Going to the beach and other adventures

The Elephant and the Butterfly (2017)

Directed by Amelie van Elmbt this film stars Thomas Blanchard, Lina Doillon and Judith Chemla. A woman is forced to leave her 5 year old daughter with the girl's estranged father for the weekend.

Taking a very simple plot this is a heart warming tale of a man and child getting to know each other. Never sappy this film gently builds to an emotional climax with great skill. Well made this film is definitely worth a watch.

4/5

A burden on the viewer?

Beast of Burden (2018)

Directed by Jesper Ganslandt this film stars Daniel Radcliffe, Grace Gummer, Pablo Schreiber and Robert Wisdom. A pilot flies drugs into the US with pressure on him from both the drug dealers and law enforcement.

Essentially this is a sexed up but worse version of Locke (2013) with out any concrete. For all the action and criminal stakes we never really connect with the characters which negates using such a limited, closed in setting for most of the film. The majority of the film is a poorly lit cockpit so this is not a great film to look at either but its not the worst 90 minutes you will ever spend either.

3/5

Spoiler alert, she kills him and herself

The Leisure Seeker (2017)

Directed by Paolo Virzi this film based on the novel of the same name stars Donald Sutherland and Helen Mirren. A woman with terminal cancer and her husband with dementia go on one last road trip in their Winnebago.

Predictable but still with some rings of truth in it this is a fairly decent watch that runs to an expected conclusion. Maybe not the most brutal depiction of its subject matter this is still a decent look at old age and mortality. Clearly the main draw here is the acting talent, they do a good job but do not have a huge amount to draw from.

3/5

John Ford on STIs

Sex Hygiene (1942)

Directed by Otto Brower and John Ford this is a world war 2 training film. A bunch of soldiers watch a film about sexually transmitted diseases.

Many years later this film is still enough to put you in fear for your sexual health. Not exactly riveting stuff from a plot point of view this film still does a decent job of getting the information across to the viewer. The images are explicit and a little gross at times so you have been warned.

3/5

Not enough to send you to sleep

Before I Go to Sleep (2014)

Directed by Rowan Joffe this film based on the novel of the same name stars Nicole Kidman, Colin Firth and Mark Stong. A woman with anterograde amnesia is secretly treated by a doctor while unsure if she can trust her husband who cares for her.

No great shakes as a thriller this is a decent but not overly remarkable genre piece. There are a few too many coincidences required for the plot to play out as it does for my taste although the script does hold together for the most part. Nicole Kidman is decent in the lead role, otherwise the film is pretty average.

3/5

Not as big of a sound as some would have you believe

A Quiet Place (2018)

Directed by star John Krasinski this film also features Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe. A family tries to survive in a post apocalyptic world where unstoppable monsters hunt by sound.

Holding the viewers attention as a decent thriller through it's sound based gimmick this is a tense film but I do not think it is a very deep one. The events end up being fairly generic and I have to question the actions of the characters. Certainly well made but I am not sure this film has anything to say.

4/5

From small acorns

The Man Who Planted Trees (1987)

Directed by Frederic Back this animation is based on the short story of the same name. Running out of water a traveller meets a man who plants trees.

As always the animation of Back's style is beautiful to see and it fits well with Giono's gentle story. The story has a real heart to it and covers a large scope of time in it's 20 minutes run time. Enjoyable and leaving the viewer wondering about the deeper meaning this is well worth a watch.

4/5

In the membrane?

Unsane (2018)

Directed by Steve Soderbergh this film stars Claire Foy, Joshua Leonard and Jay Pharoah. A woman finds herself committed to a mental hospital where she claims her stalker is working.

There is nothing special about the plot of this mental health thriller, it covers a lot of elements previously seen and does not do anything revolutionary with the material. The film is shot on an iPhone and while I am sure that was an interesting experiment for the film makers it means that the film will never visually wow the audience. I am not sure that the film benefits in any way from the cheaper look either.

3/5

Motherfucking Burt Reynolds and shit

The Last Movie Star (2017)

Written & directed by Adam Rifkin this film stars Burt Reynolds, Ariel Winter and Clark Duke. An ageing film star travels to a small film festival and considers his impending mortality.

There is a fair amount of charm to this film despite it's simplistic script so you will not get bored. While there may not be any deep revelations here this is still a decent watch. What struck me most about the film was both how old Burt Reynolds is now but also his sense of humour.

3/5

A city, a woman, her thoughts

Stockholm, My Love (2016)

Directed by Mark Cousins this film stars Neneh Cherry. A woman walks the streets of Stockholm sharing her inner monologue with the viewer.

It is hard to pin down the themes of this film because despite it's 90 minute run time it covers so many subjects. Making a film that is essentially just a monologue and not sending the viewer to sleep takes some skill. I really enjoyed this film, it might not be to the taste of everyone but it was a real surprise to me for this film to be such a treat.

5/5

For peats sake

Engineer Prite's Project (1918)

Directed by Lev Kuleshov this film stars N. Gardy, Yelena Komarova and Boris Kuleshov. Big oil is not happy about the prospect of a rival by way of burning peat for energy.

Notable for being the first application of Kuleshov's montage theory which would become a corner stone for early Soviet cinema this film is not overly impressive. The plot is pretty dry and simplistic which does not really get the viewer emotionally involved. Decently made for a piece of the period but only one for film historians in my opinion.

3/5

Lost in the snow

The Frozen North (1922)

Directed by star Buster Keaton and Edward F. Cline this film also features Sybil Seely. Trying to be a tough cowboy in a snowy northern town a man gets into various misunderstandings.

Essentially this is a parody of the works of William S. Hart which most of us have probably not seen so some of context of this film is lost. Out of context this is still a pretty decent comedy although not Keaton's best work. The darker actions of the protagonist are in contrast to the characters Keaton usually plays which does make the film a little odd.

3/5

Breaking my spirit

Breaking Brooklyn (2018)

Directed by Paul Becker this film stars Colin Critchley, Nathan Kress, Madeleine Mantock, Vondie Curtis-Hall and Louis Gossett Jr. Two brothers who find themselves homeless over Christmas go to stay with a dance teacher and his family.

Simplistic and predictable this feel good dance film does not have a lot going on. The script will make you roll your eyes in a couple of places and I doubt the dance numbers will impress anyone either. About the only person that gives a really good performance in the film is Madeleine Mantock, otherwise I was pretty unimpressed with the film.

2/5

How about that Christmas eh?

The Days Before Christmas (1958)

Directed by a trio of Stanley Jackson, Wolf Koenig and Terence Macartney-Filgate this is a short documentary. We see the build up to Christmas in Montreal.

Pretty much what you would expect this film is interesting as a historical record but in portions feels very much like someone's home video. There is not a real narrative to the piece or much of a question posed by the film makers. Entertaining but a little disposable.

3/5

Paris and breakups

Jeune Femme (2017)

Written & directed by Leonor Serraille this film stars Laetitia Dosch and Souleymane Seye Ndiaye. Following a break up a woman headbutts a door and steals a cat.

Telling the tale of a woman having some sort of a break down and then reinventing herself this is a pretty good coming of age film. Our protagonist takes her time but does finally emerge from the fog of her mental state to a much healthier place. It might take a while to get going but this is an enjoyable film with a good central performance.

4/5

That old family curse

Chappaquiddick (2017)

Directed by John Curran this film based on real events stars Jason Clarke, Kate Mara and Ed Helms. That time Ted Kennedy got a girl killed and did not bother to tell anyone about it.

Questionable historical accuracy here as we look into the murky waters of a very strange event in the life of Ted Kennedy. Certainly the film captures something of the Kennedy family but to what extent it follows real events is open to some question. Well made but not especially original.

3/5

Not 2001 by a long shot

2036 Origin Unknown (2018)

Directed by Hasraf Dulull this film stars Kate Sackhoff, Julie Cox and the voice of Steven Cree. In 2036 an AI and a human mission control investigate a strange object on Mars.

When your story has a strange monolith on Mars and AI featuring heavily on the story there are going to be inevitable comparisons to Kubrick's 2001 which never goes well for the new comer. I found the plot here to be confusing and ultimately not to work really. The sound mix is also a little on the quiet side and the CGI makes it clear the film was made on a budget.

2/5

Life & the land

Seasons of the Year (1975)

Directed by Artavazd Peleshian this is a short documentary. We see the life of shepherds and their families living in the Armenian highlands.

Relying nearly exclusively on images this is a beautiful looking documentary that has some great shots and sequences. The images really capture a culture and its way of life. Possibly not to the taste of everyone this is more poetry than narrative.

4/5

Life sucks

Manchester by the Sea (2016)

Written & directed by Kenneth Lonergan this film stars Cassey Affleck, Lucas Hedges, Michelle Williams and Kyle Chandler. Following the death of his brother a man has to return to his home town to look after his 16 year old nephew.

Taking the subjects of grief and guilt this is a great look at those themes through the lens of blue collar masculinity. The script is never melodramatic and is a great companion piece to Lonergan's earlier You Can Count on Me (2000). Well made and well acted it is no surprise to see this film got so many accolades.

5/5

Not le Carre or Clancy

Red Sparrow (2018)

Directed by Francis Lawrence this film based on the novel of the same name stars Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Edgerton and Matthias Schoenaerts. A ballerina whose career is ended by injury is forced into working as a honey trap for the Russian intelligence services.

As a spy thriller this is not the worst you will see but it is a bit heavily reliant on sex scenes and not exactly up there with the master of the genre John le Carre. The plot twists are pretty obvious and can be seen coming a mile off. In general this is a decent watch if a little on the long side.

3/5

What the union does for Seafarers

The Seafarers (1953)

Directed by Stanley Kubrick this short documentary is narrated by Don Hollenbeck. We see the work of the Seafarers Internation Union.

Essentially this is a pro union propaganda film showing off the good works of the SIU. There is not a huge amount going on here and no doubt the film only remains in cinematic memory as an early example of Kubrick's work. Do not expect anything overly entertaining but this is not a bad watch otherwise.

3/5

0x0

10x10 (2018)

Directed by Suzi Ewing this film stars Luke Evans and Kelly Reilly. A man kidnaps a seemingly innocent woman and locks her in a ten foot by ten foot room.

The plot of this film has the potential to be an exploration of crime and punishment in the style of The Secret in Their Eyes (2009) but instead it goes for the simple action to much. Not a bad watch overall but this is a fairly standard genre piece that has no real surprises. In the end this is a distraction that will not last long in the memory.

3/5

Kids are hard

Tully (2018)

Directed by Jason Reitman this film stars Charlize Theron, Mackenzie Davis and Ron Livingston. Following the birth of her third child a woman struggles with the baby while her husband is zoned out.

To be honest I found this film to be a bit of a disappointment, it is not a bad film but I'm not sure it ever really tackles the protagonists problems. Certainly the film highlights some of the universal issues of motherhood but the reality is it is the husband that is the issue not a problem with the wife. There are some decent performances but the script could have connected with the subject matter better in my opinion.

3/5

Needs more preparation

An Actor Prepares (2018)

Directed by Steve Clark this film stars Jeremy Irons, Jack Huston and Mamie Gummer. Following a heart attack an old, alcoholic actor has to have his estranged son drive him across the country to his daughter's wedding.

There is plenty of mileage for a good comedy drama in here but this is not a good comedy drama. The script needs a lot more polish, particularly in the comedy elements. Unfortunately this film is a complete disappointment that is a bit distasteful in places.

2/5

Not a trip to be taken lightly

Lucifer Rising (1972)

Directed by Kenneth Anger this film features music from Manson Family member Bobby Beausoleil. We see a confusing mix of religious imagery starting in the ancient Egyptian period.

No doubt this film is one of those supposed to be watched with the aid of drugs and a deep knowledge of obscure religious symbolism. For those of us normals watching it this is an interesting film of strange images but not much more. Slightly unsettling is the films connection to a convicted killer through its score.

3/5

The truth is I wouldn't dare anyone to watch this

Truth or Dare (2018)

Directed by Jeff Wadlow this film stars Lucy Hale, Tyler Poser and Violett Beane. College students on their last spring break find themselves playing a deadly game of truth or dare with a demon.

Unfortunately this film is a highly predictable piece that does little to separate itself in a crowded genre. There are no surprises, little tension and nothing actually scary about this film. I suppose it is not too badly made but there is not much to be had from the script.

2/5

Joke on rails

The Iron Mule (1925)

Directed by Roscoe Arbuckle and Grover Jones this film stars Al St. John. We see one of the early train journeys go wrong.

As comedies go this is nothing special but does raise the odd chuckle here and there. There are plenty of familiar elements and it is not riotously funny but will entertain at least. Not too badly made but maybe not up there with the masters of silent comedy.

3/5

Not at the races

Hollywood Handicap (1938)

Directed by Buster Keaton this film stars a number of Hollywood's stars as themselves. A group of stable hands that also work as a band are given a race horse.

This is a simple comedy that is not any huge shakes and kind of disappointing for having Buster Keaton involved. The jokes are nothing special and neither are the cameos really. Compared to the well crafted set ups of Keaton's silent films this is a very lazy effort.

2/5

No scares here

The Scarecrow (1920)

Directed by star Buster Keaton and Edward F. Cline this film also features Joe Roberts and Sybil Seely. Two men compete for the love a farmer's daughter.

Starting out with fairly familiar gags from the era it takes this comedy a little while to get going. When things do finally start to get appropriately silly it becomes clear that even though this is an entertaining silent comedy it does not hit the heights of Keaton's best work. There is plenty to enjoy but with a little punching up this could have been an even better comedy.

3/5

Pacific Rim: The Academy Years

Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018)

Directed by Steven S. DeKnight this sequel stars John Boyega, Scott Eastwood and Cailee Spaeny. Years after the war against alien monsters has been won is the robot force about to be scrapped for drones?

Not much is smart about this film and the character arcs are heavy handed at best. Most of the script is pretty obvious and could have done with a few more rewrites. The action sequences are alright but nothing to get you out of your seat.

3/5

To save or to harm

The Oath (2016)

Directed by star Baltasar Kormakur this film also features Hera Hilmar and Gisli Orn Garoarsson. Trying to get his drug addict daughter away from her dealer boyfriend causes a doctor to but up against his Hippocratic oath.

Maybe not the deepest look at addiction you will see but still an interesting watch from the perspective of the father. The protagonist finds himself facing several choices that are strong moral dilemmas and at least raise questions for the viewer too. As always the Icelandic landscape looks amazing but otherwise the direction and acting are not overly remarkable.

4/5