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