Capture of the Boer Battery by British (1900)
Directed by James H. White this is an early short film. A bunch of British soldiers rush at some Boers protecting a single cannon.
Rather than being daring in the action stuff this is a recreation. As recreations go it is not too bad but lets be honest it is never going to be as exciting as the real thing. I suppose as an early example of fake news this is something.
2/5
Rogue Hostage (2021)
Directed by Jon Keeyes this film stars Tyrese Gibson, John Malkovich and Michael Jai White. At the opening of a new store things go wrong when everyone is held hostage.
Essentially this is Die Hard in a Walmart which might not be so bad as a parody but is played straight here. The plot is pretty dire as are most of the character choices. All in all I was left wondering what sort of blackmail material was used to get the cast to take parts in this film.
1/5
Born a Champion (2021)
Directed by Alex Ranarivelo this film stars Sean Patrick Flanery, Katrina Bowden, Maurice Compte and Dennis Quaid. An American who is an expert in Brazilian jiu-jitsu gets involved in unsanctioned MMA fights.
Unfortunately the plot of this film is dripping with coincidences and over sentimentality. Clearly this is supposed to be Sean Patrick Flanery's lover letter to martial arts but the script hamstrings everything. The fight sequences are decent but no where near good enough to carry this film.
2/5
Chicken Run (2000)
Directed by Peter Lord & Nick Park this film has voices from Julia Sawalha, Mel Gibson and Miranda Richardson. Chickens on a chicken farm plan to escape before they get turned into pies.
As with all Ardman Animation films this film has a huge amount of charm and humour to it. The plot contains numerous references to WW2 PoW films of the 50s and 60s. If you can not find enjoyment in this film then you have a pretty cold heart.
4/5
Fear and Loathing in Aspen (2021)
Directed by Bobby Kennedy III this film based on real events stars Jay Bulger, Cherly Hines and Amaryllis Fox. Annoyed with the state of local government Hunter S. Thompson runs for sheriff in Aspen.
Mostly this film is trading on the legend of Hunter S. Thompson, it is not really that gonzo or insightful on its own. As small town politics films go this one is decent enough but unremarkable generally. A short run time hints at the lack of real content.
3/5
The Age of Shadows (2016)
Directed by Kim Jee-woon this film stars Song Kang-ho, Gonh Yoo, Han Ji-min and Uhm Tae-goo. A Korean working as a police captain for the Japanese colonial government is tasked with rooting out the Korean resistance movement.
This is a decent war time spy thriller that weaves something of a complex web. At times the plot is a little complicated but I was able to follow it. What the film lacks is a little bit of depth beyond the moving pieces.
3/5
Cordelia (2019)
Directed by Adrian Shergold this film stars Antonia Campbell-Hughes and Johnny Flynn. A troubled young woman is left alone for the weekend.
If you are looking for clear answers this is not the film for you, the plot is very ambiguous almost to the point of not making sense. As an exploration of a person losing their sanity this is fairly interesting but the script is just a little too frustrating to make sense of. In the end a bit of a disappointment.
2/5
Troop Ships for the Philippines (1898)
Directed by James H. White and Frederick Blechynden this is an early short film. We see a ship loaded with US troops headed for the Philippines.
Unfortunately this film does not have great image quality. The distance of the camera from the subject makes it hard to pick out the details of the troops on the ships. Not the best of pre 1900 cinema.
2/5
Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975)
Directed by Peter Weir this film based on the novel of the same name stars Anne-Louise Lambert, Rachel Roberts and Dominic Guard. On St. Valentines day girls from a boarding school go to visit Hanging Rock for a picnic and three disappear.
If you are expecting a normal period piece you are in for a surprise, this is definitely a film that explores at least hints of the supernatural and has a very art house feel to it. The themes of the film are subtle enough that they require you give them some thought but well worth the effort. A good watch that lives up to it's reputation.
4/5
Cliffs of Freedom (2019)
Directed by Van Ling this film based on the novel “Daughter of Destiny” stars Tania Raymonde and Jan Uddin. During the Greek War of Independence a young woman sees her family killed and becomes a revolutionary.
No doubt there is a fascinating story to be told against the back drop of history shown here but unfortunately this is not it. The plot is melodramatic and unrealistic at times. I very much doubt this one went down well either in Greece or Turkey.
1/5
Tops (1969)
Directed by Charles and Ray Eames this short film has music from Elmer Bernstein. We see a wide variety of spinning tops.
As a visual poem of sorts this is a really entertaining short film. There is not really a plot or deeper point but the images are mesmerising. I really liked the great variety of spinning tops the film manages to capture.
3/5
Drunk Bus (2020)
Directed by John Carlucci & Brandon LaGanke this film stars Charlie Tahan, Pineapple Tangaroa and Kara Hayward. A recent graduate trying to get over his girlfriend leaving him still works his college job of driving the drunk bus.
On the surface this is a pretty average coming of age film but there are a few moments where it skirts on being a bit problematic. At times Pineapple is a bit of a “mystic negro” which is not a great look. Probably the best part of this film is seeing Kara Hayward is now all grown up and still acting.
2/5
The Death of Stalin (2017)
Directed by Armando Iannucci this film stars Steve Buscemi, Simon Russell Beale and Jeffrey Tambor. As Stalin dies the rest of the party leaders scramble to come out on top.
As a farce this is a really funny film, the absurdity hits at every level. The film may be a little lacking in historical accuracy or saying anything about real power but if you can over look that it is very entertaining. With a little bit more attention to detail this could have been a really great film.
4/5
Bread (1953)
Directed by Charles and Ray Eames this is a short film staring bread. We see how bread is made and the various types it comes in.
Very simple in terms of content, there is not really much of a plot here. If you come from another planet this would be an excellent primer on bread although yeast is seems to be left out. Not exactly full of depth.
2/5
Breaking News in Yuba County (2021)
Directed by Tate Taylor this film stars Allison Janney, Mila Kunis and Regina Hall. After her husband dies of a heart attack when caught cheating on her a woman decides to hide his body and pretend he is missing.
As farce films go this is a fairly decent one if not amazing. The plot lacks a little bit of depth or anything really memorable. What is good about this film is the large number of leading roles for women that it has.
3/5
The Little Things (2021)
Written & directed by John Lee Hancock this film stars Denzel Washington, Rami Malek and Jared Leto. In 1990s LA a former murder detective is drawn back into an old case thanks to new murders.
To be honest this film is a bit of a let down. Despite all the promising casting the actual plot is a bit flat and does not really go anywhere. For all the talent involved I expected something more.
2/5
American Traitor (2021)
Directed by Micahel Polish this film based on real events stars Al Pacino, Meadow Williams and Swen Temmel. After WW2 an American woman who broadcast radio propaganda for the Nazis is put on trial for treason.
Unfortunately this is not very historically insightful or well made. The courtroom drama portion relies much too heavily on a big monologue at the end rather than building an argument. All in all there is some suspect acting and suspect history here.
1/5
Eratosthenes (1961)
Directed by Charles and Ray Eames this is an animated short film. Greek mathematician Eratosthenes tries to work out the size of the Earth.
Very simple but does a good job of showing how to estimate the size of the planet. Of course if you are a flat earther I suppose this film would sit well with you but for those us that are sane it is a nice watch. Short and effective.
3/5
This Is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection (2019)
Written & directed by Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese this film stars Mary Twala Mhlongo. An 80 year old widow grieves for her son as the government threatens to move her entire village.
I really enjoyed this exploration of grief, a communities connection to the land and the threat of forced migration. For some this film may be a bit slow moving but if you can handle the pace this is a fascinating watch. Haunting and touching, I really recommend this film.
4/5
Mahalia (2021)
Directed by Kenny Leon this film based on real events stars Danielle Brooks, Olivia Washington and Benjamin Charles Watson. We follow the career of soul singer Mahalia Jackson.
This is one of those biopics that just gives you the key moments of someone's life without ever really digging into them as a person or the moments that changed them. No doubt Mahalia Jackson is an interesting person but this film does not do much to paint her as a fully formed character. Overall a bit disappointing really.
2/5
No Sudden Move (2021)
Directed by Steven Soderbergh this film stars Don Cheadle, Benicio de Toro, David Harbour and Jon Hamn. In 1950s Detriot two gangsters find themselves caught up in corporate espionage.
As crime films go this one is a bit dense and at times a little hard to follow. The plot ends up being nothing that special despite the initial tense hostage situation. I found the extensive use of fish eye lenses to be really distracting, it took me out of the film far too often.
2/5
Something About Functions (1961)
Directed by Charles and Ray Eames this is a short film. We learn about the concept of mathematical functions.
Compared to some of the other Eames films this one is a bit simple and not overly insightful. There is not much in the way of interesting animation either. Probably one you can skip.
3/5
Voyagers (2021)
Written and directed by Neil Burger this film stars Tye Sheridan, Lily-Rose Depp, Fionn Whitehead and Colin Farrell. In the future 30 young people are raised and sent into space to travel to a new planet for colonisation.
In the opening portion of the film there are some interesting ethical and existential questions raised however these are binned off in favour of doing Lord of the Flies in space with a side order of a recent ex-president. What we get is decent enough but far too familiar. I would much rather have seen the film focus on themes of space colonisation than what we got.
3/5
Flashback (2020)
Written & directed by Christopher MacBride this film stars Dylan O'Brien and Maika Monroe. A man struggles to accept his mother's mental decline and his boring office job.
Essentially this is the story of a midlife crisis solved by drug induced flashbacks. It can be a little confusing to keep up with the skipping through multiple timelines but this is a decent film if you can keep up. If flashing lights trigger you in any way stay clear of this film because it is full of extended sequences of them.
3/5
Eames Lounge Chair (1956)
Directed by Charles and Ray Eames this is a short animated film. We see a man put together a chair then take it apart again.
There is really not a whole lot to this film but it is a nice use of stop motion animation featuring real people. If you are expecting a plot or story you might be disappointed. Not the best from the Eames brothers.
3/5
Rare Beasts (2019)
Written & directed by star Billie Piper this film also features Leo Bill, David Thewlis and Kerry Fox. A single mother falls in love with a very angry man.
To be honest I am not sure what we are supposed to take from this film but it is a very unique voice. I enjoyed this film a lot even if I am not sure what to make of it. Billie Piper offers up something very different and fresh here so I hope we get to see more from her.
3/5
Monos (2019)
Directed by Alejandro Landes this film stars Julianne Nicholson, Moises Arias, Sofia Buenaventura and Karen Quintero. A group of child soldiers stationed on a mountain top guard a kidnapped engineer.
Visually stunning through out this is a fascinating look at the break down in a group of children. The conclusion always feels inevitable but the path to get there is gripping. Well worth seeking out, I highly recommend this film.
5/5
Senior Moment (2021)
Directed by Giorgio Serafini this film stars William Shatner, Jean Smart and Christopher Lloyd. A man in his seventies loses his drivers license and has to earn it back.
I found this film to be disappointing in pretty much every area. The protagonist creepily leers at much younger woman and seems to have a side order of casual racism going on. If you can find any redeeming feature to this film I would be impressed.
1/5
Solar Do-Nothing Machine (1990)
Directed by Charles and Ray Eames this is a short film. We see a solar powered machine in action.
Unfortunately this is not one of the best short films from the Eames brothers. The film never really shows us how the machine works or what it does. I would skip this one if I were you.
2/5
Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)
Directed by Shaka King this film based on real events stars Daniel Kaluuya and Lakeith Stanfield. In the 1960s a man is forced to join the Black Panthers as an FBI informant.
This film does a really good job of both showing the Black Panthers and the FBI activities against them. There is both a human story here and a broader society one with a good balance between the two. It is very hard to watch this film and not end up very angry at the establishment.
4/5
Cowboys (2020)
Written & directed by Anna Kerrigan this film stars Steve Zahn, Jillian Bell and Sasha Knight. A troubled father tries to save his trans son from the boy's unaccepting mother.
This is an enjoyable story of troubled people trying to do their best. The non linear nature of the film is easy to follow and touching. May be not the deepest film but still a good watch that touches an important topic.
4/5
