65 (2023)
Written & directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods this film stars Adam Driver and Ariana Greenblatt. In the distant past a man and a girl are stranded on earth.
A lot of this film is disappointingly generic and predictable, there is even a quick sand pit. I was expecting a bit more from the team behind A Quiet Place. Even some of the CGI looks a little cheap in the opening space shot sequences.
2/5
The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain (2019)
Written & directed by David Midell this film based on real events stars Frankie Faison, Steve O'Connell, Enrico Natale and Ben Marten. An old man accidentally sets off his medical alarm and gets harassed by police.
I had anxiety the whole way through this film because you know what is going to happen and there is no escape from it. I am not sure how closely the film sticks to true events, at the very least it appears that the names of the police officers have been changed. Another stark reminder of the terrible state of things in the US.
4/5
Descent of the Great Pyramid (1897)
Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. Some people climb down the great pyramid in Giza.
What this film lacks is a bit more distance so you get some idea of the scale or setting of the short. People climbing down stones that could be anywhere is what you get from this short. Not the best of the travel shorts from Lumiere.
3/5
La defense du drapeau (1897)
Directed by Alexandre Promio and Georges Hatot. A cavalryman defends the flag while standing in front of a cannon.
A rousing battle scene that does may be not lot the most realistic to modern eyes. Possibly one of the first pieces of cinematic propaganda. People seem to come in and die at random.
3/5
Marche aux charbons (avex chameaux) (1896)
Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. Some camels and men mill about.
There is not much action going on here and the framing is not really great for what little action there is. Even for one of the period this is more like b-roll than an actual short. Not the best.
2/5
Swallowed (2022)
Written & directed by Carter Smith this film stars Cooper Koch, Jose Colon and Jena Malone. Two friends smuggle drugs across the border by swallowing them.
I am not sure this film makes the most of the set up. This is a fine effort but ultimately does not do that much to stand out. A bit more creepiness with the drugs is required to make the body horror element fully sing.
3/5
God Is a Bullet (2023)
Directed by Nick Cassavetes this film base on the novel of the same name stars Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Maika Monroe and Jamie Foxx. A detective enlists the help of a former cult member to help him track down his kidnapped daughter.
With some tenuous claims about being based on a true story this is a meandering plot that snuffles around the satanic panic many years too late to be believed. The script has more endings than Lord of the Rings which also does not help matters. There are far better genre efforts out there.
2/5
Spin Me Round (2022)
Directed by Jeff Baena this film stars Alison Brie, Alessandro Nivola and Aubrey Plaza. The manager of a restaurant chain goes to the company retreat in Italy dreaming of a holiday romance.
Clearly this film is aiming to send up a particular type of rom-com and it sort of does achieve that. It always feels like the script falls a bit short of the premise. There is just about enough on screen talent to limp this one over the line.
3/5
Puerta del Sol (1896)
Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. We see a street scene from Spain.
Unlike a lot of street scenes of the period this one is not shot from ground level. The higher view point gives the shot a nice over view of the street. A good little watch.
3/5
Game Change (2012)
Directed by Jay Roach this film based on real events stars Julianne Moore, Woody Harrelson and Ed Harris. A little known governor is tapped to be the vice presidential candidate in an attempt to shake up the election.
In my opinion this film does a decent job of giving an overview of the campaign from the McCain side but does not have enough run time to get into the nuances. Palin goes from the verge of a nervous break down to megalomaniac a bit too quickly for my taste for example. Decent watch just not especially hard hitting, the quality is in the performances.
3/5
Ramassage du linge (1898)
Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. It is laundry day on a ship.
We see a bunch of washing on the line on a ship. Not a huge amount to this one, a slice of life for sailors of the period. Lacks a bit in terms of action.
3/5
La foule sur la place de l'opera (1896)
Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. Crowds outside the opera house mill about.
Not great in terms of image quality, hard to make out what is going on and there are a number of long pauses. The people could be anywhere, nothing really ties them to the location or the opera if you are not familiar with Paris of the period. Skip this one in my opinion.
1/5
All My Puny Sorrows (2021)
Directed by Michael McGowen this film based on the novel of the same name stars Alison Pill, Sarah Gadon and Amybeth McNulty. A woman struggles with her sister's attempts to kill herself.
Films on suicide tend to be rather simplistic and patronising, this is one of the best I've seen on the subject matter. A taught drama that keeps you on the edge of your seat while being though provoking. Highly recommend seeking out.
4/5
Fort-de-France: marche (1902)
Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. We see a simple market scene with predominantly women of colour in the shot.
Pretty simple snap shot of a place and time. Not a huge amount to this one but you can see the hints of colonialism as the white men over see the women of colour. Not a huge amount to comment on.
3/5
Knock at the Cabin (2023)
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan this film stars Dave Bautista, Jonathan Groff and Ben Aldridge. Two men and their daughter staying at a cabin have four strangers turn up uninvited.
Opening up some decent points of discussion this film never goes anywhere with them. It feels very much like this is the first draft of a script that needs a lot more work on it. As is this film is fine I suppose, it just feels very much like a missed opportunity to do something much better.
3/5
Paris: les souverains russes el le president de la Republique aux Champs-Elysees (1896)
Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. Two carriages containing dignitaries pass by the camera.
The image quality is not amazing here so it is a little difficult to make out the details of the VIPs. The contents of the procession is fine, pretty entertaining otherwise. No doubt a historic moment.
3/5
Alger: prier du muezzin (1896)
Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. An Islamic man prays.
There is not a huge amount to this short and it does not help matters that the shot is not centred very well. If there was a bit more going on in the frame I think this would be a better film, the backdrop is just too bland. Not my favourite.
2/5
Dublin, pompiers: un incendie II (1897)
Directed by Alexandre Promio. A group of fire engines have a race.
This short starts off well but the final portion is slightly ruined by other traffic blocking the shot. A decent bit of action for the period. Not bad of a watch really.
3/5
Constantinople, panorama des rives du Bosphore (1897)
Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. We see Constantinople from the deck of a boat on the river.
As this waterborne panoramas go this one is fine, if nothing special. The image quality is only okay. Not a remarkable short, similar to many others in the Lumiere catalogue.
3/5
Something in the Dirt (2022)
Directed by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead this film stars its directors. A man moves into a dirty apartment and is befriended by his neighbour.
This is definitely a strange look into modern life and beliefs. The plot is slow moving and a bit meandering so it does drag a bit towards the end. Not for everyone but enjoyable if you like the off beat and unusual.
4/5
80 for Brady (2023)
Directed by Kyle Marvin this film stars Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno and Sally Field. Four friends travel to the super bowl to watch Tom Brady play.
There is something rather distasteful about seeing four of the greatest actresses of their generation reduced to making a Tom Brady vanity project. The script is pretty mind numbing and strays rather far from whatever true story might have inspired it. Such a let down with the on screen talent in mind.
2/5
Scream VI (2023)
Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett this film stars Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding. Our heroes attend college where ghost face copy cats seem to run aplenty.
In my opinion there is one twist too many in the script which ends up making a lot of the earlier clues just not make sense any more. I see a lot of praise for this one but I thought it was a weaker, tired entry into the franchise. Shave a bit off the end and this is a better film in my opinion.
2/5
Fete Au Village (1896)
Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. We see a single static shot of a village fete.
Clearly the highlight of this film is the two men leapfrogging at the start. There are a few too many people milling about to really get much of what is going on at the fete. A nice little moment in history.
3/5
Tigers at the Zoo (1896)
Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. We see some tigers at the zoo.
Pretty much exactly what it says on the tin, some tigers behind bars get fed some meat. Very much what we would consider a home video today. Not overly special or remarkable.
3/5
Interview Between Napoleon and the Pope (1897)
Directed by Alexandre Promio and Georges Hatot this is an early short film. As the title suggests, Napoleon faces off against the Pope.
It is difficult to get much of an idea of what is going on here both because of the limitations of the medium and the low image quality. This short does not appear to survive in great quality. Not a lot going for it as a historical scene.
2/5
Accident Man: Hitman's Holiday (2022)
Directed by George & Harry Kirby this film stars Scott Adkins, Ray Stevenson, Perry Benson and Sarah Chang. A hitman in Malta has to protect the son of an Italian crime boss from other assassins.
I have not see the film this is a sequel to but that provided no problem in following this film. Some of the character stereotypes come across as a bit questionable and you can see the cheapness of the film in places. Mostly the action sequences are well done despite budget constraints, the plot is nothing special.
2/5
Sharp Stick (2022)
Written & directed by Lena Dunham this film stars Kristine Froseth, Jon Bernthal and Jennifer Jason Leigh. A naive 26 year old starts an affair with the husband of the couple she baby sits for.
I think the protagonist of this film is just far too naïve at 26 for the world she supposedly comes from. The lack of believability is pretty much the down fall of this film from the start. A shame because there is some promise there.
2/5
The Assassination of the Duke de Guise (1897)
Directed by Alexandre Promio and Georges Hatot this is an early short film based on a painting by Paul Delaroche. Duke rocks up and gets stabbed.
If you aren't familiar with the subject matter, and I'm not, then it is a little hard to tell what is going on. The back drop is nice but a little of the action gets lost. Decent production values despite the flaws.
3/5
Tar (2022)
Written & directed by Todd Field this film stars Cate Blanchett, Noemie Merlant and Nina Hoss. A female conductor faces allegations after the suicide of a former protege.
Covering familiar ground about the only thing unique this film does is have a female protagonist instead of a male one. The film is well made and well acted for what it is, getting plaudits for that, but it does walk a slightly uncomfortable line about what it is saying in a post #MeToo world. I am not entirely sure how I feel about this one in the end.
4/5
Brooklyn, Fulton Street (1896)
Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. We see several trams pass the camera.
This is another street scene that lacks the backdrop to make it unique or memorable. The foreground action is fine but not with much variety. Not my favourite street scene.
2/5
