How they hate horny women

 

The Starling Girl (2023)

Directed by Laurel Parmet this film stars Eliza Scanlen, Lewis Pullman and Jimmi Simpson. A 17 year old girl living in a conservative Chrisitan community develops an attraction to her married youth pastor.

Very familiar yet still enjoyable this is a thoughtful look at the repression of female sexuality in conservative Christian communities. Nothing is melodramatic, the plot is handled with sensitivity. Highly enjoyable for those of us who are not fans of religious control.

4/5

Room to learn

 

The Lesson (2023)

Directed by Alice Troughton this film stars Richard E. Grant, Julie Delpy and Daryl McCormack. A phd student goes to help a writer's son with his entrance exams for Oxford.

A lot of this film is fairly familiar and despite seeming smart is a bit predictable. That being said the film is still a lot of fun mainly due to the cast. Likely I would watch anything with Julie Delpy or Richard E. Grant in it.

3/5

The case behind the case

 

Miranda's Victim (2023)

Directed by Michelle Danner this film inspired by real events stars Abigail Breslin, Luke Wilson and Sebastian Quinn. A sheltered 18 year old girl is kidnapped and raped on her way home from work.

This film tells the story of the young woman who had to testify twice against her attacker due to the Miranda rights ruling and while it does a good job of highlighting why Trish Weir is a hero it fails to tackle the issue of why Miranda's case was selected by the ACLU. I am sure there is a really good ethical discussion to be had around the events here but this film does not really tackle them. At time the film looks a bit cheap and the dialogue in need of a second pass, pretty sure all the budget went on a number of high profile actors in smaller roles.

3/5

Classic wheeze

 

Le Charpentier maladroit (1897)

Directed by Alexandre Promio and Georges Hatot this is an early short film. A man carrying a long plank of wood over his shoulder is careless about his surroundings as he turns round.

A classic slap stick gag played out several times in under a minute. Nothing that unique about this one but it is very familiar. You can see where Chaplin and Keaton would go from here.

3/5

two peas not in a pod

 

X to X (2023)

Directed by Lily Gwynne Thomas this film stars Tanya Reynolds in twin roles. A woman with an unhappy life meets her successful estranged sister for the first time.

A simple premise in this short film has a nice little twist to add a bit of spice to the ending. Nothing revolutionary but does enough to stick with you. Good performances from Tanya Reynolds to keep the two characters distinct.

3/5

Something fishy going on

 

Marche aux poissons (1896)

Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. We see a fish market at the docks.

A simple film of people selling fish by the docks. It is a little hard to make out the details on this one leaving you with only a general sense of people milling about. Not the best of the period.

2/5

Pretty funny

 

Relax, I'm from the Future (2022)

Written & directed by Luke Higgins this film stars Rhys Darby and Gabrielle Graham. A man from the future arrives in the present day and attempts to survive.

As low budget comedies go this one is fine, it has a few funny moments but is not laugh out loud through out. The plot works fairly well and does have something to say. Clearly the whole thing is carried on Rhys Darby's brand of weird so you need to like that to enjoy this film.

3/5

Crack(ed)berry

 

Blackberry (2023)

Directed by Matt Johnson this film loosely based on real events stars Jay Baruchel, Glenn Howerton and Matt Johnson. A small Canadian company becomes a mobile phone juggernaut.

Certainly the rise and fall of Blackberry is an interesting story however this film very much goes in for as much fiction as it does fact. The film is entertaining and funny, capturing something of that 90s nerd life but with straying so much from fact does it lose its way a bit? Fun even if not the final record on what happened.

3/5

Marching

 

Hallebardiers de la reine (1896)

Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. A military procession leaves a building and heads out onto the street.

Not a huge amount to this one, about all that is remarkable is the yellow tinting. Neither the subject or the location are that much of a stand out. Probably not worth seeking out.

2/5

People in costume at a castle

 

Entree du chateua dan le vieux Stockholm (1897)

Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. We see the entrance to the old castle in Stockholm.

This is a fun little scene of people at the entrance to a castle. Maybe the shot could have been framed a bit better to show more of the castle but the action is entertaining enough. Not bad for what it is, very human.

3/5

Splash

 

The Cascade (1896)

Directed Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. A bunch of people check out a water fall.

As shorts of the period go this one is fine, it captures a decent bit of something. Maybe not overly remarkable beyond the natural features. Pretty standard for the period.

3/5

Bridge over unseen waters

 

Le Caire, Kasr-el-Nil (1897)

Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. We see people walking across a bridge.

The shot is such that you do not get any of the river in the shot which is a bit of a disappointment in my opinion. For what it is this is an average short of the period. Nothing remarkable here really.

2/5

Not savage

 

Fred (2023)

Directed by Franklin & Marchetta this short film stars Tom Brittney and Maxton Beesley Snr. The story of a look out on the RMS Titanic.

Looking into the history this short does take some slight liberties in simplifying the life of its subject, this was probably inevitable given the 5 minute run time though. A decent little biopic really for what it is. Fairly haunting.

3/5

No thanks

 

Sumotherhood (2023)

Directed by Adam Deacon this film also features Jazzie Zonzolo. Two idiots try make some fast money in the hood.

It is very rare I can not get all the way through a film but this was one of those rare occasions. There is nothing funny here and gags are very predictable. Ed Sheeran's cameo is especially crineworthy.

1/5

Baseball not rounders

 

Round the Horn (2024)

Directed by Matt Nelsen this film stars Bard Howe. A little league coach living off his former glories attempts to inspire the team he coaches.

A nice little send up of man familiar sports films. There may be no great shocks here but the short does enough to entertain. Well made and acted.

3/5

Down hill

 

Ligne d'Alger a Kolea: le grand ravin (1903)

Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. We see the view as the camera comes down the side of a hill.

It seems this one may be incomplete but what we do get is a nice shot. There is more than enough variety in what is on show here to entertain. Pretty enjoyable for a film of this type.

3/5

A little late

 

Panorama du port d'Alger (suite du precedent) (1903)

Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. The quays of the city as seen from a boat in the harbour.

By 1903 you are starting to expect a little more than a simple panorama from these Lumiere films. The shot is pretty good and covers a variety of subjects. Fine for what it is.

3/5

Leaving the station

 

Depart de Dunmurry (1897)

Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. A train leaves the station.

There is nothing particularly special to this one, the station seems to be a pretty average one as is the landscape that goes past. Nothing really stands out as unusual. Bit bland really.

2/5

Get off!

 

Norrstrom : debarquement (1897)

Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. A boat pulls into the quay and people get off it.

Not a huge amount to this one, just people getting off a ferry. You do not get to see a huge amount in the shot. Probably not worth seeking out.

2/5

A good use of AI?

 

Norrstrom: panorama (1897)

Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. We see bridges from the river in Sweden.

There is a version of this short which has been colourised and given sound by AI which really brings it to life. I assume the base film is a standard panorama, many of which exist in the Lumiere catalogue. Not bad for what the original is.

3/5

Bumbling in the dark

 

Rumble Through the Dark (2023)

Directed by Graham & Parker Philips this film based on a novel stars Aaron Eckhart and Bella Thorne. A bare knuckle boxer who grew up an orphan and has memory problems owes money.

You can see the mood and atmosphere they film makers are going for here however the film just drags. The plot has too many contrivances to be of any interest. About half way in I just wanted it to get it over with already and the cheesy ending was not worth the wait.

2/5

At the beach

 

Panorama de la ville pris d'un bateau (1897)

Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. A short panorama of a beach.

Fairly decent for what it is, a standard panorama of the period. I would not seek this one out, it is a solid genre entry nothing more. Maybe a few minus points for not being an iconic location.

3/5

What a Judas

 

IV. Trahison de Judas (1898)

Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. Another part of the director's adaptation of the passion play.

That Judas, what a Judas. You can make out most of what is happening in the scene from the action with no need for dialogue. A decent entry into the series.

3/5

Like me in the morning

 

V. Resurrection de Lazare (1898)

Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. One of the parts of the director's adaptation of the passion play.

A simple scene in which Lazarus is raised from the dead. Mostly fine for a film of the period. Nothing earth shattering in the execution, decent sets and costumes, nothing more.

3/5

Not a full lion

 

One Day as a Lion (2023)

Directed by John Swab this film stars writer Scott Caan, Marianne Rendon, J.K. Simmons and Frank Grillo. A man tries to get his son out of juvenile detention.

Essentially this is a Coen brothers lite film from star Scott Caan. Nothing special or remarkable happens here but there is the odd funny moment. Maybe could have leaned into the farce element a bit more.

3/5

Locked down

 

April 2020 Paris (2020)

Directed by Lucca Dahan-Fletcher this film has voices from Charlotte Gainsboug, Pauline Chalamet and Camelia Jordana. Three women living in Paris during the first Covid lock down discuss their experiences.

I do not think there is anything ground breaking or overly insightful here, the short does do a decent job of capturing a snap shot of time. As covid films go this one is not too bad. A slice of life if nothing else.

3/5

No Sandiego

 

Carmen (2022)

Directed by Benjamin Millepied this film tars Melissa Barrera and Paul Mescal. A former US marine helps a Mexican woman who has crossed the border illegally.

Dripping with atmosphere and style this film is something of a visual feast. My issues is that all the art is not really in service of much meaning and while the film may be inspired by the opera of the same name there is really little in common between the two. One to sit back and enjoy rather than think too much about.

4/5