Guilt and mystery

The Unknown Girl (2016)

Written & directed by the Dardenne brothers this film stars Adele Haenel, Olivier Bonnaud and Jeremie Renier. A young Belgian doctor refuses treatment to a girl late at night and becomes filled with guilt when the girl is found dead the next day.

Very down to earth this film is a good exploration of guilt in an every day setting. The grounded nature of the film is refreshing and tense without over doing things. Well made and well acted this is well worth a watch.

4/5

scrapping the barrel not the sky

Skyscraper (2018)

Written & directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber this film stars Dwayne Johnson, Neve Campbell, Chin Han and Roland Moller. A security expert's family get trapped in a burning skyscraper.

Essentially this is a simple mash up of Die Hard (1988) and The Towering Inferno (1974) but without the personality. Fairly functional the plot of this film is pretty predictable and a bit short on personality. Even the stunts are not especially remarkable in this action film.

3/5

Not barking mad

A Dog's Life (1918)

Written & directed by star Charlie Chaplin this film also features Edna Purviance, Syd Chaplin and a dog called Mut. Living homeless on the streets our hero the tramp befriends a stray dog.

Filled with some good comedic set pieces and a little bit of heart this is a clear stop on the road map to Chaplin's later great films. Not as accomplished as his later efforts this is still a good watch. Well made, this is an entertaining comedy.

3/5

The last table

Table 19 (2017)

Directed by Jeffrey Blitz this film stars Anna Kendrick, Lisa Kudrow, June Squibb and Craig Robinson. A bunch of strangers get stuck together at a back table at a wedding.

Somewhat interesting this film is let down a little by the overly glossy ending but otherwise is not too bad of a watch. There is certainly something to be mined from the concept of strangers stuck together at a wedding. There is humour in the script even if some of the jokes are a little on the obvious side.

3/5

Reform the final act please

First Reformed (2017)

Written and directed by Paul Schrader this film inspired by novel The Diary of a Country Priest stars Ethan Hawke, Amanda Seyfried and Cedric Kyles. A Reverend at a small church has a crisis of faith while trying to help a pregnant woman with her depressed husband.

For the first two thirds of this film I found it really fascinating and reminiscent of some of Bergman's films on religion but the final third was a bit too much Taxi Driver for my taste. I can understand the protagonist having a break down just not the path he takes during it. Well acted and a good watch, I just struggle with the last part of the film seeming so out of place.

3/5

Not exactly it

Tag (2018)

Directed by Jeff Tomsic this film stars Ed Helms, Jeremy Renner, Jon Hamm, Jake Johnson and Hannibal Buress. One month every year a group of adult friends play tag together.

Inspired by rather than based on a true story this film hints at having a decent heart to it but falls short in my opinion. The script really needed more work as it never quiet nails down a consistent tone. There is a lot of acting talent on show but in the end this is a pretty pedestrian effort that feels phoned in.

2/5

Not a sight to see

The Tourists (1912)

Directed by by Mack Sennett this short film from the silent era stars Mabel Normand. After missing the train home a woman gets a tour from the local Native American Chief.

Not exactly funny and kind of racist this is not the silent era covering itself in glory. There is not a whole lot to this short so it is well worth skipping in my opinion. Not the best work of anyone involved.

2/5

Not just a trip to the woods

The Cabin in the Woods (2012)

Directed by Drew Goddard this film stars Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchinson and Fran Kranz. A group of attractive young people head off to spend some time at a cabin in the woods, no way that could go badly right?

It is very rare that someone tries to do something different with the horror genre and even rarer that it actually works. While this may not be the deepest look at the genre or have the most interesting things the self awareness of the script does at least make for an entertaining change. Ultimately this is a fun watch that falls just a little short of being really interesting.

3/5

Confoundy

Mandy (2018)

Directed by Panos Cosmatos this film stars Nicolas Cage, Andrea Riseborough and Linus Roache. In 1983 a lumberjack and his wife are menaced by a cult and a biker gang.

As an exploration of style this dive into weird 80s revenge thriller drug trip is not going to be for everyone. The slow plot, which is pretty basic, did leave me a little bored. What this film lives or dies on is its atmosphere and that just was not enough to carry the film for me.

3/5

Dog Day Afternoon 1914 style

Mabel's Busy Day (1914)

Directed by star Mabel Normand this film also features Charlie Chaplin. A woman heads to a car race to sell hot dogs to spectators but the little tramp gives them all away for free.

Not exactly deep in terms of story or theme this is a fairly decent slapstick short. There are some gags but nothing overly impressive. This is about average for an early comedy.

3/5

Tangled tale of tango

Tango Tangles (1914)

Directed by Mack Sennett this film stars Charlie Chaplin, Roscoe Arbuckle and Ford Sterling. At a dance hall several men fight over the same woman.

Essentially improvised this film has funny moments but lacks a decent narrative to tie it all together. Thanks to the comedic talent on show there is enough to keep you entertained. Clearly not one of the great silent comedies of the era but still not a bad watch.

3/5

No pussycats

Josie (2018)

Directed by Eric England this film stars Sophie Turner, Dylan McDermott and Jack Kilmer. A former prison guard strikes up a friendship with a high school girl that has just moved into the area.

Bungling whatever point this film is trying to make the script is one of those where characters do stupid things to hit the forced plot points. Certainly this is not a film I would recommend. Sophie Turner gives a decent performance but Dylan McDermott seems to struggle.

2/5

Sort of a disappointment

The Hateful Eight (2015)

Written & directed by Quentin Tarantino this film stars Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell and Jennifer Jason Leigh. During a blizzard in Wyoming a bunch of nefarious characters find themselves all trapped in the same building eyeing each other suspiciously.

It is easy to see what Tarantino is constructing here in terms of a tense thriller but honestly I think this turns out as one of the director's weaker films. The plot is fine but the tension on the screen never really ignites and the plot lacks a little depth in my opinion. Ultimately this film was a bit forgettable in my opinion.

3/5

The longest of roads home

Lion (2016)

Directed by Garth Davis this film based on real events stars Dev Patel, Sunny Pawar, Rooney Mara, David Wenham and Nicole Kidman. A young Indian boy becomes lost and eventually is sent to live in Australia.

Beautifully told the slow nature of this story will not be for everyone but if you dig it you will really dig it. The plot might be more of a personal, unique story but it is still an emotional watch. Both the performances and the direction are top notch.

4/5

Not completely familiar

People You May Know (2017)

Directed by Sherwin Shilati this film stars Nick Thune, Halston Sage and Kaily Smith Westbrook. A graphic designer decides to join social media but uses his photoshop skills to create a fake life for himself.

Certainly there is something to be said about the use of social media in our lives and occasionally this film gets close to that. Sadly thanks to trying to stick to a rom-com format there are a few moments that do not make sense from a character point of view. I would love to see another crack at this subject matter as there is some real potential here.

2/5

Hack job

Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

Directed by Mel Gibson this film based on real events stars Andrew Garfield, Teresa Palmer, Sam Worthington, Vince Vaughn and Hugo Weaving. During WW2 a young man that does not believe in violence wants to do his part by serving as a combat medic.

Undoubtedly the story of Desmond Doss is an interesting one and well worth telling but this film in no way does his story justice. Mel Gibson goes full Hollywood cheese in this bizarre mix of non-violence faith story and endless sequences that seem to take great pleasure in showing off said violence. Decades too late this film comes off a Sergeant York (1941) knock off littered with the sins of modern cinema, I have no idea how this film elicited so much praise.

2/5

Below par

Golf Antics (1920)

Nominally directed by Buster Keaton this compilation film also features Charlie Chaplin, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy and Fatty Arbuckle. A number of the stars of silent comedy have trouble playing golf.

A draw for all the big name talent of the era involved this film ultimately ends up being a disappointment. There are a few decent gags here and there but the compilation nature of the film means there is no narrative or heart to the film. You will chuckle a few times but unfortunately this is not a piece of gold.

2/5

#FleaCircusProblems

The Professor (1919)

Directed by and staring Charlie Chaplin this is a single scene from an unfinished film. Staying at a flophouse the ring master of a flea circus finds his fleas have escaped on him.

Not bad for what it is but this single scene piece is essentially just one joke. Unlike Chaplin's other films that are full of slapstick this film is a bit on the bare side. Not a terrible watch but easy to see how it needs to be part of a larger piece.

3/5

The dangerous world of fashion

The Neon Demon (2016)

Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn this film stars Elle Fanning, Karl Glusman, Jena Malone, Bella Heathcote and Abbey Lee. A 16 year old girl arrives in LA seeking to become a fashion model.

Without doubt Nicolas Winding Refn always provides stunning visuals with great use of colour and sound, an unparalleled style in cinema. The substance of this film may not be for everyone but the portrayal of the alien world of fashion builds to an unsettling, horrific conclusion. If you like something different, a bit more arty, then this will be right up your street.

5/5

The past in the present

Hell or High Water (2016)

Directed by David Mackenzie this film stars Chris Pine, Ben Foster and Jeff Bridges. Two brothers robbing banks in Texas are hunted by an ageing Texas Ranger.

Fitting in with the grand tradition of westerns but in a modern setting this throw back is a fun piece of nostalgia. There are nods to both the past and the modern financial situation of Texas that give the film a bit of depth. While this film was enjoyable it was maybe a little over praised on the awards department.

4/5

Bricks get thrown

Recreation (1914)

Directed by star Charlie Chaplain this film also features Helen Carruthers, Charles Bennett and Edwin Frazee. The little tramp starts flirting with a woman in the park after her date falls asleep on a bench.

A very simple, slapstick comedy is what we have here. There is not a ton of plot and a few laughs but otherwise not much to this short. In the end this is a pretty average film for what it is.

3/5

Not really that busy

A Busy Day (1914)

Directed by Mack Sennett this short comedy stars Charlie Chaplin in drag. On a day out at a parade a woman becomes incensed at her husband for paying too much attention to other women.

Essentially a simple slapstick comedy what is unusual about this short is seeing Chaplin in drag rather than as his usual tramp character. There are funny moments but of course this does not live up to Chaplin's later efforts in terms of humour or heart. Decently made for the period but nothing remarkable.

3/5

Oh so fallen

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)

Directed by J. A. Bayona this sequel stars Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rafe Spall, Justice Smith and Daniella Pineda. The remaining dinosaurs from the last film are about to get wiped out by a volcanic explosion so some people set off to rescue them.

Dumb at nearly every turn this is a heartless blockbuster that just reminds you at every turn what a poor echo of Spielberg's original it is. Lacking both heart and a sense of wonder this is yet another disappointing entry into the franchise. The action sequences are not too bad but are pretty uninspired like the rest of the film.

2/5

Rolling, rolling, rolling

The Train Rolls On (1973)

Directed by Chris Marker this is a documentary with archive footage and interviews. We look into the famous CineTrain run by Medvedkin in the 1930s.

Essentially propaganda for a propaganda effort this film never really questions the nature of using the train to get peasants to question each other. A decent watch but clearly pushing an agenda. Probably only of interest to historians.

3/5

Hammer goes full exploitation

The Vampire Lovers (1970)

Directed by Roy Ward Baker this film stars Peter Cushing, Ingrid Pitt, Madeline Smith and Kate O'Mara. In 19^th century Styria a female vampire uses her beauty to seduce and suck the life from young women.

While this film may have been somewhat ground breaking in terms of showing lesbian vampires realistically it is only doing so for exploitative reasons. The plot is a paper thin excuse for a bunch of nudity and there is only the merest hint of a tragic character in the final moments. Even the acting gets pretty hammy in places, not Hammer Horror's best work.

1/5

Lies, damn lies and classism

I, Tonya (2017)

Directed by Craig Gillespie this film based on real events stars Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan and Allison Janney. We follow the career of a young girl from a poor background who wants to be an ice skating star.

The truth is not entirely the point of this film but it is certainly an entertaining watch. Funny and not without a point it is easy to see why this film was so popular. Margot Robbie gives a good performance in the lead role and is well supported.

4/5

All the primary colours

La La Land (2016)

Written & directed by Damien Chazelle this film stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. An aspiring actress meets a man that wants to open a jazz club.

Harking back to the golden era of musicals this film is a celebration of both Hollywood past and the life style of those dreamers that settle in the city of angels. There is a huge amount to enjoy here both in the staging and the story telling. While the story is a little familiar in places that is always going to be the nature of the beast, about the only real criticism I have is that Donald Glover should have played the Ryan Gosling role.

5/5

That lost Pawnstars pilot form 1916

The Pawnshop (1916)

Directed by Edward Brewer and star Charlie Chaplin this film also features Edna Purviance and Henry Bergman. Late to his job at a pawnshop Chaplain's usual character gets into the usual shenanigans.

Featuring plenty of good slapstick comedy this is a decent watch and yet another good example of why Chaplin is a master of the genre. What the film lacks compared to some of Chaplin's longer and more famous work is a clear narrative to tie the whole thing together with some heart. Well made this is certainly worth a watch.

3/5

Honestly not that bad

Serenity (2019)

Written & directed by Stephen Knight this film stars Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Diane Lane, Jasone Clarke and Djimon Hounsou. A man living as a fisherman on a tropical island is contacted by his ex-wife to help kill her new husband.

To get it out the way this film is a hot mess that suffers from some problems. Yes the advertising is misleading for this bait and switch plot, yes some of the writing seems terribly cliché and yes I do think the script needed another revision or two. All that being said I actually liked what this film was trying to do.

What we have here is the confused day dream of an immature mind living in the daily nightmare of an abusive household. Some of the more cliché elements are a direct result of the conceit of the film so in that regard they not only make sense but are necessary. There are elements of the film I would have changed without doubt but I still think there is something interesting going on here and if you can put your preconceptions away when watching this film then it is enjoyable.

3/5