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