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