality.

3/5

AWOL empathy

Tanu Weds Manu: Returns (2015)

Directed by Anand L. Rai this sequel stars R. Madhavan, Kangana Ranaut (in two roles) and Deepak Dobriyal. Four years after getting married an Indian couple having problems splits up with the wife leaving her husband in a mental asylum in England.

Tasking a cue from old Hollywood this film uses divorce to allow for romantic shenanigans but never really convinces. I found none of the characters particularly worth rooting for as none seem to care about the feelings of anyone else. While Ranaut does well in the dual role I found the film to be a let down as at times it threatened to do something interesting.

2/5

A shame to wait for

Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014)

Directed Robert Rodriguez & Frank Miller this film based on the comic of the same name stars Mickey Rourke, Jessica Alba, Josh Brolin, Eva Green and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. We follow four interconnected tales from highly stylised neo-noir world of Sin City.

Coming nine years after it's predecessor this sequel is a bit late and frankly seems to fail to recapture the magic. At times the script seems to be trying just a bit too hard and while it often harks back to classic noir cinema I am not sure it does much of interest with it. Eva Green is the stand out performer in the film as has been noted many times else where.

3/5

Mistaking the bear essentials

The Ragtime Bear (1949)

Directed by John Hubley this cartoon is the first appearance of the character “Mr. Magoo”. An old man with sight problems has the classic problem of mistaking a bear for his banjo playing nephew.

Taking a simple situation and making it silly this is a fairly decent cartoon with some chuckles a long the way. Not as funny or surreal as some of it's competition involving better known studios this is still a decent watch. The animation is a crisp and clear style.

3/5

Lager to oblivion

Wake in Fright (1971)

Directed by Ted Kotcheff this film based on the novel of the same name stars Gary Bond, Donald Pleasence, Chips Rafferty and Sylvia Kay. A school teacher leaves the small village he works at to travel to Sydney for his holidays but becomes stuck in a mining town.

Billed as a horror film this is more a horror at the debauchery of the toxic masculinity that exists in Australian outback towns and it is a good exploration of that world. While I enjoyed the film it is controversial for including real hunting scenes and to my mind comes off as a bit classist. There are some good performances with Donald Pleasence the stand out as the alcoholic tramp.

4/5

Disney's idea of a disaster

The Finest Hours (2016)

Directed by Craig Gillespie this film based on real events stars Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster and Holliday Grainger. In 1952 four men set out on a small coast guard ship in a terrible winter storm to try to help sailors stuck aboard a sinking oil tanker.

Unfortunately this is the Disney version of a disaster film so it always feels just a bit too safe and easy rather than keeping the audience on the edge of their seat. Hammering home it's themes with no subtlety it's an odd choice to add in a message of luck seemingly over skill when celebrating the efforts of bravery. Both the direction and performances are fine but it is easy to tell the vast majority of the action sequences are green screen to the maximum.

3/5

Problems with the process

The Danish Girl (2015)

Directed by Tom Hooper this film based on a true story stars Eddie Redmayne, Alicia Vikander and Matthias Schoenaerts. We follow the coming out story of a transwoman living in the 1920s in Denmark.

Not without controversy this film tells a trans coming out story that is sadly all too reminiscent of the way trans people are treated today. While I enjoyed the film and it's approach to the subject matter unfortunately it is not exactly historically accurate which I feel always does a disservice to those who had to live through the real events. I thought the cast gave really good performances, it is just a shame about the historical inaccuracies.

4/5

Totally not Mickey and Mini

Lady, Play Your Mandolin! (1931)

 Directed by Rudolf Ising this is an early animated film music from Frank Marsales. A gaucho vists a local saloon where he finds himself enamoured of a local singer.

 This is a pretty simple cartoon that has a few laughs and not a lot of plot. It is a simple musical number involving anamorphic creatures and alcohol. Not a lot stands out about this film but it does not do much wrong either.

 3/5

Stupid is as stupid does

Grimsby (2016)

Directed by Louis Leterrier this film stars Sacha Baron Cohen, Mark Strong, Rebel Wilson and Penelope Cruz. An English football hooligan from the North of England finds his younger brother that has been missing for 28 years is a super spy.

No one has ever really accused Sacha Baron Cohen of being the master of high brow comedy but this film is really scrapping the bottom of the barrel. What few chuckles there are seem to be an after thought in this immature effort. The film has little to say and the short run time shows how hard they found it to stretch out the concept to feature length.

2/5

Pluto explains it all

Dil Dhadakne Do (2015)

Directed by Zoya Akhtar this film stars Anil Kapoor, Shefali Shah, Priyanka Chopra and Ranveer singh. A middle aged couple from India's high society invite friends and family on a cruise to celebrate their 30^th wedding anniversary but it brings family problems to the fore.

Despite the soft and glossy exterior there is some real family drama and social commentary trying to get out here. While at times this does seem a bit like “rich people problems” there are the hints of the social pressures that exist in Indian society seeping though the story. The plot is a little bit too obviously constructed with everyone's perfect match telegraphed far too early but this is still a good watch with plenty of entertainment.

4/5  

Wandering wand

The Magic Fluke (1949)

Directed by John Hubley this is a short animated film written by Sol Barzman. Attempting to help his former band mate crow supplies a magic wand to replace fox's missing conductors baton.

Taking a simple idea this cartoon manages to build a decent amount of mischief out of if which makes for a pretty entertaining cartoon. There are laughs enough laughs to carry this cartoon but not to make it overly remarkable. I found the animation style to be acceptable but nothing special.

3/5

Crazy cakes

Stations of the Cross (2014)

Directed by Dietrich Bruggemann this film stars Lea van Acken, Kanziska Weisz and Florian Stetter. A 14 year old girl from an ultra Catholic family prepares for her confirmation while struggling to live up to the strict rules of her family's faith.

Delving into the crazy side of super conservative Catholicism this film does a good job of showing a young girl suffering essentially to the point of break down. The totalitarian nature of religious dogma weighs down heavily on this film and my only criticism is that it seems to be rewarded at the end of the film even if a heavy price is paid. The direction is minimalist to the point of single, static shots of scenes which really highlights the performances of the cast.

4/5

Lacking heart

In the Heart of the Sea (2015)

Directed by Ron Howard this film based on real events stars Chris Hemsworth, Benjamin Walker, Cillian Murphy and Tom Holland. Author Herman Melville interviews the last living survivor of a whaling ship to get material for his novel Moby Dick.

Whilst this film does a good job of capturing the era in which it's story is set the grand visuals never have a script that match their scope. The plot never really connects on a human or thematic level always seeming to be slightly at arms length from the audience. Some of the CGI use is a little heavy handed for my taste but in general this film is well made.

3/5

Bay's Benghazi blowup

13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016)

Directed by Michael Bay this film based on real events stars John Krasinski, James Badge Dale, Max Martini and Pablo Schreiber. We follow Americans defending a consulate and CIA compand in Benghazi from attack in 2012.

Unfortunately Michael Bay is probably the most tone deaf director you could hire for a real life story like this and while the action is handled well the rest leaves a lot to be desired. There are some really bad lines, the film essentially starts with a snuff film showing Gaddafi and only ever shows the attackers as a faceless mob. As an action piece this film keeps you on the edge of your seat and does show the camaraderie of the soldiers well it is never attempting to make any point at one of the more contentious events in recent US history.

2/5

Many faces

Mona Lisa Descending a Staircase (1992)

Directed by Joan C. Gratz this is an animated short film with voice work by Jean G. Poulot. We see various famous works of art morph from one to the next.

I found the animation of this film to be really awesome, it does a great job of replicating and transforming so many famous works of art. The transformations more than held my attention for the 7 minute run time without feeling like the film was going on too long. While I did not tease out any deeper meaning or theme to the film it was still a good watch.

4/5

The chuckle sisters

Sisters (2015)

Directed by Jason Moore this film stars Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph and Ike Barinholtz. Two middle age sisters find out their parents are selling their childhood home and decide to have one last party there.

Despite having a comic power hours double act to star in this film the script is unfortunately pretty formulaic. The plot does just about enough and there are funny moments but it is hard not to feel that this film never lives up to it's potential. I would rather have seen something written by the film's stars but this is a serviceable effort I suppose.

3/5

Black monkey business

Delhi-6 (2009)

Directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra this film stars Abhishek Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor and Waheeda Rahman. An Indian-American travels back to India with his terminally ill grandmother so she can live out the rest of her life in her home country.

Taking a fairly superficial look at things this film explores some of the ideas of religion and the divisions in Indian communities. While the plot is fairly simple and does rather hammer home it's message it is still a good watch that does provoke some though. The performances and direction are decent but neither stand out.

3/5

Crossing the crossing guards

The Jaywalker (1956)

Directed by Robert Cannon this is an animated short film. We take a look into the dark world of those addicted to jaywalking.

This is a pretty light hearted film about a man who has become addicted to jaywalking and while it illicit a few chuckles is not overly funny. The plot does not really make much comment on addiction and is nothing more beyond the obvious joke. I suppose the animation is decent enough but it is nothing remarkable.

3/5

About a book about a director

Hitchcock/Truffaut (2015)

Directed by Kent Jones this documentary has contributions from a number of famous directors. We look into the famous 8 day interview of Hitchcock by Truffaut as well as Hitchcock's films.

While this is a really good look into the career of Hitchcock and the famous interview at times this is a bit of a fluff piece. The film discussion is excellent and really dips into the craft of Hitchcock. I enjoyed the film and it does make me want to read Truffaut's book but I do wonder if it could have been more than a 90 minute advert for a book.

4/5

Revenge cult that is uncomfortable in the wrong way

Julia (2014)

Written & directed by Matthew A. Brown this film stars Ashley C. Williams, Tahyna Tozzi and Jack Noseworthy. After being gang raped a woman begins a unique kind of therapy that turns out to be a revenge cult.

At times this film has some really stylish moments and unsettling material but I'm not sure it ever stitches together all it's content coherently. The final reveal left me uncomfortable as it was far too familiarly used stereotype of a marginalised group in the genre. While this film does have it's moments it left me disappointed.

2/5

Rendered useless

A Most Wanted Man (2014)

Directed by Anton Corbijn this film based on the novel of the same name stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rachel McAdams, Grigoriy Dobrygin and Nina Hoss. The head of a covert German intelligence agency works in Hamburg on the case of a Chechen refugee.

As with any work adapted from a John le Carre book this is a great look inside the world of espionage and provides a pointed look at the clashes between different motives and doctrines in the war on terror. Our protagonist is a classic le Carre lead with more than a hint of George Smiley about him but the plot unfolds with the realism and detail you would expect. I really enjoyed the performances and there is a great supporting cast.

4/5

Christmas in the forest

The Insects' Christmas (1913)

Directed by Wladyslaw Starewicz this is an animated short film. Climbing down off a tree Father Christmas prepares a Christmas celebration for the insects in the woods.

Using stop motion animation techniques this provides a nice, if slightly creepy, Christmas tale. The plot is not very complicated or deep but is watchable. I enjoyed the film but there is not a huge amount to it.

3/5

Tiger not in a tank

Ek Tha Tiger (2012)

Directed by Kabir Khan this film stars Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif and Ranvir Shorey. Sent to Ireland on a mission an Indian spy falls in love with a Pakistani spy.

While this film has an interesting subtext, that peace can exist between India and Pakistan, it never explores the idea in any depth. As long as you do not have high expectations this is not a bad watch but the tone of the film is all over the place. I found the action sequences to be too long and they rarely advance the plot.

2/5

Boston's boss

Black Mass (2015)

Directed by Scott Cooper this film based on true events stars Johnny Depp, Joel Edgerton, Benedict Cumberbatch and Rory Cochrane. In 1975 a crime lord of Irish decent in Boston is recruited by an FBI agent as an informer.

Using a large cast this film tells this story in a realistic and unglamorous way but always feels a bit more like a highlight reel than an in depth exploration of the characters. Covering a lot of familiar genre themes there is not a lot original here but it is well handled. Probably the highlight is seeing Depp give his best performance in a long time, certainly the most different character he has played in a while.

3/5

Fun with magnets

The Magnetized Man (1907)

Directed by Louis Feuillade this is a short film from the silent era. After an attempted mugging a man commissions a suit of armour but two young boys play a prank by getting the armour magnetized.

This is a pretty simple story built around one joke that while not especially funny at least works. I found the film entertaining if not deep. The direction and acting are all passable, the special effects for the gag work fine as well.

3/5

Murky moors make murder most maudlin

Macbeth (2015)

Directed by Justin Kurzel this film based on the play of the same name stars Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard. During a time of upheaval a Scottish lord is tempted by the prophecy of witches that he will become king one day.

Adapting it's source material well the only real question facing this film is that of execution. Never has Scotland or Macbeth looked as dark and moody as it does in this adaptation, providing excellent mise en scene through out. I have long been a fan of Kurosawa's version of Macbeth but this is now the best film version of the Scottish play to date.

5/5

A girl failed

Girl on the Edge (2015)

Directed by Jay Silverman this film based on a true story stars Taylor Spreitler, Peter Coyote, Gil Bellows and Amy Price-Francis. A 15 year old girl with substance abuse problems is sent to a treatment facility after being date raped.

Taking pretty dark subject matter this is unfortunately a weak story that offers little insight beyond simple platitudes. We never get enough depth on the supporting characters in particular and while the film claims to be based on a true story the fact it states it is loosely based on two treatment facilities but only shows one makes you more than suspicious. I also found the sound levels to be all over the place with some scenes inexplicably quieter than others.

1/5

Making a monster of a monster story

Victor Frankenstein (2015)

Directed by Paul McGuigan this film stars James McAvoy, Daniel Radcliffe and Jessica Brown Findlay. Saved from the circus and cured of being a hunchback a young man becomes the assistant to a medical student conducting dark experiments.

Taking a classic story this film attempts to put a modern twist on it but ends up being decidedly disappointing. Shoe horning in action and rattling through things at a break neck pace just dilutes the content leaving a weaker version of Mary Shelley's classic tale. James McAvoy does his best to chew the scenery but can't manage to carry the film.

2/5

Luke warm revenge

Badlapur (2015)

Directed by Sriram Raghavan this film stars Varun Dhawan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Huma Qureshi and Divya Dutta. Following the death of his wife and young son in a bank robbery a man seeks revenge on the criminal responsible.

Taking an twist on the usual revenge style thriller this film attempts to show the decent into darkness of it's protagonist and redemption of it's antagonist. While the plot provides a nice change unfortunately the character arcs do not work fully as it seems plot comes before character moments at times leaving the story to not be full convincing. The performances are decent but the screenplay needed another revision or two to really make this film work.

3/5

Two for one deal on spies

Bridge of Spies (2015)

Directed by Steven Spielberg this film inspired by real events stars Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance and Amy Ryan. During the early cold war an American lawyer is hired to defend an alleged Soviet spy then helps broker an exchange deal.

Surprisingly for a film directed by Spielberg with a script from the Coen brothers this film comes off as heavy handed and does not have a huge amount of depth to it. While this is an enjoyable watch with some interesting characters it is all just a bit too easy and the focus is on Tom Hanks's folksy charm winning the day rather than the more interesting characters. I suppose this is a decent film in the tradition of a Ford/Fonda collaboration but it fails to challenge the viewer or it's characters really.

3/5

Eyes

Film Study (1926)

Directed by Hans Richter this is an experimental short film. We start with eye balls and go on an journey of shifting shapes.

This is a well put together short film that progresses nicely through a selection of odd imagery. While it did not really impress me too much this is still a decent watch compared to some of the experimental films I have seen. Finding a deeper meaning was beyond me here but at least it was not boring.

3/5  

Africa past and present

The Forgotten Kingdom (2013)

Written & directed by Andrew Mudge this film stars Zezno Ngqobe, Nozipho Nkelemba and Lebohang Ntsane. A young man living in Johannesburg collects his fathers body from a township and takes him back to Lesotho to be buried.

I really enjoyed this African film which takes in the conflict between modern and historical Africa. Mixing the present with a heroes quest reminiscent of Yeelen (1987) the film shows how young Africans are caught between past and present as well as the restrictions both place on them. There is some stunning landscape as well which adds some scope to the film.

4/5

The need for $630

Grandma (2015)

Written & directed by Paul Weitz this film stars Lily Tomlin, Julia Garner, Marcia Gay Harden and Judy Greer. A grandmother struggling with her own issues tries to help her granddaughter collect up the money she needs to pay for an abortion.

This is a decent film with a good heart to it looking at three different generations of women in the same family and the relationships between them. While I did enjoy the film I am not sure it was ever as funny or emotional as it could have been. I was slightly surprised to see the film had a male writer and director which maybe detracts a little from the films authenticity.

3/5

Too proud for hides and glue

Cow Country (1953)

Directed by Lesley Selander this film stars Edmond O'Brien, Helen Westcott, Robert Lowery and Peggie Castle. With a crash in meat prices someone is trying to put the cattle men in a Texas valley out of business to get all their land on the cheap.

Plodding through a fairly dry plot this film makes it's intentions clear in the first 15 minutes and shakes out as you would expect. I suppose there is nothing massively wrong with the script but it is all to familiar and just goes through the paces. None of the acting or direction stands out and the required fight scenes are fairly weak.

2/5

Proto-Bugs

Hare-um Scare-um (1939)

Directed by Ben Hardaway and Cal Dalton this carton has voice acting from Mel Blanc. Discovering there is a rise in meat prices a man heads out into the woods with his trusty dog to hunt down his own meat.

This film is pretty clearly an early prototype for many Bugs Bunny cartoons that were to follow but does not completely crack the formula. While this is a solid effort it fails slightly in comparison to later efforts as understandably it lack their polish. The animation is decent if unremarkable and most of the gags are good if simple.

3/5

They built a wall but I doubt the monsters paid for it

Monsters (2010)

Written & directed by Gareth Edwards this film stars Scoot McNairy and Whitney Able. In the near future an American photographer is tasked with helping his publisher's daughter travel from Mexico back to the US through a zone infected with monsters.

Highly impressive for it's low budget this is not exactly a horror film but does a good job of mixing monsters in with ideas about illegal immigration. While I am not 100% convinced on the subtext this was still a great watch through out that builds plenty of tension without the excesses of CGI in a lot of monster films. There are decent performances from the cast but it is the direction and cinematography both from Edwards that stand out.

4/5

Predictable parent problems

Daddy's Home (2015)

Directed by Sean Anders this film stars Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Linda Cardellini and Thomas Haden Church. A step father struggles to deal with the sudden arrival of the much cooler biological father of the children he is helping to raise.

This film is not exactly overly funny or clever but it does belatedly have it's heart in the right place at least. To work fully the film really needed to have the antagonists psyche worked out a little better as his character arc feels a bit cheap and is what should round off the film. I did just about enjoy this film and I do not think it is as bad as some people do.

3/5

A natural montage

Etude cinegrapique sur une arabesque (1929)

Directed by Germaine Dulac this film also known as “Arabesque” is an experimental short film. We see a montage of black and white images from various different natural sources.

While this is an enjoyable montage I never picked up any clear rhythm or meaning to the editing of the film. The images are certainly interesting but this is another experimental film that kept me at arms length.

3/5

The Alice Show

Welcome to Me (2014)

Directed by Shira Piven this film stars Kristen Wiig, James Marsden, Linda Cardellini and Wes Bentley. A woman diagnosed with borderline personality disorder wins the lottery and uses the money to have her own talk show so she can be just like her hero Oprah Winfrey.

Entertaining as this film is it is not overly funny and does not really have a greater depth to it. I enjoyed the film and as always Kristen Wiig does well with what she has to work with. Really the film could have done with dealing with the mental health topics a bit more seriously but it is still a fine watch.

3/5