Not so slow

Slow West (2015)

Written & directed by John Maclean this film stars Kodi Smit-McPhee, Michael Fassbender, Caren Pistorius and Ben Mendelsohn. Innocence and experience travel across Colorado together in search of the same girl but for different reasons.

Taking a simple coming of age tale set in the Old West this film plays out it's story against a stunning back drop. While the plot is enjoyable and has a decent exploration of some moral quandaries it is always the landscape that shines through here. The photography does an excellent job of showing New Zealand standing in for Colorado and is breath taking through out.

4/5

Second album slump

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

Written & directed by James Gunn this film stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel. God makes man, man and his gang of misfits kill god.

Picking up where the last film left off this is a fairly fun film about a group of outsiders becoming a family but always feels like it lacks depth. The plot does the usual MCU trick of moving the plot no a little but still feeling like treading water. Decently made but lacking a little something from the first film I really think the plot needed more of a timer on it to put more energy into the film.

3/5

The worst beach vacation ever

Dunkirk (2017)

Written & directed by Christopher Nolan this film based on real events stars Fionn Whitehead, Tom Glynn-Carney, Jack Lowden, Harry Styles, Aneurin Barnard and Kenneth Branagh. We follow the battle of Dunkirk from the land, sea and air as British forces try to evacuate from the beach.

Taking everything he has learned from making his previous films this evolution in Nolan's film making is the perfect mood poem for Dunkirk. Instead of focusing on details and historical figures instead this film attempts to capture the emotions and universal experiences. I really enjoyed this film even if it was 106 minutes of pure anxiety that is exactly what it needed to be.

5/5

Not a trip to Stockholm

Beauty and the Beast (2017)

Directed by Bill Condon this film which stars Emma Watson, Dan Stevens and Luke Evans is live action adaptation of Disney's previous animated version. A peasant girl from a small village in faux France is locked up in the castle of an aristocrat cursed into beast form.

This is a very safe adaptation of previously existing material that manages to avoid some of the pitfalls in the original folk tale. The relationship between the two central characters is always difficult to handle but I think this version does a decent job. Of course the highlight of the film is Emma Watson but largely the film is as you would expect it to be.

3/5

Batman makes friends

The Lego Batman Movie (2017)

Directed by Chris Mckay this film has voices from Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson and Ralph Fiennes. Our hero needs to learn to play with others.

Taking the humour of the first Lego film and grafting it onto an odd ball version of the Batman universe this is a fun ride through out. The message behind the film is pretty simple but the script is chock full of jokes and references to keep even adults entertained. Some of the action sequences get a little hectic but over all this is a really well made effort.

4/5

The Shane of mutants

Logan (2017)

Directed by James Mangold this film stars Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Boyd Holbrook and Dafne Keen. Many years in the future an aged Wolverine is called to help a young mutant girl as he tries to look after Professor X who is suffering from a brain disease.

Continuing the sequence of every stand alone Wolverine film being better than it's predecessor this is the best X-Men film in some time. What I love most about this film is the way it brings something new to the genre, a look at what happens to our heroes once they are past their prime. While I do believe that everything is Shane (1953) this film does occasionally get a little too close to being heavy handed in drawing parallels. There are some great performances from Patrick Stewart and Hugh Jackman, it will be a real shame that Jackman is retiring from the role but this was a great way to go out.

4/5

Baby is all grown up

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)

Directed by Robert Aldrich this film based on the novel of the same name stars Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. A child star grows up to find her sister has the more successful career and torments her in her twilight years.

Somewhat more famous for the behind the scenes feud between lead actresses this is still an entertaining thriller. While the plot is not overly deep it is a fun fight between two great actresses. Compared to modern thrillers this may be no great shakes but it was ground breaking in it's day.

3/5

Hidden History

Hidden Figures (2016)

Directed by Theodore Melfi this film based on real events stars Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, Kevin Costner and Kirsten Dunst. We follow three African-American women working at NASA in the 1960s.

Unfortunately as with nearly every “based on a true story” this film takes an important narrative and goes on an expedition to tell the story it wants to rather than necessarily the one hundred percent truth. While this is not a bad watch far too often it feels obviously constructed. In the end this film comes off as a bit too much of a self congratulatory, feel good film at the cost of the real achievements of some very important people.

3/5

Wick-ed

John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)

Directed by Chad Stahelski this film stars Keanu Reeves, Common, Riccardo Scamarcio, Laurence Fishburne and Ruby Rose. An Italian crime lord calls in a marker owed by John Wick.

Essentially the plot of this film is a pretty thin excuse for our protagonist to go on another mega killing spree. While the action sequences are well done it feels like everything else in this film is an after thought. This film would have been much better off had the script gone through a few more drafts.

2/5

A shock from the past

The Sinking of the Lusitania (1918)

Directed by Winsor McCay this is an animated short film. We see the sinking of the RMS Lusitania by a German submarine in 1915.

Clearly this is a propaganda film, there is no ambiguity in the tone of the film but it is still a decent recreation of events. What stands out most is the animation which is very impressive for early cinema. Slightly oddly the film breaks the 4^th wall in the introduction but this is not really an egregious mistake.

4/5

Ten years have not been kind

Borat (2006)

Directed by Larry Charles this film stars Sacha Baron Cohen, Ken Davitian, Luenell, Pamela Anderson and a host of unsuspecting members of the public. A Kazakh journalist travels to the US to make a documentary on the country but becomes obsessed with meeting Pamela Anderson.

Constantly going for the low hanging fruit this film is not clever and about as subtle as being smashed in the head with a brick. Taking all sorts of stereotypes as the basis for this film I'm not sure that there is any way this film can be seen as not offensive. For my taste the film is too obviously constructed to pass as satire and pretty disappointing over all.

2/5

In need of a recall

The Recall (2017)

Directed by Mauro Borreli this film also known as “Final Recall” stars Wesley Snipes, RJ Mitte, Jedidiah Goodacre and Laura Bilgeri. A bunch of attractive, young, white people go to the lake for the weekend, also an alien invasion happens.

Oh boy, this film is not good, not good on any level. The plot is mind numbing with plenty of holes in it and the characters as bland as could be. Both the performances and the direction veer towards parody at times so there is nothing to recommend this film on.

1/5

A tale of two sons

Gunman's Walk (1958)

Directed by Phil Karlson this film stars Van Heflin, Tab Hunter, James Darren and Davy Hackett. A tough rancher that helped tame the west finds his adult sons have gone in different directions, one too far into the old ways and one too civilized for him to understand.

While it may start with some slightly ropey dialogue in the end this is a fairly decent western that actually has something about it. Set in the coming of civilization/end of the west period as so many great films of the genre are this may not be an astoundingly unique film but it does it's job well. The performances and direction are adequate but unremarkable.

3/5

Reflections on Reflections on Black

Reflections on Black (1955)

Directed by Stan Brakhage this short film stars Don Redlich, Lee Cole, Helen England, Ken Mecham and Pat Cleveland. We see moments from several relationships.

As you would expect from an experimental art film this short is more about abstract sequences rather than clear narrative. At times things are a little too on the nose but as an experiment this is not too bad. Some of the filming techniques are a little rough around the edges which does not make this the easiest film to watch ever.

3/5

A fight to sit through

Fist Fight (2017)

Directed by Richie Keen this film stars Ice Cube, Charlie Day, Tracy Morgan and Jillian Bell. One the last day of school a mild mannered teacher falls foul of a more aggressive teacher and gets challenged to a fist fight at the end of the day.

Nearly the whole way through this film feels forced, from the jokes to the plot everything is trying just too hard. There are some funny moments but not enough to carry this film which needed fleshing out beyond it's basic concept. The cast is pretty decent but too often they are over doing it for the camera.

2/5

The Korean Revenant, Kind Of

The Tiger: An Old Hunter's Tale (2015)

Written & directed by Park Hoon-jung this film stars Choi Min-shik, Jung Man-sik, Kim Sang-ho and Sung Yoo-bin. During the Japanese occupation of Korea an old hunter is ordered to help kill the last tiger living on Mount Jirisan.

I really enjoyed this film which has some stunning shots of Korean landscape. The plot is interesting and offers a fair amount of nuance when it comes to the tiger's relationship with the hunter. Largely the film is well made but a little more restraint on the action sequences would have kept the tiger attacks more believable.

4/5

Racism all the way down

Rastus in Zululand (1910)

Directed by Arthur Hotaling this is an early silent film. An African-American man ends up sent to Zululand where he is offered a choice of marrying the chief's daughter or going in the pot.

Well this is essentially a horribly racist short built around a single “joke” that comes late in the film. It is hard to find a redeeming feature here as even for the period the film was made in this is pretty distasteful. If I were you I'd just give this one a miss.

1/5

'Dam rain

Rain (1929)

Directed by Mannus Franken and Joris Ivens this is a short documentary. We see the city of Amsterdam as it gets rained on.

Fitting in with the genre of city symphonies this film extends the genre slightly by adding the weather to it. The shots capture both the city and the effect the weather has on it nicely. While this may not stand out a huge amount it is still a worth addition to a more lyrical genre.

4/5

Contemptible

9/11 (2017)

Directed by Martin Guigui this film based on the play “Elevator” stars Charlie Sheen, Whoopi Goldberg, Gina Gershon, Luis Guzman and Woody Harris. During the 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center a group of people are trapped in an elevator.

It is hard to see this film as anything other than attempting to cash in on a major terrorist attack and what tiny shred of credibility the film has is taken away by casting a “truther” in the leader role. To be honest there is nothing to praise about the paper thin script and the manipulative use of real events. Who ever thought making this film was a good idea needs to take a long hard look at themselves.

1/5

A lemon

Lemon (2017)

Directed by Janicza Bravo this film stars Brett Gelman, Judy Greer, Michael Cera and Nia long. An unsuccessful middle aged actor's life begins to fall apart when his girlfriend leaves him.

This is an offbeat comedy that likely requires a specific taste to enjoy. While not a terrible watch I found the plot a little slow and lacking any real character arc. The performances and direction are okay but this was not my cup of tea.

2/5

More German Visulaisation

Lichtscpiel Opus I (1921)

Directed by Walter Ruttmann this is an experimental animated film set to music. We see various shapes and colours dance around on the screen in time to the music.

Very similar to the work of Oskar Fischinger this is a film from a similar time period in Germany as Fischinger's work. Enjoyable but not overly deep this is a decent example of this genre of film. More something to put on in the background rather than something to hold your attention.

3/5

Flat beats

Heartbeats (2017)

Written & directed by Duane Adler this film stars Krystal Ellsworth, Paul McGillion, Daphne Zuniga and Amitash Pradhan. An American girl steals from her parents so she can dance instead of go to law school then gets dragged to a wedding in India by her parents.

Oh boy, this film is a poor attempt to string together a bunch of dance numbers. It's hard to say if the dialogue or heavy handed direction is worse but it certainly is hard to find much to like about this film. I suspect even the dance numbers will be unimpressive to those that actually know anything about dance so that does not leave much here as everything else is mind numbing.

1/5

At least the black guy doesn't die first

Life (2017)

Directed by Daniel Espinosa this film stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson, Ryan Reynolds and Ariyon Bakare. The crew of the International Space Station reanimate life from Mars but then it tries to kill them.

It is inevitable this film will be compared to Alien (1979) and it is always going to come off the worse for that. As a horror film this is an average effort and it's no great shakes as a sci-fi film either. The cast do the best they can but there is no character growth for any of the characters which does not help them much.

3/5

It's alive

Gertie the Dinosaur (1914)

Ditected by Winsor McCay this short film mixes sections of live action and animation. Two men bet over if one of them can make a dinosaur move or not.

It takes a little while for this short to get to the animation but when it does this turns into a charming little short. One of the earliest animated films out there this film shows a surprising amount of the potential the genre had. While a little rudimentary to modern eyes this is still an impressive early effort.

4/5

In debt to the land

The Debt (2015)

Written & directed by Barney Elliott this film also known as Oliver's Debt or The Debt stars Stephen Dorff, Elsa Olivero, Amiel Cayo and Marco Antonio Ramierz. We follow three stories from Peru that eventually cross over.

There is a lot of great scenery in this film but otherwise it is a fairly average film attempting to moralise about putting one's self first. The plot is average at best and does not offer any really surprises. It is a bit of a shame this film is so pedestrian but at least Peru looks amazing in it.

3/5

Middle of the road

Detour (2016)

Written & directed by Christopher Smith this film stars Tye Sheridan, Emory Cohen and Bel Powley. A young law student has a grudge against his step father and runs into a criminal that wants to exploit him for money.

As thrillers go this is not really a remarkable one but does use a non-linear narrative to at least keep the audience in the dark a bit. You could say this is an enjoyable distraction but it won't linger in the mind. The execution and performances are solid but like the rest of the film nothing special.

3/5

Blue

Eaux d'artifice (1953)

Directed by Kenneth Anger this film stars Carmilia Salvatorelli. A woman dressed in fine 18^th century garb wanders through the gardens at Tivoli to the music of Vivaldi's “Four Seasons”.

While the blue tinted imagery of this short film is interesting enough I found this to be an average film in general. There is no real plot and I could not fathom much depth to the film. Nicely made but keeps the viewer at arms length too much for my taste.

3/5

The English finale?

This is England '90 (2015)

Directed by Shane Meadows this mini series has a large cast including Thomas Turgoose, Vicky McClure, Joe Gilgun and Andrew Shim. We follow the familiar characters through rave culture and dealing with the fall out of events from previous series.

I found the series to take a long time to get going with the second episode in particular feeling like filler before we could get to the character stuff. While it was enjoyable to check back in on these characters I did not think this was the strongest entry in the series. There are good performances from the cast but the slow motion montages were a bit heavy handed in my opinion.

3/5

Magic mayhem

Willie's Magic Wand (1907)

Directed by Walter R. Booth this is an early short film. A young boy steals his father's magic wand and causes havoc about the house.

This is a simple but well put together special effects film. Unlike a lot of early films this film has a good pace and gets through a solid number of jokes. The film is well made but does lack a narrative ending.

3/5

You can keep it

Mine (2016)

Written & directed by Fabio Guaglione and Fabio Resinaro this film stars Armie Hammer, Tommy Madison, Clint Dyer and Annabelle Wallis. A US Marine lost in the desert steps on a mine and finds himself stuck without help.

What could have been an interesting survival film is instead a pseudo-philosophical film that relies on a “magical negro” trope. Unfortunately this is both boring and at times frustrating to watch. The direction over eggs the pudding at times and parts of the film make no sense.

2/5

Two heads, three times

Dimensions of Dialogue (1983)

Written and directed by Jan Svankmajer this is a three part animated short film. We see three different “conversations” between two heads.

I found the contents of this film a little abstract for my taste, the social commentary being beyond me. Where the film does shine is in it's impressive and varied use of stop motion animation. If for no other reason this film is worth watching for it's impressive animation.

4/5

Collateral stupidity

Collateral Beauty (2016)

Directed by David Frankel this film stars Will Smith, Ed Norton, Kate Winslet, Helen Mirren, Keira Knightley, Micahel Pena, Naomie Harris and Jacob Latimore. Co-workers of a depressed advertising executive hire actors to try help him get over his daughter's death.

Taking a great cast this film dumps them in a festive cheese-fest that is simplistic to the point of mind numbing. The script is so obviously constructed as to be insulting to the viewer at times. It is hard to say who comes off worse here, the audience or the cast.

2/5

Braver than me

Neerja (2016)

Directed by Ram Madhvani this film based on real events stars Sonam Kappor, Shabana Azmi, Yogendra Tiku and Abrar Zahoor. In 1986 an Indian flight lands in Pakistan where it is hijacked by terrorists.

Taking the story of the head stewardess this is an interesting story about personal bravery in the face of adversity. While the film is not overly insightful and events are changed somewhat it is still a well handled story with a fair amount of tension. There are good performances from the cast and the direction is decent as well.

3/5

Home of the very odd

Burn Country (2016)

Directed by Ian Olds this film stars Dominic Rains, Melissa Leo, Rachel Brosnahan and James Franco. An Afghanistan fixer moves to California and starts working as a reporter but struggles to understand the local community.

While this is a slow moving film it is actually a pretty interesting look at small town American from the perspective of an outsider. I like the way the film side steps the obvious, simplistic stuff to look deeper into the underbelly of life. There are good performances from the cast but the slightly ambiguous nature of the film might not be for everyone.

4/5

A horse of course

Corral (1954)

Directed by Colin Low this documentary stars Wallace Jensen. An unnamed cowboy in Canada rounds up some horses and breaks one.

Very simple in it's execution this documentary keeps the film making out the way and lets the images tell the story. While the plot is basic this love letter to the cowboy's way of life is a good watch. Maybe there is not much depth or drama here but the landscape and music more than make up for that.

3/5

Dreaming of a tobacconist's life

Albert Nobbs (2011)

Directed by Rodrigo Garcia this film based on the short story “The Singular Life of Albert Nobbs” stars Glenn Close and Mia Wasikowska. In then 1890s a transman working as a waiter in a hotel dreams of buying a small shop and getting married.

While the events of this film are fairly predictable it is an interesting look at the life of a transman during a period when the issue was rarely spoken of. I enjoyed the film and it is well made but it could have been a deeper exploration of it's subject matter. There are good performances from the cast which carry the film.

4/5

By the numbers

The Black Shield of Falworth (1954)

Directed by Rudolph Mate this film based on the novel “Men of Iron” stars Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh and Barbara Rush. A young man and his sister discover they are not peasants and sent to live with a lord against the back drop of a conspiracy against Henry IV of England.

This is a pretty simple swashbuckler film that is high predictable and contains a lot of genre cliches. It seems the plot strays a fair amount from it's source material but neither version is a great work of entertainment. The film is fairly entertaining but the film is paper thin when it comes to depth and unremarkable in execution.

2/5

Conflict resolution via dance

A Chairy Tale (1957)

Directed by Norman McLaren and Claude Jutra this film has animation from Evelyn Lambart. A man reading a book attempts to sit on a chair, the chair is less than open to the idea.

Putting together an interesting mix of slapstick comedy and courtship via dance this is an entertaining little short. The simple message of conciliation behind the film works well and the on screen action is funny. While the camera tricks behind the animation are nothing special they are done well enough and do not stand out egregiously.

4/5

Four times a remake

After Lumiere – L'arroseur arrose (1974)

Directed by Malcolm Le Grice this is a British experimental film. We see L'Arroseur Arrose (1895) remade and shown in four different ways.

Taking one of the earliest Lumiere films this short seeks to highlight the effect of cinema and filming something. While this is somewhat interesting I did not find this film especially revolutionary or entertaining. In the end the point the film is making is rather simplistic and does drag things out.

3/5

Into the mind of confusion

The Darkest Universe (2016)

Directed by Tom Kingsley and star Will Sharpe this film also features Tiani Ghosh, Joe Thomas and Sophia Di Martino. A young city trader searches for his sister and her boyfriend who went missing on his canal boat.

Mixing an odd ball selection of characters and events this film is a comic look at the stages of grief and uncertainty. While it is a little slow moving, much like a canal boat, this is an entertaining film and certainly unique. What is most disappointing about this film is that Chris Langham has a role in it but otherwise it's a decent watch.

3/5

The good, the bad and the doggy

In a Valley of Violence (2016)

Written & directed by Ti West this film stars Ethan Hawk, Taissa Farminga, James Ransone, Karen Gillian and John Travolta. A drifter heading to Mexico with his dog has problems with a rowdy Deputy in a failed mining town.

Limping along on genre cliches this western is a weak imitation of genre classics without being anything in it's own right. So few westerns get made these days it is a shame that when one is made it's such a lazy effort of bare essentials. The cast is decent but has little to work with and the direction lacks the flair that carried the spaghetti westerns this film wants to be.

2/5

Early Griffith bigotry

The Adventures of Dollie (1908)

Directed by D. W. Griffith and G. W. Blitzer this is a short film staring Arthur V. Johnson, Linda Arvidson and Gladys Egan. Parents take their daughter to the river where they fall foul of some gypsies.

If you have gypsy-phobia this is the film for you, if you don't think all gypsies are evil and out to steal your kids then maybe approach with caution. For an early film this is fairly exciting if not terribly deep plot. Unfortunately the image quality of the surviving film is not great so it's hard to find much to recommend this film on.

2/5

Ghosts and lies

Frantz (2016)

Directed by Francois Ozon this remake of Broken Lullaby (1932) stars Paula Beer, Pierre Niney, Ernst Stotzner and Marie Gruber. After WW1 a French soldier visits a German town seeking forgiveness from the family of a German soldier he killed.

Capturing the post war period well I am not sure if this film is as deep as others think it is. The plot is predictable and the French soldier in particular so selfishly unaware that it makes it hard to sympathise with him. I liked the way the film flits between black & white and colour as well as the preformances.

3/5

Below average wall

The Great Wall (2016)

Directed by Zhang Yimou this film stars Matt Damon, Jing Tian, Pedro Pascal, Willem Dafoe and Andy Lau. Two European mercenaries that have managed to sneak into China to steal black powder find themselves caught up in defending China from alien monsters.

It's best to leave your brain at home when watching this film and even then there is not a huge amount to get from it. The action sequences are the usual CGI rampage and not overly impressive. Matt Damon's accent is a little ropey at times which does not help matters either.

2/5

Confusion and pain

The Way to Shadow Garden (1954)

Directed by Stan Brakhage this short film stars Walter Newcomb. Arriving home alone a man has something of a break down and self harms.

Some of this experimental film is pretty hard to watch and the action seems somewhat unmotivated. Likely this short will leave you confused but also shocked. I am not sure what the meaning behind this short is but it certainly has a basic affect on it's viewer.

3/5

History, repeating itself

Undressing Extraordinary (1901)

Directed by Walter R. Booth this is an early silent comedy. A man tries to undress to go to bed only to be instantly wearing a new outfit every time he takes something off.

Making simple use of the same repeated camera trick this is a decent but not amazing watch. The plot has very much a dream or nightmare like quality to it but not a lot of depth. Considering when it was made the film is well made but does not do a lot to stand out.

3/5

A fortune in the land

Goldstone (2016)

Written & directed by Ivan Sen this film stars Aaron Pedersen, Alex Russell, Jacki Weaver and David Wenham. An indigenous detective is sent to a small mining town in Australia to look for a missing Chinese girl.

This film is a sequel to Mystery Road (2013) but you do not need to have seen the previous film to watch this. Combining a number of familiar elements both in Australian and genre cinema this is a well constructed mystery that looks at a number of important issues. The direction is really nice, combining some lovely over head photography and poignant character moments.

4/5

Droning on

Drone (2017)

Directed by Jason Bourque this film stars Sean Bean, Patrick Sabongui, Mary McCormack and Maxwell Haynes. An independent contractor working as a drone pilot for the CIA is tracked down by a man whose family was killed in an air strike.

There are a few films on this topic now and this is one of the weaker on the subject. It takes the plot far too long to get going and then does not really offer any interesting insight into the issue. The performances are not too bad but Sean Bean with an American accent always seems very wrong to me.

2/5

Tragedy and love

Screen Play (1992)

Directed by Barry Purves this is an animated short film. In historic Japan a couple fall in love but are forbidden from being together.

While this short does mix it's source material slightly taking the Willow pattern story, which is an English invention set in China, and moving it to Japan the narrative is still a very solid foundation. What really shines out here is the animation which brings out a frenetic energy that keeps the story moving and the viewer transfixed. If for no other reason this short is worth watching just for the animation alone.

4/5

A year's worth of change

52 Tuesdays (2014)

Directed by Sophie Hyde this film stars Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Del Herbert-Jane, Mario Spate, Beau Travis Williams and Imogen Archer. A teenage girl explores her own sexuality while struggling to deal with her mother undergoing gender transition.

This is a really great little independent film that shows a year in the life of one girl and her family. I really enjoyed the way the film handles it's subject matter, showing the ups and downs of the situation, as well as the way it manages to tell that story over a good stretch of time. The performances from the cast are really good and the direction keeps out of the way of telling an important story.

4/5

Not a hit on Apollo

Assassin's Creed (2016)

Directed by Justin Kurzel this film based on the video game franchise of the same name stars Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard and Jeremy Irons. A man sentenced to death is spirited away to a secret facility where he is used to explore the memories of his ancestor as an assassin.

Video game adaptations have a rocky history in Hollywood to say the least. This is not a strict adaptation but rather a new story in an existing world. While the film does creak a bit under the weight of exposition and existing back story I found the film pretty enjoyable.

Sometimes the story may fail to connect deeply with it's characters but for an action adventure it is entertaining. The plot is some familiar Judeo-Christian hockem which does not bare thinking about too much but does at least try to have some depth to it. Largely the performances and CGI are good but the editing is a little bit snappy at times.

3/5

Don't eat cheese before you sleep

Pink Komkommer (1991)

Directed by Marv Newland this is an animated short film. An old woman in a rocking chair has some very strange dreams during a nap.

This short is a voyage into bizarre sexual imagery of an old woman's dream. While the short does hold your attention I'm not sure what, if anything to take from it. The animation style reflects the odd images but is not overly remarkable.

3/5

Easily Coward

Easy Virtue (2008)

Directed by Stephen Elliott this film based on the play of the same name stars Jessica Biel, Ben Barnes, Colin Firth and Kristin Scott Thomas. A repressed, upper class British family find that the son of the family has married an American woman and is bringing her home to meet them.

This film is typical Noel Coward material mixing biting wit with social commentary. While the commentary of the film may be a little dated at least the humour still raises a chuckle. The film is generally well made but not up there with the best of British period pieces like say a Merchant-Ivory film.

3/5

Milder not darker

Fifty Shades Darker (2017)

Directed by James Foley this film based on the novel of the same name stars Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan and Eloise Mumford. After getting a new job Anastasia gets back together with billionaire stalker/abusive boyfriend Christian Grey.

Lurching from one tepid sex scene to another the plot of this film is something that would disappoint even the writers of the worst soaps. Some of the photography is not too bad but otherwise it's hard to find anything to praise about this film. I suppose Christian Grey shows some measure of character growth but otherwise there is a lot of cliché bunk floating about in the story.

2/5

Arnie tries a serious role

Aftermath (2017)

Directed by Elliott Lester this film based on real events stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Scoot McNairy and Maggie Grace. A construction worker loses his wife and daughter in an plane crash.

Taking real events and moving them to the US this film is a confusing mess that has no idea what it wants to say morally. The film never tackles the hero worship of the protagonist committing murder in real life which is a major over sight. All round this is a weak effort of something that should have been handled much more delicately.

1/5

The best laid plans and other plans

The Fear of Zeppelins (1915)

Directed by star Andre Deed this film also features Leonie Laporte, Domenico Gambino and Falice Minotti. Looking to enjoy their wedding night a couple have their plans ruined by various precautions taken against incendiary bombs.

While Zeppelins might not be the obvious choice of subject matter for a sex comedy this bizarre little film works fairly well. There is plenty of slapstick humour and farce here which is entertaining enough if not riotously funny. Certainly this is a unique film in all cinema not just early films.

3/5

Robbed of 90 minutes of my life

The Hatton Garden Job (2017)

Directed by Ronnie Thompson this film based on real events stars Matthew Goode, Joely Richardson, Larry Lamb and Phil Daniels. After coming out of prison a man plans to rob a safe deposit company with the aid of some old criminals.

Neither sticking especially close to real events or particularly original it's hard to find much to recommend this film on. The script stumbles through some familiar genre cliches in a poor example of a heist film. At times the direction and editing are questionable as well such as when they insert unnecessary montages and scenes.

1/5

New Zealand dreamer

Boy (2010)

Written & directed by star Taika Waititi this film also features James Rolleston in the title role. An 11 year old Maori boy hero worships his absent father who turns out to be a buffoon.

Classic coming of age stuff is the key to this film and it works really well. While this film may not stand out massively in a crowded genre it certainly has it's own charm to it that makes it more than entertaining. Waititi offers a sense of fun through out the film which masks the film's deeper elements.

3/5

No body nose the trouble...

The Nose (1963)

Directed by Alexander Alexeieff and Claire Parker this animated short is based on the story of the same name by Nikola Gogol. Cutting open a loaf of bread a man finds a nose in it.

Bizarre to say the least this is a strange little film that maybe does not adapt perfectly without knowing the source material but is still an entertaining watch. Some of the source material may have been lost in adaptation but there is still enough surreal imagery to keep you watching. The animation style is good and clearly takes skill but is not ground breaking.

3/5

No sleep allowed

Neither Heaven Nor Earth (2015)

Directed by Clement Cogitore this film also known as “The Wakhan Front” stars Jeremie Renier and Kevin Azais. French troops manning an outpost in Afghanistan start to disappear one by one in the night.

Using the supernatural as an allegory this film does a good job of looking at the effects of war on soldiers fighting in Afghanistan. The plot is simple but effective and builds up a nice level of tension. The direction goes for realism over cliched genre shocks and it really helps keep the film grounded.

4/5

Impending motherhood brings out the rage

Prevenge (2016)

Written & directed by star Alice Lowe this film also features Jo Hartley, Gemma Whelan and Kayvan Novak. A pregnant woman believes her unborn child is compelling her to kill the people responsible for the death of the baby's father.

Exploring the fears of motherhood common to many women this horror comedy is a fun effort. Not deadly serious, the black humour is what holds the film together and keeps the film entertaining. While this is a fairly odd ball film it is well worth watching.

4/5  

Love and forbidden marriage

Loving (2016)

Written & directed by Jeff Nichols this film based on a true story stars Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga. A couple living in Virginia in 1958 fall foul of the State's anti-miscegenation laws when they marry.

Unlike many civil rights stories this film focuses much more on the personal and family life rather than being a court room drama. I enjoyed the personal touch of this film and it tells a much more intimate story than some of it's peers. The performances are good and the direction low key, which lets the story unfold naturally.

4/5

Classic Crimbo

The Night Before Christmas (1905)

Directed by Edwin S. Porter this film is based on the poem “Twas the Night Before Christmas” by Clement Clarke Moore. We see Santa Claus prepare for Christmas then visit a family.

Taking a classic poem and combining it with early special effects this is a charming little short film. Nostalgia and general Christmas goodness all come together here to produce an entertaining little film. It may seem a little rudimentary compared to modern film but in my opinion this film holds up well.

4/5  

Writing by numbers

Flying Blind (2013)

Directed by Katarzyna Klimkiewicz this film stars Helen McCrory, Najib Oudghiri and Kenneth Cranham. A middle aged woman working for the military as an aerospace engineer begins a relationship with a young man from Algeria.

This is a fairly bland erotic thriller that goes through the motions. Nothing is very new here and there is minimal tension as the plot unfolds, really the film needed to be a bit longer. The performances are decent enough but the script needs more work to really carry off the concept.

2/5

The Rumfather

Live by Night (2016)

Directed by star Ben Affleck this film based on the novel of the same name also features Zoe Saldana, Chris Messina, Elle Fanning and Chris Cooper. A man from Boston becomes involved with the Italian mob selling rum in the Depression era.

Taking a familiar tack of using organised crime to critique the American experience there is not a lot that is new here. At times the film feels heavy handed and somewhat trudges through familiar genre elements. There is a really impressive case but it does feel like a bit of a waste at times.

3/5

Whitman & Manhattan

Manhatta (1921)

Directed by Charles Sheeler and Paul Strand this documentary has intertitles containing the writings of Walt Whitman. We see Manhattan in a selection of different shots.

Very much in the genre of the early city documentaries this is a good look at Manhattan of the period. The film captures daily life and is certainly a love letter to it's setting. Enjoyable to watch it is easy to see why this has been preserved as a historical record.

4/5

The death of entertainment

Cemetery of Splendour (2015)

Directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul this film stars Jenjira Pongpas, Banlop Lomnoi and Jarinpattra Rueangram. A woman volunteers at a small, rural hospital that is treating soldiers with a strange sleeping sickness.

I will be honest that the subtext of this film completely passed me by, supposedly the film is a metaphor for Thai societal issues but that alluded me. The film is also very slow and at times feels like it is padded out empty moments. While this film may have had a lot of critical acclaim I found it boring and impenetrable.

2/5

Magic cars and crime

The '?' Motorist (1906)

Directed by Walter R. Booth this is the final film the director made with producer Robert W. Paul. A magic car causes mayhem and goes on a bizarre adventure.

Putting together a bunch of trick photography this is a fairly fun film but without much a of a story behind it. Maybe not as charming as a Melies film this is still a decent watch. For the period this is a good film but the lack of narrative does harm it's staying power.

3/5

Basic magic

The Waif and the Wizard (1901)

Directed by Walter R. Booth this is an early short film. After a boy helps a wizard with his show the wizard goes home with the boy.

There is nothing really to the plot here and essentially it is a flimsy excuse for some trick photography. The special effects are fine but unremarkable for the period. Essentially this is a one trick film which is fine but not really impressive.

3/5

Dancing around

The Joy of Life (1934)

Directed by Anthony Gross and Hector Hoppin this cartoon has music from Tibor Harsanyi. Two women dance about, one loses a show and a young man tries to return it.

Simplistic in content this is a fairly good watch with it style of flowing movement keeping your attention. While there is not a huge amount to the lot this is still an enjoyable watch. The animation style is something different to the usual which is what makes this film stand out.

3/5

Something new, lots of old

In Our Name (2010)

Directed by Brian Welsh this film stars Joanne Froggatt, Mel Raido, Andrew Knott and Chloe Jayne Wilkinson. After returning from serving in Iraq a woman struggles to adapt to normal life causing problems in her relationship with her husband and daughter.

Coming home dramas are fairly common but this one is pretty unique in having a female protagonist. Unfortunately that is about as unique as this film gets, it hits a lot of familiar elements and does not really offer a new spin on things. Joanne Froggatt does her best but the material is a bit of a let down.

3/5

Why this film?

Why Him? (2016)

Directed by John Hamburg this film stars Bryan Cranston, James Franco, Zoey Deutch and Megan Mullally. A family fly out to spend Christmas with the daughter's new boyfriend who is very eccentric.

Taking a good cast and grafting it on to a generic plot this film is a wasted opportunity through out. The occasionally funny moments are not enough to sustain this predictable effort. More lazy than anything else it's a shame about the potential wasted here.

2/5

No smile

Disappearing Music for Face (1966)

Directed by Shieko Shiomi this is an experimental short film. We see a face slowly change expression.

Essentially this is 10 minutes of a smile slowly dropping. Maybe I am not the right person for experimental cinema but I found this short to be pretty boring. There is little of entertainment here and I found watching this film more of a chore than anything else.

2/5

The snake in the grass

Lolo (2015)

Directed by co-writer and star Julie Delpy this film also features Dany Boon, Vince Lacoste and Karin Viard. A Parisian woman in her 40s has her new relationship with a computer programmer sabotaged by her adult son.

Familiar but well made this is a pretty simple romantic comedy that does not offer a huge amount of originality. There are some funny moments along the way but this is not really a film that will keep you constantly laughing. I enjoyed the film and the performance, especially from Vincent Lacoste who does a good job as the devilish adult son.

3/5

Not much for sale

The Escorts (2016)

Directed by Lisa Addario & Joe Syracuse this film also known as “Amateur Night” stars Jason Biggs, Jenny Mollen, Janet Montgomery and Ashley Tisdale. An expectant father unable to find work in his chosen field takes a job driving for escorts to keep up his wife's medical insurance.

Supposedly a sex comedy this film is not especially funny and the plot not very deep. There are times when it becomes very hard to like some of the characters and the story has little of depth to say. Janet Montgomery is about the only decent thing in this film which is otherwise pretty bland.

2/5

The barriers we build

Fences (2016)

Directed by star Denzel Washington this film based on the play of the same name also features Viola Davies, Stephen Henderson and Jovan Adepo. A 53 year old man struggles to provide for his family and find his place in the world during the 1950s.

This is an excellent look at the struggles facing African-Americans during the 1950s as well as the problems that face the working class in general. Dialogue is king here and the rapid fire exchanges between characters are excellent. For the most part the direction stays out of the way and lets the flawed characters shine through, only the final moment is a little heavy handed for my tastes.

4/5

More than expected

Coal Face (1935)

Directed by Alberto Cavalcanti this documentary his narration from poet W.H. Auden. We see the conditions and lives of men working in coal mines in England.

Starting out as your typical government information documentary of the period this film takes a somewhat interesting turn as it shines a light on the dangers of the industry. I was expecting something much more one dimensional than how the final documentary turns out. Well made but not especially remarkable this is a decent piece.

3/5

Not cleverly

Everly (2014)

Directed by Joe Lynch this film stars Salma Hayek, Akie Kotabe, Laura Cepeda and Gabriella Wright. A woman that has been kept four years as the personal prostitute for a crime boss has to fight for her life when it is discovered she tried to turn informant.

The plot of this film is paper thin and is essentially just a number of action sequences. Part of the the problem is that the film never really wants to commit one way or the other on being serious or funny so is not really enough of either and ends up fairly bland. I suppose the action sequences are entertaining enough but there are times when the film strays close to being torture porn.

3/5

No surprises

Split (2016)

Written & directed by M. Night Shyamalan this film stars James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy and Betty Buckley. A man with multiple personality disorder kidnaps three teenage girls and holds them hostage awaiting the arrival of “the beast”.

There are plenty of films about dissociative identity disorder knocking about and like many of them this film uses it as a crutch. Hardly revolutionary in any aspect this is still a decent, if unremarkable genre effort that has a few nice touches that are unfortunately not properly expanded on. James McAvoy gets to show off his range but otherwise there is not a lot to comment on.

3/5

A city awakes

A Bronx Morning (1931)

Directed by Jay Leyda this is a short film. We see the Bronx in New York as it comes to life in the morning.

Not entirely original this is still a solid example of the city scape genre or “city symphony”. Fitting in well with other genre examples this film is not Man with a Movie Camera (1929), lacking some of the more playful elements of that film, but still a decent watch. As a historical record no doubt this is a note worthy film but in my opinion not for much more than that.

3/5

Crime eventually pays?

The Lesson (2014)

Directed by Kristina Grozeca & Petar Valchanov this film stars Margita Gosheva and Ivan Barnev. A school teacher has to deal with finding out which of her students is a thief as well as trying to cover the mortgage her husband has left unpaid on her house.

It is a nice change to see a film like this where the female protagonist is so pro-active compared to her passive husband. The plot is fairly a fairly grounded, simple tale but very watchable. There are decent performances from the cast and the direction is solid, overall this is a decent film.

3/5

Interlude in being entertained

Interlude in Prague (2017)

Directed by John Stephenson this film stars Aneurin Barnard, James Purefoy, Morfydd Clark and Samantha Barks. In 1788 Mozart travels to Prague where he becomes involved in the relationship between a young singer and a baron while writing Don Giovanni.

Trudging through a hum-drum plot this is both a disappointing look at Mozart and his work. The plot stumbles along through predictable events and barely holds your attention. I suppose the performances are not too bad but the script is limp at best.

2/5

The good books justifications

The Birth of a Nation (2016)

Directed by and staring co-writer Nate Parker this film based on real events also features Armie Hammer, Aja Naomi King and Mark Boone Junior. A slave is taught to read the bible and becomes a preacher.

Unfortunately for this film it will always be compared to 12 Years a Slave (2013) and it does come off as inferior to that film. This film does a good job of showing the evils of slavery but does not necessarily stick strictly to events of Nat Turner's life and has too much religion without being critical of religion for my liking. There are decent performances and direction but the film is always in the shadow of 12 Years a Slave.

4/5

Buzz off

Weatherbeaten Melody (1943)

Directed by Hans Fischerkosen this animated short was written by Horst von Mollendorff with music from Lothar Bruhne. A bee finds an abandoned record player and uses it's stinger to play the record.

Made in Nazi Germany during the Second World War thankfully this cartoon is devoid of the ugly ideas of the period. It is suggested that the use of jazz music and the mixing of different species of bugs in the cartoon makes this an anti Nazi film, that seems a little too subtle or simplistic to me but is probably the only way you could safely criticise the regime from inside. The animation style is decent but not remarkable, roughly on par with what Disney were putting out at the time.

3/5

Who the fuck is Alice?

Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016)

Directed by Paul W. S. Anderson this 6^th instalment in the franchise stars Mila Jovovich, Ali Later, Iain Glen and Shawn Roberts. With only a handful of human survivors left Alice is tasked by the Red Queen with releasing an airborne anti virus to kill all the t-virus infected monsters.

I suppose the best thing that you can say about this film is that it is not weighed down as much by events of previous films as you might suspect. There are a few nice references to the first film but over all the plot of this film is fairly bland. Where the film is at it's weakest is in the editing which is so fast it often loses geography and coherence of the action sequences which are the only reason for watching this film.

2/5

Change over time

T2 Trainspotting (2017)

Directed by Danny Boyle this film stars Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Johnny Lee Miller, Robert Carlyle and Angela Nedyalkova. Twenty years after the events of the first film Mark travels back to Scotland and looks up the friends he ripped off.

Taking a good look at middle age crisis and nostalgia this is a solid return after so much time away. While the film may differ from Irvine Welsh's books there are enough references to the original film that this sequel seamlessly fits into the universe. There are good performances from the cast and the direction is decent but a little annoying at times.

4/5

To be the villain

Givertaker (2016)

Directed by Paul Gandersman this short film stars Caiti Ward, Jessica Perrin, Sharmita Bhattacharya and Nell Kessler. A teenage girl contacts a dark, mystical force to right the perceived wrongs against her.

While this is naturally a simple narrative given the short run time I really liked the way the plot balances the information you get and the twist at the end. Offering both the idea that you should be careful what you wish for but also the idea that no one sees themselves as the villain this is a pretty refreshing take on familiar ideas. The cast is decent and the special effects really good for the low budget.

4/5

Sherlock Holmes and the case of the disappointing story

The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970)

Directed by Billy Wilder this film stars Robert Stephens, Colin Blakely, Genevieve Page and Christopher Lee. We follow Holmes and Watson on a case supposedly so scandalous that Watson required 30 years to pass after his death before it was made public.

Mixing Sherlock Holmes with turn of the century Germany spy paranoia this is not really a particularly remarkable outing for the famous detective. I expected a lot more from Wilder and Holmes but that does not take away from this being a fairly decent distraction. Most of the sets and locations are nice but that is about all this film ever is, nice.

3/5

Nap time motherfuckers

Cooties (2014)

Directed by Cary Murnion and Jonathan Milott this film stars Elijah Wood, Alison Pill and Rainn Wilson. Teachers working summer school at an elementary school find that a bad chicken nugget has turned their pupils into flesh eating zombies.

If you were expecting the next great American cinematic work of art clearly you are in the wrong place but for what this film is, it is a decent distraction. There are some chuckles along the way but not really enough humour to put this on the same level as Shaun of the Dead (2004). A little more could have been made of the set up but for the most part this is a decent film with Rainn Wilson eventually being the stand out performance.

3/5

Trishna of the d'Urbervilles

Trishna (2011)

Directed by Michael Winterbottom this film based on Tess of the d'Urbervilles stars Freida Pinto and Riz Ahmed. A 19 year old girl from a poor family in India begins a relationship with the rich son of a hotel owner who takes advantage of her.

Competent through out this is a decent film but never much more than that. It takes a while for this film to get going and there are times when I found it hard to understand why Trishna returns to her abuser. The performances and direction are decent but some how this film never really takes off.

3/5

True beauty

Two Sisters (1991)

Directed by Caroline Leaf this animated short has voices from Kathleen Fee, Michael Rudder and Jane Woods. Two sisters living a shut away existence on an island have their life disrupted by the visit of a man.

The plot of this film is not bad but also not overly remarkable. While I did enjoy the story there is not a lot to it but it is the animation style that shines through with this film. I really loved the unique style this cartoon has, especially it's vibrant use of colour.

4/5

Over the edge of reality

The Edge of Love (2008)

Directed by John Maybury this film based on real events stars Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller, Cillian Murphy and Matthew Rhys. We follow the life of Dylan Thomas and his wife during WW2 along with that of their best friend and her husband.

While this period piece, which is some what of a British speciality, has some good parts if never manages to coalesce into something whole. It also seems that the plot wanders off from real events a fair amount. The cast do fairly well and Keira Knightley manages to hold a good Welsh accent through out but ultimately this is a bit of a disappointing effort.

2/5

An unwanted return

Xxx: Return of Xander Cage (2017)

Directed by D. J. Caruso this film stars Vin Diesel, Donnie Yen, Deepika Padukone and Toni Collette. Someone is crashing satellites into the Earth to kill people, only Xander Cage and the XXX team can stop them.

Taking what is a bad Bond plot this lightweight Bond rip off franchise really scrapes the barrel. Just about everything that Bond barely gets by on is taken too far here making this film far sillier than it intends to be. Some of the action sequences are not too bad but over all this is a pretty mind numbing effort.

2/5

Edu-tainment

Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom (1953)

Directed by Ward Kimball and Charles A. Nichols this is an animated short from the Walt Disney company. We follow the history of musical instruments as taught but Professor Owl.

Largely this is a silly little piece of edu-tainment that is a fairly decent watch if not very deep. There are a few questionable stereotypes along the way that would not fly today but for the most part this cartoon is not overly offensive. Enjoyable but largely unremarkable this is a fairly well made effort.

3/5

Brilliantly bizarre

Girl Asleep (2015)

Directed by Rosemary Myers this film based on the play of the same name stars Bethany Whitmore, Harrison Feldman, Matthew Whittet and Amber McMahon. After moving to a new school an Australian girl's parents want to throw her a 15^th birthday party to bring her out of her shell.

I found this coming of age film to be a fascinating mix of 1970s Australia, disco, fantasy and teenage problems. You are going to be hard pressed to find anything like this film out there despite it's seemingly familiar material. Clearly the direction really makes this film, moulding it into something funny, touching and bizarre all at the same time.

4/5

Southern flop

Southern Fury (2017)

Directed by Steven C. Miller this film stars Adrian Grenier, John Cusack and Nicolas Cage. A man's older brother is kidnapped and held to ransom.

Every time I think I have seen Nicolas Cage it his most terrible and over the top he manages to one up himself. The plot of this film is pretty bad, barely holding itself together. It's hard to find anything to enjoy about this rushed, limp effort of a crime thriller.

2/5

A downer's downer

Born to Be Blue (2015)

Directed by Robert Budreau this film based on a true story stars Ethan Hawke, Carmen Ejogo and Callum Keith Rennie. In the 1960s we follow the attempted come back of jazz musician Chet Baker.

It is hard for me to say how close this film is to real events as I know nothing about the subject matter but it is a good look at addiction. There may be many films on the subject of addiction and fame floating around but the melancholy notes this film hits along with it's down beat ending do make it somewhat unique. Ethan Hawke gives a really good performance in the lead role and is well supported by Carmen Ejogo.

4/5

Waiting on grandma

The Street (1976)

Directed by Caroline Leaf this animated film is based on a short story from the collection of the same name by Mordecai Richler. A young Jewish boy forced to share a bedroom with his sister waits for grandmother to die so he can get his own room.

Despite the very simple nature of the story here this film captures something very real and true about the human relationship with sick relatives and death. I enjoyed the film's honesty and despite it's short run time this film is well worth a watch. The animation style is nice but not overly remarkable.

4/5

A bad Good Will Hunting

The Accountant (2016)

Directed by Gavin O'Connor this film stars Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick, J. K. Simmons, Cynthia Addai-Robinson and Jon Bernthal. A man with autism works as an accountant for various criminal enterprises.

There is a lot of potential in the set up here but unfortunately the film goes Jason Bourne lite rather than Good Will Hunting. As an action-thriller this is a watchable film but it lacks any real depth and could have been so much more. Affleck is decent in the lead role but Anna Kendrick in particular feels wasted here.

3/5

A film about consequences that lacks consequences

Good Kill (2014)

Written & directed by Andrew Niccol this film stars Ethan Hawke, January Jones, Zoe Kravitz and Bruce Greenwood. We follow the life of a US air force drone pilot stationed in Las Vegas who attacks targets in Afghanistan.

For the most part this is a decent look at drone warfare that explores a lot of the issues around the subject but is a little preachy at times. I found the ending to be a disappointment that lacks consequences. Ethan Hawke does a good job as the pilot struggling to deal with the ramifications of his work.

3/5