Pompiers: sortie de la pompe (1896)
Directed by Auguste & Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. Several fire-carriages head down the road.
As films of the period go this is a decent one. The images captured are not exactly historic however they do have a decent amount of action to them. A fun little short.
3/5
Black Widow (2021)
Directed by Cate Shortland this film stars Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Rachel Weisz and Ray Winston. On the run from SHIELD Natasha Romanoff has to confront her past.
It is strange when a film leaves you wishing there was more to like about it. The film hits all the expected beats and the family moments are nice there is just something lacking here. Nothing ever really connects despite the film not doing much wrong.
3/5
Inbetween Girl (2021)
Written & directed by Mei Makino this film stars Emma Galbraith, William Magnuson and Emily Garrett. A teenage girl struggles with her world falling apart and her biracial identity.
Classic coming of age drama wrapped up exploring being American born with Chinese heritage. There is a ton to enjoy here from a drama that really hits the heart in places. It is impossible not to feel for the protagonist thanks to the well told story.
4/5
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)
Directed by David Yates this film stars Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law, Ezra Miller and Dan Fogler. Our heroes try to stop Gindelwald being elected leader of the wizards.
As someone who is not a fan of the Wizarding World I found this film a struggle to follow. I much preferred the exploration of fantastic beasts over this political machinations stuff. One for the dedicated fans not us muggles.
2/5
The Batman (2022)
Directed by Matt Reeves this reboot stars Robert Pattinson, Zoe Kravitz, Paul Dano and Jeffrey Wright. A serial killer stalks Gotham City's establishment and the Batman is on the case.
Sufficiently broody this film brings the detective side of Batman to the big screen in a way we have not had before. Some what criminally the film manages to make Batman boring, stretching out the run time far too much and including action sequences that are kind of bland. Ultimately this film is pretty much stuff you have seen done better in the Nolan films, on its own it is fine it just withers in comparison.
3/5
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
Directed by Sam Raimi this film stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Benedict Wong and Xochitl Gomez. Doctor Strange tries to protect a young woman who can travel realities.
Neither the best or the worst of the MCU this film trundles along never really becoming more than the sum of its parts. I found the film to be enjoyable enough thanks to the fan service moments but the plot never really coalesces into something memorable or touching. In fact the protagonist's character arc does not really fit in my opinion given his actions in previous Avengers films.
3/5
The Duke (2020)
Directed by Roger Michell this film inspired by real events stars Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren. A man from Newcastle steals a famous Goya painting of the Duke of Wellington.
Anyone familiar with British cinema of the last 25 years will know exactly the type of feel good with a hint of class tension film this is. There is a bit of straying from real events to tie the plot up nicely in the bow the film makers want. Another fairly forgettable effort of a lazy genre.
3/5
Der Kaiser (2022)
Directed by Tim Trageser this film based on real events stars Klaus Steinbacher, Ferdinand Hofer and Teresa Rizos. We follow the career of legendary German footballer Franz Beckenbauer.
I found this film to be just too short to do any subject justice as a biopic. The film flits through various key points without always connecting them with proper context. Tonally the film is a bit too light hearted for my taste with some of the darker elements of Beckenbauer's personality.
2/5
Firestarter (2022)
Directed by Keith Thomas this film based on the novel of the same name stars Zac Efron, Ryan Kiera Armstrong and Sydney Lemmon. A family go on the run from the government to protect their daughter with pyrokenetic powers.
I have not seen the previous adaptation so I have no idea how this film compares however this is a pretty weak effort taken on its own merits. The protagonist never really has a proper character arc which is the main problem. You can see hints of the familiar Stephen King style in the plot but the film never makes the most of them.
2/5
Embarquement (1896)
Directed by Auguste & Louis Limiere this is an early short film. People get onto a ship while porters load up the baggage.
If this was made today Evian would have paid a lot for the product placement in this one. The shot is pretty nicely framed however there is not a huge amount of action. Decent if not overly remarkable.
3/5
Boxers in Barrels (1897)
Directed by Auguste & Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. Two men stand in barrels next to each other and attempt to have a boxing match.
Mostly this is two men falling over. I do not know who decided boxing in barrels is a good idea but it is sufficiently silly as to be entertaining. A fun little short.
3/5
Le retour, Place de l'Etoile (1899)
Directed by Auguste & Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. We see a street scene with the Arch de Triumph in the background.
Nice back drop to a simple street scene. The traffic seems awfully we behaved, apart from the guy walking into it anyway. A nice little addition to the Lumiere catalogue.
3/5
Equilibre et moulinet (1899)
Directed by Auguste & Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. A man shows off his trained cats.
For a vaudeville act these trained cats are pretty impressive. The image quality could be a little better so it is not always easy to make out the details. Still a fun little short.
3/5
Carnaval, [VIII] (1897)
Directed by Auguste & Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. We see a shot of people in costumes and floats at a carnival in Nice.
It is fascinating to see how little some things have changed in over 100 years. The images caught on camera are both familiar and old at the same time. A lovely piece of history captured on film.
3/5
The Northman (2022)
Directed by Robert Eggers this film stars Alexander Skarsgard, Nicole Kidman, Claes Bang and Anya Taylor-Joy. The son of a murdered Viking king seeks revenge on his uncle.
Taking inspiration from the legend of Amleth, better known as the plot of Hamlet, this film might be predictable however is it never boring. Through out the images and mythology are enthralling. Another fascinating film from Eggers who really knows how to get moody.
4/5
Baignade de negres (1896)
Directed by Auguste & Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. A group of black people jump into the water from a dock.
Nice to see a bit of diversity in the Lumiere catalogue and in a non-racist way which is a bit more common in say the Edison films. There is plenty of action on the screen, a decent little scene is captured. A pretty fun watch all in all.
3/5
Berlin, Hallesches Thor (1896)
Directed by Auguste & Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. We see a street scene from Berlin.
This is a fun little snap shot of life capturing people and trams on the streets of Berlin. The scene is pretty enjoyable and has a few things going on in it. A decent example of the genre.
3/5
Panorama des rives de la Seine a Paris, III (1898)
Directed by Auguste & Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. A camera on a boat goes down the river Seine.
Possibly the first trilogy in history, is there anything the Lumieres did not do first? A fairly decent river scene with the movement of the boat making up for the lack of movement of the camera. Nothing especially interesting happens on the river bank.
3/5
Fish Market (1896)
Directed by Auguste & Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. We see a fish market in Marseille.
Less fish market and more dock side scene it is a bit hard to make out what is going on in shot here. The image quality is fine but there is just a crowd of people too far from the camera to really make out details. Another weaker effort from the Lumieres.
2/5
Pillow Fight, No. 2 (1898)
Directed by Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. A group of children have a pillow fight.
This must be the most half hearted pillow fight I have seen, the children seem more interested in ripping up the pillows than hitting each other. Image quality is fine I suppose, nothing special. Not the greatest action film of its day.
2/5
Mauvaises herbs (1897)
Directed by Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. Women burn some stuff on a fire.
To be honest there is not a lot going on here. The image quality is decent but the actual action is not that clear due to all the smoke. Not the most interesting film of the period.
2/5
Danse espagnole de la Feria Sevillano (1900)
Directed by Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. A woman stands up and does a short dance, then is joined by a man.
There is not a huge amount to this one and it loses a little not having any sound. The short dance is fairly decent but not enough to give you more than a taste. Needs a little more to it in my opinion.
2/5
Concert (1896)
Directed by Auguste & Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. A quartet plays some music.
Nothing highlights the absence of sound like a film of people trying to play music. As a short without sound I really do not think this one works. Not the best experiment in the early Lumiere catalogue.
2/5
Saut a la couverte (1896)
Directed by Auguste & Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. In the land before trampolines you need your mates to hold out a blanket for you.
I suppose this is a pretty fun if slightly repetitive short. There is not much variation in the content despite the film being less than a minute long. Fun but forgettable.
3/5
Geant et nain (1896)
Directed by Auguste & Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. A tall man and a dwarf have a wrestling match.
This is one of those early short films that is just a small portion circus or vaudeville act caught on camera. There is a decent amount of action captured in this short film and it never gets repetitive. Fairly fun for what it is.
3/5
Arrivee en voiture (1896)
Directed by Louis Lumiere this short film features a number of members of the director's family. A carriage arrives, people get off.
Very simple in terms of content and not great in terms of image quality. A fair amount of the detail in this one is lost to fuzziness. Not that great really.
2/5
Evian: procession de la Fete-Dieu I (1898)
Directed by Auguste & Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. We see a parade as part of a local fete.
I checked two copies of this short and neither had great image quality. This are a bit fuzzy and it is difficult to make out any details. Not the most interesting of the Lumiere catalogue.
2/5
Ploughing (1896)
Directed by Auguste & Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. Your man ploughs a field.
Nothing terribly surprising is to be found in this short film. I enjoyed the pastoral scene which might not be for everyone. A nice little piece of history, a lost way of life captured on screen.
3/5
Cuirassiers a cheval (1896)
Directed by Auguste & Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. Armoured men on horse back charge the camera.
On the way to becoming consigned to history the subjects of this film are shown in their last moment of glory. With World War 1 looming cavalry of the type on show here is about to go the way of the dodo. A nice little piece of history captured just before it fades away.
3/5
Fete de Paris 1899: Concours d'automobiles fleuries (1899)
Directed by Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. Vehicles travel down the Champs Elysee in Paris.
In terms of image quality the version I saw of this short was a little on the fuzzy side, mostly fine for picking out the action but the details. The stuff going down the road is fairly interesting as is the back drop. A nice little short, a shame it is not a little clearer.
3/5
Balancoires (1896)
Directed by Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. People enjoy a ride at the carnival.
The image quality of the version of this short I saw was not great, you can make out the rides but the people are a bit fuzzy. Definitely a nice piece of history captured, just a shame it is not clearer. Not one of the best surviving of the Lumiere catalogue.
2/5
Paris, le Pont-Neuf (1897)
Directed by Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. People walk past a statue in Paris.
This is one of the less busy street scenes from the Lumiere catalogue, not a huge amount going on here. Pretty par for the course as the genre goes. I would have liked to have seen a stand out element but otherwise this is fine.
3/5
Bal d'enfants (1896)
Directed by Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. Ten young girls dance in pairs.
For what it is this is a pretty decent short. There is plenty of action in the shot and the dancing well coordinated. A fun little piece of history.
3/5
Chamonix: Le mauvais pas (1901)
Directed by Auguste and Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. A group of people walk in the mountains.
To modern eyes everyone looks frightfully over dressed for hiking in the mountains. This is a pretty simple short with not a lot to it. We do get action in both the background and then the foreground which does at least show some use of depth which is nice.
3/5
Petit Frere et petite soeur (1897)
Directed by Louis Lumiere this short film stars Marcel and Madeleine Koehler. Two children dance on a sunny day.
Very simple and very human there is not much to this short. We see a very familiar moment of two children playing that ends rather predictably. A nice universal moment.
3/5
Nice, panorama du casino pris d'un bateau (1897)
Directed by Auguste and Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. We see a view of Nice from aboard a boat.
Given the camera is on a boat this is not the steadiest shot in history. As coastlines go I suppose you could say this is a nice one. An average panorama for the period.
3/5
The Reef: Stalked (2022)
Written & directed by Andrew Traucki this spiritual sequel stars Teressa Liane, Ann Truong, Saskia Archer and Kate Lister. Four friends go kayaking in the sea and get stalked by a shark.
Do not expect anything imaginative here, this is your standard low budget shark film. Even the special effects are on the suspect side. There is barely enough plot to fill the run time of this one.
1/5
Two of Us (2019)
Directed by Filippo Meneghetti this film stars Barbara Sukowa and Martine Chevallier. Two older women in a secret relationship find their lives kept apart when one has a stroke.
I love the heart breaking nature of this film, it is the kind of film where you can really wallow in the sadness on show. Never melodramatic this is a touching look at the lives of two people that have had to live in secret for so long. Highly recommend, so well made and acted.
4/5
Lyon: debarquement d'une mouche (1896)
Directed by Auguste & Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. People get off a ship that has come in to port in Lyon.
A parade of passengers pass the camera in this film that runs for just under a minute. Dare I say this one is a bit pedestrian. There is some action from the people passing but this is not the most remarkable Lumiere short.
3/5
Entree d'une noce a l'eglise (1897)
Directed by Auguste & Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. A bride and her father enter a church.
Very simple in terms of content there is not a huge amount to this short. There is some charm to the familiar wedding scene. Pretty average for a film of the period.
3/5
The Eagle Has Landed (1976)
Directed by John Sturges this film based on the novel of the same name stars Michael Caine, Donald Sutherland and Robert Duvall. With WW2 going against them Germans plan to kidnap Churchill.
It has been years since I had seen this one and on rewatching it has lost a little now I am older. The film does not manage to capture the nuances of the character motivations as well as it could, especially when it comes to the “honourable” Germans which is a little uncomfortable. I also think the romance side plot comes off as completely unbelievable. There is definitely something to enjoy in the opening planning sections of the film it just goes off the rails in the final part and loses sight of realism.
3/5
Aisha (2022)
Written & directed by Frank Berry this film stars Letitia Wright and Josh O'Connor. A young woman seeking asylum in Ireland is befriended by a guard at the hostel she lives in.
I really enjoy this look at a life caught in limbo, the film captures what it is like to be trapped in the asylum system. This is a very grounded film that never gets melodramatic despite the emotional subject matter. A really fantastic film on a controversial subject.
4/5
The Phantom of the Open (2021)
Directed by Craig Roberts this film inspired by real events stars Mark Rylance, Sally Hawkins and Rhys Ifans. A man with no golf experience enters the British Open.
This film has all the hallmarks of a certain type of British cinema, based on a true story, feel good and obsession with class. Maurice Flitcroft is an interesting subject for a film however I think the film makers were too interested in shoe horning in the familiar genre staples to actually take a good look at the man. Of major disappointment is Sally Hawkins being relegated to a meek side role yet again when we know she is such an amazing actress.
2/5
9 Bullets (2022)
Written & directed by Gigi Gaston this film stars Lena Headey, Dean Scott Vazquez and Sam Worthington. A burlesque dancer aspiring to be an author tries to protect a boy whose family have been murdered for stealing from a crime boss.
Nothing is good here. The writing is pretty terrible and everything lives or dies on that. Even the most ardent of Lena Headey fans will want to give this one a miss.
1/5
Ambulance (2022)
Directed by Michael Bay this film based on the Danish film of the same name stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Eiza Gonzalez. Two men trying to escape a bank robbery hijack an ambulance with two hostages.
All round disappointing this is one of Michael Bay's weaker efforts. The direction and the editing make it hard to catch dialogue and enjoy the action. What plot there is is pretty stupid in various places as well.
1/5
Berlin: Panoptikum (1896)
Directed by Auguste & Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. We see a street scene from Berlin.
Most of the action takes place in the middle ground making it slightly harder to pick things out than some of the other Lumiere street scenes. There is a decent amount of hustle and bustle going on in shot. An average genre film, not my favourite.
3/5
La Canebiere (1896)
Directed by Auguste & Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. We see a street scene from an intersection in Marseille.
There is plenty going on in this short film as both pedestrians and traffic pass by. A slice of every day life captured on film. Entertaining if a bit mundane in subject matter.
3/5
Peche aux sardines (1896)
Directed by Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. We see fishermen sorting out the catch from their nets.
Very simple in terms of content an execution there is not a huge amount to this short. While the film definitely captures a moment in time it is not exactly a universal one. An okay watch even if not my favourite of the period.
3/5
Poker Face (2022)
Written & directed by star Russell Crowe this film also features Liam Hemsworth, RZA and Elsa Patasky. A rich man with a terminal illness gathers his old school friends together for poker night.
Somewhere underneath it all there is a great film in here trying to get out, unfortunately rather than focus on the pot boiler human drama the film is too interested in flash action moments. It is a real shame Crowe took the easy path with this one. About the only highlight for me was seeing Brooke Satchwell in something for the first time in decades.
2/5
The Man Standing Next (2020)
Directed by Woo Min-ho this film based on real events stars Lee Sung-min, Lee Byung-hun and Kwak Do-won. We follow the final days of the leadership of a dictator in 1970s South Korea.
Clearly we are dealing with controversial subject matter here and I am not sure that the film makes clear the ambiguity in the actions of some of the characters. No doubt this is a gripping watch and a good look at political corruption but I have no idea how historically accurate it is. A good watch if you are not bothered about accuracy.
3/5
Monday (2020)
Directed by Argyris Papadimitropoulos this film stars Sebastian Stan and Denise Gough. Two Americans living in Greece have a one night stand that becomes a relationship.
I suppose you could consider this film something adjacent to the Before trilogy but slightly more messed up. The two protagonists are completely flawed and watching the car crash is part of the draw here. Does not quite live up to the promise of the premise.
3/5
Douche apres le bain (1897)
Directed by Auguste & Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. Four young people throw buckets of water over each other.
No doubt those involved are having fun, there is a decent amount of action on the screen. It is a little hard to make out what is going on as the image quality of this one does not seem to be the best. A human moment if not an overly remarkable one.
3/5
Pont de Westminster (1896)
Directed by Auguste & Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. A shot of Westminster Bridge shows people going about their daily lives.
I like the way this short captures both an iconic location and the mundane life of people who live in the city. One or two people break the 4th wall by looking at the camera however most are unaware of it. A fascinating snapshot of a point in history.
3/5
WarGames (1983)
Directed by John Badham this film stars Matthew Broderick, Ally Sheedy, Dabney Coleman and John Wood. A highschool hacker accidentally ends up playing out a nuclear war with a government computer.
When you scrape all the 80s cheese off this film it actually has something to say about nuclear war and MAD. Unfortunately the film is fairly dated and lacking a little bit in subtlety. A fun watch despite the flaws.
3/5
Depart de cyclistes (1896)
Directed by Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. A number of cyclists whiz past the camera at the start of a race.
To be honest it is hard to tell this is the start of the race, it could be any point from the middle of one. There is a decent amount of action on screen so this is a fairly entertaining short. Seems to survive in decent image quality.
3/5
Retour d'une promenade en mer (1896)
Directed by Augute & Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. A small boat returns to harbour and people climb ashore.
Very simple in terms of content this is a decent watch for a film of the period. There is plenty going on in the frame, more than enough to keep your attention. Seems to have survived in good image quality too.
3/5
Morbius (2022)
Directed by Daniel Espinosa this film based on the character of the same name stars Jared Leto, Matt Smith, Adria Arjona and Jared Harris. A successful doctor with a rare genetic problem searches for a cure.
Largest of all the problems with this film is it just never makes me care at all. I have read a fair amount of Marvel and Morbius is not a character I am familiar with so goodness knows what the general public was thinking coming into this one. Not a “bad” film, just a terribly uninteresting one.
2/5
Spanish Bullfight (1900)
Directed by Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. We see a portion of a bullfight.
I am not one who is much for bullfights and there is not really a lot of action captured here. There is nothing overly dramatic in the less than one minute run time. Everything seems a bit sedate compared to what you are expecting.
2/5
The Immaculate Room (2022)
Written & directed by Mukunda Michael Dewil this film stars Emile Hirsch, Kate Bosworth and Ashley Greene Khoury. A couple agree to spend 50 days in an empty room in an attempt to win $5million.
I think the major issue with this film is that it does not do enough to foreshadow the cracks that will inevitably build between the characters in this set up. There is something to the premise and with some tweaking I think this could be a real pressure cooker of a film however it falls a bit flat here. The attempt to play at a coy ending is also a bit annoying in my opinion.
2/5
Radeau avec baigneurs (1896)
Directed by Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. People jump off a raft into the sea.
There is not much more to this than the synopsis. It is a fairly entertaining short even if there is not a lot of variety to the action. The image quality of the version I saw was not the best.
3/5
Red Rocket (2021)
Directed by Sean Baker this film stars Simon Rex, Bree Elrod and Suzanna Son. A male porn star returns to his small home town in Texas after falling out of interest in the porn industry.
There is always something appealing about watching a character sink lower and lower through their own actions and this film certainly has that. The creepy relationship between the protagonist and a 17 year old girl says more about the porn industry than you would think. Definitely a thought provoking and subtly creepy film.
4/5
Wolf (2021)
Written & directed by Nathalie Biancheri this film stars George MacKay, Lily-Rose Depp and Paddy Considine. A teenage boy believing he is a he is a wolf trapped in a human body is sent to a treatment facility for people with zoanthropy.
Going into this film I was very worried it would be a reductive and crass metaphor for looking at Trans issues and while it is not as bad as it could have been it is still pretty uncomfortable at times in my opinion. There are moments where the film captures some of the struggles of the characters or the abuse they suffer in the name of “treatment” really well I just do not think we had to go with this questionable set up to achieve that. Certainly uncomfortable viewing, not always for the intended reasons despite the good performances from the cast.
2/5
Panorama de l’arrivée à Aix-les-Bains pris du train (temps de neige) (1896)
Directed by Auguste & Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. We see the countryside go past as we travel on a train.
I am a sucker for a snowscape so this one had me right away. Placing the camera on a train gives this short a lot of energy for a film of the period. A very nice wintry scene.
3/5
The Lost City (2022)
Directed by the Nee brothers this film stars Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliff and Da'Vine Joy Randolph. A writer of romance-adventure books finds herself on a real life treasure hunt with the cover model from her books.
Attempting a post-modern look at the genre this film is maybe trying just a little too hard. There are some funny moments but the plot of the film is just a bit too on the weak side for the film to really work. You can see what the film makers are going for here it just does not land.
2/5
Barking Dogs Never Bite (2000)
Written & directed by Bong Joon-ho this film stars Lee Sung-jae and Bae Doona. An unemployed academic gets annoyed by barking dogs so decides to kidnap and kill them.
As dark comedies go this is not the funniest I have seen although it does have it's moments. I can see why this would be a cult film even if it did not fully connect with me. Those that really love dogs may want to skip this one given how some of the scenes play out.
3/5
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022)
Directed by Jeff Fowler this film stars James Marsden, Jim Carrey, Tika Sumpter and the voices of Ben Schwartz, Colleen O'Shaughnessey and Idris Elba. Doctor Robotnik returns with a new ally.
I know this is a film aimed at children but that is no excuse for the sloppy writing. Too little thought was put into the script for this one, the plot is barely there and a lot of the references are type that will date fast. If only the film had been over as fast as Sonic runs.
2/5
Dresden, August-Brucke (1896)
Directed by Auguste and Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. We see a short snippet of life on a street in Dresden.
Not too dissimilar from other Lumiere films there is not a lot that is unique about this short. We may get a new location on show however it does not look that different to any other street of the period. Just lacks a little to make it stand out.
2/5
Bassin des Tuileries (1896)
Directed by Auguste and Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. Children play with small boats on a pond at the park.
This short captures a simple little scene of daily life. There is definitely some charm to the scene captured here, something you might see even in the modern era. A fun little short.
3/5
Depart en voiture (1896)
Directed by Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. Three women get into a horse drawn carriage and leave.
A single static shot makes up this short film and you basically get what you expect. The image quality is decent but the action a bit mundane. Nothing too surprising here really.
3/5
Voltige (1896)
Directed by Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. Men jump onto and off a horse.
Say what you will about Hollywood, at least they wait more than a year before remaking a film unlike Lumiere. Despite being a remake of a film made the previous year this is still a pretty fun short. There is plenty of action and even some comedy due to mistakes by the performers.
3/5
Writing Backwards (1896)
Directed by Louis Lumiere this early short film stars Felicien Trewey. A man performs the trick of writing backwards.
Alright so this is not Copperfield or Blaine levels of magic we are dealing with here, it is still a decent little skill. As early trick films go this one is fairly fun. Not exactly earth shattering in terms of content.
3/5
Sortie d'usine III (1896)
Directed by Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. We see people leaving the Lumiere factory in Lyon at the end of the day.
Apparently we needed a trilogy on this subject which is stretching things a bit far in my opinion. This version does not even have a horse in it, poor form. Average for what it is.
3/5
London Street Dancers (1896)
Directed by Auguste and Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. Three women dance on Drury Lane in London.
I really enjoyed this short, it had a nice sense of movement about it. There is the odd interloper walking through shot, nothing that spoils the film too much though. A fun little piece capturing a human moment in time.
3/5
Made in Italy (2020)
Written & directed by James D'Arcy this film stars Liam Neeson, Michael richardson and Valeria Bilello. A man and his father travel to Italy to fix up and sell a family property.
I like the premise of this film which is more than I can say for the rest of it. Unfortunately the plot stumbles through very predictable story points without really earning most of them. There is just a lack of effort here, this is more paint by numbers than great art.
2/5
Recreation a la Martiniere (1896)
Directed by Auguste and Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. Men mill about outside a building.
The subjects of this film are supposed to be students not that you can really tell that. Image quality is fine here there is just not a lot going on. Lacking a spark to draw you in.
2/5
Concours de boules (1896)
Directed by Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. A group of men play boules.
In the genre of Lumiere shorts about boules this is a decent film. The camera is set up to give a good view of what is going on and you can actually make out the balls unlike some of the other shorts. You get to see plenty of action in this one.
3/5
Enfants jouant aux billes (1896)
Directed by Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. A group of children play boules.
There is not a huge amount to this short and it is a bit hard to make out what is actually going on with the game. Ignoring the game itself the film does capture a very familiar, human moment of children at play. The image quality on the version I saw was fairly decent apart from the issue with the balls.
3/5
18 1/2 (2021)
Directed by Dan Mirvish this film stars Willa Fitzgerald, John Magaro, Vondie Curtis-Hall and Catherine Curtin. A White House transcriber takes a tape of missing Presidential meetings to a reporter.
When you are making a film in the shadow of All the Presidents Men (1976) and Dick (1999) you are going to have to do something special on that spectrum to stand out. Unfortunately this film does not have much going on for it, there are some zanny side characters but the plot never goes anywhere. If you are going to invoke Watergate, you have to do something decent with it.
2/5
Place du Pont (1897)
Directed by Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. We see a street scene from Lyon as a tram comes towards the camera.
There is not a huge amount going on in this short film, it captures a sedate moment of every day life without having any clear subject. Not likely to wow audiences either now or in the past. Does not do much as a piece of entertainment.
2/5
Joueurs de cartes arroses (1896)
Directed by Auguste & Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. Two men get into an argument over a game of cards.
It is pretty obvious to see where this one is going with the Chekov's gun of the gardener with the hose pipe in the background. As early shorts go this is a decent one with a bit of a plot to it. A simple bit of chaos.
3/5
The Lodge (2019)
Directed by Veronika Franz & Severin Fiala this film stars Riley Keough, Jaeden Martell, Lia McHugh and Richard Armitage. Two children gaslight their father's new girlfriend as they believe she is responsible for their mothers suicide.
I am not sure how I feel about this film because the real villain of the piece, the father, is barely in the film. Definitely there are some creepy moments although it is a bit obvious what is happening. More of a tragedy in the end than a horror film.
3/5
Loading a Boiler (1896)
Directed by Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. Men climb down a ladder from a boiler onto the deck of a ship.
I suspect the title of this film may be an early example of click bait as no boilers are actually loaded in this short. There is a little bit of action but most of the people on screen are moving round at a slow pace. Not the most thrilling Lumiere film I have seen.
2/5
Women Fighting (1896)
Directed by Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. Two women throw hands while a man tries to break it up.
It would be better if this short was less obviously staged. A bit of editing to snip off the last few seconds would have really helped in my opinion. At least this one survives in good image quality.
2/5
The Swordsman (2020)
Directed by Choi Jae-hoon this film stars Jang Hyuk, Kim Hyun-soo and Joe Taslim. A swordsman on the verge of completely losing his eye sight protects his adopted daughter.
As historical martial arts films go this one is fine, nothing special really. The plot is pretty generic and the action sequences do not stand out above the norm. Maybe this one would be more enjoyable to those with a better understanding of Korean history.
3/5
Studio 666 (2022)
Directed by BJ McDonnell this film stars the Foo Fighters. The Foo Fighters go to stay in a mansion to record a new album and find it to be demonically possessed.
I went into this film only knowing who Dave Grohl was and came out still not really knowing who anyone else in the band is. There is a plot to this film however it is paper thin. All in all this film seems like a vanity project, mostly for Grohl, there is some potential for fun here it is just all squandered.
2/5
The Running Man (1963)
Directed by Carol Reed this film stars Laurence Harvey, Lee Remick and Alan Bates. A woman and her husband fake his death for insurance money.
This is not Carol Reed's best work sadly, a pedestrian thriller rather than the heights of his earlier films. The plot works fine but is nothing to write home about. What is lacking is a bit more tension to really sell this one.
3/5
Beasts Clawing at Straws (2020)
Directed by Kim Yong-hoon this film based on the novel of the same name stars Jeon Do-yeon, Jung Woo-sung, Youn Yuh-jung and Bae Seong-woo. A group of inter connected characters fight over a bag of money.
As Coen brothers knock off films go this one is fine, if not amazing. I did find it a bit hard to keep up with all the characters but for the most part I knew what was going on. Lacking in memorable moments to make it really stand out.
3/5
Scream (2022)
Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett this film stars Melissa Barrera, Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox and David Arquette. Twenty five years after the original Woodsboro murders a copycat is in action.
Despite what could have been a big mistake this film does a good job of capturing the tone of the franchise while bringing in new characters. Not the deepest of films there is still a fair amount of fun to be had here. None of the call backs to previous films felt too much like fan service, not sure if they can milk yet another film out of the franchise after this one though.
3/5
Clean (2021)
Directed by Paul Solet this film stars Adrien Brody, Glenn Fleshler, Richie Merritt and Chandler DuPont. A garbage man struggling with his past gets caught up in violence.
As genre films go this is a pretty standard one, if a little slow to get going. My only real complaint is that once we do finally get to the big action sequence it is too dark to see what is going on a lot of the time. Nothing special as melancholy action films go.
3/5
She Will (2021)
Directed by Charlotte Colbert this film stars Alice Krige, Kota Eberhardt and Malcolm McDowell. An ageing film star goes to Scotland to recover from an operation.
You can see where this film is going with the haunting, psychological side but I am not sure it ever completely gets there. This is a decent watch as long as you do not mind a lack of clear narrative. Possibly not for everyone even if I did enjoy a large part of it.
3/5
Le gouter des bebes (1897)
Directed by Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. Three children eat a meal.
Very simple in terms of content this is a single static shot of kids eating or doing what kids do when they are supposed to be eating. The short does capture a human moment but it is in the home film territory. Not a lot to really say on this one.
3/5
Georgetown (2019)
Directed by star Christoph Waltz this film also features Vanessa Redgrave and Annette Benning. An ageing widow marries a much younger man who seeks to exploit her social status.
It is fairly obvious from the get go what is going on here however this is still a fun movie to watch unfold. Inspired by real events it really does shake your head how much the main character gets away with for so long. My only disappointment is that the domestic violence of the real events seems to be down played in this fictional version.
3/5
The Last Blitzkrieg (1959)
Directed by Sam Katzman this film stars Van Johnson, Dick York and Kerwin Mathews. Germans pose as US soldiers to sow confusion during the battle of the bulge.
This film is clearly part of the post war effort to rehabilitate Germany in American eyes with a strong “not all Germans” theme to it. I found the film a bit simplistic and obviously made on the cheap. Not one of the better WW2 films.
2/5
Bains en mer (1897)
Directed by Auguste and Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. People jump in the sea while in the background a boat rows out to sea.
Very simple in terms of content there is a decent amount of action captured in the frame. This could easily be someone's holiday footage. Nothing special in the terms of historical record really.
2/5
Mughal-e-Azam (1960)
Directed by K. Asif this film stars Prithviraj Kapoor, Dili Kumar and Madhubala. A 16th century Mughal prince falls in love with a common dancer leading to a clash with his father.
There are some really beautifully framed shots and in the two colour sequences you are really wowed by the splendour of the sets. I concede the plot is a bit familiar but it does a nice job of balancing the idea of duty versus personal desire. For a historical epic of the period this is a really well made film even if it is a bit on the long side.
4/5
Panorama pendant l'ascenscion de la Tour Eiffel (1898)
Directed by Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. A camera goes up the lift in the Eiffel tower.
Calling this a panorama is a bit much however the film is interesting in that it looks out from the Eiffel tower rather than at it as most modern views do. It is strange to think there was a time when the Eiffel tower was not the attraction it self. To be honest the view captured is not the best as there is too much metal work in the way.
2/5
Shark Bait (2022)
Directed by James Nunn this film stars Holly Earl, Maxime Durand, Catherine Amy Hannay and Jack Trueman. Drunk college kids on spring break steal jet skis and end up stuck out at sea.
The biggest problem with this film is that the protagonists are all terrible people so who cares if the shark eats them. When it comes to the shark the plot relies on the usual unrealistic vengeful shark trope that has long been debunked. Utterly predictable, there are no real redeeming qualities here.
1/5
Ateliers de La Ciotat (1896)
Directed by Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. A scene of work at the La Ciotat shipyard.
This is more a shot of people hardly working than people hard at work. A bunch of people mill around without actually much going on. Some how crowded and lacking in action.
3/5
Uncharted (2022)
Directed by Ruben Fleischer this film based on the games of the same name stars Tom Holland, Mark Whalberg, Sophia Ali, Tati Gabrielle and Antonio Banderas. A bar tender from New York joins the hunt for missing Spanish gold and his lost older brother.
I have no idea if this film is a good reflection of the games it is based on or not as I never played the games. As a stand alone film it is a decent if unremarkable adventure film. There are plenty of set pieces and a bit of humour but not much in the way or heart or soul here.
3/5
After Yang (2021)
Written & directed by Kogonada this film stars Colin Farrell, Jodie Turner-Smith, Justin H. Min and Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja. A family tries to come to terms with the loss of the older android sibling of their adopted daughter.
Taking a number of familiar sci-fi themes this film puts a uniquely human spin on them. It would have been very easy for this film to fall into using cheap plot twists but I love the way it sticks with telling an intimate story instead. This is exactly the sort of film A24 does well and is another fine art house effort from the studio.
4/5
Stowaway (2022)
Directed by Decland Whitebloom this film stars Ruby Rose, Patrick Schwarzenegger and Frank Grillo. A young woman inherits a yacht from her absent father.
Nothing about the plot of this film makes sense which is a bad footing to start on. As an action film there is just not enough going on to cover the cracks in the plot. The reveal of the bad guy is so obvious it makes my brain hurt.
1/5
Pebbles (2021)
Written & directed by P. S. Vinothraj this film stars Chellapandi and Karuththadaiyaan. A young boy is dragged round the countryside by his drunken father looking for his mother.
Slow moving and low key this film might not be to the taste of everyone. The film really captures some human moments. If you want a more explicitly laid out story this one is not for you, if you can enjoy a mood piece then this is a really good film.
4/5
Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon (2021)
Written & directed by Ana Lily Amirpour this film stars Joen Jong-seo, Kate Hudson, Craig Robinson and Evan Whitten. A young woman with mental powers escapes a mental hospital and is befriended by a stripper.
Nothing amazingly new stands out here but this film is still a decent amount of fun. You can overlook the predictability thanks to the unusual characters. A good genre piece if nothing more.
3/5
Village Rockstars (2017)
Written & directed by Rima Das this film stars a group of non actors from the director's home village. A young girl from a rural Indian village dreams of being a rockstar.
Verging on being a documentary thanks to the use of non actors this is a gentle coming of age film. Much of the content of the film is familiar but the setting and way the story is told have plenty of charm. I loved the atmosphere of the film which really captures life in a very pure way.
4/5
Lancement d'un navire (1896)
Directed by Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. We see the launch of a ship.
The image quality of this film is really good, unfortunately the shot is framed so we only see the hull of the ship not the whole beast. Despite the questionable framing I really enjoyed this one, you get a real sense of the moment from the way the people react and the camera shakes. You definitely feel the movement of the ship in this one.
3/5
Marry Me (2022)
Directed by Kat Coiro this film based on the graphic novel of the same name stars Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson. A famous pop star finds out her famous boyfriend has cheated on her and in that moment marries a stranger in the crowd at her concert.
Going into a film like this you expect a big slice of cheese however if the film took itself a bit more seriously I think it could have been something really interesting. Sadly rather than explore the ideas of modern celebrity, social media and privacy this film is barely even surface deep. I am actually disappointed with this one even after having low expectations.
2/5
Monstrous (2022)
Directed by Chris Sivertson this film stars Christina Ricci, Santino Barnardo, Colleen Camp and Lew Temple. In the 1950s a woman and her young son move to a new house by a pound that may be haunted.
Nothing is new or revolutionary about this film, it hits a number of familiar beats. Christina Ricci does her best to carry this film but she does not have a lot to work with. The real highlight of the film is seeing Colleen Camp working again.
3/5
Aquarium (1896)
Directed by Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. A collection of fish and frogs swim around in a small aquarium.
I am not sure the amount of creatures in this small of a space is a good idea. The subject goes in and out of focus a couple of times which is not great either. Not one of the best early shorts.
2/5
Manusangada (2017)
Directed by Amshan Kumar this film stars Rajeev Anand, Manimegalai, Vidhur Rajarajan and Sheela Rajkumar. In a rural Indian village upper caste people do not allow the lower coast to use the common road for funeral processions.
This is a simple social problem film that focuses on the oppression of caste. Nothing is revolutionary about the film but it is fairly well made. Things never get melodramatic and by the end you really feel for the protagonist.
3/5
The Shepherdess and the Seven Songs (2020)
Directed by Pushpendra Singh this film stars Navjot Randhawa, Sadakkit Bijran and Shahnawaz Bhat. A new bride is caught between her husband's cowardliness and harassment by the local police.
There are some beautiful shots of the scenery in Kashmir which server as the back drop to this film. The direction might be a bit arty for some, the film is just a bit distant at times. I enjoyed the film even if the character actions were a bit confusing to me.
3/5
Last Looks (2022)
Directed by Tim Kirkby this film based on the novel of the same name stars Charlie Hunnam, Mel Gibson and Lucy Fry. A former girlfriend tries to get an ex-detective to look into the case of an eccentric television actor accused of murdering his own wife.
As LA based mystery films go this one is fine if nothing special. The light hearted approach is alright but if never manages to be as funny as The Nice Guys (2016). A decent watch just not something you would ever go back to like the better films in the genre.
3/5
Partie de tric-trac (1895)
Directed by Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. A man and a woman play a French variant of Backgammon.
The image quality on the version of this that I watched is not the best, it is a little hard to see what is going on. It does not help that the camera is not high enough to see the board. A slightly below average film for the period.
3/5
The 355 (2022)
Directed by Simon Kinberg this film stars Jessica Chastain, Penelope Cruz, Fan Bingbing, Diane Kruger and Lupita Nyong'o. A group of international female spies team up to stop a world wide threat.
Mixing together James Bond and Mission Impossible the underlying plot of the film is nothing special, in fact it is rather predictable at points. The feminist spin is decent although I would have liked to seen a more realistic plot to allow a better exploration of the idea of the different levels of work/life balance for women focused on their careers. Obviously the cast is the highlight of the film, putting together a real group of heavy hitters.
3/5
Railway Children (2016)
Written & directed by Prithvi Konanur this film stars Parimala, Mahonara K., Yash Shetty and Syed Pervez. A transboy runs away from home and gets a job working collecting bottles on the railway.
I really enjoyed the Charles Dickens style first three quarters of the film, it is very bleak and realistic. Unfortunately the film is let down by a really naive ending which does not fit at all with the harsh realities shown before. For being made with mostly non actors the performances in the film area really good.
3/5
Poultry-Yard (1896)
Directed by Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. Two young girls feed some poultry.
There is not much to this short film and the image quality of the version I saw was not great which did not help matters. As early shorts go there is some action going on in the shot which keeps things fairly lively. About par for the course really.
3/5
The Beatles and India (2021)
Directed by Ajoy Bose and Peter Compton this is a documentary film with contributes from a number of Indians and people connected to The Beatles. A look at the connection between The Beatles and India as well as the effect the band had on the nation.
With so much written on the subject of The Beatles and India it is refreshing to see something from an Indian perspective. There is nothing ground breaking here even if we do get a slightly different point of view than the usual. I am not a Beatles fan but maybe those who are would get more out of this.
3/5
Last Film Show (2021)
Written & directed by Pan Nalin this film stars Bhavin Rabari, Bhavesh Shrimali, Richa Meena and Dipen Raval. A nine year old boy falls in love with film, much to the disappointment of his tea selling father.
This is one of those coming of age films that really hits hard, likely because it is semi autobiographical. I love the way the film celebrates the use of light and colour in cinema without coming off as overly self praising. The side plot of the mother's cooking is really well done too.
4/5
Belfast (2021)
Written & directed by Kenneth Branagh this film stars Jude Hill, Caitriona Balfe, Jamie Dornan, Judi Dench and Ciaran Hinds. A nine year old boy sees the landscape of his world change around him as The Troubles begin in Belfast.
I enjoyed this film a lot, especially Judi Dench's performance which reminds me a lot of my own grandmother. The script is a decent coming of age story however I think it lacks a little bit of something, it only really connects with the historical subject matter on a surface level in my opinion. What is lacking is something new or daring, still a good watch.
4/5
Course en sacs (1896)
Directed by Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. A group of men take part in a sack race.
There are some top level techniques on display in this exhibition of athletics. An enjoyable watch, one that definitely brings a smile to the face. A fun little short.
3/5
