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

The problem with princesses

Stenka Razin (1908)

Directed by Vladimir Romashkov this film stars Yevgeni Petrov-Krayevsky. A group of bandits lead by the title character capture a Muslim princess and their leader becomes obsessed with her.

Taking a real Russian folk hero this is a fictional tale based around his life and claims to be the first Russian narrative film. Essentially this is a simple plot with not a lot to it but for the period it hold ups well. There is not a lot to remark upon here but it's not the worst early film you will ever see.

3/5

The perfect struggle to communicate

It's Only The End of the World (2016)

Directed by Xavier Dolan this film based on the play of the same name stars Gaspard Ulliel, Mathalie Baye, Vincent Cassel, Marion Cotillard and Lea Seydoux. Returning home after 12 years away a young playwright struggles to tell his family he is dying.

While it may not be to everyone's taste I really loved this tale of mortality and a family unable to communicate with each other. There are some great moments between the characters and the story is really touching. The film has maybe the best French cast possible and the direction really accentuates the scenario.

5/5

Underwhelming

Underworld: Blood Wars (2016)

Directed by Anna Foerster this 5^th film in the franchise stars Kate Beckinsale, Theo James, Lara Pulver and Tobias Menzies. Vampires and lycans fight again, are you surprised?

Rattling through a poor excuse for a plot this is very much an unnecessary sequel that offers little. There is no character growth and just a rehash of the same old same old. I suppose the action sequences are not too bad but rarely stand out and the editing is annoying at times.

2/5

Shit Shane Clone

Forsaken (2015)

Directed by Jon Cassar this film stars Kieft Sutherland, Donald Sutherland, Brian Cox, Michael Wincott and Demi Moore. Deciding to give up his life of violence a gunfighter returns home to find an evil land baron trying to buy up all the local farms.

It is very hard not to see this film as just a weak imitation of Shane (1953) that entirely missed the point of it's source material. As a typical genre piece it is not too bad but this film will always exist in the shadow of much better films. I suppose the cast do their best but I could have lived without Kiefer Sutherland trying to growl his way through some scenes like a cut price Clint Eastwood.

2/5

Trick shop

The Haunted Curiosity Shop (1901)

Directed by Walter R. Booth this film is a short film produced by Robert W. Paul. A man owns a shop with many magical items that get out of hand.

Essentially this is a special effects film that does little more than show off the camera tricks the film makers have. While entertaining there is not a huge amount of variety in this short film and it some what lacks any narrative. An enjoyable diversion but not much more.

3/5

To survive

The White Countess (2005)

Directed by James Ivory this film stars Ralph Finnes, Natasha Richardson, Vanessa Redgrave and Hiroyuki Sanada. During the 1930s in Shanghai a former Russian countess working in a seedy bar to support her family meets a blind American that used to be a diplomat.

This is a classic Merchant-Ivory collaboration mixing romance, period setting and moral/political commentary. While this may not be the best of the Merchant-Ivory films it has more than enough going on to entertain the viewer as well as encourage some though. The cast is good as our the sets which really invoke the period.

4/5

Water landings

Sully (2016)

Directed by Clint Eastwood this film based on a true story stars Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart and Laura Linney. We follow the story of the captain who landed a passenger aircraft on the Hudson river in 2009.

While this is not Clint Eastwood's best work even in his weaker films you are still in very safe hands. There are some changes from real events but I like the way the plot of the film focuses as much on the aftermath as it does on the main disaster and the way in which it tells the story in a non-linear fashion. As you would expect from Eastwood the film is well made and never quite becomes overly sentimental.

3/5

Connecting

Rope Dance (1986)

Directed by Raimund Krumme this is an animated short film. Two men attached by a rope dance round a square.

Taking some very simple elements this film builds up an entertaining little dance. The images do leave you wondering about the connectedness of people and how we affect or rely on each other. While the animation style is neither ground breaking or remarkable it does do a job.

3/5

Never has there been such a tale of woe as that of Wawa and her Dain

Tanna (2015)

Directed by Martin Butler and Bentley Dean this film based on real events stars Marie Wawa and Mungau Dain. On the island of Tanna a young couples love for each other threatens to cause war between two tribes and break traditions.

Taking a classic tale with hints of Romeo and Juliet about it this film shows that no matter where you go in the world some stories and emotions are universal to humanity. The story is well told and really puts you in the world in which it takes place. Using non-professional actors brings an authenticity to the film and the cinematography captures the beauty of the setting brilliantly.

4/5

Not quite phenominal

The Phenom (2016)

Written & directed by Noah Buschel this film stars Johnny Simmons, Paul Giamatti, Ethan Hawke and Sophie Kennedy Clark. A sports psychologist tries to help a young professional baseball pitcher deal with mental issues affecting his game.

For a sports film this is a fairly low key effort and it benefits greatly from the gentle touch of the film makers. While I found the plot maybe a little inconclusive this is still a decent look into the pressures faced by young sports stars. In particular Johnny Simmons is very good in the lead role, I just wish this film had been a little longer.

4/5

Idiot investigators

Marauders (2016)

Directed by Steve C. Miller this film stars Christopher Meloni, Bruce Willis, Adrian Grenier and Dave Bautista. The FBI investigate the robbery of a bank in Cincinnati and the murder of it's bank manager by an organised gang.

Stumbling through a plot that does not always make sense this film mumbles something about vigilantism being acceptable and hopes it sticks. Unfortunately not much about this film does stick and is more likely to leave you scratching your head as to why the script didn't get a few more revisions. Even the casting is a little odd with the likes of Bruce Willis and Dave Bautista largely wasted in this film.

2/5  

Backwards

Renaissance (1964)

Directed by Walerian Borowczyk this is an animated short film. We see objects in a destroyed room get put back together again.

As far as the animation goes this is a fairly interesting stop motion film but the style is not overly remarkable. No doubt there is some deeper meaning to this short but it's a little too hidden for me to properly pin it down. Certainly an interesting little watch but not much more.

3/5

Unsolvable problems

X + Y (2014)

Directed by Morgan Matthews this film stars Asa Butterfield, Sally Hawkins, Rafe Spall, Eddie Marsan and Jo Yang. A boy with Autism and a strong interest in mathematics struggles to deal with social interactions.

This is a pretty good look into the struggles of one boy with autism and I especially liked the gentler approach it takes. It would be very easy for the film to go with a more dramatic and extreme plot but this feels like a much more human story. There are good performances from all the cast making this a very decent watch.

4/5

The past pretending to be the future

Passengers (2016)

Directed by Morten Tyldum this film stars Jennifer Lawrence, Chris Pratt, Michael Sheen and Laurence Fishburne. A passenger travelling in deep sleep on an interstellar flight finds himself accidentally woken up 90 years too soon with no way to go back to sleep.

Despite being dressed up in the clothes of the future this is a regressive romance that is frankly just a big disappointment. There is nothing interesting to see here either about romance or the future. Michael Sheen does his best and stands out as an android but otherwise this is a weak film that is manipulative on more than one level.

2/5

A strange look at art

The Public Voice (1988)

Directed by Lejf Marcussen this is an animated short film. We take a Surrealist look at various pieces of art.

I enjoyed this film and while it is simplistic it does provide plenty of interesting visuals. The camera transforms and and zooms through enough art to hold your attention. While I wouldn't rewatch this film it was certainly a decent distraction.

3/5

Mad Omega man

Daylight's End (2016)

Directed by William Kaufman this film stars Johnny Strong, Lance Henriksen and Chelsea Edmundson. Years after the apocalypse has hit a man drives round killing monsters.

If you took the Mad Max franchise and combined it with The Omega Man (1971) in the laziest possible way this film is what you would get. The sparse plot relies heavily on genre cliches and offers nothing new at all. Even the action sequences are weakly done, with the direction and editing making them tricky to follow at times.

2/5

Manhattan Shite

Manhattan Night (2016)

Directed by Brian DeCubellis this film based on the novel “Manhatten Nocturne” stars Adrien Brody, Yvonne Strahovski, Jennifer Beals and Steven Berkoff. A journalist meets a young window who wants him to look into the death of her movie director husband.

Unfortunately a lot of the lot of this would be noir film doesn't make sense and the protagonist is too stupid for an intelligent investigator. While the film is not offensively bad it uses genre cliches like a crutch and barely hobbles along. I suppose the cast are fine but there is not much to enjoy here.

2/5

Story down

Man Down (2015)

Directed by Dito Montiel this film stars Shia LaBeouf, Jai Courtney, Kate Mara and Gary Oldman. A US Marine that served in Afghanistan goes through a traumatic experience then struggles to get back to his wife and child.

Taking an unfortunately all too familiar story of the lack of care for veterans with PTSD this film gets hung up on creating a trick narrative. Trying to perform a twist doesn't work here and undercuts the real emotional story going on. The cast do their best but this was a flawed script from the start.

2/5

The hand giveth and the hand taketh away

The Hand of the Artist (1906)

Directed by Walter R. Booth this is a short film from the silent era of cinema. An artist brings a man and woman to life, watches them dance then crumples them up and throws them away.

Based on simple camera tricks this is a fairly decent short film but not overly remarkable in it's content. Notable for being the first British animated film it is probably better as a historical milestone than entertainment. While I enjoyed this short it is not one that will linger in my memory.

3/5

Less than excited

I'm So Excited! (2013)

Written & directed by Pedro Almodovar this film stars Javier Camara, Antonio de la Torre, Raul Arevalo, Carlos Areces and Lola Duenas. Flight crew on a Spanish plane attempt to keep the passengers in business class distracted from the fact that the plane will have to crash land.

This is a pretty simple black comedy that relies a lot on sexual humour. While entertaining I'm not sure that the film has much depth. There are some decent performances but most of the characters are kind of terrible people.

3/5

Not at all beastly

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

Directed by David Yates this spin off from the Harry Potter franchise stars Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler and Alison Sudol. A British wizard carrying a case of fantastic beasts to New York accidentally unleashes some on the city.

Under the guiding hand of J. K. Rowling this is a pretty decent spin off mixing things up with a different setting and style of story. On the surface level the film is a pretty basic action/adventure but it does have some depth as it looks at characters forced to live with repressing their true selves. While the film leans heavily on CGI it still has some impressive images and effects.

4/5

Too timid

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

Directed by Tim Burton this film based on the novel of the same name stars Johnny Depp, Freddie Highmore, David Kelly and Deep Roy. A boy from a poor family gets one of five golden tickets allowing him a tour of a mysterious chocolate factory.

Growing up I saw the previous adaptation of this book many times and while it may be nostalgia I found this version to be poor in comparison. I did not like the timid Willy Wonka or the unnecessary addition of his father which lacks any subtlety. Burton is well known for his artistic style and there is some evidence of that here but I found the musical numbers in particular very jarring.

2/5