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
