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
