Policeman and Burglar (1902)
Directed by George Albert Smith this is an early short film. A policeman catches a burglar in the act and delivers a beat down.
Good image quality and decent sets. The action is fine for what it is, nothing special. Pretty average film for the period.
3/5
My Penguin Friend (2024)
Directed by David Schurmann this film inspired by real events stars Jean Reno and Adriana Barraza. A retired fisherman in Brazil helps a penguin, the penguin returns to visit him every year.
A bit cheesy and sappy there is not a lot to this film. Essentially this is a piece of viral news stretched out to fill 90 minutes or so. Does not really go anywhere and tries to manufacture some drama in the second half.
2/5
Cuckoo (2024)
Written & directed by Tilman Singer this film stars Hunger Schafer, Dan Stevens and Jan Bluthardt. An older teenager moves with her family to a resort in the German alps.
Given the title the film goes pretty much where you expect. As a horror film it is pretty decent, some sufficiently creepy moments here and there, also nice to see the protagonist actually get a character arc for once. Well made for what it is.
3/5
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (2020)
Directed by Jason Woliner this film stars Sacha Baron Cohen and Maria Bakalova. A Kazakh journalist travels to the USA in an attempt to give a gift to Mike Pence.
Some how four years later this feels very flat. There are some funny moments however the satire is all a bit too easy and not as biting as you would hope. As we face another four years of Trump maybe that is part of what makes this less funny now.
3/5
Scandal Over the Teacups (1900)
Directed by George Albert Smith this is an early short film. Two old women gossip over tea.
Captures a familiar scene although we do not get the details of what is being talked about. A fun little short even if there is not much depth. Could have been made today as the same behaviour still exists.
3/5
Weary Willie (1897)
Directed by George Albert Smith this is an early short film. A tramp scares away all the people sitting on a bench.
Not as suspect as the name might suggest. A simple short with a gag that is not too bad. Really good image quality on the surviving version.
3/5
Hanging Out the Clothes (1897)
Directed by George Albert Smith this is an early short film. A married man is caught smooching with the maid.
Simple, fun, works well as a short. Nice to see some narrative in such an early film. Well made and survives in surprisingly good quality.
3/5
