New York, Broadway (1896)
Directed by Alexandre Promio this is a short film from the Lumiere catalogue. A single shot aimed down the street in New York.
I really like how this one is set up, you get to see down the street rather than across it as in most films of this period. The image quality is really good and there is plenty going on. A fun little short capturing a slice of history.
3/5
Emily (2022)
Written & directed by Frances O'Connor this film inspired by real events stars Emma mackey, Fionn Whitehead and Oliver Jackson-Cohen. On her death bed Emily Bronte is asked by her sister Charlotte how she came to write Wuthering Heights.
Unfortunately this film is much more interested in a fictional romance than writing of great works. While the film is nicely shot and decently acted it is undercut by a script that never gave me what I wanted. Once again Anne Bronte unfairly gets dismissed as a footnote as well.
2/5
Vue prise d'une baleiniere en marche (1900)
Directed by Alexandre Promio this is a short film from the Lumiere collection. Men on a boat row towards a ship.
The film is made up of a single close up shot of the sailors rowing which does a good job of capturing the subjects. What the film lacks is a little bit in terms of an arc, it is basically all the same. Interesting if not overly entertaining.
3/5
Linoleum (2022)
Written & directed by Colin West this film stars Jim Gaffigan, Rhea Sheehorn and Katelyn Nacon. A man's wife is planning to divorce him and his job is taken from him.
I think the film might tip its hand a little early on the twist in this film but I found it surprisingly touching. I expected this to be some kind of comedy, by the end it is very definitely not. Very impressed with this film for what it is.
4/5
Planet Terror (2007)
Directed by Robert Rodriguez this film stars Rose McGowan, Freddy Rodriguez, Josh Brolin, Marley Shelton, Jeff Fahey and Michael Biehn. A zombie out break occurs in a small town in Texas.
Some how I never this movie when it came out, watching it now it does not seem like I missed out on anything special. As genre films go it is fine with some funny moments. I am not really sure the missing reel gag adds much to the film.
3/5
Anes (1896)
Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film from the Lumiere catalogue. Donkeys walk down a ramp.
Pretty much what it says on the tin, there is not a huge amount to this one. The image quality is not the best and something crosses in front of the camera at one point. I think this one is not even complete.
2/5
Don't Worry Darling (2022)
Directed by Olivia Wilde this film stars Florence Pugh, Harry Styles and Chris Pine. A couple live in a 1950s company town but all is not what it seems.
It would be a bit reductive to call this the Stepford Wives for the incel generation, it would be pretty close to on the money though. Despite decent performances and fairly good direction the script never goes anywhere interesting or offers us any new ideas. We need to go a bit deeper into the characters to actually have something interesting here.
3/5
Rafiki (2018)
Directed by Wanuri Kahiu this film stars Samantha Mugastsia and Sheila Munyiva. The daughters of two local politicians begin a lesbian relationship.
It is interesting to see a film that is banned in its home country, which just serves to reinforce the importance of the subject matter. While the plot may not be ground breaking to some of us it clearly is for the home audience. A decent film with a good use of colour.
3/5
The Killing of Two Lovers (2020)
Written & directed by Robert Machoian this film stars Clayne Crawford, Sepideh Moafi, Chris Coy and Avery Pizzuto. A man struggles to keep it together when trying to work on his broken marriage with his wife.
I really enjoyed the long static shots that make you sit in the moment with the characters. The film has a very natural and realistic quality to it. A tragedy of a man whose wife has checked out on him.
4/5
The Wrong Box (1966)
Directed by Bryan Forbes this film based on the novel of the same name stars John Mills, Michael Caine, Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Nanette Newman and Ralph Richardson. Two elderly brothers are the last survivors in a last longer lottery.
As comedies go this one lacks a little energy at times, otherwise it is decent enough. The main draw here is the cast, especially some of the cameos. I thought the film dragged on a little long but I was tired when watching it.
3/5
Colleurs d'affiches (1897)
Directed by Alexandre Promio and Georges Hatot this is an early short film from the Lumiere catalogue. Two men squabble over the placement of adverts on a wall.
Very simple in terms of the comedy here this is a fun little short. There is a bit of personality to the piece which is nice. Still not really ground breaking.
3/5
I Love My Dad (2022)
Written & directed by star James Morosini this film also features Patton Oswalt, Claudia Sulewski and Rachel Dratch. A man catches his own son to find out what is going on in his life after being cut out.
I enjoyed the mix of comedy and heart felt cringe this film. It may not be ground breaking but it is pretty human. Claudia Sulewski really impresses with the two different performances she gives.
3/5
Paradise Highway (2022)
Written & directed by Anna Gutto this film stars Juliette Binoche, Frank Grillo and Morgan Freeman. A female trucker smuggles stuff to get her jail bird brother protection.
There is nothing especially original or interesting here, it is all familiar genre stuff. It is a little hard to take Binoche and Grillo as siblings from French Canada given that Grillo lacks any accent while Binoche obviously has one. I would watch Juliette Binoche in anything, I would not watch this one again however.
2/5
The Lost King (2022)
Directed by Stephen Frears this film based on real events stars Sally Hawkins, Steve Coogan, Harry Lloyd and Mark Addy. A middle aged woman becomes obsessed with finding the lost remains of Richard III.
For a film that is rallying against revisionism it is a bit hypocritical that it seems to have made some changes itself. For the most part the film is the usual self congratulatory stuff that British cinema loves to churn out. Just a tiny bit disappointing in the end.
2/5
Red Lights (2012)
Written & directed by Rodrigo Cortes this film stars Cillian Murphy, Sigourney Weaver, Robert De Niro, Elizabeth Olsen, Joely Richardson and Toby Jones. Two scientists work debunking supposed supernatural phenomena.
With a fantastic cast there is a great movie in here somewhere unfortunately the script needs a few more rewrites to get there. I actually like the concept of the twist it is just tacked on rather than worked in properly. All in all a disappointment from what could have been something special.
2/5
Small Deaths (1996)
Directed by Lynee Ramsay this short film stars James Ramsay, Lynne Ramsay Jr. and Anne McLean. We see three key events in a young girl's childhood.
This short does a pretty good job of showing us three points where a child loses part of their innocence. I did not find the short to be ground breaking but it is pretty decent for what it is. Not something I would go back and rewatch.
3/5
Jerusalem: port de Jaffa, cote Est (1897)
Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. We see people go up and down a street in Jerusalem.
This short definitely captures a moment and place in time, beyond that there is not much to it. The view is a mundane one, not that special. A fairly standard short of the period.
3/5
Watcher (2022)
Directed by Chloe Okuno this film stars Maika Monroe, Karl Giusman and Burn Gorman. After moving to Bucharest with her husband a woman thinks one of her neighbours is stalking her.
A pretty good take on female anxiety even if not overly original to the point it has a literal Checkov's gun in it. The film is well made with a decent creepy factor to keep you on the edge of your seat. Overall a decent genre piece.
4/5
A Love Song (2022)
Written & directed by Max Walker-Silverman this film stars Dale Dickey and Wes Studi. A lonely widow waits at a campsite for a man she has not seen in decades.
This is one of those slow paced indie films that is a joy to just let exist. Things do eventually happen but to be honest I was happy just living in the landscape with the protagonist. Really enjoyable, relaxing film with a proper heart to it.
4/5
Washing Day in Switzerland (1896)
Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film from the Lumiere catalogue. One of the first ever cinematic adverts promotes Sunlight soap.
So there is not a lot to this one, it does not even really work that well as an advert. We see someone standing on a box of Sunlight soap but there is nothing to suggest the product works well. Just goes to show cinema sold out from the start.
2/5
Simulant (2023)
Directed by April Mullen this film stars Robbie Amell, Jordana Brewster, Simu Liu and Sam Worthington. In the future a woman tries to replace her dead husband with a robot given his memories.
When you come for the king you best not miss, in this case the king is Blade Runner and the shot is well and truly missed. This is an undercooked knock off that never has a chance to get going thanks to a weak script. Not worth seeking out.
2/5
Of Mice and Men (1992)
Directed by star Gary Sinise this film based on the novel of the same name also features John Malkovich, Ray Walston and Sherilyn Fenn. Two men drift about looking for working depression era America.
I would say this film adaptation does nothing amazingly but most things well. The books is translated on to screen fairly faithfully. What the film lacks is something of the beauty of rural life like Malick's Days of Heaven for example.
3/5
Smile (2022)
Written & directed by Parker Finn this film stars Sosie Bacon, Jessie T. Usher, Kyle Gallner and Kal Penn. A therapist witnesses a young woman kill herself and becomes convinced an evil entity will make her do the same.
As horror films go this has a very familiar format. Where the film is a bit disappointing is that it does not make enough use of the high concept element, it never explores the trauma side of things properly. I also found the ending to be a real let down and just inevitable sequel bait rather than a real resolution.
3/5
Danse au bivouac (1896)
Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. Several soldiers dance around.
There is not a lot too this one but it does have a bit of charm to it. The action is not that impressive even if it is pretty human. Not one of my favourite Promio films.
3/5
Thelma (2017)
Directed by Joachim Trier this film stars Eili Harboe, Kaya Wilkins, Henrik Rafaelsen and Ellen Dorrit Petersen. In her first year at university a young woman starts having unexplained seizures.
Working through a number of familiar elements this is a decent supernatural thriller that is a bit predictable. I did enjoy the film even if it never blew me away or surprised me. There is something to be said for just doing the obvious well.
3/5
The Infernal Machine (2022)
Directed by Andrew Hunt this film stars Guy Pearce, Alice Eve, Jeremy Davies and Alex Pettyfer. A reclusive author whose controversial book inspired a school shooter is sent a stream of letters by an obsessed fan.
There are some interesting elements here that never stitch together in a decent whole. Unfortunately things are just a bit too predictable and the film never commits to going all in on the more fantastical. In the end just not believable enough to enjoy.
2/5
My Golden Days (2015)
Directed by Arnaud Desplechin this film stars Quentin Domaire, Lou Roy-Lecollinet and Mathieu Amalric. A man returns to France after many years away and reflects on his late teenage years.
Oddly this film is a prequel to a film I have never seen so I think some of the value is lost on me. As a coming of age film this is film, if not particularly special. To be honest I am not sure it was worth watching this without having seen the original film.
3/5
Bros (2022)
Directed by Nicholas Stoller this film stars co-writer Billy Eichner and Like Macfarlane. A cynical gay man in New York starts a new relationship.
Romantic comedies are a haven for lightweight, lazy stories however this one actually has something going on with it which is a refreshing change. The does a decent job of balancing humour with exploring minority relationships. It is nice to actually enjoy a romantic comedy for once.
3/5
New York, descente des voyageurs du pont de Brooklyn (1896)
Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. People walk down the stairs of a bridge and along the road.
This is much better framed than some of the other Promio films I have seen. I have to say the set up is near perfect, you see so much in such a short amount of time. A moment in history saved for posterity.
4/5
Krisha (2015)
Written & directed by Trey Edward Shults this film stars Krisha Fairchild. A woman with addiction problems visits her estranged family for thanksgiving.
This is a decent powder keg family drama, the film does a really good job of leaving things unsaid to let the tension burn naturally. Most of the actors are not professionals which makes the film even more impressive. The only real complaint I have is that the sound mix is not great in places making it a little hard to pick up some of the dialogue.
4/5
