Its a puppet

 

Marionette (2020)

Directed by Elbert van Strien this film stars Thekla Reuten, Elijah Wolf and Emun Elliot. A child therapist loses her grip on reality when she starts to believe one of her patients has control over reality.

In my opinion the world most of the film takes place in does not fit the twist it reveals towards the end. Unfortunately this psychological thriller ends up lost in the weeds. Either the earlier part of the film needs revising or the ending needs to be changed for this film to really work.

2/5

Kind of a bait and switch

 

Viy 2: Journey to China (2019)

Directed by Oleg Stepchenko this sequel stars Jason Flemyng, Helen Yao, Jackie Chan and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Our map making hero is sent off to explore China.

Featuring a grab bag of characters and plots this script has too many parts that are not really connected. The big draw here is Arnie and Jackie Chan but both are minor side characters. Rather silly and confused in the end.

2/5

Just not as good

 

Downhill (2020)

Directed by Nat Faxon & Jim Rash this remake of the Swedish film Force Majeure (2014) stars Julia Louis-Drefus and Will Ferrell. When threatened by an avalanche a man saves himself rather than protect his family.

Unfortunately for this film it has to live in the shadow of its predecessor. There is nothing too bad about this film but it never gets close to the superior version. Still watchable this is a decent black comedy.

3/5

Really not as bad as expected

 

Cats (2019)

Directed by Top Hooper this film based on the musical of the same name stars Francesca Hayward, Judi Dench and Idris Elba. A bunch of cats have a singing competition.

Given all the terrible reviews I was not sure what to expect here to be sure this is not a good film however I do not think it is as bad as some of the reviews make out. There is not a lot of plot here and some of the music is a little out of place or obviously dating. Despite all the problems I actually found myself enjoying parts of the film so do not believe everyone that tells you this is a complete disaster.

3/5

There are more thoughts to come

 

Tenet (2020)

Written & directed by Christopher Nolan this film stars John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debiciki and Kenneth Branagh. A spy gets drawn into a world of arms dealers and time travel.

As with any Nolan film this is an masterfully crafted puzzle piece. The plot twists around really engaging the intellectual part of your brain. There is a lot to explore in the fascinating world that the film creates with a plot that touches on a number of familiar Nolan subjects.

Where I found myself disappointed with the film was a lack of clear emotional arc for the protagonist such as you find in Inception or Interstellar. My other big disappointment was the lack of a Hans Zimmer score.

Definitely a good film but I think Nolan's coldest so far. I feel like a bad fan boy coming to the conclusion this is not going to be one of my favourite Nolan films. Still something you should see at least once if not twice.

4/5

Should have been left silent

 

The Bay of Silence (2020)

Directed by Paula van der Oest this film based on the novel of the same name stars Claes Bang and Olga Kurylenko. A man's wife has a mental break after the birth of their son.

The largest problem with this film is the emotionless performance from Claes Bang in the lead role. There are also problems with the script, some of the character actions make no sense to me. As thrillers go there is not much of interest here, this is a pretty flat effort over all.

2/5

Seeking new employment

 

Like a Boss (2020)

Directed by Miguel Arteta this film stars Tiffany Haddish, Rose Byrne and Salma Hayek. Two best friends running a make up company sell part of it to a successful business woman.

As set ups go this one is not too bad but the film never really goes anywhere. The protagonists do not really get proper character arcs and there is not really many jokes in the script. An exercise in what could have been really.

2/5

Just different enough

 

Clemency (2019)

Written & directed by Chinonye Chukwu this film stars Alfre Woodard, Wendell Pierce and Aldis Hodge. A prison warden is troubled by a poorly carried out execution of a death row inmate at her prison.

Anti-capital punishment films are a very well trodden subject matter which this film offers a slightly different take on by covering the subject from the point of view of the prison warden. The real strength of this film is the performance of Alfre Woodard who definitely carries the film. Not that memorable for the subject matter but entirely memorable for the lead performance.

4/5

Not even worth a bronze

 

Swimming for Gold (2020)

Directed by Hayley MacFarlane this film stars Peyton List, Daniel Needs and Lauren Esposito. An American swimmer who has developed a fear of water goes to Australia to coach some kids.

No cliché is left behind in the plot of this sports film. Mind numbing from the start the script is so bad I am not sure even young children will find enjoyment in this film. The characters change their mind in a second for no reason to fit the needs of the plot.

1/5

No real danger

 

Happiest Season (2020)

Directed by Clea DuVall this film stars Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Alison Brie, Aubery Plaza and Dan Levy. A young woman goes to spend Christmas with her girlfriends family but finds out at the last minute her girlfriend is not out to her family.

While the underlying subject matter is fairly serious the light comedy tone of the film means there are never any real stakes here. This is a decent enough watch but I can not help but wish for a more serious take on this story. Probably the best thing in the film is the large cast which is chock full of talent.

3/5

Not interested in the warts and all side of history

 

Misbehaviour (2020)

Directed by Philippa Lowthrope this film inspired by real events stars Keira Knightley, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Jessie Buckley. The 1970 Miss World competition is the focus of protests by the women's liberation movement.

This is the latest in a series of feel good, self congratulatory films about progressive movements that does not worry about letting facts get in the way of the story they want to tell. No doubt a story worth telling at times the script is a little too obviously constructed. Despite attempts to deal with the privilege of certain characters the film does smack of the bad side of middle class white feminism at times.

2/5

The first of many

 

The Kiss (1896)

Directed by William Heise this short film stars May Irwin and John C. Rice. A couple kiss on camera.

Very simple in content this is the first kiss in the history of cinema. There is a little bit of teasing build up before the main event but honestly it is not the most impressive of kisses. For the period I suppose it is a decent short.

2/5

Slow

 

Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)

Directed by Jeff Fowler this film based on the video game of the same name stars James Marsden, Jim Carrey and the voice of Ben Schwartz. After travelling to Earth a blue hedgehog is hunted by a government scientist.

Another entry for the bad cinematic adaptation of video games genre. I am not sure who this film is aimed at but I do not think it works for either children or adults. The plot is a bare bones disappointment leaving little for anyone to enjoy.

2/5

Go away again please

 

Then Came You (2020)

Directed by Adriana Trigiani this film stars writer Kathie Lee Gifford, Craig Ferguson and Elizabeth Hurley. An American widow travels to visit Scotland where she meets a Scottish widower.

There is no getting away from the fact the script for this film terrible. Formulaic and riddled with telling rather than showing it is hard to list all the problems with the writing as there are so many. Even the acting is not great either.

1/5

Not that crazy

 Good Crazy (2016)

Written & directed by star Rosa Salazar this short film also features Matt Chute. A young woman tries to make the world a better place.

As short films go this one never really gets going in my opinion. I never really connected with the story or the protagonist. Decently made but not one I would recommend.

2/5

The Rifleman

 

Blizzard of Souls (2019)

Directed by Dzintars Dreibergs & Inga Pranevska this film based on the novel of the same name stars Oto Brantevics, Raimonds Clems and Martins Vilsons. After the murder of his mother by invading German soldiers a sixteen year old Latvian joins the Russian army in World War I.

Films set in World War I are fairly rare and even rarer are those set on the Eastern front, that being said the actual plot is not overly original as war films go. Decently made the film is pretty clear and uncritical in its point of view. In the end not overly remarkable or touching.

3/5

It is harder to rob a bank than you think

 

Denmark (2019)

Directed by Adrian Shergold this film stars Rafe Spall and Simone Lykke. Depressed and seeing now way forward with his life a welsh man travels to Denmark to take advantage of their luxurious prisons.

For my taste this is a bit of a gentile take on some deeper issues. The film is fun but only ever feels like it scratches the surface of the subject matter. As light comedies go this is a decent watch regardless.

3/5

A nice little twist

 

The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion (2018)

Written & directed by Park Hoon-jung this film stars Kim Da-mi, Jo Min-su and Park Hee-soon. Having escaped a government lab ten years ago a now teenage girl is harassed by sinister forces.

As revenge films go this is a decent one with a fairly good twist along the way. It takes a long time to get to it but by the end the film does do something interesting with the character of its protagonist. I am interested to see what they do with any sequel.

4/5

Yet another horror remake

 

Black Christmas (2019)

Directed by Sophia Takal this remake stars Imogen Poots, Aleyse Shannon and Cary Elwes. Girls of a college sorority are hunted by a killer.

Not the most subtle or serious take on college campus rape culture there is at least something relevant under pinning this slasher film. I would have liked to see the film do more than use the feminist themes for set dressing. Not the worst slasher you will see but nothing knew either.

2/5

Not so little in the end

 

Little Women (2019)

Directed by Greta Gerwig this film based on the novel of the same name stars Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh and Eliza Scanlen. We follow four sisters as they come of age in 1800s America.

What I love most about this film is all the characters flaws, how rounded and human the main characters are. There are some tweaks to the source material but over all it appears to do a good job of being faithful while updating the thematic elements slightly. All in all this is yet another impressive film from Greta Gerwig.

4/5

Just be a cog, then you have value again

 

Adam (2020)

Directed by Michael Uppendahl this film based on real events stars Aaron Paul, Lena Olin, Jeff Daniels and Tom Berenger. A high flying salesman becomes a quadriplegic.

I think this would have been by far a more interesting film from the point of view of the nurse. What I really do not like is that the film does not end when the protagonist has come to terms with his injury or made amends but only when he has returned to being a cog in the machine of corporate America as if that is what matters most about life. Fairly average as films of this type go.

2/5

No message

 

Message Man (2018)

Written & directed by Corey Pearson this film stars Paul O'Brien, Aji Santosa and Verdi Solaiman. A retired hitman trying to lie low on an Indonesian island befriends a family and has to protect them from bad guys.

There is nothing interesting or original in this cheaply made kill-fest. The plot has a hint of Shane (1953) about it but otherwise is pretty bland. Even the acting is a bit wooden in places.

2/5

A bit too close to that extras episode

 

Coda (2019)

Directed by Claude Lalonde this film stars Patrick Stewart, Katie Holmes and Giancarlo Esposito. Returning to the stage after a three year break an ageing pianist finds he has stage fright.

Oh boy, this is a pretty disappointing film. Built round an unconvincing romance between Patrick Stewart and Katie Holmes I do not think there is anything I wanted to see in this film. By the end things are dragging despite the film only being 90 minutes long.

2/5

Splashing around

 

Bath Scene (1897)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. We see some people ate the beach messing about in the sea.

There may not be a plot or long duration to this film but it still captures plenty in the frame. There is a lot going on in such a short image. I think the ships in the background are what really make this scene.

3/5

Critical writing flaws

 

Critical Thinking (2020)

Directed by star John Leguizamo this film based on real events also features Corwin Tuggles, Jorge Lendegborg Jr. and Angel Bismark Curiel. At an inner city school in Miami a teacher gives chess lessons to under privileged kids.

It is hard to believe this is a true story as at times the plot fits familiar formulas just too easily. I am sure the real people behind this film had inspiring stories to tell but this film never gets to grips with its subject matter. Ultimately a disappointment in my opinion.

2/5

Not Clueless

 

Emma (2020)

Directed by Autumn de Wilde this film based on the novel of the same name stars Anya Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn and Mia Goth. An arrogant rich girl thinks she knows better than everyone else when it comes to match making.

Leaning into the comedic parts of the story this adaptation goes for humour over romance. Going up against Clueless (1995) is never going to be easy and this is not really an iconic adaptation. Well made but not really that impressive beyond the costumes and locations.

3/5

Does little

 

Dolittle (2020)

Directed by Stephen Gaghan this film stars Robert Downey Jr, Michael Sheen and Antonio Banderas. A doctor who can talk to animals is coaxed out of seclusion to save the Queen of England.

It is hard to know where to start with the problems with this film. The plot is not great, the humour childish at best and then there is the welsh accent issue which just takes me out of the film constantly. Even young children probably will not get much out of this one.

2/5

For the greater good

 

1BR (2019)

Written & directed by David Marmor this film stars Nicole Brydon Bloom, Giles Matthey and Taylor Nichols. A young woman moves to LA and gets an apartment of in a community that turns out to have a dark secret.

As horror films go this is nothing really surprising or new here but it is a solid genre effort. The plot does at least raise some questions about community and responsibility even if it does not explore them especially deeply. Not the worst film you will watch.

3/5

Swirls around

 

Ema (2019)

Directed by Pablo Larrain this film stars Mariana Di Girolamo and Gael Garcia Bernal. A dancer struggles with guilt after she and her husband returned the child they had adopted.

This is a film that will really make you struggle with your views on the protagonist, her actions are deeply unlikeable at times but her motives understandable to some extent. I suppose this film succeeds in being an uncomfortable watch. There are also some nice sequences with music and dance as you might expect from a film about a dancer.

4/5

A confusing marriage

 

My Zoe (2019)

Written & directed by star Julie Delpy this film also features Richard Armitage, Daniel Bruhl and Gemma Arterton. The young daughter of a separated couple suddenly falls very ill.

I have thought a lot about this film and while I love parts of it either the first two thirds are too long or the final third does not fit. On their own both parts are interesting but as a whole they do not work together. The ending detracts from from the first part and because the first part dominates the film we never really get to fully dive into the ethical dilemma of the ending.

3/5

Worth the waiting

 

Waiting for the Barbarians (2020)

Directed by Ciro Guerra this film based on the novel of the same name stars Mark Rylance, Johnny Depp, Robert Pattinson and Gana Bayarsaikhan. The magistrate of a frontier town finds you can not be a good man as part of an imperial system.

I enjoyed this art house style look at colonialism in a fictional setting. The plot maybe a little slow and the conflict fairly internal but this is still a good adaptation. The performances and landscapes really help carry the film.

4/5

No bass

 

The Rhythm Section (2020)

Directed by Reed Morano this film based on the novel of the same name stars Blake Lively and Jude Law. Three years after the death of her family a young woman finds out it was a covered up terrorist attack not an accident.

There is some potential to this film and I really like the fairly grounded feel it has. Unfortunately the plot falls apart if you put much thought into it. With a bit more thought put into it this could have been a really good thriller, as is it is another bland genre entry.

3/5

Not a shoe in

 

Horse Shoeing (1893)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. Two men shoe a horse, allegedly.

Unfortunately it seems this film only survives as about three frames, which does not really give us much to watch. It is hard to rate something that barely exists. The blacksmith short from the same director is the one to watch rather than this.

1/5

More shart than heart

 

Last Christmas (2019)

Directed by Paul Feig this film stars Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding and Michelle Yeoh. A young woman working in a Christmas shop has a disaster of a personal life.

Not content with being a wanky Christmas film this film also transitions into the less known genre of wanky transplant films. To say this film is filled with self indulgent sentimentality would be an understatement. Emilia Clarke does her best to carry this film but there is just too much cheese to overcome.

2/5

The rare occasion when somewhere stands in for LA

 

Crown Vic (2019)

Written & directed by Joel Souza this film stars Luke Kleintank and Thomas Jane. A rookie cop has his first day in a patrol car with his training officer.

Lifting a large amount from Training Day (2001) this film ends up essentially being cop-aganda. There is nothing interesting or new in the plot and the characters are fairly familiar too. The sound mix for this film is also pretty bad in places too making some of the dialogue hard to catch.

1/5

Not your Marvel's Thor

 Mortal (2020)

Directed by Andre Ovredal this film stars Nat Wolff, Iben Arkelie and Per Frisch. Norwegian police try to deal with a young man manifesting strange powers similar to those of the Norse god Thor.

Essentially this is a super hero/villain origin film with a more grounded take, a serious Thor if you will. There are enjoyable parts to this film but it is rather predictable and never does anything interesting with the bigger questions raised by the plot. There are decent performances especially from Iben Arkelie who stakes her claim to the title of Nordic Jennifer Lawrence.

3/5

Does not age well

 

“Pimpernel” Smith (1941)

Directed by star Leslie Howard this film also known as “Mister V” features Francis Sullivan and Marry Morris. A seemingly absent minded British archaeology professor helps people escape Nazi Germany in 1939.

As a piece of entertainment this film is not the greatest, where it shines is as a piece of propganda that inspired others such as Raoul Wallenberg to take action against the Nazis in real life. The plot is not exactly realistic and our hero does not really live up to his reputation, acting rather carelessly through out. Important as a historical record but not really worth seeking out.

2/5

Missing the target

 

Miss Sloane (2016)

Directed by John Madden this film stars Jessica Chastain, Mark Strong, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Alison Pill. A high flying lobbyist quits her job to work against the gun control lobby.

Parts of this film are interesting but the ending is really disappointing. My main gripe with the film is that the protagonist never has to struggle against adversity because she is playing perfect 5D chess which is just unrealistic. This film needs about 50% more humanity and 50% less super smartness.

3/5

Incomplete

 

Infamous (2020)

Directed by Joshua Caldwell this film stars Bella Thorne and Jake Manley. Two young lovers go on a crime spree while documenting it on instagram for fame.

This film really wants to be a modern Bonnie and Clyde, so much so it actually says this in the dialogue. Unfortunately the major problem with this film is it does not do enough set up work for the characters motivations and there is no way any social media site would have let an account that popular stay unbanned. Disappointing for a film with a bit of potential.

2/5

No Sparks, still decent

 The Photograph (2020)

Written & directed by Stella Meghie this film stars Issa Rae, Lakeith Stanfield and Chante Adams. We follow two love affairs a generation apart.

To be honest the most surprising thing about this film is that it is not based on a Nicholas Sparks novel but I suppose he only writes about white people. As romances go this is a decent if not ground breaking effort. Thankfully the film avoids the pitfalls of over sentimentality which plagues the genre.

3/5

Disappointment island

 

Blumhouse's Fantasy Island (2020)

Directed by Jeff Wadlow this horror remake of the television series of the same name stars Michael Pena, Maggie Q and Lucy Hale. A group of people win a trip to a magical island that can fulfil fantasies.

There is a great film in here somewhere but the script is far too interested in having so many twists and turns it loses all sight of where it was going. If the plot had just focused on the fantasy of Maggie Q's character there was scope for some real heart breaking human drama but the film is more interested in being a standard horror film. Ultimately a real disappointment not a fantasy.

2/5

Almost the right wavelenght

 

Lost Transmissions (2019)

Written & directed by Katharine O'Brien this film stars Juno Temple, Simon Pegg and Alexandra Daddario. A young woman tries to help her music producer friend with schizophrenia.

I enjoyed a lot of this film, the characters and some of the interactions they have with state apparatus. Where I think the film misses the point is that you can not help someone who does not want to be helped and our protagonist never really realises this. Still a good watch if just for the performances from Temple and Pegg.

3/5

A strange way to birth a friendship

 

All Nighter (2017)

Directed by Gavin Wiesen this film stars J. K. Simmons, Emile Hirsch and Analeigh Tipton. A man makes his daughter's ex-boyfriend help him look for her when he thinks she is missing.

I am surprised this film has so many negative reviews as it is fairly decent for what it is. Obviously the film has no great depth to it but it does have a little bit of charm and heart to it. Maybe the casting could have been tweaked a little, I would have been interested to see some alternatives to J. K. Simmons in the father role.

3/5

Taking a motorbike helmet into space

 

Astronaut (2019)

Written & directed by Shelah McLeod this film stars Richard Dreyfuss, Lyriq Bent, Krista Bridges and Colm Feore. A retired civil engineer enters a competition for a trip into space.

Simplistic and made on the cheap this is not a great film. There is nothing subtle about the script in terms of the dialogue or the characters. There are also more than a few unbelievable elements.

2/5

An end to things

 

Never Rarely Sometimes Always (2020)

Written & directed by Eliza Hittman this film stars Sidney Flanigan and Talia Ryder. A seventeen year old girl travels to New York to get an abortion.

This film is like a 100 minute long anxiety attack as you worry for the protagonist. I love how close this film gets to being a documentary, it is one of the best films on the subject matter. You can not relax until right near the end when you finally see the protagonist smile.

4/5

Sleepy

 Awakening of Rip (1896)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this short film stars Joseph Jefferson. Rip Van Winkle wakes up.

As a stand alone this is not a great short, nothing dramatic happens and we don't even really see the character waking up. You would probably need to see the series as a whole to get anything from this. Not the best example of early cinema.

2/5

All round bad.

 

The Hunt (2020)

Directed by Craig Zobel this film stars Betty Gilpin, Ethan Suplee and Hilary Swank. In the near future liberal elite hunt “red necks”.

It takes forever for the film to settle on a protagonist which is not a good start, leaving the viewer far too disconnected from what is happening. When we finally get an explanation for what is going on I think it is badly written enough to annoy both sides of the political spectrum. So after alienating everyone watching there is not much left to enjoy here.

1/5

Silly rabbit

 

Jojo Rabbit (2019)

Directed by Taika Waititi this film based on the novel “Caging Skies” stars Roman Griffin Davis, Thomasin McKenzie, Scarlett Johansson and Sam Rockwell. During WW2 a ten year old German boy who wants to be a good Nazi finds a Jewish girl hidden in his house.

Coming with a lot of hype behind it I am not sure this film lives up to the reputation it has. There are moments of humour and real issues blended together but never with enough depth to either. To be honest I think the film pretty much coasts on the concept of the imaginary best friend that is Hitler.

3/5

Not on the map

 

Bacurau (2019)

Directed by Kleber Medonca Filho & Juliano Dornelles this film stars Barbara Colen, Sonia Braga and Udo Kier. A small village is Brazil is menaced by outsiders.

It takes a little too long for this film to get going in my opinion but it is a decent anti colonialist film. You never know quite what to expect from this genre mash up so it does at least keep you on the edge of your seat. Fun even if it never fulfils its potential.

3/5

Three act problem

 

The Unicorn (2018)

Directed by Robert Schwartzman this film stars Lauren Lapkus and Nick Rutherford. In an effort to prove they are not boring an engaged couple look to have a threesome.

It takes a little while to get going but this film is fairly funny in the middle portion once it hits its stride. Where the film falls down is that it really cheaps out on the ending, there is not a good emotional resolution. With a bit of work this could have actually been a good film, a shame the early good work is squandered.

2/5

Not a band apart

 

Band Drill (1894)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson and William Heise this is an early short film. We see a band march out.

Barely twenty seconds long there is not a huge amount to this short film. The image quality is not the best and it is hard to tell if this is intended to be a serious or humorous short. Probably not the early film I would recommend to others.

2/5

A visual poem

 

A Hidden Life (2019)

Written & directed by Terrence Malick this film based on a true story stars August Diehl and Valerie Pachner. An Austrian farmer refuses to swear loyalty to Adolf Hitler and is sent to prison.

Mixing the rural visuals of Days of Heaven (1978) with the poetic mood of The Thin Red Line (1998) this is classic Malick film making. Long and slow this is an intimate look at the life of two people without a whole lot of action. There are some great moments of humanity and beauty hidden in this tale of standing up for your principles against evil.

4/5

Bergsawa

 

Silence (2016)

Directed by Martin Scorsese this film based on the novel of the same name stars Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver and Liam Neeson. In the 17^th century two Jesuit priests head to Japan to look into rumours their mentor has renounced his faith.

Combining the visuals of Kurosawa with the themes of Bergman's silent god this is a fascinating marriage of art house cinema that could only come from Scorsese. Neither the slow place or the subject matter of the film will be for everyone but if you can sit through it this is a really thought provoking film. Well worth digging into and another example that Scorsese is one of the greats of cinema.

4/5

Failure to launch

 

Lucy in the Sky (2019)

Directed by Noah Hawley this film inspired by real events stars Natalie Portman, Jon Hamm, Zazie Beetz and Ellen Burstyn. Following her return from her first trip to space and astronaut has a manic episode.

Straying from the events that inspired this film what most disappoints me about the script is that we never get to see the consequences of the protagonists actions. The film is much more interested in pushing an existential crisis narrative than dealing with people. In the end this film was a let down for someone that really loves both space and big concept films.

2/5

Time to wake up

 

Doctor Sleep (2019)

Directed by Mike Flanagan this film based on the novel of the same name stars Ewan McGregor, Rebecca Ferguson and Kyliegh Curran. Now all grown up Danny Torrance must learn to live with his past trauma and how to use his powers to help a young girl.

Unlike some I am not obsessed with The Shining (1980) but this film surprisingly serves as a good sequel to that film. I actually enjoyed this film so much more than I expected, both the horror and the thematic content. Well worth watching.

4/5

Not a doomed youth

 Anthem of a Teenage Prophet (2018)

Directed by Robin Hays this film stars Cameron Monaghan, Peyton List and Juliette Lewis. In the late 1990s a teenage boy discovers he has premonitions of when people will die.

As coming of age films go this is not one of the best but muddles a long to a fairly decent conclusion. There are plenty of enjoyable elements even if it does feel like some parts of the plot are left unresolved. If the protagonist did not spend most of the film hiding behind his hair that would probably have been an improvement.

2/5

Ashes to ashes

 

Ash is Purest White (2018)

Written & directed by Jia Zhangke this film stars Zhao Tao and Liao Fan. We follow the life of a woman and her mobster boyfriend from 2001 to 2017.

Slow moving and not exactly action packed this film is not going to be for everyone. If you like a sedate character study then this film is for you. Watching this film I can not help but feel I might have been missing the context due to my lack of knowledge of modern Chinese history.

3/5

Fucking Boomers man.

 Tone-Deaf (2019)

Written & directed by Richard Bates Jr. this film stars Amanda Crew and Robert Patrick. After losing her boyfriend and her job a young woman rents a house in the country for the weekend.

There are some pretty funny moments in this black comedy which works off the generational divide between millennials and baby boomers. While there may not be much depth here this film does at least manage to be funny. As simple horror films go there are worse ways to spend an hour and a half.

3/5

Childish

 

The Children Act (2017)

Directed by Richard Eyre this film based on the novel of the same name stars Emma Thompson, Stanley Tucci and Fionn Whitehead. A high court judge has to decide if a 17 year old Jehovah's Witness should be forced to have blood transfusions or not.

As with many book to screen adaptations this film suffers from too much of the conflict being internal rather than external. There is just too much of the characters staring off wistfully without confronting each other. I also felt that the script never truly tackled the matter at hand with enough depth during the courtroom phase.

2/5

Not that close really

 

Resistance (2020)

Written & directed by Jonathan Jakubowicz this film inspired by real events stars Jesse Eisenberg and Clemence Poesy. We follow Marcel Marceau as he works for the resistance during world war 2.

To be honest I am not sure how well this film sticks to the actual events of Marceau's life. Given that Marceau was 16 at the start of the war having someone twice his age play him is not a great start. In the end despite good intentions this is not a great film.

2/5

The government is not your friend

 

Richard Jewell (2019)

Directed by Clint Eastwood this film based on real events stars Paul Walter Hauser, Sam Rockwell, Kathy Bates, Jon Hamm and Olivia Wilde. After finding a bomb a security guard is accused of being the one that planted it.

Certainly this is a fascinating look at a man hounded by his own government for the crime of being different. I would have liked to have seen a bit more of the FBI side of the story but still this is an interesting watch. The accusations that the film commits the sort of thing it is decrying with some of the claims it makes against the female reporter is worth keeping in mind.

3/5

Transparent in places

 

The Invisible Man (2020)

Directed by Leigh Whannell this film based on the novel of the same name stars Elisabeth Moss, Aldis Hodge and Storm Reid. A woman flees her abusive husband but comes to suspect he is stalking her despite his reported death.

Taking a pretty large break from the source material this film does a decent job of exploring the ideas of abusive relationships and paranoia. There is not a ton of character depth or growth here but this is a decent psychological film in parts. My only real complaint is that the film never really fully leans into any one part so is not as deep as it could be.

3/5

Taking liberties

 

Above Suspicion (2019)

Directed by Philip Noyce this film based on real events stars Emilia Clarke and Jack Huston. A drug addict begins a relationship with an FBI agent she is informing to.

A lot of this film involves familiar story types and does not appear to stick entirely to the truth but close enough. I would have much rather have seem more of the characters and the effects of drug addiction on the protagonist. Emilia Clarke's performance is probably the best thing in this film.

3/5

Making the complicated simple

 Hamid (2019)

Directed by Aijaz Khan this film stars Talha Arshad Reshi, Vikas Kumar and Raskia Dugal. Following the disappearance of his father a young boy in Kashmir attempts to contact Allah to get his father back.

Balancing both the political and the personal this is a good film on a controversial subject. There is plenty to enjoy here as the protagonist takes euphemisms literally due to his young age. The plot is touching and thought provoking.

4/5

How to make a big mess in a short summer

 

Banana Split (2020)

Directed by Benjamin Kasulke this film stars co-writer Hannah Marks, Liana Liberato and Dylan Sprouse. In the summer after the end of high school a girl breaks up with her boyfriend then befriends his new girlfriend.

As coming of age comedies go I really enjoyed the fresh take as this film focuses more on female friendship than high school romance. I would have liked to see some of the supporting characters expanded a little but otherwise this is a fairly fun film. The charm of the script and personality of the cast are what end up carrying the film.

3/5

Just all round bad

 

Abduction (2019)

Directed by Ernie Babarash this film stars Scott Adkins, Andy On and Lily Ji. Aliens are abducting people to use their DNA to travel back to their home dimension.

It takes forever for this film to give any sort of explanation as to what is going on and when it finally it does it was certainly not worth the wait. Pretty much everything is terrible in this film from the script to the acting and the special effects. I would definitely give this one a miss.

1/5

The ghost of Bergman past

 The Lighthouse (2019)

Directed by Robert Eggers this film stars Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson. Two lighthouse keepers become stranded by a storm and slowly go insane.

Ingmar Bergman could easily have been the driving force behind this film, it is reminiscent of some of his more out there work. If you are not in the mood for something a bit abstract and fantastical then this is not the film for you. If you can live with the slow, art house nature of this film then you will find it a very rewarding watch.

4/5

Tepid bull

 Leonard-Cushing Fight (1894)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. We see a single round of action from a six round boxing match.

Given that this is not even a whole fight this is not that exciting of a film. Compared to modern standards the boxing isn't that fast or action packed. At least the image is pretty clear for the period.

2/5

Not so secret after all

 

The Secret Garden (2020)

Directed by Marc Munden this film based on the novel of the same names stars Dixie Egerickx, Colin Firth and Judie Walters. In 1947 an orphaned girl raised in India is sent to live in England with her hunchbacked uncle that she has never met before.

The latest in a long line of adaptations of this source material this is a fairly faithful adaptation although it does appear to play up the magical side of things. A fairly gentle and easy watch the script never really challenges the viewer. Nice but not likely to live in the memory long.

3/5

The best film I've seen this year.

 Naal (2018)

Directed by Sudhakar Reddy Yakkanti this film stars Shreenivas Pokale, Devika Daftardar and Nagraj Manjule. When an eight year old boy finds out he is adopted he loses faith in his mother's love for him.

It is astounding how well this film captures the world from the point of view of a child. Both beautiful and totally heart breaking at times it is hard not to recommend this film enough. The climactic scene is a work of genius that conveys so much with barely a word of dialogue, making your heart break in three different ways.

5/5

1890s break dancing

 Hadj Cheriff (1894)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson and William Heise this short film stars Hadji Cheriff. We see a man dance on camera.

Short and to the point this is a quick clip of a man performing an usual dance. I have no idea what sort of dance this is or its cultural origin but it is fairly entertaining. As these short clips of entertainment go this is fairly decent.

3/5

Wet alien

 Underwater (2020)

Directed by William Eubank this film stars Kristen Stewart, Vincent Cassel and Jessica Henwick. Workers on an underwater drilling platform try to escape a disaster and a bunch of sea monsters.

Really there is nothing original here, this is just an Alien knock off with more water. What the film really lacks is any sort of character development at all. Entertaining in the moment but completely lacking in depth.

3/5

Not quite a measured message

 The Last Full Measure (2019)

Directed by Todd Robinson this film inspired by real events stars Sebastian Stan, William Hurt and Christopher Plummer. In 1999 a government employee is assigned to review a potential medial upgrade for a man that died during the Vietnam war.

This film has a good heart to it but at times it succumbs to being heavy handed and a bit cheesy. The highlight of this film is the large cast with a number of big names having smaller supporting parts. Given the excellent cast it is possible to over look some of the weaker elements of the film.

3/5

The truth is lost

 

The Spy (2019)

Directed by Jens Jonsson this film based on real events stars Ingrid Bolso Berdal, Rolf Lassgard, Damien Chapelle and Alexander Scheer. During World War 2 a Norwegian actress finds herself used as a spy by the Swedish against the Germans.

It seems fairly open to debate how closely this film sticks to true events, certainly it appears to be sexed up if nothing else. As spy films go this is decent entertainment but not especially thought provoking. A more realistic film would have been much more interesting.

2/5

Not a magic wand

 Athlete with Wand (1894)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. A man with a stick does several exercises or poses.

This may be the earliest example of scene stealing on film as the dog left in shot takes away all attention from the subject of the film. The image quality on this one is not great and neither is the entertainment value of the supposed subject matter. Still dog on film though.

3/5

The role that Jimmy Stewart was too old to play

 

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019)

Directed by Marielle Heller this film inspired by real events stars Tom Hanks, Matthew Rhys and Susan Kelechi Watson. A cynical journalist is assigned the task of profiling a wholesome television presenter.

I think this film does a really good job of capturing something of the tone of Mr Roger's show and beliefs. Where I feel the film lets me down is that it never really presses deep enough into who Mr Rogers is, his struggles or how he became who he is. If you are content with something that is surface level warm and fuzzy then this is the film for you.

3/5

Life changes you

 Raazi (2018)

Directed by Megha Gulzar this film based on real events stars Alia Bhatt, Vicky Kaushal and Jaideep Ahlawat. On the eve of the 1971 India-Pakistan war a young Indian woman is married off to a Pakistani military family so she can spy on them.

I expected this film to be Indian propaganda and have read that it is considered strongly pro-Pakistan but if anything this is anti-war film that is pro-people. I have no idea how closely to the film sticks to real events or its source material. Enjoyable and certainly thought provoking at times.

3/5

Turn about

 

Chinese Laundry Scene (1894)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson and William Heise this film stars Phil Doreto and Robetta. A policeman chases a man.

Essentially this is the birth so much slapstick comedy that was to come in the silent era. Running less than a minute long you still get the idea of the comedy potential of cinema. Just needs the Benny Hill music really.

3/5

Eventually disappointing

 The Bygone (2019)

Co-directed by Parker Phillips and star Graham Phillips this film also features Sydney Schafer and Shawn Hatosy. A young ranch worker tries to help a native American woman escape from a cruel pimp.

As neo-westerns go this film is not too bad but it does have some issues. The film starts with an unprovable claim and builds to a fairly self indulgent climax. Issues with the story aside the plot does touch on some important issues.

2/5

Is it really a choice though?

 Spinster (2019)

Directed by Andrea Dorfman this film stars Chelsea Peretti, Jonathan Watton, Kate Lynch and Susan Kent. Turning 39 a woman faces the prospect of never getting married or having kids.

As an ode to accepting single life this film is not too bad, it does a decent job of inverting a lot of the expectations of a romantic comedy. When it comes to the comedy part the script is not what I would call dripping with jokes, I think I only really laughed about once. It is nice to see a script that takes a different path to the usual.

3/5

Full of lies

 Seberg (2019)

Directed by Benedict Andrews this film based on real events stars Kristen Stewert, Jack O'Connell and Anthony Mackie. Famous actress Jean Seberg becomes involved with the Black Power movement and is investigated by the FBI.

Jean Seberg has a fascinating story but unfortunately this film adds too many fictional elements to the tale. Adding in a sympathetic FBI agent really detracts from focusing on a woman being hounded by her government. It is also a bit disappointing how little the film actually shows about the issues of racial equality.

2/5

The first shaky cam film

 Imperial Japanese Dance (1894)

Directed by William Heise and William K. L. Dickson this early film stars the Sarashe Sisters. We see three women do a short portion of the Mikado dance.

Not the best staged dance piece you will ever see, it looks like the dancers are too close together to make sure they all fit into frame. It also seems that the camera is slightly unsteady too. Not the best of pre 1900 cinema.

2/5

Shot of disappointment

 Bloodshot (2020)

Directed by David S. D. Wilson this film based on the comic of the same name stars Vin Diesel, Eiza Gonzalez and Guy Pearce. A soldier his brought back from the dead with the aid of new technology and used as a hit man.

Within the plot of this film is a lot of potential for character based stuff but unfortunately most of that is kicked to the side in favour of action scenes. With a bit more thoughtfulness this could have been a really good film. At times the direction of the action sequences is just a little too fast as well to enjoy anything cool happening on the screen.

2/5

Justice for all

 Article 15 (2019)

Directed by Anubhav Sinha this film stars Ayushmann Khurrana, Nssar, Manoj Pahwa and Kumud Mishra. A new police inspector has to deal with the murder of two teenage girls in rural India and the disappearance of a third girl.

I really enjoyed this thriller that shows a number of the social problems still facing India today. The plot may be fictional but is rooted in a number of familiar real cases. As a thriller this film holds up well and is of a standard of some of the best out there.

4/5

Suspense

 Luis Martinetti, Contortionist (1894)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this short film stars Luis Martinetti. We see a contortionist using gymnasts rings.

Despite not even being a minute long this film manages to capture a glimpse of the a mind bending act. How the human body can be so flexible is certainly eyebrow raising. One of the clearer images from 1894.

3/5

Relentless

 Waves (2019)

Directed by Trey Edward Shults this film stars Kelvin Harrison Jr., Taylor Russell, Sterling K. Brown and Renee Elise Goldsberry. A teenage boy struggles under the expectations of his father while his sister feels abandoned following her brother's actions.

I really enjoyed this moody look at teenage life and tragedy. There is a great combination of two coming of age stories rooted in real human characters. Well worth seeking out if you are in the mood for something with real emotions in it.

4/5

Twists and turns to make a point

 The Turning Point (1952)

Directed by William Dieterle this film stars William Holden, Edmond O'Brien and Alexis Smith. A district attorney and a reporter both seek to take down a crime syndicate.

As thrillers go this one packs a decent amount into the 90 minute run time. The plot is solid and filled with plenty of conflict thanks to some good dialogue. Not more than the sum of its parts but still a decent watch.

3/5

Too little humanity, too much divinity

 Harriet (2019)

Directed by Kasi Lemmons this film based on real events stars Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom Jr. and Joe Alwyn. A young woman escapes from slavery and then helps rescue others.

No doubt about it Harriet Tubman is an inspirational individual who deserves to have her story told but this film does not do the job in my opinion. What I find most distasteful about the film is the deserve to take away human bravery and instead credit the supernatural. If you can get part the Jesus parts this is a serviceable biopic at best.

2/5

Just too familiar

 Just Mercy (2019)

Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton this film based on real events stars Micheal B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx and Brie Larson. In 1989 an idealistic young African American lawyer heads to Alabama to offer legal aid to inmates on death row.

Unfortunately there is nothing surprising or new about this tale of injustice, racism and the death penalty. Enjoyable as this film is it is sadly just another in a long line of films on similar topics. Well made but just another reminder of how unfair the system is.

3/5

Shook

 A Hand Shake (1892)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this film features the director and William Heise. Two men shake hands.

The image quality on this one is pretty poor as is the handshake which is barely complete. No doubt an important experiment on the path to cinema but not worth watching on its own. There are better early films out there.

1/5

When the French try to steal your space station

 3022 (2019)

Directed by John Suits this film stars Omar Epps, Kate Walsh and Angus Macfadyen. In 2190 the crew of a space station witness the destruction of Earth and realise they have nowhere to go.

It is obvious that this film was made on a low budget but it is pretty decent plot wise for the restrictions placed upon the film. Where I have problems with the film is the large amount of smoking through out and the ten years term the characters are supposedly hired for, both of which seem unrealistic. In the end this is neither the best or the most thought provoking sci-fi film you will see.

2/5

Barely two seconds

 Fencing (1892)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. Two men a captured fencing.

Running at just two seconds this film was no doubt a technical achievement but there is not a lot to it. For those of us looking for entertainment there is not a huge amount here. One of those early films you can skip without missing anything.

2/5

Gutter ball

 The Jesus Rolls (2019)

Written & directed by star John Turturro this film also features Bobby Cannavale and Audrey Tautou. Two former cons and a hairdresser go on a sex and crime spree.

This film is a very odd mix of spin-off from The Big Lebowski (1998) and remake of a French film Going Places (1974). To be honest this bastard child of a film never seems to coalesce into anything coherent. For all the on screen talent this is a real headscratcher.

2/5

Alone

 Sweetheart (2019)

Directed by J. D. Dillard this film stars Kiersey Clemons, Emory Cohen and Hanna Mangan-Lawrence. A young woman washes up on a desert island where she finds there is a monster living.

As a low budget horror/survival film this is pretty decent on the surface level. My criticism of the film would be that if never builds to be more the sum of its parts, there is no depth here. Decently made for a low budget effort if nothing else.

3/5

Deviations on a grand scale

 

Motherless Brooklyn (2019)

Directed by star Ed Norton this film based on the novel of the same name also features Bruce Willis, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Alec Baldwin and Willem Dafoe. A private investigator with Tourette's syndrome looks into the murder of his mentor.

It seems this film differs wildly from its source material both in period and plot. As a noir film this is a fairly enjoyable effort but never really connects on a human level. For all the on screen talent this film ends up being unremarkable.

3/5

Battling brothers

 Glenroy Brothers (Comic Boxing) (1894)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson and William Heise this short film stars the Glenroy brothers. Two men try and box with supposedly comedic effect.

Silent film generally does slapstick rather well but this effort is rudimentary at best. Not even a minute long there is not much time for jokes here. I hope the brother's full act was better than this because this snippet leaves a lot to be desired.

2/5

Out of tune final note

 Judy (2019)

Directed by Rupert Goold this biopic stars Renee Zellweger, Jessie Buckland and Finn Wittrock. In the final year of her life Judy Garland performs in London.

There is little new information about the life of Judy Garland in this film. Somehow the script seems unable to avoid a wanky Hollywood ending despite the protagonists deep suffering. Renee Zellweger does her best to carry the film but there is not really enough going on here.

3/5

Ups and downs

 

The Lift Boy (2019)

Written & directed by Jonathan Augustin this film stars Moin Khan, Nyla Masood, Saagar Kale and Aneesha Shah. A lazy student has to fill in for his father operating a lift after his father has a heart attack.

I can see what this film is going for as a coming of age film but I can not agree with the message which seems to be “give up on your dreams and live your life for what everyone else wants from you”. There may well be a culture difference that stopped me fully enjoying the film. I found the writing a bit simplistic, taking away what potential the film had.

2/5

Short but entertaining

 Fire Rescue Scene (1894)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson and William Heise this is an early short film. We see firemen rescue someone from a burning building.

Despite running for less than a minute this film has a fair amount of action in it. For the period this must have been a very thrilling scene. To modern eyes not the greatest but a clear evolution in the film making of the Edison company.

3/5

Warmth and books

 The Public (2018)

Written & directed by star Emilio Estevez this film also features Alec Baldwin, Christian Slater, Jena Malone and Michael K. Williams. During a cold winter homeless people in Cincinnati with nowhere to go occupy the public library.

Rarely do you see any talk about the link between public libraries and homelessness so this is a refreshing subject to see on the big screen. Where the plot falls down is in the lack of real solutions offered at the end but it is still a decent watch. If nothing else hopefully this film will serve to soften the views of some on the homeless.

3/5

Simple fun

 Assignment in Brittany (1943)

Directed by Jack Conway this film based on the novel of the same name stars Jean-Pierre Aurmont, Susan Peters and Signe Hasso. An office in the Free French army assumes the identity of another man to find a hidden submarine base.

As wartime spy films go this is a pretty decent one even if it is not exactly nuanced. The big action sequence at the end of the film was a nice little surprise that is well done. By modern standards the script is no great shakes but this is still a fun watch.

3/5

No smoke at all.

 Playing with Fire (2019)

Directed by Andy Fickman this film stars John Cena, John Leguizamo, Keegan-Michael Key, Brianna Hildebrand and Judy Greer. A group of smokejumpers spend the weekend babysitting runaways.

I am not sure what age is the target audience for this film but even five year olds would likely find this film a bit stupid. There is not enough comedy to carry this lightweight effort and John Cena is not really suited to comedy as a lead actor. Keegan-Micahel Key does his best but is unable to save this film.

1/5

Better than what follows

 Buffalo Dance (1894)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. We see members of the Sioux tribe perform a “Buffalo Dance”.

Early cinema does a better job of showing native Americans on camera than most films of the next century did. This small snippet of film catches a moment of lost history. An interesting historical record if nothing else.

3/5

Following familiar reboot rules

 Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)

Directed by Tim Miller this film stars Mackenzie Davis, Natalia Reyes, Linda Hamilton, Gabriel Lina and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Picking up where Terminator 2 left off this film sees a different AI sending back terminators to end potential threats.

On the surface this is okay for a big budget action films despite a few plot holes and not making the most of the character drama available. Ignoring some of the worst sequels of the franchise this film is better than some of its predecessors but has so many unfortunate consequences from ill thought out moments. This is one of this films I really think could be fixed with a few more re-writes.

2/5

Born facing the sea

 Catamaran (2019)

Written & directed by Swarnavel Eswaran this film stars Preeti Karan, Anusha Prabhu and Mysskin. In a fishing village still recovering from the devastation of the an uncle tries to find a husband for his niece.

There are moments this film verges on being really great but unfortunately it falls a little short. A little melodramatic in places and not clear in others it is sadly hard to recommend this film despite some of the moving moments it has. A bold effort despite its flaws.

3/5

Cocks out 1894 style

 

The Cock Fight (1894)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. We see two cockerels go at each other in a fight.

I am not really a fan of watching people fight and even less so when it comes to animals so this is not really my favourite subject matter. Thankfully things do not get gory but still not something I would be dying to rewatch. Even for fight fans there is not a lot to this film.

2/5

No jokes

 Corporate Animals (2019)

Directed by Patrick Brice this film stars Jessica Williams, Karan Soni and Demi Moore. Workers for an overbearing employer go on a team building exercise and get trapped in an underground cave.

Despite having a fairly decent premise this film is a damp squid, there is a serious lack of actual jokes in the script. With a punched up script this could have been a decent film but I only really laughed a couple of times. More Ed Helms might have helped carry this lacklustre effort.

2/5

Indian rap?

 Gully Boy (2019)

Directed by Zoya Akhtar this film stars Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt and Siddhant Chaturvedi. A young Muslim from a slum area of India dreams of being a rapper.

When you are translating rap from one language to another unfortunately something is always going to get lost along the way so some of the magic of this film may be missing to those of us that do not speak Hindi. This is a fairly enjoyable film that apart from the rap element covers a lot of familiar elements from Indian cinema. Not something that I would rewatch or will stick with me unfortunately.

3/5

Not one that grabs you

 Don't Let Go (2019)

Written & directed by Jacob Aaron Estes this film stars David Oyelowo, Storm Reid, Byron Mann and Mykelit Williamson. Following the murder of his brother and his family a police detective starts getting phones from his daughter living in the past.

Taking something of an interesting set up this film does not really do much beyond the surface level with it. There are parts of the film where the timeline could be kept a little clearer but otherwise this is a decently constructed film. Ultimately a bit too familiar to really recommend.

3/5

Not enough grime

 Ford v Ferrari (2019)

Directed by James Mangold this film based on real events stars Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Jon Bernthal and Caitriona Balfe. In the 1960s Ford decide to go head to head with Ferrari in the car racing business.

As with many Hollywood films this film does not let facts get in the way of a formulaic story. Unfortunately you can see the finger prints of screen writing formula on this script far too often to enjoy it as a historical piece. Entertaining but ultimately losing impact due to the Hollywood polish.

3/5

A creepy notebook

 

Remember Me (2019)

Directed by Martin Rosete this film stars Bruce Dern, Caroline Silhol and Brian Cox. An old man pretends to have Alzheimer's to stay in the same old people's home as an old flame.

Essentially this is the more creepy version of The Notebook (2004), where an old man tries to get a married woman with Alzheimers to remember their affair. Unfortunately the whole plot seems a bit uncomfortable. I would give this one a miss and if you really have to watch something like this crack open The Notebook.

2/5

A hundred years before ice cube

 

The Barbershop (1894)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson and William Heise this is an early short film. We see a barber and two customers.

Capturing a simple scene of daily life this is a quaint little short. No doubt the scene is not authentic but still well framed. A fun little glimpse into history.

3/5

Behold revisions needed

 Behold My Heart (2018)

Directed by Joshua Leonard this film stars Marisa Tomei, Charlie Plummer and Timothy Olyphant. After a teenagers father is murdered his mother turns to alcohol for comfort.

As grief/coming of age films go this film is no great shakes. Really for the story to work we need to spend longer with the characters, we never get enough time with them going through the process for them to really earn their ending. Taken as it stands this film is not really worth seeking out.

3/5