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