You're going to re-Greta that

Greta (2018)

Directed by Neil Jordan this film stars Isabelle Huppert, Chloe Grace Moretz and Maika Monroe. After finding a bag on the subway a young woman befriends a lonely older woman who turns out to be a stalker.

As a stalker film this is a fairly standard one with nothing much new to it. At times the plot does lurch forward rather suddenly when it could have done with a bit more of a slow build in my opinion. What this film does have going for it are the two stars who are well worth watching in anything.

3/5

What I want is a better script

What Men Want (2019)

Directed by Adam Shankman this remake stars Taraji P. Henson, Aldis Hodge and Tracy Morgan. A woman working as a sports agent feels she is closed out by the men at her employer.

There is a lot to be said for looking at the difference between men and women from the point of view of a woman but this film never even gets close to doing that in any serious way. As a romantic comedy this is a very familiar effort that hits all the expected beats. In the end I can not help but feel this was a missed opportunity to add a bit of heart to an otherwise cynical genre.

2/5

All down hill

The Rolling Bed (1907)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this is an early short film. A man is kicked out of his lodgings with only his bed on wheels, which soon rolls into danger with him in it.

Simple physical comedy here that is not as chaotic as some similar films of the period. Decent enough as a short comedy but not one that stands out. There are a couple of funny moments but this is not an action stuffed film.

3/5

A right royal let down

The Kid Who Would Be King (2019)

Directed by Joe Cornish this film stars Louis Ashbourne Serkis, Dean Chuamoo, Tom Taylor, Rhianna Doris and Angus Imrie. In modern day Britain a 12 year old boy pulls Excalibur from a stone.

I have been impressed with Joe Cornish's work so far but this film for children fell fairly flat for me. More like a CBBC television series than a full on film this was just a little too simplistic. Angus Imrie pretty much steals the entire film and is the one promising talent here.

2/5

All fun, no thought

Mary Poppins Returns (2018)

Directed by Rob Marshall this sequel stars Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranada, Ben Wishaw and Emily Mortimer. Twenty-five years after the events of the first film Mary Poppins returns to help the second generation of Banks children save the family home.

I must have seen the original film at some point but it has long slipped from memory, still this sequel was easy enough to follow despite coming over 50 years later. The plot does not have a lot to it when you actually look at it and comes from a questionable era when the working class just exist to support the fantasy of the upper middle class. I do like the way the film fits in with the visual style of it's predecessor but beyond the visuals there is not a huge amount to this film.

3/5

Not a saga

X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019)

Written & directed by Simon Kinberg this film stars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult and Sophie Turner. After a rescue mission to space Jean Grey is imbued with the power of the phoenix force.

Retreading ground we have already seen on the big screen this is a pretty middle of the road adaptation of the Dark Phoenix Saga. Lacking character and a real focus on what makes the X-Men unique, minority rights issues, this is not as bad as some would have you believe but still fairly forgettable. About the biggest surprise here was seeing Jessica Chastain appear as the token bad guy.

3/5

Back to the building blocks

The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019)

Directed by Mike Mitchell this film has voices from Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett and Tiffany Haddish. Five years after the events of the first film everything is not awesome as the lego people must learn to play with aliens from a sister galaxy.

Fitting in well with the tone of it's predecessor this film has a decent heart to it but some how just falls short of the original Lego film. There is a lot to enjoy but maybe a little less surprise factor to carry things through. While I enjoyed this film I am not sure how memorable it is.

3/5

Not queen of accuracy

Mary Queen of Scots (2018)

Directed by Josie Rourke this film based on real events stars Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie. During the reign of Elizabeth I both England and Scotland face succession crisis surrounding the Scottish queen Mary.

Taking a fascinating historical period this is a pretty interesting film but gets a little caught up at times in imposing modern views on sex on the story. Despite historical inaccuracies this is still a good look at two women trying to hold onto power in an era completely dominated by men. Worth watching but be prepared to take elements with a pinch of salt.

3/5

The end of the beginning?

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo this film stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth and Scarlett Johansson. After Thanos wins our heroes must find a way to come together and fix things.

What this film does well is not lose the focus on characters despite all the large events and action sequences. It would have been really easy to lose the human connections here but this manages to be a surprisingly emotional film despite the cast of thousands. Pulling together a fitting end to the MCU, or at least this chapter of the MCU, this is a great send off for all that Marvel Studios has built so far.

4/5

The pied piano

The Irresistible Piano (1907)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this is an early short film. People find themselves compelled to dance when they hear a piano play.

Not a huge amount to this short but a bunch of people dancing. Essentially this is just one joke spread over four minutes and not terribly funny. Nothing bad about this film but little to make it stand out.

3/5

Yellow bug

Bumblebee (2018)

Directed by Travis Knight this prequel stars Hailee Steinfeld, John Cena, Jorge Lendeborg Jr. and the voice of Dylan O'Brien. Bumblebee is sent to Earth to protect it before the Autobots arrive and is adopted by an 18 year old girl.

Prequels always have the problem of a lack of stakes as you know Bumblebee has to survive. At times the plot is a little on the thin side, going over a lot of the same ground as other Transformer films. As a stand alone this is not too bad but there is not a lot to recommend it on in my opinion.

2/5

Own goal

The Keeper (2018)

Directed by Marcus H. Rosenmuller this film based on real events stars David Kross, John Henshaw and Freya Mavor. A German POW in WW2 starts to play for a local team in England as a goal keeper.

Unfortunately the interesting story of Bert Trautmann has the finger prints of screen writing cliches all over it in this film. Too many scenes are too obviously constructed leaving parts of the real story behind. I would love to see a good film on this subject but this one falls well short.

2/5

Links

The Race for the Sausage (1907)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this is an early short film. After a dog steals sausages from a butchers havoc ensues.

This is a classic slapstick comedy filled with chaos. There is plenty to laugh at here with set up after set up. A definitive example of an early comedy.

4/5

Not much to say

Charlie Says (2018)

Directed by Mary Harron this film based on real events stars Matt Smith, Hannah Murray, Sosie Bacon. Marianne Rendon and Merritt Wever. A graduate student tries to connect with three women convicted as part of the Manson family murders.

No doubt this film takes a different look at the subject matter but unfortunately quickly falls back into familiar detail of the crimes. I would like to have seen a lot more of the attempts to de-program the girls rather than their crimes. Not badly made but a squandered chance to be something different.

3/5

Children and cabbages

Midwife to the Upper Class (1902)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this film stars Germaine Serand and Yvonne Serand. A wealthy couple are assisted in picking out their new baby from the cabbage patch.

The star of this film is the sets and costumes, giving us a wonderful world to look upon. When it comes to the plot there is not much to it, especially for the four minute run time. A fun little watch but more to look at than to think about.

3/5

Love all at the end

Borg vs McEnroe (2017)

Directed by Janux Metz Pedersen this film based on real events stars Sverrir Gudnason, Shia LaBeouf, Stellan Skarsgard and Tuva Novotny. After winning four straight championships in a row at Wimbledon the Swedish player Bjorn Borg faces a new challenge in John McEnroe.

Looking more at Borg than McEnroe this film is some what refreshing in the way it shows nerves and doubt in a top level sports person. The plot is a little predictable but I enjoyed the more human characters. Well made but I would have liked the script to be a little more even handed.

4/5

Cravings in command

Madame's Cravings (1907)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this is a short comedy film. A pregnant woman is unable to control her cravings.

Simple in concept and execution this is short film will raise the odd chuckle or two. Not exactly high concept but there is enough here to make this film funny. Nothing much stands out about the direction, we are still just using static shots.

3/5

Shattered

Glass (2019)

Written & directed by M. Night Shyamalan this film stars James McAvoy, Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson and Sarah Paulson. Three people that believe they are super heroes are put in the same psychiatric hospital.

Bringing to conclusion the director's trilogy of superhero films this film is steeped in the world of comic books but has little of interest to say about them. There is a message to the ending of the film but honestly the ending is a bit of a dramatic dud. Once again there are some eyebrow raising moments about the way mental health is used in this film.

2/5

Measure for Measure Pakistan style

Rahm (2016)

Directed by Ahmed Jamal this film based on “Measure for Measure” stars Sanam Saeed, Rohail Peerzada and Sajid Hasan. The governor of Lahore pretends to go on holiday and leaves a strict disciplinarian in charge.

Measure for Measure is not a Shakespeare play I am familiar with but I know enough of this playwrights work to quickly twig where this adaptation was going. Sticking fairly well to the source material this film does a good job of moving the plot to modern day Pakistan. Maybe not ground breaking but a decent adaptation none the less.

3/5

Magic charity

The Magician's Alms (1905)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this is an early short film. A magician uses magic to help a homeless man.

A very simple story which wraps up into a nice little moral. The special effects are not ground breaking but well done. All in all this is a decent short.

3/5

Not exactly cryptic

Crypto (2019)

Directed by John Stalberg Jr. this film stars Beau Knapp, Alexis Bledel, Jeremie Harris and Kurt Russell. An anti fraud investigator at a large bank is sent to his small home town branch as punishment.

Explaining crypto currency on the big screen is never going to be easy and this financial thriller falls well short. The plot is fairly predictable while offering no real insight into the future of banking. Some of the dialogue, especially from the protagonist, was actually fairly hard to hear which does not say much for the sound mix.

2/5

Doggos

Miss Dundee and Her Performing Dogs (1902)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this is an early short film. We see a popular act involving a woman and her trained dogs.

Pretty simple in terms of concept this is a few set pieces cut together. Entertaining but not with much depth this is an easy watch. Fairly typical of similar films of the period.

3/5

Don't mention the syndrome

Bel Canto (2018)

Directed by Paul Weitz this film based on the novel of the same name stars Julianne Moore, Ken Watanabe, Sebastian Koch and Christopher Lambert. In the late 1990s dignitaries from various countries are held hostage in South America.

I found this to be somewhat of a disappointment, a film dripping with Stockholm syndrome that never tackles the subject matter. For all the on screen talent I really expected something more from the script. The direction and acting are fine but can not carry a bland script.

2/5

Playing dumbo with history

Trumbo (2015)

Directed by Jay Roach this film based on real events stars Bryan Cranston, Diane Lane, Hellen Mirren and Louis C. K. Following WW2 a communist writer in Hollywood finds himself on the blacklist.

It seems that the makers of this film did not let a little thing like historical accuracy get the way of the story which is a real shame. As always Hollywood is more interested in being self congratulatory rather than focusing on the darker sides of it's own history. There are some fun parts to this film but in the face of real events it is hard to praise this one.

2/5

A man troubled

Searching for Ingmar Bergman (2018)

Directed by Margarethe von Trotta this documentary features the director as presenter. We see a number of people interviewed about famed Swedish director Ingmar Bergman.

Bergman's films are famous for their look into the human condition and this documentary does a pretty good job of looking at the condition of the human behind so many praised films. Giving shades of a warts and all approach this is a pretty good documentary that does not completely give itself over to hero worship. There is a good balanced tone to the film but probably only one for cinephiles to watch.

3/5

Known by many names

Dirty Cops (2018)

Directed by Cedric Anger this film stars Guillaume Canet, Gilles Lellouche and Camille Razat. In the 1980s two French detectives go undercover in the French porn industry.

Nothing much stands out as surprising here, our protagonists end up finding the people involved in the porn industry are not that bad after all. Maybe a little less voyeurism and a bit more looking at the darker side of the industry would have helped balance out this film. Not a bad watch but not one worth seeking out either really.

3/5

A sticky situation

The Glue (1907)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this is an early short film. A boy causes mayhem all over town by spreading glue in unexpected places.

Simple in concept and execution this is a decent little comedy shot. The gags are obvious but still raise a chuckle. There is not a ton to the film making, a solid effort, not much more.

3/5

Below expectations

Above the Shadows (2019)

Written & directed by Claudia Myers this film stars Olivia Thirlby, Alan Richson and Megan Fox. After years of living in the world with no one able to see her a young woman is surprised when one man can see her.

Within the premise of this film is a really great set up for a story but I do not think this script nails it. The plot never really hits on what could have been the core themes of isolation in the modern world. In the end we have a fairly predictable plot that has little memorable about it.

2/5

A turd for a turd

The Poison Rose (2019)

Directed by George Gallo & Francesco Cinquemani this film also known as “Eye for an eye” stars John Travolta, Morgan Freeman and Famke Janssen. In the 1970s an LA private eye returns home to Texas to look for a missing person but gets caught up in his past.

If this was a parody or satire of a neo-noir it might work better but as is this movie is flat out terrible. The script does far too much telling instead of showing, is highly predictable and with badly thought out character actions. How this film got so much on screen talent involved with it I shall never know.

1/5

A lot better than expected

Dumbo (2019)

Directed by Tim Burton this film stars Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito and Eva Green. In 1919 two children discover that a baby elephant can fly.

I was actually really surprised to find that Tim Burton directed this film, there is an emotional and touching core to this film I just would not expect from Burton. This film has a real heart to it, way more so than any of Disney's live action adaptations so far. There are some nice visuals and Burton's usual mastery of design.

4/5

Anatomy of an early lip sync

Polin Performs “The Anatomy of a Draftee” (1905)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this is an early short film staring Polin. A man lip syncs to a song.

There is a nice back drop to this song and a decent level of energy from the performance. Otherwise there is not a huge amount to say about this one other than it is a competent early use of lip syncing. The whole shot is just a single static shot.

3/5

Government sponsored witches

I Am Not a Witch (2017)

Written & directed by Rungano Nyoni this film stars Maggie Mulubwa and Dyna Mufuni. An orphaned girl in Zambia is accused of being a witch.

This is a completely bizarre film but seemingly based in realistic treatment of supposed witches in some countries in Africa. At times the treatment of witches seems like a metaphor for the treatment of women in a patriarchal society. The clash of modern and ancient leaves you scratching your head.

4/5

I'd seen the sequel first

Tanu Weds Manu (2011)

Directed by Aanand L. Rai this film stars R. Madhavan, Kangana Ranaut and Jimmy Sheirgill. An Indian doctor that has been living in London returns to Delhi and falls in love with a feisty young woman that has no interest in marrying him.

For anyone that has seen at least a few Indian films there are a ton of familiar elements to the plot of this film. The plot works well enough but is nothing special really, this is not the best clash between traditional Indian values and modern views on love that you will find. Enjoyable enough but not worth seeking out.

3/5

Just standing and syncing

Felix Mayol Performs “White Lilacs” (1905)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this is an early short film staring Felix Mayol. Felix Mayol lip syncs to a recorded performance.

Another simple lip sync film from Alice Guy-Blache. The film consists of a single, unmoving shot and a star that does not move around the screen much. There is not a lot going on on the screen but this is still a decent example of lip syncing from an early period.

3/5

No heart, metal or otheriwse

Metal Heart (2018)

Directed by Hugh O'Conor this film stars Jordanne Jones, Leah McNamara, Aaron Heffernan and Sean Doyle. Two eighteen year old fraternal twin sisters are left alone for the summer by their parents.

Coming of age drama with nothing to bring to the party. The plot is obvious and pretty mind numbing in places. Unfortunately this is not the best Irish cinema has to offer.

2/5

Wrong focus

3 Generations (2015)

Directed by Gaby Dellal this film stars Elle Fanning, Naomi Watts and Susan Sarandon. After the 16 year old of the family comes out as a transman the older generations struggle to deal with change.

There is a line in the film where the protagonist says “stop making my problems your problems” which kind of sums up the film, I would much rather have seen more about the protagonist and less about the family. I suppose this is not a bad watch but it totally missed the more relevant parts in my opinion. A talented cast but a better script is needed.

3/5

Lost love

Kapurush (1965)

Written & directed by Satyajit Ray this film based on “Janaiko Kapuruser Kahini” stars Soumitra Chatterjee, Madhabi Mukherjee and Haradhan Bandopadhyay. A writer stranded on his journey finds the man he is invited to stay with is married to his long lost love.

Short and simple this film still manages to pack a good punch into simple proceedings. The plot is a classic tale of love and regret that does not over do the sentimentality. I really liked the ending which could be straight out of The Third Man (1949).

4/5

Dance, dance no revolution

Saharet Performs the Bolero (1905)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this is an early short film. We see several people perform a dance.

With some nice costumes and set dressing this is a pretty well staged dance piece with colour tinting that really brings the images alive. In terms of being ground breaking cinema there might not be a huge amount going on but this is still a decent watch. As with many of Guy-Blache's films of the period this is just a single, unmoving shot.

3/5

Not quite Marvellous

Captain Marvel (2019)

Directed by Anna Boden & Ryan Gleck this film stars Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn and Jude Law. Struggling with memories she can not reconcile a Kree warrior becomes stranded on Earth and tries to stop a Skrull infiltration.

Adding another solid entry to the MCU this is a good comic book adaptation that contains a lot of elements that should be familiar to comic book fans. The character journey for our protagonist is decent but maybe not the best Marvel has done. I would not say this is the best superhero movie by any stretch of the imagination but it is worth a watch.

3/5

Happy again?

Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi (2018)

Written & directed by Mudassar Aziz this sequel stars Sonakshi Sinha, Jimmy Sheirgill, Jassi Gill and Piyush Mishra. An Indian professor of horticulture travels to China where is is mistaken for another woman of the same name and kidnapped.

This sequel takes the unusual choice of bringing in new main characters and focusing on supporting characters from the original film. There are plenty of crazy events to keep you entertained but not a lot of depth. It also seems the film has a few lines that are not exactly politically correct.

3/5

A simple dance

The Malaguena and the Bullfighter (1905)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this is an early short film. We see a woman and a bullfighter dance in front of a building.

There is some nice hand painted colour tinting on this film but otherwise there is not a lot to remark on. This is just a single static shot of two people dancing. The costumes and backdrop are nice but the dance is nothing special.

3/5

Kidding

The Kid (2019)

Directed by Vincent D'Onofrio this film stars Ethan Hawke, Dane DeHaan, Jake Schur and Chris Pratt. After shooting his father for beating his mother to death a boy and his sister go on the run, meeting Billy the Kid.

Co-opting the story of Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett as the back drop for a coming of age story this is a pretty average western. There is nothing really wrong with this film but it trots out too many familiar elements to be that interesting. Too few westerns get made these days but this film will do nothing to bring back the genre.

3/5

Doesn't melt your heart

Ashes in the Snow (2018)

Directed by Marius A. Markevicius this film based on the novel “Between Shades of Gray” stars Bel Powley, Jonah Hauer-King and Lisa Loven Kongsil. In 1941 a teenage girl and her family are sent to a Siberian gulag.

Hitting all the beats you would expect from this grim coming of age story this film some how never connects emotionally. Maybe a little on the short side I am not sure this film adds much new. Decently made and with some nice scenery but a bit forgettable.

3/5

Eastwood is really old now

The Mule (2018)

Directed by star Clint Eastwood this film inspired by real events also features Bradley Cooper, Michael Pena, Laurence Fishburne and Dianne Wiest. An old man seeking to make extra money becomes a drugs mule for a Mexican cartel.

As with any Clint Eastwood film there is a level of polish to the execution of this film but it lacks some depth. The plot is not exactly true to the real events but is still something of an interesting story. In the end this is a fairly middle of the road effort.

3/5

Qui-gon Jinn's dating advise

The Hierarchies of Love (1906)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this is an early short film. A pretty maid walking in the park is escorted by a a series of military men of increasing rank.

Essentially “there is always a bigger fish” getting played out in a French park. What we have here is a series of static shots linked together. The plot is easy enough to follow and the joke simple to understand.

3/5

It is art damn it

Nude (2018)

Directed by Ravi Jadhav this film stars Kalyanee Mulay, Chhaya Kadam and Madan Deodhar. After leaving her abusive husband a woman moves to Mumbai and gets a job as a nude model to pay for her son's education.

Taking a look at society's view on nudity and the relationship of nudity to art this is a pretty thought provoking film. The plot is well constructed and never becomes exploitative or obsessed with showing off the female form. Some of the slow shots of the art sequences have an impressive tactile feel to them.

4/5

Truth above all

Satyakam (1969)

Directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee this film based on the novel of the same name stars Dharmendra, Sharmila Tagore and Sanjeev Kumar. Against the backdrop of Indian independence a man who values truth above all struggles to find his place in society.

A little on the long side this is still a fascinating look at Indian disappointment at the failure to deliver on the promises of independence. There are times when the film shows it's age and lower budget but the plot holds up well. With good performances this film really leaves you with something to think about.

4/5

Static singer

Dranem Performs “Five O'Clock Tea” (1905)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this film stars Charles Armand Menard dit Dranem. A man on stage sings a song.

Another early lip sync video that does not have a huge amount to the performance. The actor does not move around much, neither does the camera. Certainly some skill in getting the lip syncing right.

3/5

Yet more Shane

Galveston (2018)

Directed by Melanie Laurent this film based on the novel of the same name stars Ben Foster and Elle Fanning. A hit man discovers he has lung cancer then runs off with an escort when set to be murdered up by his boss.

Another entry for my everything is Shane (1953) theory but this story provides a nice little turn on the ending. This may not be as action packed or as fast paced as everyone would like but I really enjoyed this film. Well worth a watch and no surprise the original novel was written by Nic Pizzolatto.

3/5

All the change at once

Venus (2017)

Written & directed by Eisha Marjara this film stars Debargo Sanyal, Jamie Mayers, Zena Darawalla and Pierre-Yves Cardinal. A Canadian transwoman of Indian decent is just starting to come out of the closet as she finds out she has a son she never knew about.

Coming with an interesting premise this film unfortunately only ever scratches the surface of it's subject matter. I would have liked something a bit deeper and hard hitting than the light comedy toe the film has. There are some good performances but the script lacks the weight to have the performances be really great.

3/5

A fantastic triangle

Manmarziyaan (2018)

Directed by Anurag Kashyap this film stars Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal and Abhishek Bachchan. A young woman becomes frustrated with her secret boyfriends unwillingness to propose so agrees to an arranged marriage.

It is rare that a film makes a love triangle work but this film does it excellently, really making you care for the characters and some how gives everyone a decent ending without taking an easy way out. I really enjoyed this film and it would be easy for all the things it does so well to go unnoticed as it avoids the multitude of pitfalls similar films fall into. There are some really good performances from the cast and decent musical interludes.

4/5

Not exactly the Keystone

The O'Mers in “The Bircklayer”

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this is a short comedy film. Bricklayers are interrupted by the police and chaos ensues.

Essentially this is a simple slapstick comedy with not much to the plot. There are plenty of physical comedy gags littered through out the film. The film is composed of just a single static shot but is still a fun watch.

3/5

Scrambled

303 Squadron (2018)

Directed by Wieslaw Saniewski and Denis Delic this film based on real events stars Maciej Zakoscielny, Piotr Adamczyk and Krzysztof Kwiatkowski. During the Battle of Britain fighter pilots from Poland join the RAF.

Unfortunately this is not the film that the Polish pilots depicted deserve. The script is flimsy at best, with some parts that make no sense and I doubt is very accurate. When it comes to the action sequences clearly this film was made on a low budget and you can even spot the bits that are cut from Battle of Britain (1969).

1/5

Needs a pair of scissors

Nachom-ia Kumpasar (2014)

Directed by Bardroy Barretto this film inspired by real events stars Vijay Maurya and Palomi Ghosh. In 1960s Goa a young woman joins a jazz band and falls in love with the trumpet player.

You could easily cut 30 minutes to an hour out of this film without losing much, the plot heavily focuses on the love story that is not that original. I would really like to have seen more of how the Goan musical culture interacted with Indian cinema rather than the central story. For all the plaudits this film seems to have I found it to be a rather weak effort.

2/5

Syncing 1905 style

Felix Mayol Performs “The Trottins' Polka” (1905)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this film stars Felix Mayol. A man lip syncs to a performance of a song.

Very simple in terms of content, this is just another film of a stage act. Just a single shot but getting the lip syncing right is never easy. Decently made but not overly remarkable.

3/5

A familiar problem

The Cleaning Lady (2018)

Directed by Jon Knautz this film stars Alexis Kendra, Rachel Alig and Stelio Savante. A woman having an affair with a married man tries to distract herself by befriending her cleaning lady who is disfigured by facial burns.

Familiar horror genre stuff here that goes down the disappointing route of once again using someone who looks different to be bad. This film was based on a short film by the director and it does not completely stretch out to fill a feature length that well. I would not really recommend this one.

2/5

Not what was promised

Anna and the Apocalypse (2017)

Directed by John McPhail this film stars Ella Hunt, Malcolm Cumming Marli Siu and Sarah Swire. In small Scottish town teenagers in their final year of school find out the zombie apocalypse is here.

Billed as Shaun of the Dead inspired this is more High School musical and frankly a disappointment. Both the plot and the musical numbers are very bland, there is really nothing too original here. At times it feels like the musical numbers are just included to pad out the film and make up for the lack of plot.

2/5

Left me standoffish

The Standoff at Sparrow Creek (2018)

Written & directed by Henry Dunham this film stars James Badge Dale, Brian Geraghty and Patrick Fischler. Texans in a militia believe one of their number is responsible for a mass murder at a police funeral and try to find the culprit.

There is clearly skill in the dialogue and the tense set up of this film but I am really not sure what the plot is ultimately trying to say. In the end I felt a little bit uncomfortable that the same type of yahoos that are depicted in this film might find the plot supporting their anti police sentiment. I will be interested to see what Dunham makes next but this film is not without a major misstep in my opinion.

2/5

Another dance

The Tango (1905)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this is an early short film. A woman dances a tango on stage.

There is not much to this short but it does have colour tinting to it which is nice. It is hard to find much to say about a single shot of a woman dancing on the stage but for what it is this is a decent film. Not really much to write home about otherwise.

2/5

Independence vs tradition

Veere Di Wedding (2018)

Directed by Shashanka Ghosh this film stars Kareena Kapoor Khan, Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania. Ten years after high school four friends reunited for a wedding.

Covering the familiar subject of traditional Indian values butting up against modern women's desires for an independent life there is not a lot new to the set up. There are some elements where the film pushes boundaries in talking about female sexuality but the plot still hits the same romantic comedy notes. Decently made but probably not one worth seeking out.

3/5

Yesterday's tomorrow

The House of Tomorrow (2017)

Directed by Peter Livolsi this film based on the novel of the same name stars Asa Butterfield, Alex Wolff, Nick Offerman and Ellen Burstyn. A teenager living an isolated life with his grandmother, who is obsessed with Buckminster Fuller, makes a new friend.

Covering familiar coming of age ground this is a solid entry into the genre. There is not a ton of original stuff here but some decent performances from the young cast carry the film. Punk music and futurism might be odd bedfellows but end up going together well.

3/5

Not that jiu-jitsu

Dranem Performs The True Jiu-Jitsu (1905)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this film stars Charles Armand Menard dit Dranem. A man sings a song on stage.

Not the display of martial arts you may have been looking for, instead this is a guy lip syncing to a song. The early use of lip syncing is impressive, the racial stereotype portrayed is not. Might be worth skipping this one.

2/5

Surrounded but alone

Trapped (2016)

Directed by Vikramaditya Motwane this film stars Rajkummar Rao. A call centre worker gets a new flat in an uninhabited apartment block but becomes trapped inside.

Minimalist in content this film does a good job at stretching out the premise of a man trapped in a flat to fill the full length of a film. The plot is entertaining and highlights urban isolation well. Who know the best survival story of modern times would be like this?

4/5

Room for improvement

Jellyfish (2018)

Directed by James Gardner this film stars Liv Hill, Sinead Matthews and Cyril Nri. A fifteen year old girl living in Margate has to look after her family due to her mother's depression.

There are a lot of elements to this film that are familiar but it is a decently constructed story. Some of the writing and performances could have been improved on a little but over all this is decent for a low budget film. With a little work this could have been a really good film.

3/5

Surviving

Boy Erased (2018)

Directed by Joel Edgerton this film based on real events stars Lucas Hedges, Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe. A teenage boy is given the choice of undergoing “gay conversion therapy” or being disowned by his religious parents.

About as heart breaking as you would expect the plot of this film follows the protagonist through some serious emotional abuse. The film does not fully get into the physical abuse some of these terrible institutions get into but it shows more than enough on screen to turn your stomach. What is surprising is the film manages to end on a positive note, showing change in the father that is fairly unexpected.

4/5

Big waves

Ocean Studies (1906)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this is an early short film. We see several shots of the ocean on a turbulent day.

Pretty simple in terms of content this is not much different from many modern holiday videos. We see a collection of static shots of the ocean against rocks. Not much to get from this one really.

2/5

Unsure if it is a sequel, a reboot or what

Halloween (2018)

Directed by David Gordon Green this latest entry in the horror franchise stars Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, Andi Matichak and James Jude Courtney. Forty years after being arrested Michael Myers breaks out of prison and goes after the survivor of his first spree.

I am not sure this film adds anything to the franchise or the genre and is some what confusing in terms of how it fits into continuity. To be honest this was a bit of a boring slasher limping along on far too familiar elements. This was a sequel I could have very much lived without.

2/5

Jamaica on Jamaica

Black Mother (2018)

Directed by Khalik Allah this is a documentary film. We see the people of Jamaica and hear about their lives in their own words.

Very much providing an artistic portrait of the people of the island rather than being a more straight laced documentary this might not be for everyone. I do like the way the film captures the intimate lives of it's subjects. A little slow in places this is an interesting film if you can get through it.

4/5

Loud but nothing to be proud of

Cook & Rilly's Trained Rooster (1905)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this short film stars a rooster. We see and hear a rooster crowing, an early example of sound in cinema.

As a technical advance this film is no doubt note worthy but otherwise there is really not much to it. The “star” does not provide much in the way of entertainment. If this was a stage show you would probably ask for your money back.

2/5

A true horror film for anyone with a fear of heights

Free Solo (2018)

Directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin this is an academy award winning documentary. We follow Alex Honnold in his attempt to climb El Capitan without ropes.

Scary through out this film contains some mind bending climbing shots that put you on the side of the cliff like no other film. The subject is a climber that always remains somewhat distant from the viewer, I am not sure we ever truly get inside his head. Fascinating to watch and really well made this well worth a watch.

4/5

Battle stations

The Enemy Below (1957)

Directed by Dick Powell this film stars Robert Mitchum and Curt Jurgens. Durring WW2 an American destroyer in the south Atlantic comes into contact with a German submarine.

Essentially this is a pretty simple plot with little character development that just focuses on the military action. The plot handles the military side well but could have done with another layer to the script. At the time the film was nominated for an Academy award for special effects but to modern eyes they are not great.

3/5

Catching Forest

The Old Man & the Gun (2018)

Directed by David Lowery this film based on real events stars Robert Redford, Casey Affleck, Danny Glover and Sissy Spacek. In the 1980s a man in his 70s and his buddies rob banks.

Taking part in the age old American custom of romanticising criminals this is a fairly gentle effort. Nothing really challenges the viewer but this is an enjoyable watch even if it is a bit lightweight. Somehow I doubt the film makers let facts get in the way of a good story.

3/5

The first lip sync battle

Felix Mayol Performs “Indiscreet Questions” (1906)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this early film stars Felix Mayol. A short clip of Felix Mayol lip syncing to a song.

Impressive in both early use of colour and lip syncing but otherwise not a huge amount to comment on. Certainly worth checking out for being a milestone in film making but the song is nothing special. One for the film historians.

3/5

Buddies having fun

Changeland (2019)

Written & directed by star Seth Green this film also features Breckin Meyer, Brenda Song, Clare Grant and Macaulay Culkin. After finding out his wife his cheating on him a man disappears to Thailand with his best friend.

Pretty clearly a low budget film made by Seth Green and his buddies but there is plenty to enjoy here. Nothing ground breaking is on show but this film does manage to avoid the wanky cliches of people changing through eastern exoticism. At it's heart this film has a human story and a few laughs.

3/5

Frankly not good enough

Being Frank (2018)

Directed by Miranda Bailey this film stars Logan Miller, Isabelle Phillips, Jim Gaffigan and Anna Gunn. In the early 1990s an 18 year old boy finds out that his father has a second family.

There is a really great coming of age drama in the premise of this film but unfortunately I think leaning towards comedy means the film never truly hits the punches it should. Something on the surface level of this film just never sits right with the tone the film makers went with. Really this film needed another crack at the script, with possibly a different take on the subject.

2/5

A barrel of laughs

A Story Well Spun (1906)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this is an early short film. A man in a barrel gets pushed down a hill causing all sorts of havoc.

A fun collection of little scenes this is a decent comedy. Nothing is going to set the world on fire here but there is plenty to enjoy. Well made but ultimately just a series of static shots edited together.

3/5

Transfer to watching something else if you can

Transference (2019)

Wirtten & directed by star Mark Polish this film also known as “Against the Clock” features Dianna Agron and Andy Garcia. In the future a CIA spy falls into a coma with important intelligence trapped in his mind.

Oh boy, I really struggled to see this one all the way through. The plot makes no sense and the characters are completely disinteresting. There must be something to recommend this film on but I could not find whatever it was.

1/5

Most is speculation

All is True (2018)

Directed by star Kenneth Branagh this film also features Judi Dench, Ian McKellen, Lydia Wilson and Kathyrn Wilder. Following the loss of his theatre to fire Shakespeare goes into retirement.

I suspect that there is more fanciful than a direct historical piece. Fun at times the plot seems intent on making the life of Shakespeare reflect that of the subject of his last play, Henry VIII. This is not a film I think that will stick with me but a decent diversion.

3/5

When you have to shit into a bag

White Boy Rick (2018)

Directed by Yann Demange this film based on a true story stars Richie Merritt, Matthew McConaughy, Bel Powley and Jennifer Jason Leigh. During the 1980s in Detroit a teenage boy works as an informant for the FBI.

Clearly taking some liberties with actual events this is still a decent watch if not that different from similar films on the same topic. There is plenty to entertain if not make you think deeply about this film. Solid performances from the cast but again nothing that special.

3/5

An arm and a leg

Turn of the century surgery (1900)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this is an early short film. We see a man undergo amputation then be given new limbs.

Not the most subtle use of early camera tricks this is a fairly simple gag film. There is some humour to the piece but it is not one of those early films that stands the test of time. I think the concept might have exceeded the ability of the period.

2/5

I just don't understand

Mortal Engines (2018)

Directed by Christian Rivers this film based on the book of the same name stars Hera Hilmar, Robert Sheehan, Hugo Weaving and Jihae. In the post apocalyptic future cities drive round consuming other cities.

For my taste this film spent far too long ripping off familiar story elements from other franchises and too little time on the characters or explaining the world. In the end I never really understood why people drove around in huge cities after all. Not a bad watch but a pretty bland effort really, even the action sequences have the hallmark of a director/editor that does not know how to hold a shot or show the geography of a sequence.

2/5

An accident from start to finish

Accident (2017)

Written & directed by Dan Tondowski this film stars Stephanie Schildknecht, Roxane Hayward, Tyrone Keogh and Keenan Arrison. Two girls get in a car with two boys they have never met before then have a car crash.

As a set up for a tense movie in a confined space the idea of people trapped in a crash car is pretty decent but the execution here is unfortunately not up to snuff. The plot gets silly fast and the characters are pretty hard to root for. A number of scenes and shots seem to have been set up just to satisfy the male gaze which does not help things either.

1/5

A familiar dance

Serpentine Dance by Lina Esbrard (1902)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this film stars Line Esbrard. We see the star do a portion of the famous serpentine dance.

Similar to other films by this director as well as other directors there is nothing really special about this one. It is a single, static shot of a fairly decent dance. Nothing to write home about, a pretty standard piece for the period.

3/5

Cheese is a fetish

Motherhood (2018)

Directed by Marianna Palka this film also known as “Egg” stars Christina Hendricks, Alysia Reiner, Gbenga Akinnagbe and David Alan Basche. A couple close to giving birth visit friends and find out they are having a child by surrogate.

Pretty clearly adapted from a play this is a fairly interesting film about the concept of motherhood in the modern world. The plot might not have anything hugely revolutionary to say but it is fairly funny in places. Some of the dialogue could have done with a little tweaking but otherwise I really enjoyed this film.

3/5

Not a better place

Mediterranea (2015)

Directed by Jonas Carpignano this film stars Koudous Seihon and Alassane Sy. Two men travel from Africa to Italy in the hopes of making money to support their families back home.

Thought provoking and well made this film really puts you in the shoes of those seeking a better life in Europe. Far too often we see migrants and refugees as just others but this film really helps show their struggle. Well made and well acted, certainly worth a watch.

4/5

Fails to be touching

Where Hands Touch (2018)

Written & directed by Amma Asante this film stars Amandla Stenberg, George MacKay, Abbie Cornish and Christopher Eccleston. A biracial girl living in Nazi Germany falls in love with a white boy who wants to go fight at the front.

To get the good out of the way it is important to see a light shined on some of the lesser known parts of the Nazi oppression in WW2. Unfortunately the plot of this film leaves a lot to be desired with the second half in particular feeling highly contrived. With a better script this could have been an important film.

2/5

A dance of two ladies

At the Floral Ball (1900)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this film stars Miss Lally and Miss Julyett. Two women on stage dance together.

Hand coloured tinting makes any early film charming and this short is no exception. There is not a huge amount to the plot but it is fairly entertaining. Worth a watch but not overly memorable.

3/5

Could have been longer?

Widows (2018)

Directed by Steve McQueen this film based on the television show of the same name stars Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki and Colin Farrell. Following the death of their husbands in an armed robbery three women decide to pull off a robbery to pay their debts.

There is a lot to enjoy here but at times there were characters I wish the film had gone into more depth on, especially Carrie Coon's. The plot has a decent amount of tension and works as a genre film but I think would have been better as a mini series or full television series. Ably directed as you would expect of anything from Steve McQueen.

3/5

The other Simon Fellows

Steel Country (2018)

Directed by Simon Fellows this film also known as “A Dark Place” stars Andrew Scott, Bronagh Waugh and Denise Gough. An autistic trash man investigates the disappearance of a six year old boy who always waved to him while he was working.

There is something that is definitely touching about this film but there are a few elements that are a little tough to get a handle on. Andrew Scott gives a good performance but there are times where you wonder why some of the other characters do not get involved more. At times a little unbelievable but a fairly good watch.

3/5

A quick run through

Faust and Mephistopheles (1903)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this is an early short film. A man makes a deal with the devil, we all know how that goes.

This is one of those early short films that tries to cram so much plot into two minutes if you are not already familiar with the story you will get lost fast. There are some really nice settings and costumes as well as decent effects. Visually pretty nice but a little difficult to follow the narative.

3/5

Not much that is new

Lords of Anarchy (2017)

Directed by Bruce Thierry Cheung this film also known as “Don't Come Back from the Moon” stars Jeffrey Wahlberg, Rashida Jones and James Franco. A sixteen year old boy living in a desert town struggles to deal with his father leaving when work dries up.

There is plenty to enjoy about this come of age tale even if none of it is especially new. From the description of the novel that this film is based on it seems there may have been some magic lost in the adaptation to the big screen. Ultimately this is a decent but unremarkable coming of age tale.

3/5

Things come but no change

Things to Come (2016)

Written & directed by Mia Hansen-Love this film stars Isabelle Huppert, Andre Marcon and Roman Kolinka. A middle-aged philosophy professor in France finds her life turned upside down.

This is kind of what you imagine as a slightly art house French film more interested in high ideas than the central character actually changing or having agency. No doubt this film captures something of life but I ended up frustrated by the way the protagonist just floats through events. Not a bad watch but a film that failed to connect with me.

3/5

Luke warm

Hot Summer Nights (2017)

Written & directed by Elijah Bynum this film stars Timothee Chalamet, Maika Monroe and Alex Roe. In 1991 a teenage boy is sent to Cape Cod for the summer by his mother and becomes involved in dealing drugs there.

Not a huge amount stands out about this coming of age drama. Plenty of the plot is familiar and not really uniquely handled. There are decent performances from the cast but again nothing overly impressive.

3/5

Getting attached

A Sticky Woman (1906)

Written & directed by Alice Guy-Blache this is an early short film. A woman takes her maid to the post office to lick stamps for her, much to the interest of one of the male customers.

A little bit silly but well acted and building to a funny climax. I enjoyed how this simple situation is milked to the full comedy potential. Just a single static shot but still a fun watch.

3/5

Terror in opulence

Hotel Mumbai (2018)

Directed by Anthony Maras this film stars Dev Patel, Armie Hammer, Nazanin Boniadi and Jason Isaacs. We the terrorist attack on the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai in 2008 from the point of view of guests trapped in the hotel.

Well made this film does a good job of showing the terror of being caught up in horrible events but relies on fictional characters which I was a bit disappointed by. I would have rather seen a more factual version and some more focus on the reaction from authorities. Worth a watch and well acted but maybe not as touching as it could have been.

3/5

You rip-a des?

The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)

Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos this film stars Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman and Barry Keoghan. A heart surgeon befriends the son of a patient who died on his operating table only for the boy to demand the surgeon kill one of his own family or they will all die.

Loosely inspired by the Greek tragedy “Iphigenia at Aulis” this film certainly has the director's trademark bizarre feel to it and odd characters. Maybe this time the weird behaviour of the characters slightly undercuts the tension of the film. Certainly there is something worth watching here but it is a little oblique at times.

4/5

Dancing in colour

Pierrette's Escapades (1900)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this is an early short film that has been hand coloured. A woman resists one man's courting in favour of another.

Very simple in terms of content but it is nice to see a film from Guy-Blache embracing a narrative. The colours and action make this a charming watch. Very much a quaint early film.

4/5

Not all laughs

All About Nina (2018)

Written & directed by Eva Vives this film stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Common and Kate del Castillo. A comedian who has casual sex rather than date traditionally moves to LA and starts dating a man.

With a great performance from Mary Elizabeth Winstead this film is a little bit too familiar in places to be a great film but certainly has enough to keep you entertained. Definitely raw and frank this might not be something that everyone is comfortable to watch. With a little less predictability this could have been a really great film.

3/5

Maybe we didn't need the self referential time machine

Welcome to Marwen (2018)

Directed by Robert Zemeckis this film based on real events stars Steve Carell, Leslie Mann, Diane Kruger and Merritt Wever. A man suffering with PTSD after almost being beaten to death for wearing women's shoes disappears into his own imagination.

Very on the nose and unsubtle this is still a deeply touching film with a human story that really connects with the viewer. Zemeckis may be heavy handed and probably stray from the truth a bit at times but he knows how to tell an emotional story. Steve Carell gives a really good performance in the lead role.

4/5

Riding through the glen

Robin Hood (1973)

Directed by Wolfgang Reitherman this animated film has voices from Brian Bedford, Monica Evans, Phil Harris and Peter Ustinov. In the animal kingdom Robin Hood and Little John rob from the rich to give to the poor.

Considered a cult classic I found this one a bit bland when finally getting round to watch it. The animation is nothing eye catching for Disney and the script is not filled with humour either. A fairly decent adaptation of the Robin Hood myth but it does get a bit Americanized in places.

3/5

Different but the same

Serpentine Dance by Mme. Bob Walter (1899)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this short film stars Mme. Bob Walter. We see a woman in a flowing dress perform a dance.

Pretty simple in content this single shot film captures a short portion of a stage performance. The dance is entertaining enough but that is all there is to the film really. Similar to a number of films from the period and director.

3/5

Gay man joins band, they become world stars

Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)

Directed by Bryan Singer this film based on real events stars Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy and Joe Mazzello. We follow the life of Freddie Mercury from his joining Queen to their performance at Live Aid.

Essentially this is the cinematic equivalent of a greatest hits album and it gets a bit wanky towards the end. There is stuff to enjoy here but this is not an in depth of very serious look at the history of either Mercury or Queen, events are simplified, moved around or fabricated at times. What is worth watching for is the transformative performance from Rami Malek and the excellent casting of the rest of the band.

3/5

When you wish you were Eisenstein

Furious (2017)

Directed by Dzhanik Fayziev & Ivan Shurkhovetskiy this film based on historical events stars Ilya Malakov, Polina Chernyshova and Aleksei Serebryakov. Following the fall of Ryazan to the Mongols a Russian knight seeks revenge with his small band of warriors.

Over the top and not letting history get in the way of action sequences this is no a realist film and certainly not Aleksander Nevskey (1938), which this film even goes on to reference at the climax. Not really one I would recommend for anyone looking for a good historical film. I suppose this is fine if you just want some mindless entertainment.

2/5

Literally a cake walk

Cake-walk negre (1905)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this is an early short film. Pretty much exactly what it says on the tin.

There is not a huge amount to this film, a single shot of people dancing. The backdrop is fairly nice, as our the costumes but that is about all you can say. Probably not one for the ages.

2/5

Follow the twin called rabbit

Rabbit (2017)

Written & directed by Luke Shanahan this film stars Adelaide Clemens, Alex Russell and Veerle Baetens. A woman has dark dreams about her missing twin and is convinced her visions are real.

To be honest this film is a little confusing and at times seems to use that confusion just for the sake of keeping the audience at arms length. While I enjoyed elements of the weirdness of this film and it certainly creeped me out at times but it also left me frustrated, I am not sure what the plot was driving at. I also found the audio levels to be a little out of balance when comparing dialogue to music.

2/5