Madrid, arrivee des toreadors (1896)
Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. Matadors arrive in carriages and get out.
There is not much more to this one than it says on the tin. It takes a little while into the 1 minute run time for the subjects to actually appear, a little bit of editing would not have gone amiss here. Not the most enthralling of the Lumiere catalogue.
2/5
Polite Society (2023)
Written & directed by Nida Manzoor this film stars Priya Kansara and Ritu Arya. A teenage British-Pakistani girl who dreams of becoming a stunt woman is concerned about her older sister giving up her dream to get married.
I love the fusion mash up of action film, coming of age and the British-Pakistani lens it is viewed through here. There might not be a huge audience for this film but those that enjoy it will really enjoy it. Sure the plot may not be that deep however there is still enough laughs and action to carry the film. I look forward to seeing more from Nida Manzoor.
3/5
Silent Night (2023)
Directed by John Woo this flm stars Joel Kinnaman. A man who has permanently lost his voice plans a revenge killing spree against the criminals who killed his son with a stray bullet.
I found this film to be disappointingly mundane, it lacks John Woo's flair and the plot is rank average. Clearly we are taking inspiration from The Great Silence here without being as good of a film. Just a bland revenge film due to the lack of dialogue and style.
3/5
News of the World (2020)
Directed by Paul Greengrass this film based on the novel the same name stars Tom Hanks and Helena Zengel. A former Confederate army officer who makes his living reading the news transports a young girl raised by Native Americans back to her European family.
Mixing up elements of The Searchers and True Grit there is not much new to this western. Decently made with little to recommend it on its own merits this is a pretty average film. Even Tom Hanks and Paul Greengrass can not elevate this beyond the pedestrian.
3/5
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
Directed by Aaron Horvath & Michael Jelenic this film has voices from Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day and Jack Black. Two brothers find themselves transported to a strange world.
Visually this film is really nice, the colours and textures of the animation are fantastic. The plot is pretty basic, thin would be the best way to describe the script. As a kids film it works fine, just do not expect anything more to it.
3/5
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)
Directed by James Mangold this film stars Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Mads Mikkelsen. Roused out of retirement our hero is entangled with his god daughter and the Antiythera mechanism.
I suppose this is a passable entry into the franchise even if it does not hit the hits of the best films in the series. There are times when the film relies too much on action sequences without really pushing the plot forward. Apart from Indy no one else really gets any decent character work which is a real shame.
2/5
Allelujah (2022)
Directed by Richard Eyre this film based on the play of the same name stars Jennifer Saunders, Bally Gill, Russell Tovey, Derek Jacobi, Judi Dench and David Bradley. A small geriatric hospital is on the verge of being closed.
Not overly nuanced this is a defence of the NHS in the face of cuts by modern government. I suppose the plot is mostly fine apart from the Harold Shipman twist at the end which is not handled very well in my opinion. I suppose I expected a bit more from something based on the work of Alan Bennett.
2/5
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
Directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K. Thompson this is an animated sequel. A man with dimension hopping powers wants Miles Morales to be his nemesis.
It takes a long time for this sequel to get going and just when it is finally hitting its stride we get told to wait for part two. I really think this film could have been trimmed down, it still has some fun parts but is not its predecessor. Mostly just set up for the next film unfortunately.
3/5
Une partie de lawn-tennis II (1897)
Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. A group of people mess about on a tennis court.
Much more chaos than anything resembling a tennis match. The subject matter is just a bit too chaotic for my taste. Needed to be a bit more structured in my opinion.
2/5
Liverpool, la rade (1897)
Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. We see ships in the harbour at Liverpool in England.
There is a decent variety of water born craft here. We only really get to see hints of the shoreline in places. Decent film of the era.
3/5
X. La mise en croix (1898)
Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. The 10th part in a passion play.
Jumping in at the 10th part of a series might not be the best idea yet here we are. A single scene depicting Christ being nailed to the cross is fairly well done. Decent staging for the period.
3/5
Procession, I (1897)
Directed by Constant Girel this is an early short film. Some people walk past the camera in a procession.
There is not a huge amount to this short film, the foreground is blocked for a bit before we really see the procession. Not really the best or the most relevant of the films of this type. A bit too generic really.
2/5
The Machine (2023)
Directed by Peter Atencio this film stars Bert Kreischer, Mark Hamill and Iva Babic. A comedian is kidnapped and taken to Russia to face the consequences of a comedy bit he has been living off for years.
For what this is I suppose this film is not too bad. There are a few funny moments here as they try to stretch out a sequel to a 20 minute comedy routine. I suppose most of all it is nice to see Mark Hamill getting work again.
2/5
Oppenheimer (2023)
Directed by Christopher Nolan this film based on real events stars Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr. and Florence Pugh. A scientist is chosen to lead the US attempt to build a nuclear bomb during WW2.
I really enjoyed this exploration of not just the creation of the atomic bomb but also the moral issues surrounding it. The film does an excellent job of balancing a personal story with wider issues. Fascinating and incredibly well made, I look forward to rewatching this one.
5/5
Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)
Directed by David F. Sandberg this sequel adds Helen Mirren, Lucy Lui and Rachel Zegler to the cast. Our heroes go up against the daughters of Atlas.
As a kids movie this is pretty decent, sure it is not the deepest movie you will ever see but I still managed to enjoy it. It would have been better if there was more time committed to character development I suppose, you can not have everything though. Decent enough I would be fine with seeing a third film in the series.
3/5
Acteurs japonais: bataille au sabre (1897)
Directed by Constant Girel this is an early short film. Japanese actors demonstrate a martial arts scene.
There are some moves in here which would be impressive if performed by a modern stunt team. An enjoyable little action scene. Well worth a watch.
3/5
Danse Tyrolienne (1896)
Directed by Constant Girel this is an early short film. A couple perform a traditional folk dance then kiss.
There is a little bit of charm to this short film thanks to the dance and rural setting. Given the short run time there is not a huge amount to this one. Fairly fun and familiar.
3/5
Les Ainos a Yeso, [I] (1897)
Directed by Constant Girel this is an early short film Four men perform a traditional dance.
The issue with shorts like this is they are nearly always presented without any context so without the relevant cultural knowledge it is hard to get much out of them. For the uncultured like me it is hard to take a lot from this one. Still has some nice foreground action if nothing else.
2/5
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (2023)
Directed by Hettie Mcdonald this film based on the novel of the same name stars Jim Broadbent and Penelope Wilton. A retired man decides to walk from Devon to Berwick-upon-Tweed to give a former colleague with cancer a reason to keep living.
Like many British films this one is a simplistic, feel good effort that comes across as trying too hard at times. Much of the plot is predictable and heavy handed. Despite the flaws there are still a few touching moments in the film.
2/5
Defile du 8e bataillon (1896)
Directed by Constant Girel this is an early short film. Soldiers march past a crowd.
It is a little hard to see the subject matter however they do eventually emerge from the crowd of civilians. Watch out for the product placement taking centre spot. Not bad for what it is.
3/5
May December (2023)
Directed by Todd Haynes this film loosely inspired by real events stars Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore and Charles Melton. An actress goes to meet a child sex offender and her victim, now husband, ahead of playing her in a film.
I am conflicted about this film, I really can not tell if this uncomfortable look at an uncomfortable subject is indulging in the things it criticises or provides an apt criticism. Does the film ever properly get to grips with the subject matter or is it just trying too hard to be a Bergman film? Ultimately I just did not get this one I think despite all the praise it seems to be getting.
3/5
Pont de bateaux (1896)
Directed by Constant Girel this is an early short film. People walk across a bridge,
There is not a lot to this one either in foreground or background action. You can find a lot more interesting films in the Lumiere catalogue so I would not recommend hunting down this one. Fine for what it is I suppose.
2/5
Hit the Road (2021)
Written & directed by Panah Panahi this film stars Hassan Madjooni, Pantea Panahiha, Rayan Sariak and Amin Simiar. An Iranian family travel to the border so the elder son can escape the country.
There are some fantastic shots of the landscapes of Iran in this film, I really enjoyed the visuals. The film is a bit slow moving in my opinion so will not be for everyone. Being an outsider the subject matter was also a little distant to me.
3/5
Panorama pris d'un bateau (1896)
Directed by Constant Girel this is an early short film. We a bridge and the river banks of the Rhine in Cologne.
A nice little river scene shot from a boat going up the river. There is a decent variety in the landscape taken in despite the short run time of the film. Fairly decent entry in the genre.
3/5
The Eichmann Show (2015)
Directed by Simon Block this film based on real events stars Martin Freeman and Anthony LaPaglia. The crime of Adolf Eichmann is televised for the world to see.
A little preachy and simplistic in places this is an okay television film. Through LaPaglia's character the film does at least hint at some issues that are more relevant than ever today. A tough subject to hand respectfully.
3/5
The Three Musketeers: D'Artagnan (2023)
Directed by Martin Bourboulon this adaptation stars Francois Civil, Vincent Cassel, Romain Duris, Pio Marmai and Eva Green. A young man wishes to join the King's Musketeers.
Fairly faithful to the source material this film does a decent job of bringing the first part of the book to the screen. I found some of the camera work in the action sequences to be a bit annoying, does not one want to do a wide shot any more? Compared to some of the other adaptations I think the main cast lack a bit of charisma.
3/5
A Thousand and One (2023)
Written & directed by A. V. Rockwell this film stars Teyana Taylor, Aaron Kingsley Adetola, Aven Courtney, Josiah Cross and Will Catlett. In the mid 90s a boy in the foster system in New York is kidnapped by a woman claiming to be his mother.
There is definitely something to this film both in terms of scope and the way it shows a changing New York. An interesting look into the African American experience of the period through the lens of an unusual family dynamic. Thought provoking if nothing else.
4/5
Genie (2023)
Directed by Sam Boyd this film stars Melissa McCarthy and Paapa Essiedu. After missing his daughter's birthday a man finds a genie who grants wishes.
Given how lazy of an effort this is I was surprised to find it came from the pen of Richard Curtis. There are a few hints of something possible in the script but it needs some major re-writes to get anywhere good. This is ultimately a completely predictable, lightweight holiday film and I am really not sure we needed Melissa McCarthy as a genie after we've had both Robin Williams and Will Smith in Aladdin adaptations.
2/5
Roi et Reine d'Italie (1896)
Directed by Constant Girel this is an early short film. The king of Italy and his wife walk down some stairs and get into a carriage.
Really the camera needs to be a little further back to get everything in shot properly here. The king and queen and not especially regally dressed so they could pass for any aristocrats. Not the best of the Lumiere catalogue.
3/5
