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
