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
