Not as sharp as some would have you believe

 

Knives Out (2019)

Written & directed by Rain Johnson this film stars Ana de Armas, Daniel Craig and Chris Evans. A famous mystery author commits suicide, or did he?

I am afraid this film suffers a bit from not being able to live up to all the hype surrounding it. By no means is this a bad film, it is a decent murder mystery with some hints at socio-political themes, but I do not think it is ever more than the sum of its parts as is required for greatness. Where the film is at its best is the way it subverts your expectations for a murder mystery film and I think that is the real strength of the piece. I enjoyed the large ensemble cast even if some of them are left without much to do.

4/5

Charm and disappointment

 

We Broke Up (2021)

Directed by Jeff Rosenberg this film stars Aya Cash, William Jackson Harper, Sarah Bolger and Tony Cavalero. A long term couple break up on the eve of going to the wedding of the woman's younger sister.

I found this to be a bit of a confused film, it never really lives up to the premise or goes all in on the comedy potential. What I did like about the film is the ending which is earnest and a refreshing change from the norm. Not a bad watch but with a little more effort could have been so much more.

3/5

Celestial path

 

Passage of Venus (1874)

Directed by P.J.C. Janssen this is a very early short film. We see the planet Venus as it starts to move across the sun.

More a collection of stills than an actual film this still must have been ground breaking in its day. The film is barely more than five seconds long but is just enough to give you an idea of the movement of the planet Venus. Impressive for the date it comes from.

2/5

Life as a mope

 

Mope (2019)

Directed by Lucas Heyne this film based on real events stars Nathan Stewart-Jarrett and Kelly Sry. Two men trying to make it as porn stars become best friends.

I am not sure this film sticks entirely to the events as they happened but it does provide a good look into the life of low end work for male talent in the porn industry. You can not help but feel bad for how the characters are used and looked down on by everyone they encounter. There may be nothing surprising here but it is fairly well done.

3/5

Giving up

 

Body of Water (2020)

Written & directed by Lucy Brydon this film stars Sian Brooke, Amanda Burton, Fabienne Piolini-Castle and Nick Blood. A woman returns home after spending 7 months in an eating disorder treatment centre.

This is a look inside the mind of a person suffering from an eating disorder and their path to self destruction. As depressing as this film is I really enjoyed it. The film takes on a tough subject matter without ever shying away from reality.

4/5

Striking an accord

 

Oslo (2021)

Directed by Bartlett Sher this film based on the play of the same name stars Ruth Wilson, Andrew Scott, Salim Daw and Itzik Cohen. Members of the Norwegian foreign ministry try to jump start the peace process between Israel and the PLO.

It is hard to tell how historically accurate this film is, it is fairly entertaining but does not get to the nuts and bolts of history as we may like. The script does focuses a bit more on the personal than the historical. As a piece of entertainment this is decent but as history I am not so sure.

3/5

Stock footage

 

Buffalo Stockyards (1897)

Directed by James H. White this is an early short film. A number of horses are paraded past the camera and back again.

Not a huge amount to this short film unless you are a big fan of horses. As a historical record I am sure this film has some use. Not the most entertaining early film you will see but there is something going at least.

3/5

Too familiar

 

Every Breath You Take (2021)

Directed by Vaughn Stein this film stars Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan, Sam Claflin and India Eisley. After the suicide of one of his patients a therapist someone seeks revenge on his family.

Unfortunately this thriller is completely predictable from about fifteen minutes in, there is no mystery or surprise here just waiting for the film to get to the inevitable conclusion. The script of this film feels a lot like a relic of the 90s when Hollywood was pumping out films like this one. Even two big name stars can not save this derivative script.

2/5

Short changed by Danes

 

Into the Darkness (2020)

Directed by Anders Refn this film stars Jesper Christensen, Bodil Jorgensen, Sara Viktoria Bjerregaard and Mads Reuther. We follow the family of the owner of an electronics family in Denmark as it is occupied by the Germans in WW2.

While this film hits all the expected notes it lacks the ones in between to really give it the full depth required. As a film this is fine but it would have worked much better as a television series given the scope the story is trying to encompass. Even with a 152 minute run time the film can never really do the subject matter justice.

3/5

Choo choo

 

Fast Mail, Northern Pacific Railroad (1897)

Directed by James H. White this is an early short film. We see a train approach and pass the camera.

Running at around thirty seconds there is not a lot to this film. What we do get here is a precursor to a shot that you will see many times over in the future in various films. Everyone loves to see a train go past.

3/5

Bad notes

 

Music (2021)

Directed by Sia this film stars Kate Hudson, Maddie Ziegler and Leslie Odom Jr. A woman recovering from addiction has to care for her non verbal autistic sister after the death of their grandmother.

I really dislike the premise of this film that all you need to sort out your life is to be forced to care for someone with a disability. The film never really takes seriously any of the issues presented by the plot, either addiction or caring for someone full time. The musical interludes also did not really fit the film, they just seemed to get in the way.

1/5

Confusing mess despite good intentions

 

Come Away (2020)

Directed by Brenda Chapman this film stars David Oyelowo, Angelina Jolie, Keira Chansa and Jordan Nash. Two young children try to help their parents over come the death of their older brother.

Essentially this is a fan fiction mash up of Peter Pan and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland that never really manages to weave things together successfully. The film lacks real depth, it has a decent concept but it never manages to follow through. On the one hand it is nice to see some diverse casting in a period piece however I am really not sure how I feel about the way the film uses race as class and just pretends racism did not exist in the period, that makes me very uncomfortable.

2/5

Not much of a scheme

 

Schemers (2019)

Written & directed by Dave McLean this film stars Conor Berry, Sean Connor, Grant Robert Keelan and Tara Lee. In 1979 in Dundee a young man becomes a gig promoter to impress a girl.

This is based on the director's real life and to be honest is not that interesting. I have no idea how closely the film sticks to real events but there are parts that do not make sense and seem a little bit cliché. As coming of age tales go this is one I would skip.

2/5

The floury hands of deceit

 

Why Mrs. Jones Got a Divorce (1900)

Directed by James H. White this is an early short film. A woman catches her husband having it off with a pretty cook.

You can see the beginnings of actual narrative here, this short actually has a plot. There may not be a lot to this short but it does work. Seems a bit harsh that the cook turns the table over at the end when she is the one in the wrong.

3/5

Not much of a holiday

 

Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (2021)

Directed by Josh Greenbaum this film stars Kristen Wiig, Annie Mumolo and Jamie Dornan. Two middle aged women go to Florida on vacation and get caught up in an evil woman's plans.

I found this comedy to be too safe and predictable through out. While the film does little wrong it does the bare minimum in terms of entertainment and jokes. What I think the film really lacks is some energy and heart.

3/5

Not flat but stumbles a little

 

Falling (2020)

Written & directed by star Viggo Mortensen this film also features Lance Henriksen, Sverrir Gudnason, Terry Chen and Laura Linney. A biggoted old man with dementia goes to visit his gay son in California.

As dementia films go this one is alright if a little repetitive. The highlight for me is when Laura Linney shows up which is sadly all too brief. Ultimately a good if not great film with a decent cast.

3/5

Not original art

 

The Artist's Wife (2019)

Directed by Tom Dolby this film stars Lena Olin, Bruce Dern, Juliet Rylance and Avan Jogia. A woman has to come to terms with her artist husband having dementia.

I have to wonder why we never get to see the working class version of this film, is it only a tragedy when the “great minds” start to become lost? There is too much that is familiar about this film to really enjoy it and to be honest the protagonist is just too subservient for my taste. The performances of the lead actors are not enough to save this film in my opinion.

2/5

All at sea while on land

 

Looted (2019)

Directed by Rene Pannevis this film stars Charley Palmer Rothwell, Thomas Turgoose, Tom Fisher and Morgane Polanski. A young man cares for his dying father and steals cars with his friend.

I enjoyed this tale of sadness and urban desolation. The plot might not have enough big moments for some but I found it enjoyable as a more subtle story. There are some great shots of the sea which always seems just out of reach to the characters.

4/5

Not one for Enya

 

S.S. Coptic Sailing Away (1897)

Directed by James H. White this is an early short film. We see a ship being watched by a bunch of people as it sails away.

To be honest you would have got as much out of this short if it was just a still image because there is not actually a lot of movement involved here. The ship may be sailing away but honestly is barely moving. Not the best example of the medium.

2/5

Needs a bit more class

 

After Class (2019)

Directed by Daniel Schechter this film also known as “Safe Spaces” stars Justin Long, Kate Berlant and Lynn Cohen. A creative writing teacher struggles to balance family problems with problems at work after a student complains about him.

There is a lot to enjoy about this film but I am not sure it ever really tackles the home or the work elements of the protagonists life properly by trying to include both. Still enjoyable while dealing with tricky subject matter the film manages to find humour in respectful ways. A decent if not deep watch.

3/5

Not ethical at all

 

Max Winslow and the House of Secrets (2020)

Directed by Sean Olson this film stars Sydne Mikelle, Tanner Buchanan, Chad Michael Murray and the voice of Marina Sirtis. A group of high school kids are invited to a competition in a high tech house.

If you put the kids from The Breakfast Club unsuspectingly through a high tech, forced therapy session you might get this film. Best not to think about the plot because it makes no sense and is supremely unethical at best. A kids movie that I doubt even kids will like much.

2/5

A third film?

 

Midway (2019)

Directed by Roland Emmerich this film based on real events stars Ed Skrein, Patrick Wilson and Luke Evans. We follow the American and Japanese sides as WW2 begins and their carrier fleets face off at the island of Midway.

Given that there were previously two big name films about this battle I am not sure we needed a third. The film does a good job of covering events spanning several years and the battle itself. As you might expect some details get lost but otherwise this is a surprisingly decent film.

3/5

Dark doo doo

 

Dark Web: Cicada 3301 (2021)

Directed by Alan Ritchson this film stars Jack Kesy, Conor Leslie and Ron Funches. A man is drawn into a dark web contest while being tracked by the NSA.

There are many problems with this film but the most obvious is that it can not stick to a consistent tone, flipping between childish humour and trying to have some sort of serious hacker anarchist under pinnings. Much of the plot makes no sense if you think about it for even a minute. I would love to have seen a series treatment of this subject matter as it is pretty interesting rather than this pile of poop.

1/5

Josie is no pussy cat

 

Josie & Jack (2019)

Directed by Sarah Lancaster this film based on the novel of the same name stars Olivia DeJonge, Alex Neustaedter and William Fichtner. After escaping their abusive adoptive father a teenage girl realises she also needs to escape her brother.

There is a lot going on in this film but I am not sure the plot ever really goes anywhere. The stand out part of the film is Olivia DeJonge's performance, I am not sure much else will stick with me from the film. Not the best coming of age film will see, I would be interested to see how closely it stuck to the source material.

3/5

No redemption here

 

Redemption Day (2021)

Directed by Hicham Hajji this film stars Gary Dourdan, Serinda Swan and Andy Garcia. A US army captain has to save his wife from kidnappers in Algeria.

With a highly basic plot there is not much to shout about here. Even the direction is disappointing as when we finally get to them most of the action sequences are way too dark to see what is going on. The music in the opening sequence is pretty good but otherwise terribly over the top and out of place.

1/5

Falls short

 

As I Am (2019)

Directed by Guy Davies this film stars Joshua Glenister and Kim Spearman. With the end of school on the horizon a teenage boy dreams of a way out of the small town he lives in.

Typical coming of age stuff that unfortunately never quite settles on an appropriate ending. The ending we do get really comes out of nowhere and I am not sure fits the film. There are parts of this film that really hit home so it is a disappointment it never coalesces into something whole.

2/5

Slightly overcooked

 

The Burnt Orange Heresy (2019)

Directed by Giuseppe Capotondi this film based on the novel of the same name stars Claes Bang, Elizabeth Debicki, Mick Jagger and Donald Sutherland. An art critic is enlisted by a collector to help him steal a painting from a reclusive artist.

I found this film to be fairly enjoyable, mainly through its Italian setting more than anything else. The plot is a little bit arty farty, possibly a reflection of the subject matter. Not overly original but you do get to see Mick Jagger in a film so that is something I suppose.

3/5

Choo choo

 

Armour's Electric Trolley (1897)

Directed by James H. White this is an early short film. We see a train pass by the camera at an industrial yard.

There is not a huge amount to this short clip, no doubt it has some historical value even if it lacks in entertainment to the modern eye. The train does look pretty cool if you are into that sort of thing. I do not think this is one of those early films I would recommend given what it lacks.

2/5

Not a greatest hit

 

Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020)

Directed by Dean Prisot this film stars Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter and Kristen Schaal. Years after we last saw our heroes they have still not fulfilled the prophecy and time is running out on them.

As much later sequels/reboots go this film is decent enough, fitting in well with the modern trend of such films. I was never a huge fan of the previous films but this one fits in decently enough. There is something hinting at an exploration of midlife crisis about the plot even if the film never really connects with the subject deeply.

3/5

Please take it back

 

Take Back (2021)

Directed by Christian Sesma this film stars Gillian White, Michael Jai White and Mickey Rourke. When her past catches up with her a married woman has to save her step daughter.

If you were being unkind you would say this is the African American Taken (2008). Unfortunately the film is poorly written, I mainly watched it because it had a short run time yet it still managed to seem too long. Even the action sequences are not well done.

2/5

Too messy

 

Reunion (2020)

Written & directed by Jake Mahaffy this film stars Julia Ormond, Emma Draper, John Bach and Cohen Holloway. A pregnant woman returns home to her abusive parents.

At times I found this film a little hard to follow, the direction and editing make it difficult to tell what exactly is real at times. As horror films go this is a fairly decent one if not overly original. There are definitely echoes of some of the genres big names in here.

2/5