Familiar times

Bad Times at the El Royale (2018)

Written & directed by Drew Goddard this film stars Jeff Bridges, Cynthia Erivo, Dakota Johnson and John Hamm. A group of strangers staying at a hotel on the California/Nevada state border all have their secrets.

An unkind person might call this a cheap Tarantino knock off, the film certainly does not live up to Tarantino's level of quality and has a lot of familiar elements but is still a decent watch. There are maybe just too many things mashed together here for the film to stand on it's own two feet but it remains enjoyable. At times the direction gets a little frustrating but not too detrimental to the film.

3/5

Real estate market is a killer

Arizona (2018)

Directed by Jonathan Watson this film stars Rosemarie DeWitt and Danny McBride. A woman is kidnapped after witnessing an irate customer kill her boss.

Set against the early 2000s real estate crisis this is a fun film but does not have much to say on the subject matter. There is plenty of black humour which carries the film. Decent but unremarkable performances from the cast pretty much sum up this film.

3/5

1900's instagram

At the Photographer's (1900)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this is an early short film. A man annoys a photographer by posing in a serious of silly positions.

There is not a huge amount to this film but I suppose what there is does raise a chuckle. If you are looking for sophisticated comedy this is not one for you but does a decent job of being what it is. Not that different from a lot of films of the same era but decently made.

3/5

A very weak film

A Very Bad Day (2017)

Directed by Judy Greer this film also known as “A Happening of Monumental Proportions” has a large cast including Common, Bradley Whitford and Jennifer Garner. On career day at an elementary school a father is fired from his job and the school administrators hide a dead body.

There is a ton of acting talent on show here but sadly the script is not really up to much. Over all I found this film to be disappointment. Even Keanu Reeves showing up at the end can not save this film.

2/5

Far to good for the simple concept

Assassination Nation (2018)

Written & directed by Sam Levinson this film stars Odessa Young, Suki Waterhouse, Hari Nef and Abra. A hacker releases the personal pictures and text messages of half the people in a town.

Slightly on the nose this modern retelling of the Salem Witch Trials is a fantastic look at sexuality and the information era. I love nearly everything about this film from the handling of the subject matter to the highly stylised direction. Somewhere between an MTV video and the best of a genre slasher film this is well worth a watch, possibly the perfect companion piece to Spring Breakers (2012) if someone was running a double feature.

5/5

Hate, hate everywhere

The Hate U Give (2018)

Directed by George Tillman Jr. this film based on the novel of the same name stars Amandla Stenberg, Regina Hall and Russell Hornsby. A sixteen year old African American girl witnesses the shooting of one of her friends by a police officer.

This film does a great job of bringing to the screen a terrible tragedy that is regularly repeated in real life. I thought the film did a great job of humanising the issues on screen but I think the ending falls into the trap of needing to try to suggest a solution to a complex problem that has no easy way out. There are some great performances, especially from Amandla Stenberg in the lead role.

4/5

A woman of winter

Dance of the Seasons: Winter, Snow Dance (1900)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this is an early short film. A woman personifies winter through dance.

Just a single static shot of a woman dancing on stage there is not a huge amount to this piece. The staging and dance are decent but you can not help but feel this is just capturing a small part of a larger act. Not a bad watch for the period it was made in but not a stand out piece.

3/5

Sinks

Aquaman (2018)

Directed by James Wan this comic book adaptation stars Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Willem Defoe, Patrick Wilson and Nicole Kidman. The son of a human and an Atlantean queen must take the throne of Atlantis to save the world.

Jason Momoa does his best to carry this film but is let down at pretty much every turn. I tried to give this film the benefit of the doubt but it is actively bad in too many places. The plot involves too many political details that fly past the average viewer and fails to have a real character story that touches the audience. I found the action sequences messy and some of the music choices for the soundtrack just out right jarring.

2/5

Women at war

Girls of the Sun (2018)

Directed by Eva Husson this film stars Golshifteh Farahani and Emmanuelle Bercot. A French report joints of a unit of Kurdish women fighting in Northern Iraq against ISIS.

There are times this film verges on over sentimentality but I think it does a decent job of showing us women at war. A lot of the story is pretty grim but worth sticking with. I really liked some of the great landscape shots.

3/5

Backwards 1900 style

Avenue de l'Opera (1900)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this is a short film from the silent era. We see a busy street in Paris but the film is run in reverse.

There is not a huge amount going on here beyond the basic description. For capturing a moment in time there is something to this but running the film backwards slightly cheapens the historical record turning it into a simple gag. Not really one I would recommend.

3/5

Confused mind

Dark Minds (2017)

Directed by Brian Shoaf this film also known as Aardvark stars Jenny Slate, Zachary Quinto and Jon Hamm. A therapist tries to help a new client who thinks he sees his famous actor brother everywhere pretending to be other people.

To be honest this film is a mess that struggles to get going. Even when the film reaches a conclusion I still am not sure what the point was or what it is even trying to say. For so much acting talent on screen I am surprised how this one turned out so poorly.

2/5

The shame that hot weather brings

American Summer (2018)

Directed by Jim Loach this film also known as Measure of a Man is based on the novel “One Fat Summer” and stars Blake Cooper alongside Donald Sutherland. During the mid 1970s an overweight teenage boy spends the summer being bullied.

There is plenty to like about this film, at times the plot is really touching and connects very well with teenage insecurity. Part of me always wanted the plot to take a darker twist, it skirts round the edges of events spiralling out of control but ends up with a positive ending that I am not sure is very real. Well made if a little heavy handed at the end, a decent watch over all.

4/5

Horse dicks everywhere

Sorry to Bother You (2018)

Written & directed by Boots Riley this film stars Lakeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson and Steven Yeun. In the near future an African American make starts working as a telemarketer and finds he has to use a “white voice” to achieve success.

Somewhere between Office Space (1999) and Idiocracy (2006) filtered through an African American voice this is a dark satire of the modern world. There is a ton to enjoy here and while the funny moments are not as common as I might like this is still a good watch. Leaving you with plenty to think about I really recommend this one.

4/5

Ding-dong ditch 1900 style

The Landlady (1900)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this is an early short film. A woman gets ding dong ditched by a bunch of kids and tries to get her revenge.

Showing real progress in terms of having a clear narrative this is decent early film. The simple set up builds to a decent gag at the end. Well made but still just a single, unmoving shot.

3/5

Not fantastic

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)

Directed by David Yates this sequel stars Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler and Alison Sudol. Our hero is sent to to France to track down the new escaped Grindelwald.

As a very casual watcher of the series I found this film really hard to follow. The plot is complicated and involves a ton of lore which frankly went right over my head. There are some decent action sequences but in my opinion not enough to hold my attention and the film lacks the charm of it's predecessor.

2/5

Poverty and sadness

Shoplifters (2018)

Written & directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda this film stars Lily Franky, Sakura Ando and Mayu Matsuoka. A chosen family living on the poverty line takes in a four year old girl who is abused by her parents.

This is a film about people society has discarded that walks towards an inevitably sad conclusion. I really enjoyed the film and found the ending fairly heart breaking. Well made and with plenty to say I highly recommend this film.

4/5

Up in da club1890s style

At the Club (1899)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this is an early short film. Three men sit round a table drinking and playing cards then get into a fight.

There is not much a of a plot to this short film and the whole piece is a single, static shot. As early films go it is on par with similar films from the era but does not do much to stand out. The set also looks kind of ramshackle and I have no idea if there is intentional or not.

2/5

Summer of surf

Age of Summer (2018)

Directed by Billy Kiely this film stars Percy Hynes White, Jake Ryan, Charlotte Sabina and Diarmaid Murtagh. After moving to California in the mid 80s a teenage boy spends his summer as a member of the junior lifeguards.

Essentially a simple coming of age tale this is a lot of familiar content here but it is well handled. Nothing will really surprise you but this is a decent way to spend 90 minutes. There are some decent beach shots and plenty of California to enjoy.

3/5

Punk isn't dead yet

We Are the Best! (2013)

Directed by Lukas Moodysson this film based on the graphic novel “Never Goodnight” stars Mira Barkhammar, Mira Grosin and Liv LeMoyne. In 1980s Sweden three young teenage girl form a punk music band.

Capturing the struggles of being a teenage outsider this is a pretty good coming of age film. The context provides something different for a familiar story to keep things fresh. There are decent performances from the cast and overall this is a good watch.

3/5

Speculation run rife

Lizzie (2018)

Directed by Craig William Macneill this film based on historical events stars Chloe Sevigny, Kristen Stewart and Jamey Sheridan. In the 1890s a woman kills her father and step mother with the aid of the family servant.

Rather than sticking to what we know for sure this film pushes a clear agenda and interpretation of events. A little slow in pacing at times this will not be to the taste of all viewers. There are decent performances from the leads but in general this is not a great film in my opinion.

3/5

An odd couple

Automated Hat-Maker and Sausage-Grinder (1900)

Directed by Alive Guy-Blache this film stars Henri Vallouy. Two men operate a machine that makes both hats and sausages.

Pretty simple in concept this single shot film is not exactly funny but is a little silly. There is not a huge amount to laugh about here but the film is decently made. Something different from the other films I have seen from Guy-Blache.

3/5

So many Spider-people

Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

Directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey & Rodney Rothman this animated film has voices from Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld and Mahershala Ali. A young man gets bitten by a radio active spider and sees Spiderman die so has to take up the mantle.

Unlike any other superhero film this film really brings the art of comic books to the big screen as well as capturing the stranger side of Spiderman. I really enjoyed this film which has a decent heart to it as well as plenty of comedy. It might be strange to say this but this could well be the most true to it's source material comic book adaptation so far.

5/5

A bad idea from the start

Boogie Man (2018)

Directed by Andrew Morahan this film stars Kush Khanna, Jerry-Jane Pears and Karan Gill. A British-Indian teenager who has no idea what he wants to do with his life becomes obsessed with a model/actress he meets once.

There is a huge amount to be said about the life of second generation immigrants but this film has nothing interesting to say on the matter. Some times the film shows a little self awareness at the unacceptable actions of the protagonist and then goes and rewards them anyway. It is no surprise to find out this film is written by two white guys which explains a lot of the issues I have with it.

2/5

Sneak attack!

Surprise Attack on a House at Daybreak (1898)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this is an early short film. A group of soldiers sneak up on the occupants of a house and attack them.

One of the earliest action films out there with a lot of stuff happening on screen during the short run time. It is a little difficult to tell exactly who is going where at times but otherwise this is a ground breaking film. Plenty to enjoy even if this is not the most polished effort ever.

3/5

Cardboard

Alone in Berlin (2016)

Directed by Vincent Perez this film based on the novel “Every Man Dies Alone” stars Emma Thompson, Brendan Gleeson and Daniel Bruhl. Following the death of their son at the front a couple living in Nazi Germany during WW2 start leaving anti Hitler cards for people to find.

Based on a novel based on a true story this fictionalised version of events is interesting but never really takes off. The script lacks much tension and we never see the affect the couples actions have. I suppose the film does a decent job of showing the nature of people informing on each other in Nazi Germany but that is not enough to carry the piece.

3/5

Waiting for the end

Lucky (2017)

Directed by John Carroll Lynch this film stars Harry Dean Stanton, David Lynch and Ron Livingston. A 90 year old man faces his own mortality while living out the same daily routine.

There is a lot to enjoy here in what was Harry Dean Stanton's final film. Like many films on mortality the film draws to a somewhat fluffy conclusion but otherwise is a great watch. There is plenty to enjoy, especially a rare on camera appearance from David Lynch.

3/5

Crazy gets crazier

Iron Sky: The Coming Race (2019)

Directed by Timo Vuorensola this crowd funded sequel stars Lara Rossi, Vladimir Burlakov, Kit Dale and Julia Dietze. The last humans living on a former Nazi moon base return to Earth to steal power from the lizard people at the centre of the planet.

I have not seen the first Iron Sky film but this sequel is easy enough to follow even with all the bonkers elements mashed together. Certainly not for everyone this film looks pretty good for the lower budget and while the script is not amazing the film is still pretty fun. Not a great work of art but something different that is for sure.

3/5

Melies isn't the only magician

Disappearing Act (1898)

Directedby Alice Guy-Blache this is a short, early film. A man makes a woman disappear then reappear.

Basically this is a simple trick of editing to make it appear as if magic is happening on camera. Similar to a number of other films of the era this is decently made but does not really stand out too much. Very much a film of it's era.

3/5

Not very dark or very mindful

The Darkest Minds (2018)

Directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson, this film based on the novel of the same name stars Amandla Stenberg, Mandy Moore, Harris Dickinson and Patrick Gibson. Most of the children of the world have died apart from those with super powers who are put in camps.

My biggest issue with the plot of this film is that the characters never once consider the moral implications of using their powers. Ultimately this is an X-Men knock off mixed up with familiar dystopian YA tropes that adds little to the genre. The kids give decent performances but can not carry this weak script.

2/5

The death of childhood

Summer 1993 (2017)

Written & directed by Carla Simon this film stars Laia Artigas, Paula Blanco, David Verdaguer and Etna Campillo. Following the death of her parents to AIDs a six year old girl goes to live with her uncle and his family.

This is a minimalist and fairly personal story of loss at a young age. The protagonist acts out before coming to terms with her new life. Maybe the style of this film is not for everyone but it is certainly well made and touching in places.

4/5

The simplest of gags

The Fisherman at the Stream (1897)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this is an early short film. A man fishing in the river has a youth sneak up on him and push him in.

Simple in concept and execution this is a very basic early film. There is not a lot going on here but at least the plot has a clear beginning, middle and end. No doubt there is many a home video of something similar these days.

3/5