A Mix-Up in the Gallery (1906)
Directed by Georges Melies. A clumsy photographer's assistant causes chaos.
Plenty of slapstick comedy here once things actually get going. A bit of fun, nothing deepering. Some nice sets to go with the silliness.
3/5
Superman: Red Son (2020)
Directed by Sam Liu this animated film has voices from Jason Isaacs, Amy Acker and Diedrichj Bader. What would happen if Superman was brought up in the Soviet Union instead of the United States?
It has been many years since I read the comic this film is based on and unfortunately I think it lacks some of the detail and nuance of the comic. Fairly entertaining for what it is, a longer run time would have helped tell the story properly. Never gets to fully dig into the differences between the Soviet and Western systems.
3/5
Outland (1981)
Directed by Peter Hyams this film stars Sean Connery, Peter Boyle and Frances Sternhagen. A new Marshal arrives at a mining colony on one of Jupiter's moons to find the company representative is up to no good.
A simple rework of High Noon (1952) in space. Unfortunately the budget and the writing are not there to pull this one off. Connery does his best but this one needs a lot of polish to get it up to standard.
2/5
A Mesmerian Experiment (1905)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A magician makes women appear.
Pretty standard Melies stuff, nothing that surprising or new here. The colour tinting adds a nice bit of charm to the film. Not a huge amount to recommend this one on.
3/5
The Hilarious Posters (1906)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. The people in a poster come to life.
Melies does not quite manage to fully marry up the live actors to the people in the poster but this is a fairly decent effort given when it was made. Devolves into standard slapstick stuff. Not really that memorable.
3/5
A Quiet Place: Day One (2024)
Directed by Michael Sarnoski this film stars Lupita Nyong'o, Joseph Quinn, Djimon Hounsou and Alex Wolff. A young woman with a terminal disease is in the city when aliens invade Earth.
The most impressive thing about this whole film is that the cat sits still for most of it otherwise it is pretty much as expected. I am not sure this entry really brings anything new to the franchise, just more of the same. Decent performances are not enough to make this memorable.
3/5
Christmas Eve in Miller's Point (2024)
Directed by Tyler Thomas Taormina this film has a large ensamble cast. An extended family meets together to celebrate on Christmas Eve.
I am really glad that Christmas is just the setting for this film rather than it being another ham fisted message effort. The film does a fantastic job of handling the large cast of characters as well as fitting in an avalanche of human moments. A really enjoyable look at how families clash and come together.
4/5
Lizard (2020)
Directed by Akinola Davies this short film stars Naomi Akalanze and Lala Akindoju. An 8 year old girl kicked out of Sunday school wanders the mega church seeing the seedy side of it.
A lot of familiar elements in this short even if all of the imagery is not understandable to me. Well made and acted. Certainly something different.
3/5
I.S.S (2023)
Directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite this film stars Ariana DeBose, Chris Messina, John Gallagher Jr., Masha Mashkova, Costa Ronin and Pilous Asbaek. As nuclear war breaks out on Earth astronauts on the international space station divide into factions.
I love the set up for this film, the script just never delivers on the potential here. The characters are a bit too thin and the plot goes straight to the action rather than letting the tension simmer. Fine for what it is, could have been so much more, give me the Alistair MacLean version of this film.
3/5
Prey (2022)
Directed by Dan Trachtenberg this prequel stars Amber Midthunder, Dakota Beavers, Dane DiLiegro and Michelle Thrush. A young Comanche woman wishes to be a hunter and believes there is something strange in the woods.
As much as I enjoyed this film I do not think it ever rises above being more than a solid genre entry. For the franchise it is something of a breath of fresh air, a grounded film in a series that can be a bit silly at times. Very much taking a leaf out of The Revenant without being quite as epic.
4/5
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)
Directed by Adam Wingard this sequel stars Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Dan Stevens and Kaylee Hottle. Kong searches for friends in his new world.
Hollow Earth nonsense intensifies in this sequel. There is barely enough plot to string together the inevitable monster fights and little in the way of characters or character arcs. Flashy but entirely forgettable.
2/5
Misfortune Never Comes Alone (1903)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. Pranksters catch a guard sleeping on duty.
Maybe a little too much chaos ensues here, it is a little hard to follow the action and the sets become a bit obvious. I am not sure the facades here can stand up to the level of action they are put under. A fun little short for what it is.
3/5
In the Barber Shop (1908)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A short scene in a barber shop.
Unfortunately this one shows the uncomfortable views of the period. Black face and race based jokes are what we find here. Not one I could ever recommend to anyone.
1/5
Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
Directed by Shawn Levy this film stars Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman. Our hero must save our reality by finding it a new Wolverine.
I found this film to be fun but not overly memorable. Relying on so much content from a television show kind of cheapens the cinematic experience. Some good gags and nice to see some old faces back, just not as good as the previous Deadpool films.
3/5
The Witch's Revenge (1903)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. An old man is about to be condemned but is given a reprieve by the king.
I am not sure this is the witch's revenge so much as the king's folly, no good deed goes unpunished! A little bit hard to follow the plot and it does take a while to get to the actual magic parts. Nothing special for a Melies short.
3/5
Coup! (2023)
Directed by Austin Stark & Joseph Schuman this film stars Peter Sarsgaard and Billy Magnussen. During the Spanish flu outbreak a man infiltrates the staff of a supposedly progressive journalist.
Claiming to have something to say about class warfare I am not sure this film is as smart or as interesting as it thinks it is. Entertaining enough ultimately I think this is rather forgettable. Sarsgaard does his best to carry the film but it lacks a bit of energy in my opinion.
2/5
Abigail (2024)
Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett this film stars Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens, Kathryn Newton and Alisha Weir. A group of criminals kidnap a young girl only to find out she is a vampire who plans to kill them all.
Mixing up a number of different genres this film is just paper thin beyond that. The characters are cliches picked out of a catalogue and the ending of the film is an unearned character change for the title character. Just a lazy effort in my opinion.
2/5
The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland (2024)
Directed by Peter Baynton this animated film has voices from Gerard Butler and Emilia Clarke. Santa heads to wonderland only to find the Queen of Hearts has banned Christmas.
If you ever thought you needed a singing Gerard Butler as Santa then this film is for you, for the rest of us not so much. A weird fan fiction mash up aimed at very young children. Lacking in anything resembling subtlety.
2/5
The Firefall (1904)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. The devil shows up and causes chaos.
A little difficult to follow when it comes to the plot, it is not entirely clear why things are happening in this one. Decent sets and effects but it is all a bit disjointed. Not my favourite.
2/5
Ten Ladies in an Umbrella (1903)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A magician makes ten different ladies appear from his umbrella.
Mixing together a couple of camera tricks the edits in this one are fairly obvious. Not the best of Melies magic, still fairly decent. Does not hold up that well to modern viewing.
2/5
The Wandering Jew (1904)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A Jew is punished for mocking Jesus.
A really evocative short film with some impressive atmosphere. There is not much to the plot but the stark storms really carry this one. A great example of early film making.
4/5
A Moonlight Serenade (1904)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A clown tries to serenade his love only to get chased off.
I like both the plot and staging of this short. This really is a visual feast, an excellent example of the best of Melies. Well worth seeking out.
4/5
Sweethearts (2024)
Directed by Jordan Weiss this film stars Kiernan Shipka, Nico Hiraga and Christine Taylor. Two best friends return home from their first year of college for thanksgiving to break up with their high school sweethearts.
As teen sex comedies go this one starts out raunchy and eases off pretty fast, the rest of the film is a pretty average teen comedy. To be honest the B plot with the third wheel friend coming to terms with being gay in small town Ohio is more interesting than the main plot. Fine for what it is, nothing remarkable for the genre.
3/5
The Enchanted Sedan Chair (1905)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A magician makes a sedan chair appear.
It takes a while for the titular chair to turn up in this one so you might need some patience. As Melies magic films go this one is fine, not that special. I would not recommend this one over other Melies films of the period.
2/5
Wonka (2023)
Directed by Paul King this prequel stars Timothee Chalamet, Calah Lane and Paterson Joseph. A young man heads to Paris with dreams of making it as a chocolate maker.
I suppose as fan fiction goes this is fine, it does not really add much to the Wonka-mythos. The whole thing is a bit Dahl-lite and does not really have much of a subtext. Fine for a kids movie.
3/5
Jupiter's Thunderballs (1903)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. Greek gods clash.
It is a bit hard to make out the actual plot of this short, I am not overly familiar with Greek mythology so maybe that does not help matters. The action is fairly entertaining even if it does not make much sense to me. Decent special effects for the period.
2/5
The Report (2019)
Directed by Scott Z. Burns this film based on real events stars Adam Driver, Annette Bening and Jon Hamm. The Senate intelligence committee orders an investigation into the CIA torture program.
As important as the subject matter of this film is the execution is fairly dry. Adam Driver does his best in the lead but there is not really enough drama in the film. Fine for what it is but never going to be up there with the greats of the genre like All the Presidents Men.
3/5
She (Snake) (2023)
Directed by Renee Zhan this short film stars Xiaonan Wang and Alina Lew. A 16 year old student finds the expectations on her to be too much when a new girl moves to the school.
A fantastic look at teenage pressures. I really enjoyed the stop motion animation monsters, they are a real blast from the past. Well made and very resonant.
4/5
Tchin-Chao, the Chinese Conjurer (1904)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A Chinese magician does some tricks.
Probably not aged well with the way it is based on stereotypes. The staging and backdrop are good and the tricks are mostly up to the usual Melies level. Not my favourite of the director's films.
2/5
Monkey Man (2024)
Directed by star Dev Patel this film also features Pitobash, Sikandar Kher and Sobhita Dhulupala. A young man seeks revenge on the corrupt policeman who murdered his mother.
As action revenge film goes there is nothing really new here. The film is decently made and the action sequences are pretty good. There are so many films like this one it is hard for it to stand out from the crowd, especially when it name checks John Wick.
3/5
Absolution (2024)
Directed by Hans Petter Moland this film stars Liam Neeson, Frankie Shaw and Daniel Diemer. A mob enforcer with CTE comes to terms with his declining state.
Much like the protagonist of the film the plot is pretty tired and going through the motions. There is nothing new or original here, we lurch from one scene to the next towards an inevitable conclusion. It is hard to find anything to recommend this one on.
2/5
The Magician's Cavern (1901)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A magician does tricks.
A mixture of stage and camera tricks are nicely put together. The spooky stage adds to the ambience. A classic example of Melies at his best.
3/5
The Enchanted Well (1903)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. The town well is enchanted by an upset witch.
Simple fun here as the well goes bananas on a guy. Mixing together a few special effects for comedic purposes. Pretty good for what it is, solid back drop and action, just ignore the bit where the well wobbles because it is obviously not real.
3/5
The Wonderful Living Fan (1904)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A huge magical fan is shown off to a VIP.
A good application of the usual Melies camera tricks and artistry. Not the most unique film, still well done. A fun little film, reflective of the period.
3/5
The Mysterious Retort (1906)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. When the wizard sleeps the snake will play.
Another in the series of sleeping men and chaos from Melies. The effects are pretty decent for the period and the action is entertaining. A fun little short.
3/5
Thanksgiving (2023)
Directed by Eli Roth this film stars Patrick Dempsey, Nell Verlaque and Addison Rae. After a stamped at a Black Friday sale turns into a tragedy a killer is on the loose looking for revenge.
Starting out with some ideas about a satirical look at Black Friday the film unfortunately never goes anywhere with that. Turning into your standard slasher fare except none of the protagonists are very likeable so it kind of seems like they mostly have their grizzly fates coming. I suppose the gore is well done at least.
2/5
Girl You Know It's True (2023)
Written & directed by Simon Verhoeven this film based on real events stars Tijan Nije, Elan Ben Ali, Matthias Schweighofer and Bella Dayne. The rise and fall of the pop act Milli Vanilli.
An interesting subject matter, were the subjects any more fake than anyone else in the music industry? I am not sure the film fully gets to grips with some of the finer details but this is still a fun look at a piece of pop history. A tragedy to see how people are used and spit out.
4/5
IF (2024)
Written & directed by co-star John Krasinski this film also features Cailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds, Fiona Shaw and the voice of Steve Carell. A young girl staying with her grandmother while her father has an operation runs into imaginary friends that have been abandoned by their kids.
As films aimed at kids go this one is fine, it is cutesy and pretty obvious where it is going. The twist is rather given away pretty early on. Still decent for what it is.
3/5
The Treasures of Satan (1902)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early sort film. Treasure is put in a box.
To be honest it is a little hard to tease out what the plot of this short actually is. The on screen action is entertaining but I am not sure it is coherent. Fun and decent camera tricks.
3/5
The Untameable Whiskers (1904)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A man grows increasing amounts of hair.
Most unusual about this short is Melies showing off that he can draw. The film builds around a simple camera trick like a lot of Melies films. Pretty fun really.
3/5
Festival of Slaps (2023)
Directed by Abdou Cisse this short film stars Kemi Lofinmakin, Tom Moutchi and Femi Ogunjobi. A young man's life flashes before his eyes thanks to a slap from his mother.
Playing with the viewers expectations this is a nice little look at cultural stereotypes. You never get what you are expecting from this film. Well worth checking out.
3/5
The Living Playing Cards (1905)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A man brings giant playing cards to life.
Familiar to other Melies films where drawings come to life. Decent for what it is but nothing unique. The drawings could have been a closer representation of the person to really make this one work.
3/5
Tarot (2024)
Directed by Spenser Cohen & Anna Halberg this film stars Harriet Slater, Adain Bradley and Jacob Batalon. Attractive young people accidentally use a curse tarot deck and start to die one by one.
Nothing is especially new or original here, pretty standard horror film stuff. It is really hard to care about any of the paper thin characters. The death sequences are drawn out because there is literally nothing else in the film.
2/5
Widow Clicquot (2023)
Directed by Thomas Napper this film stars Haley Bennett, Tom Sturridge and Sam Riley. As the Napoleonic wars rage on a young widow takes over her husband's vineyard.
I found this film focuses a bit too much on the protagonists memories of her husband and not enough on the major innovations she made to the wine industry. You will have to really like artsy feelings films to love this one. Not sure it really captures the achievements of the woman the story is based on.
2/5
Dune: Part Two (2024)
Directed by Denis Villeneuve this film stars Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson and Javier Bardem. Living with the Fremen our protagonist has to decide if he should take his place in the prophecy or not.
As enjoyable as this film is it loses some of the surprise the first film had, I am also not sure it goes as deep into Paul's turn as it could. Still a fantastic visual spectacle even though we know what to expect from the series now. A tremendous achievement of cinema.
4/5
The Inventor Crazybrains and His Wonderful Airship (1905)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A man dreams of the airship he has designed.
Another in the series of dream films from Melies. Done with the usual style and skill you expect from the director. A pretty wondrous effort.
3/5
The Devil in a Convent (1899)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. The devil attempts to cause problems in a convent.
A fun little mix of setting and camera tricks. The action is pretty good, entertaining and has its funny moments. Very impressive for the time it was made in.
3/5
The Man with the Rubber Head (1901)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A man blows up a spare head.
Classic Melies stuff, mixing camera trickery with good staging. A nice little fantasy on the screen. There may not be much depth but there is skill and humour.
3/5
Area Boy (2023)
Directed by Iggy London this film stars Joshua Cameron. A young man moves to a new area with his mother and struggles to find his place in the world.
To be honest this film is just too short at 18 minutes to really explore all the ideas it touches on. I hope this one gets expanded into a full feature at some point. As is it shows promise even if it does not deliver on it.
2/5
There's Something in the Barn (2023)
Directed by Magnus Martens this film stars Martin Starr, Amrita Acharia and Kiran Shah. An American family move to a farm in Norway and upset the barn elf.
Fun for what it is, tolerable if we really have to do Christmas films in November. Once the violence starts up there are some funny moments. Not sure the ending is entirely earned.
3/5
The Astronomer's Dream (1898)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. An astronomer dreams an bizarre dream.
Impressive for the year it was made this is a good mix of fantasy and camera trickery. The sets and effects are really good. A lot of fun if a bit chaotic.
4/5
The Holdovers (2023)
Directed by Alexander Payne this film stars Paul Giamatti, Da'Vine Joy Randolph and Dominic Sessa. In December 1970 one student is stuck behind at a New England boarding school with the teacher everyone hates.
Somehow both exactly what you expect and not at all what you expect. Enjoyable and touching this is a classic American boarding school film where the characters gradually reveal their true selves. Maybe just a bit too familiar to be great but still thought provoking nonetheless.
4/5
The New Lord of the Village (1908)
Listed as directed by George Melies this was probably directed by the actor Manuel. A village scene.
Another film that only survives as a fragment so impossible to know what is going on. Nice set and costumes. A shame as it seems this was a fun one.
2/5
Sasquatch Sunset (2024)
Directed by David & Nathan Zellner this film stars Riley Keough, Jessie Eisenberg, Christophe Zajac-Denek and Nathan Zellner. We follow a family of Sasquatch as they roam the wilds.
I doubt this film will be for everyone, the lack of dialogue will be off putting for some especially. It was hard for me to pin down exactly what this film is, is it parody, fantasy, faux nature documentary or what? I suppose entertaining and humorous at times.
3/5
Ordinary Angels (2024)
Directed by Jon Gunn this film inspired by real events stars Hilary Swank, Alan Ritchson and Nancy Travis. An alcoholic woman becomes obsessed with helping a widower find money to save his sick daughter.
How did Hilary Swank go from winning an Oscar to staring in a religion pushing drama? As Christian propaganda goes this is not the most egregious you will see but it is still not good. You can even see how things have been changed to make them more dramatic.
2/5
Lee (2023)
Directed by Ellen Kuras this film inspired by real events stars Kate Winslet, Alexander Skarsgard and Andy Samberg. A former model becomes a war photographer.
Taking a fascinating story and an impressive cast this film some how manages to wallow in mediocrity. I found this film to be something of a disappointment despite there being nothing wrong about it. You can see what could have been looming over what is.
3/5
The Prophetess of Thebes (1907)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A king demands to know his future.
Existing only in partial form this is still pretty good. You can get the gist of the story from what remains. The setting and costumes are impressive for the period.
3/5
Buncoed Stage Johnnie (1908)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A man wants to give flowers to a stage star.
Unfortunately this one only survives as a fragment so it is very hard to tell what is going on. What we do get is two seemingly disconnected scenes without much context. Not worth watching in the state it survives in.
1/5
Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead (2024)
Directed by Wade Allain-Marcus this remake stars simone Joy Jones, Nicole Richie and Donielle Hansley Jr. After their summer baby sitter dies four teens are left to fend for themselves.
I am not sure why this film needed a remake and it fails to capitalise putting a different racial lens on the story. Pretty much everything is predictable and without much effort. Lacks charm, lazy in the end.
2/5
The Haunted Castle (1896)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A magician menaces visitors to a castle.
Pretty impressive for the date, involves a number of camera tricks and spooks. Only black spot is you see the set almost fall over at one point. Otherwise a very nice short.
3/5
The Triple Headed Lady (1901)
Directed by George Melies this is an early short film. A man gives a woman three heads.
Melies loves a film that revolves around multiple heads and this is another in that mini genre. Fairly well done but not very unique. More of the same than anything else.
3/5
Jack Jags and Dum Dum (1903)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A slapstick comedy.
A mix of comedy and Melies tricks. I am never really a fan of when Melies uses dummies, that trick just does not work so well. Okay for what it is, nothing special.
2/5
The Fugitive Apparitions (1904)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A man uses chairs and a sheet to make a woman appear and disappear.
Unfortunately this short could be framed a little better, the second chair is far too far to the side of the image. For the most part this is a decent example of Melies and his on screen magic. Does not stand out.
3/5
Comical Conjuring (1903)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A mix of stage magic and camera tricks.
Somewhat interestingly the French title of this film resembles a much more famous film of the French New Wave. The contents of the film is pretty standard for Melies shorts of the period. The backdrop is nice, the tricks average.
3/5
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)
Directed by Gil Kenan this sequel stars Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard and Mckenna Grace. The family take over the ghostbusters business in New York.
I suppose this is decent enough if nothing special. The cast is a bit big to get all the characters their moments but otherwise a fairly solid entry. Does just about enough to get by while adding very little to the franchise.
3/5
Caddo Lake (2024)
Directed by Celine Held & Logan George this film stars Gylan O'Brien and Eliza Scanlen. The story of a family in the bayou which has a time travel island in it.
The set up for this film is fine but it never really goes anywhere with it. It is a bit obvious where things are going, despite the films attempts to hide things and at times it seems the characters do not explain themselves just to hold the plot together. Had potential just left it unrealised.
2/5
The Mystical Flame (1903)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. More stage and camera magic from the master of early cinema.
It takes about half the run time of the film for the titular flame to show up which is not good marketing in my opinion. What we get on the screen is fine if not spectacular. A solid genre entry, nothing more.
3/5
The Devilish Plank (1904)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. Two pots on a plank are the basis for magic.
Devilish seems like a bit of an over sell, fun yes but not that much evil to it. The camera trick is fine as is the backdrop. Lacks a bit of narrative or personality.
2/5
The Clockmaker's Dream (1904)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A clockmaker falls asleep and has fantastical dreams.
Similar to other Melies films both in concept and execution. There is some nice set dressing but the action is a bit pedestrian. Fine for what it is, not really revolutionary.
3/5
Ravenous (1999)
Directed by Antonia Bird this film stars Guy Pearce and Robert Carlyle. In 1840s California during the winter a man arrives at a military outpost as the last survivor of the group he was travelling.
Inspired by the Donner Party this is a decent look at the dark side of American history and the frontier via the desire to consume at all costs. There is some depth to the script and Robert Carlyle in particular is excellent in the film. The supporting cast is pretty impressive too.
4/5
Drive-away Dolls (2024)
Directed by Ethan Coen this film stars Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan. In 1999 two lesbian friends drive a car across the US not knowing what is in the trunk.
As films from the Coens go this one is fine, nothing special. The leads do their best and manage a fair amount of personality to carry the film. Just never quite silly enough to be a proper farce.
3/5
The Radleys (2024)
Directed by Euros Lyn this film stars Damian Lewis, Kelly Macdonald, Harry Baxendale and Bo Bragason. Two teenagers living a normal suburban life find out they have inherited vampirism from their parents.
Familiar young-adult vampire stuff here, the idea of vampirism as alcoholism is fine but does not really go anywhere in the script. In the end it is all a bit pedestrian. There is some potential just never followed through on.
2/5
Bob Kick, the Mischievous Kid (1093)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A boy is left unsupervised and gets drunk.
Not the best slapstick I have seen from the silent era. There is not a huge amount to this one although it does have a nice back drop if nothing else. Lacks something.
2/5
The Mysterious Box (1903)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A magic trick involving a box.
Compared to some of the other Melies films of the period this is a bit simple and lacking in wonder. It does not help that the version of this that I saw did not have very good image quality. Try some other Melies films before this one in my opinion.
2/5
Full Time (2021)
Written & directed by Eric Gravel this film stars Laure Calamy. As strikes take out all the public transport in Paris a single mother struggles to hold her life together.
I really love the way this film makes you anxious throughout. The plot is incredibly mundane and so relatable for that. Really well made and well acted, definitely worth checking out.
4/5
Hat of Many Surprises (1901)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A magician uses his hat to do some tricks.
Familiar Melies mix of magic and camera tricks. Nothing really surprises and only a few of the camera tricks are going a bit beyond what is believable. Pretty fun but lacks a bit of personality or narrative.
3/5
Freud's Last Session (2023)
Directed by Matthew Brown this film based on the play of the same name stars Anthony Hopkins, Matthew Goode and Liv Lisa Fries. An imagined meeting between Freud and C. S. Lewis.
I do not think this film ever gets to grips with its subject matter. If you are going to bring up the quest of God and his nature you have to have the writing to go with it and this film just does not. A disappointment trying to carry itself on the reputation of the real life characters it uses.
2/5
Lisa Frankenstein (2024)
Directed by Zelda Williams this film stars Kathryn Newton, Cole Sprouse and Liza Soberano. A high school age girl meets a resurrected man with some missing parts.
I enjoyed this film, it might not be the deepest but it is pretty fun. No surprise to see the script for this one is from the pen of Diablo Cody. A nice mix of Frankenstein, 1980s cinema and a slightly modern twist.
3/5
Bob Marley: One Love (2024)
Directed by Reinaldo Marcus this film based on real events stars Kingsley Ben-Adir and Lashana Lynch. Bob Marley tries to bring peace to newly independent Jamaica through music.
An unfortunately lightweight music biopic here. The script never really gets to grips with or delves too deeply into the subject matter. Everything just feels a bit surface level and an excuse to get some music on the screen.
2/5
A House Named Shahana (2023)
Directed by Leesa Gazi this film stars Aanon Siddiqua, Lutfur Rahman George and Iresh Zaker. A divorced woman in 1990s Bangladesh seeks to overcome her failed marriage to a man in Britain.
An enjoyable look at the growth of a woman seeking more than society will allow her. Our heroine finally finds a place for herself in the world. Insightful and thought provoking.
4/5
Expensive Shit (2020)
Written & directed by Adura Onashile this short film stars Modupe Adeyeye. A woman working illegally is given the choice to betray her friend or lose her job.
A thought provoking little short about a woman trapped in an impossible situation. Exploitation comes from several angles here. Well made and acted.
4/5
The Bachelor's Paradise (1901)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A sorceress uses magic to make a parade of women appear for a man.
There is not much to this one and it is not the easiest to tell what is going on, lacks a bit of a plot. Compared to some of the other Melies films of the period this one falls a bit short. The camera tricks and sets are of the standard you would expect.
3/5
Something Like an Autobiography (2023)
Directed by star Mostofa Sarwar Farooki this film also features the director's wife Nusrat Imrose Tisha. A couple who have been married for several years try for a baby.
This is an unusual mix of fact and fiction, somewhere between a documentary and reenactment. Without knowing the couple involved it is hard to tell which parts are true to life and which, if any have been added. For a title that is invoking Kurosawa I am not sure the film lives up to that height.
3/5
Restore Point (2023)
Directed by Robert Hloz this film stars Andrea Mohylova, Matej Hadek and Vaclav Neuzil. In 2041 a company can bring people back to life within 48 hours of their death.
Starting from an intriguing premise this film does not really go anywhere especially interesting with things. I would have like to have seen a much more dystopian version of this film rather than the same old neo noir type story. Fine for what it is but could have been more in my opinion.
3/5
Zombie Town (2023)
Directed by Peter Lepenitotis this film based on the novel of the same name stars Marlon Kazadi, Madi Monroe, Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase. A reclusive film maker has finally made a new zombie film and the whole town is excited.
You can see what this film is trying to do, in a rather simplistic and heavy handed way, it just not work. I assume this is intended for a young audience because it is pretty basic. Even the horror elements have been cleaned up for the kids.
2/5
Kottukkaali (2024)
Directed by P. S. Vinothraj this film stars Anna Ben, Soori and Jawahar Sakthi. Two families take a young woman to visit a seer in the hopes of getting rid of the evil spirits they believe are making her refuse to marry the man they have chosen for her.
A stark look at the darker side of arranged marriages. I really enjoyed the way the camera will just sit with a location or characters in this film, letting you drink in the moments. Thought provoking and well made, Anna Ben's eyes are haunting through out.
4/5
The Wizard, the Prince and the Good Fairy (1900)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A prince is saved from the tricks of a wizard by a fairy.
Normally in folklore it is the fairies that are the tricksters so this film does invert expectations a little. The camera tricks and setting are pretty nice. Another solid entry from Melies.
3/5
The Court Martial at Rennes (1899)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. French officer Dreyfus is brought in front of a court martial.
Part of a larger series this short does not make much sense on its own or without understanding the historical context. It is a bit hard to pick up what is actually going on in the scene really. Not the best of early Melies.
2/5
Paradise (2023)
Directed by Prasanna Vithanage this film stars Roshan Mathew, Darshana Rajendran and Mahendra Perera. With the political situation in Sri Lanka at boiling point a couple on holiday are robbed.
I think this film does a good job of looking at the way tourists have more concern for their worldly possession than the places they visit. There is a really good undercurrent of class and the hold overs of colonialism. Dramatic and thought provoking.
4/5
The Microscopic Dancer (1902)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A magician produces eggs from a man's mouth and some other tricks.
A combination of stage magic and camera tricks as is a lot of Melies's work. The short has a decent touch of humour to it. A nice back drop to the piece too.
3/5
Hounds of War (2024)
Directed by Isaac Florentine this film stars Frank Grillo, Robert Patrick and Rhona Mitra. A mercenary seeks revenge after his team is sent to die.
Not much thought or talent went into this one, the plot is pretty brain dead and the action uninspiring. I would guess most of the budget went on the big name stars. Skip this one if I were you.
2/5
Swede Caroline (2024)
Directed by Fin Bruce & Brook Driver this film stars Jo Hartley, Aisling Bea and Ray Fearon. The bitter battles over veg growing competitions covered in a fake documentary.
For what it is this is fine, it captures a slice of rural England in a comedic manner. There are no real surprised and things do maybe drag on a little bit too long. Still a fun diversion none the less.
3/5
One Life (2023)
Directed by James Hawes this film based on real events stars Anthony Hopkins, Johnny Flynn, Helena Bonham Carter and Lena Olin. An old man remembers the days before WW2 when he helped Jewish children escape Czechoslovakia for England.
As Holocaust films go this is a decent, if not stand out film. I get the impression the subject of the film would have much rather not had a film made about him. Manages not to be overly melodramatic but is a bit surface level.
3/5
The Drawing Lesson (1903)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A man holds a drawing lesson which goes awry.
A mixture of slapstick comedy and Melies camera tricks. Decent little short but nothing special. Solid entry in the Melies catalogue.
3/5
A Miracle Under the Inquisition (1904)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A woman is burned alive by the inquisition then an angel swoops in to save the day.
A fun little piece with a plot and nice backdrop. The usual Melies production standards are on show and the camera tricks involved work well. Good example of a film of the period.
3/5
The Ballet Master's Dream (1903)
Directed by Georges Melies this film features its director and Ziz Papillon. A man goes to bed and dreams of a dancer.
An enjoyable mix of dance and theatrical backdrops. A riff on similar other films from Melies. Pretty fun really.
3/5
A Spiritualist Photographer (1903)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A man turns a woman into a drawing and back again.
Classic Melies stuff here combining camera tricks with a bit of stage magic. Nothing massively new if you have seen any of his stuff, still decent. A solid genre entry.
3/5
Black Dog (2023)
Directed by George Jaques this film stars Jamie Flatters and Keenan Munn-Francis. Two teenagers from London take a road trip to the North together.
As road trip and coming of age films go this one is fine, there is a decent amount of conflict between the two deeply troubled characters. It does take a little bit for the plot to actually get going which is a small mark against things. For the most part well done.
3/5
Snack Shack (2024)
Written & directed by Adam Carter Rehmeier this film stars Conor Sherry, Gabriel LaBelle and Mika Abdalla. In 1991 two fourteen year olds aspiring hustlers seek to make money over the summer and fall out over a girl.
If you have seen any coming of age films this one touches on a lot of familiar stuff without ever being cliché. Even if this is nothing original or special it is still enjoyable for what it is, a solid genre effort. Does a decent job of capturing a point in history if not quite being Dazed and Confused levels.
3/5
The World is Family (2023)
Directed by Anand Patwardhan this documentary features the director, his family and friends. The independence and partition of India through the life of one family.
This is a very personal look at history and some of the people involved in major events. Obviously this is not a universal story, the family is well connected, but it is still very insightful. Touching and thought provoking.
3/5
The Oracle of Delphi (1903)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A man steals from a temple, it does not turn out well for him.
A nice little snippet of a scene, sure there is not a huge amount to the plot but it is entertaining. Both the set and the special effects are well done. A solid effort.
3/5
Kamli (2022)
Directed by Sarmad Sultan Khoosat this film stars Saba Qamar, Sania Saeed and Nimra Bucha. A woman living with her blind sister in law has been waiting for her husband to return for eight years.
I found this film to be a little overly melodramatic for my taste. As romances go I suppose this one is fine but it was not for me. Might be better if you are more familiar with the tradition of poetry which features in the early part of the film.
2/5
Bhagwan Bharose (2023)
Directed by Shiladitya Bora this film stars Satendra Soni, Sparsh Suman and Vinay Pathak. As their world starts to expand beyond their village two young boys faith comes into conflict with reality.
I found this to be an enjoyable coming of age film from the point of view of rural India. The ending might be a little bit cliché but otherwise nothing to complain about. Well made and worth looking out for.
3/5
Extraordinary Illusions (1903)
Directed bye Georges Melies this is an early short film. A man performs a number of illusions.
As with most Melies shorts this is a number of camera tricks stitched together. I am never a fan of the dummy to human transitions, otherwise the film works well. A fun little short.
3/5
I Used to Be Funny (2023)
Written & directed by Ally Pankiw this film stars Rachel Sennott, Olga Petsa and Jason Jones. A comedian with PTSD struggles with the disappearance of a girl she used to nanny for.
I really enjoy a lot of this film, the performances and more what it is trying to be than what it actually is. There are just a few moments where I think the film falls a little short on selling the protagonists PTSD, most of the really heavy scenes are well handled though. A mixed bag that is probably not for everyone.
3/5
Paint (2023)
Written & directed by Brit McAdams this film stars Owen Wilson, Michaela Watkins, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Ciara Renee. A man famous for hosting a painting show on free local television gets some competition.
Nothing earth shattering here in this fun, light comedy about painting and love. We all know this is a character inspired by Bob Ross and it works well as a concept for the film. Definitely an enjoyable way to spend 90 minutes.
3/5
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023)
Directed by James Wan this sequel stars Jason Momoa, Patrick Wilson and Black Manta. Our hero must stop someone trying to pollute the world.
Just when I thought this film was about to end there was another hour of it to go which is not a good sign. The writing is simplistic, lurching from one action sequence to the next while bludgeoning you over the head with what passes for character arcs. Even the action sequences are nothing to write home about, just the usual CGI fests.
2/5
Apparitions (1903)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A man is haunted by ghostly figures.
Familiar stuff from Melies. Pretty well done but nothing that new from the director, the usual slap stick and camera tricks. Decently made for the period.
3/5
The Rajah's Dream or The Bewitched Wood (1900)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A Sultan goes to sleep and has some crazy dreams.
A mixture of early camera tricks make up this short film, some working better than others. The backdrop is fairly good and the action decently entertaining if a bit familiar to anyone that has seen a few Melies films. Pretty fun for what it is.
3/5
Joram (2023)
Written & directed by Devashish Makhija this film stars Manoj Bajpayee. A man goes on the run with his baby daughter.
It may be a little slow pace wise but this film does a good job of looking at the fate of the really rural communities of India as “progress” pushes in on them. I found the plot a little confusing, for the most part it works. Decently made and on an interesting subject which is no doubt applicable to other parts of the world too.
4/5
The Terrible Turkish Executioner (1904)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. Four prisoners are sent for execution.
Pretty fun slapstick comedy, about the only beheading video I would actually recommend. A familiar Melies joke in a different setting. Well made for the period.
3/5
Head Count (2023)
Directed by Ben & Jacob Burghart this film stars Aaron Jakubenko and Melanie Zanetti. A man held with a gun to his head tries to remember how many bullets were left in it.
This film is trying to be a crime comedy and falls way short. There is little funny or tense about this film. Forgettable is the best thing you can say about this film.
2/5
Moving On (2022)
Written & directed by Paul Weitz this film stars Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Malcolm McDowll and Richard Roundtree. A woman goes to her friends funeral then plans to murder the widower for raping her many years previously.
Unfortunately I do not think this film does a good job of either being funny or dealing with the serious subject matter at the heart of the plot. The dialogue in particular is a bit lacking. Nice to see Richard Roundtree in one of his final roles if nothing else.
2/5
The Three Musketeers: Milady (2023)
Directed by Martain Bourboulon this sequel stars Fancois Civil, Vincent Cassel, Pio Marmai, Romain Duris and Eva Green. We finally get to the bottom of the conspiracy against the King of France.
Picking up where the previous film left off this is pretty much more of the same. I found all the back and forth of the plot a bit much, there ends up not really being much in the way of character arcs. We get the same action direction too which was not to my taste in the first film either.
2/5
The Prolific Magical Egg (1902)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. An egg grows and transforms into a head.
We start off with some nice slight of hand stuff but Melies over shoots with the egg turning into the head which is just not even remotely believable. The technology was not good enough for what Melies wanted to achieve here. A bit of a let down.
2/5
The Brahmin and the Butterfly (1901)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A man transforms a wiggly worm into a butterfly.
Pretty simple in terms of plot and content. The sets and costumes are of the standard you expect of Melies and his theatricality. A fun little short.
3/5
Shadow in the Cloud (2020)
Directed by Roseanne Liang this film stars Chloe Grace Moretz. A young woman takes secret cargo onboard a B-17 bomber.
Bringing the gremlin myth to life this film is fine as far as the action goes. A lot of the plot and characters are a unbelievable which hampers the film. I am also really not sure about using an 80s style synthwave soundtrack on a film set in the 1940s, it does not fit very well.
2/5
The Magic Book (1900)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. Characters from a giant book spring from the page and come to life.
A simple camera trick repeated and then reversed. Pretty fun for what it is, a bit of silliness. A decent example of cinema of the period.
3/5
Lovely, Dark, and Deep (2023)
Written and directed by Teresa Sutherland this film stars Georgina Campbell. A woman starts her first summer working as a park ranger alone in the backcountry.
As low budget horror films go this is a decent one with a fairly unique plot, a nice change from attractive young people getting slashed up. I am not entirely sure about the ending but otherwise it holds up well. I look forward to seeing what Teresa Sutherland follows this up with.
3/5
He Went That Way (2023)
Directed by Jeffery Darling this film inspired by real events stars Jacob Elordi andZachary Quinto. An animal training transporting a famous chimp picks up a hitchhiker who turns out to be a serial killer.
I assume this film strays a bit from real events as the character names have been changed from their real life counter parts. As a very odd ball piece I found this film pretty entertaining but I think a version that ratcheted up the tension might have been more gripping. Decent performances from the stars help carry the uneven film.
3/5
Madame Web (2024)
Directed by S. J. Clarkson this film stars Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced and Celeste O'Conno. A New York paramedic starts getting premonitions of the future and tries to protect three young women.
It feels bad to pile on the negative train for this film but it just never does anything well. The fact the film has four writers is never a good start, you keep waiting for everything to come together and it never really does. This is just some scenes strung together haphazardly and little to no character on the screen.
2/5
The Mysterious Knight (1899)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A man makes a drawing that comes to life.
As with many Melies films this is a combination of camera trick and nice back drop. The content is pretty decent for what the film is. No great surprises but fairly entertaining.
3/5
The Hallucinated Alchemist (1897)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. An alchemist falls asleep in his laboratory and has some strange dreams.
A short part of a larger, lost film this is a film fun film. The special effects and hand colouring are really well done. Definitely a good example of the magic of Melies's films.
3/5
The Spider and the Butterfly (1909)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A magician makes a butterfly woman appear, then a spider woman.
Unfortunately this is only a surviving fragment of a longer film and it shows, the opening in particular is a bit disconnected. While I enjoy the colour tinting and set dressing by 1909 the film is lacking a bit in plot. A glimpse of what was even if not the full thing.
3/5
Barber (2023)
Directed by Fintan Connolly this film stars Aidan Gillen. A private detective is hired by an old woman to find her missing 20 year old granddaughter.
As films of this type go there is not a lot special to the plot, the trappings do a fairly decent job of showcasing some of the social liberalising Ireland has undergone in the last decades. To be honest the ending felt a bit abrupt and not overly satisfactory. Decent for what it is but not a stand out genre effort.
3/5
