The Columnist (2019)
Directed by Ivo van Aart this film stars Katja Herbers, Bram van der Kelen and Claire Porro. A depressed newspaper columnist takes the fight to online haters by tracking them down and murdering them.
No doubt this is a finally and relevant social commentary. Where the film falls down for me is it does not really offer any solutions to the issues raised. That being said the film is very thought provoking.
4/5
Parasite (2019)
Directed by Bong John-ho this film stars Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Choi Woo-shik and Park So-dam. A poor family infiltrates the service of a rich family.
As a criticism of wealth inequality this film works really well and there are some shocking twists to keep things interesting. While the film is good I did feel it fell a little short of the hype surrounding it. Well made with good performances, worth a watch for sure.
4/5
Pawn Sacrifice (2014)
Directed by Edward Zwick this film based on real events stars Tobey Maguire, Liev Schreiber and Peter Sarsgaard. We follow American chess player Bobby Fischer as he attempts to become world champion of chess.
For my money this film never really goes deep enough on its subject matter, it captures a surface level but nothing more. No doubt Bobby Fischer is a complex and troubled subject, I just do not think this film does him or the chess justice. All that said this is not a bad watch even if it does stray from real events in places.
3/5
And Then We Danced (2019)
Written & directed by Levan Akin this film stars Levan Gelbakhiani, Ana Javakhishvili and Bachi Valishvili. At the National Georgian Ensamble two young men begin a secret affair.
I suspect if I was more familiar with Georgian culture I would have gotten more out of this, some of the subtleties of the criticism of masculinity in Georgian culture and dance likely went over my head. In general this is a decent watch that never gets melodramatic. Enjoyable even for an outsider.
3/5
Riders of Justice (2020)
Written & directed by Anders Thomas Jensen this film stars Mads Mikkelsen, Andrea Heick Gadeberg and Nikolaj Lie Kaas. Following a train accident that kills his wife a soldier seeks revenge against the people he believes caused the crash.
Walking a careful line this film manages to combine is hilarious moments of dark humour with actually having something to say about grief and life. I really enjoyed the mix of odd ball characters that makes this not your usual revenge film. Totally bizarre and amazing at the same time.
4/5
On the Town (1949)
Directed by Stanley Donen and star Gene Kelly this film also features Frank Sinatra, Betty Garrett, Ann Miller, Jules Munshin and Vera-Ellen. Three sailors have twenty four hours to spend in New York.
This is the horniest film I have seen in a long time, so much for our grandparents being all reserved. There is not a huge amount of plot or character development here but the film does deliver on plenty of colour and big numbers. If nothing else a fun piece of nostalgia.
3/5
Lorelei (2020)
Written & directd by Sabrina Doyle this film stars Pablo Schrieber and Jena Malone. After 15 years of being apart a couple reconnects.
I found this to be a fairly enjoyable drama about a man coming out of prison. The story pops through the expected beats without getting melodramatic. My only criticism is that the script goes a little easy on the protagonists learning curve, starting him out most of the way there.
3/5
Locked Down (2021)
Directed by Doug Liman this film stars Anne Hathaway, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Ben Kingsley. During lock down a couple plan to steal a diamond.
I was surprised to see so many lukewarm and negative reviews of this film. While the crime element is definitely the weakest part of the film I thought the rest of it was a really good look into the way lock down effected people. It is nice to see something we all lived through on the big screen so soon.
4/5
From the Vine (2019)
Directed by Sean Cisterna this film based on the novel “Finding Marco” stars Joe Panoliano, Wendy Crewson and Paula Brancati. A Canadian business man has a break down, quits his job and goes to Italy to visit his grandfather's vineyard.
Mashing up a typical modern feel good film with echoes of Italian Neo Realism this is a pretty predictable and cheaply made film. The plot is nothing special, it could do with a few tweaks to improve it really. Not a bad watch but nothing memorable.
2/5
Lick Observatory, Mt. Hamilton, Cal. (1897)
Directed by James H. White this is an early short film. A stagecoach rides up to the front of an observatory.
Like most films of the era there is not a huge amount to this film. A single, static shot shows a stagecoach approach a building and that is all we get. We do not even get all of the building in shot which seems like a mistake given the title.
2/5
Military Wives (2019)
Directed by Peter Cattaneo this film inspired by real events stars Kristin Scott Thomas and Sharon Horgan. While the men are away at war a group of military wives form a choir.
Nothing brings out over sentimentality like singing so this simplistic feel good film has it in spades. I found the film to be shallow and formulaic. The film sits very squarely in that self congratulatory middle England genre.
2/5
Death in Texas (2020)
Written & directed by Scott Windhauser this film stars Ronnie Gene Blevins, Lara Flynn Boyle, Stephen Lang and Bruce Dern. After getting out of prison a man finds out his mother is dying of liver failure.
Too much on the predictable side this film never really surprises you. The film is not necessarily a bad watch it just never does anything original. As neo westerns go this is nothing special.
2/5
Fun in Camp (1899)
Directed by James H. White this is an early short film. Kids riding bears rock up at an army camp during the Spanish-American War.
Looking staged this is a piece of early propaganda film. As entertaining as kids on bears is this is not exactly the best of early cinema. I suspect this short is not the most historically significant of the Edison catalogue.
2/5
Embattled (2020)
Directed by Nick Sarkisov this film stars Stephen Dorff, Darren Mann, Karrueche Tran and Elizabeth Reaser. A young man with an abusive father who is an MMA star takes his first steps into MMA.
While this film does have a plot to it it does stretch credibility in a few places such as the anti communist wanting to set up a fighters union. I was very worried the film was going to chicken out of giving the plot the ending it deserves but it just about manages to walk the line in giving us something worthwhile without going all the way. Decent even if it relies on a lot of familiar plot points.
3/5
Meander (2020)
Written & directed by Mathieu Turi this film stars Gaia Weiss and Peter Franzen. A woman is kidnapped and made to crawl through tunnels.
There is not a lot of plot to this film and very little dialogue yet some how the ending still seems to be confused. I am not sure it really makes sense in the end and there are portions where I found myself a bit bored as things get repetitive. Certainly something different but misses the mark.
2/5
Those Who Wish Me Dead (2021)
Directed by Taylor Sheridan this film based on the novel of the same name stars Angelina Jolie, Finn Little, Aidan Gillen and Nicholas Hoult. A smokejumper who has been grounded protects a boy from assassins out to kill him.
If this film had been made 25 years ago it probably would have been a smash hit. As is this film is a bit of a bland thriller where characters too often do something stupid. In the lead role Angelina Jolie has very little to work with, too much of the script is just going by the numbers rather than involving actual character growth.
2/5
104th Street Curve, New York, Elevated Railway (1899)
Directed by James H. White this is an early short film. We see a trains on the elevated railway in New York.
A couple of simple shorts stitched together this film gives you the idea of what a place and time is like. Entertaining if not incredibly deep. Well made for the period.
3/5
The Colour Room (2021)
Directed by Claire McCarthy this film based on real events stars Phoebe Dynevor, Matthew Goode and David Morrissey. A young woman wants to design in the male dominated industry of pottery.
It seems that this film pretty much ignores actual events in favour of a revisionist effort. The film is too obviously constructed and simplistic. Yet another disappointment from Sky's own Originals brand.
2/5
The Last Vermeer (2019)
Directed by Dan Friedkin this film based on real events stars Guy Pearce, Claes Bang and Vicky Krieps. Following the end of WW2 a Dutch art dealer is put on trial for selling art work to the Nazis.
There is some nice duality in the idea of fake people arguing over fake paintings but the turn in the plot is far too obvious. The script strays too much from the fascinating real story for my taste as well. In the end a disappointment given all the potential here.
2/5
Free-for-All race at Charter Oak Park (1897)
Directed by James H. White this is an early short film. Horses pulling buggies compete on a race course.
Like many films of the era this there is not a lot to this short. We have a static shot of competitors passing by. The image quality is okay but nothing special.
3/5
Willy's Wonderland (2021)
Directed by Kevin Lewis this film stars Nicolas Cage, Emily Tosta and Beth Grant. A stranger in town has to spend the night cleaning at an abandoned family entertainment centre to pay off a debt.
Essentially this is Five Nights at Freddy's with Nicolas Cage and is as ridiculous as you would expect. The film does not take itself too seriously and is plenty of fun. Where the film is a bit weak is it relies too heavily on exposition in some parts while leaving the protagonist woefully under explored.
3/5
Last Orders (2001)
Directed by Fred Schepisi this film based on the novel of the same name stars Micahel Caine, Bob Hoskins, Helen Mirren and Ray Winstone. Following the death of a local at a pub his three drinking friends and son take his ashes to be scattered.
Predictable and a bit sentimental in places this is still an enjoyable exploration of the intertwined lives of a group of people. The way the story unfolds through flashbacks is pretty well constructed and poignant at times. Obviously the main draw here is the fantastic cast, so much talent in one film.
4/5
Stanford University, California (1897)
Directed by James H. White this is an early short film. We see a bunch of people walking past the camera.
Unfortunately there is not much in the way of landmarks or similar to really place this film, it could be taking place anywhere. The image quality does not show a lot of detail about the people on film either. All in all not one of the better early Eidson films.
2/5
Admiral Dewey Landing at Gibraltar (1899)
Directed by James H. White this is an early short film. A row boat brings Admiral Dewey into the dock at Gibraltar.
The image quality of his short is not good so it is hard to make out anything about the individuals featured. Made up of a single shot that does not move there is nothing much to say about the camera work. If it had survived at better quality this could have been quite interesting.
2/5
Mortal Kombat (2021)
Directed by Simon McQuoid this video game adaptation stars Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee and Josh Lawson. Earth stands on the edge of being invaded if its champions lose another Mortal Kombat tournament.
Lacking anything in the way of a real plot or characters that have arcs there is not a lot to the script of this film. The extensive fight sequences are just not good enough to carry the piece either. All in all this is a lazy effort that has little going for it.
2/5
The Garden Left Behind (2019)
Directed by Flavio Alves this film stars Carlie Guevara, Ed Asner and Michael Madsen. A young transwoman living as an illegal immigrant in New York struggles to find her place in the world.
Managing to be touching and person despite moments of real darkness this is a good watch on the subject of trans rights. The plot may not be ground breaking or surprising but it covers difficult issues with care. Well worth seeking out, especially for Carlie Guevara's performance.
4/5
Philadelphia Express, Jersey Central Railway (1897)
Directed by James H. White this is an early short film. A train goes past the camera then another goes across the top of a bridge.
Simple but effective this single shot film is set up fairly nicely. There are other films of this era where there does not seem to have been much effort put into the framing but this one is a step up. One of the better films of the era.
3/5
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)
Directed by Michael Chaves this film inspired by real events stars Vera Farminga and Patrick Wilson. Our protagonists go up against a witch by means of demonic possession and murder.
Frankly I find making money of fraudsters and the satanic panic to be distasteful. The film it self would not be too bad if not for claiming to be true even if there is not a huge amount to it. All in all the whole thing leaves me with a bad taste in the mouth.
2/5
Survive the Night (2020)
Directed by Matt Eskandari this film stars Bruce Willis, Chad Michael Murray and Shea Buckner. Two criminals hold a doctor and his family hostage when they need treatment for a gunshot wound.
Some how this film manages to stretch about 30 minutes of plot into 80 minutes run time. There is nothing original or interesting here. Pretty much everyone involved is very obviously phoning this one in.
2/5
Land of Mine (2015)
Directed by Martin Zandvilet this film stars Roland Moller and Mikkel Folsgaard. Following the end of WW2 German soldiers in Denmark are forced to work clearing mines.
This is a film that makes you anxious for 90 minutes then leaves you depressed. While I really enjoyed the film it does take the easy route a little, there are no true believers on the German side having to face the new reality, only on the Danish side. Well made with some excellent shots of the Danish coast.
4/5
