Not the magnum

 

Opus (2025)

Written & directed by Mark Anthony Green this film stars Ayo Edebiri and John Malkovich. An eccentric pop superstar releases his first new album in 30 years and invites a select group to his compound to listen to it.

An unusual fusion of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Behind the Candelabra and Midsommar I am not sure this film ever becomes more than the sum of its parts. The highlight is Malkovich at his bonkers best and I doubt anyone else could have played the part. We do get to a thought provoking conclusion but it feels a lot like the horror twist is taking the easy way out.

3/5

Lines

 

Panorama of Ealing from a Moving Tram (1901)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. We see part of London from the top of a tram.

A decent little city short. The image quality of the version I saw was not the best, not sure if this is the case for all surviving versions. Fine for what it is.

3/5

Not Rasputin

 

Love Machine (2024)

Directed by Jon Clark this film stars Clare Cooney and Bethany Gilmour. On a second date a woman finds out her date is not exactly who she thought she was.

Pretty simple concept, not sure it really goes anywhere. Hints at exploring our prejudices against AI but I am not sure it goes deep enough into the idea. Thought provoking at least.

3/5

Shame

 

Single Residence Occupancy (2024)

Directed by Omer Ben-Shachar this film stars Darren Shen-Kao, Madison Paige, Lauren Mei and Kathy Wu. A woman and her two children live in a single room while they wait for better housing.

A look at the shame of being unable to provide better for your children. Well done and not melodramatic. Very touching.

3/5

Not a model

 

Panoramic View of Conway on the L. & N.W. Railway (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. We see a shot from a train in North Wales.

At times it looks almost like this is a model railway. The hand colouring adds a nice level of charm to this one as does the castle. A fun little short.

3/5

Does the silence remain?

 

Winds of Silence (2025)

Directed by Radha Mehta this short film stars Deepti Gupta and Sohm Kapila. A woman must decide if she will help a family friend and her child escape an abusive marriage or not.

Given the run time this is obviously not going to be the deepest exploration of the subject matter. Does a decent job at hinting at some of the issues surrounding domestic violence. Okay for what it is.

3/5

On the floor

 

Drop (2025)

Directed by Christopher Landon this film stars Meghann Fahy and Brandon Sklenar. A widow on a first date is harassed by strange phone messages.

As thrillers go I suppose this one is fine although it is a bit confined in scope. Nothing new or memorable about this one really. Fairly forgettable in the end.

3/5

Case for prosecuting

 

The Prosecutor (2024)

Directed by star Donnie Yen this film also features Julian Cheung, Michael Hui and Francis Ng. A police detective starts a new job as a prosecutor and tries to over turn a miscarriage of justice.

Attempting to mix martial arts films and court room drama I do not think this film will appeal to fans of either genre as the other gets in the way of the parts they are interested in. Based on a true story I very much doubt it sticks closely to real events given the inserting of over the top fight scenes. Surprised this one has so much praise.

2/5

The first advert?

 

Rudge-Whitworth – Britain's Best Bicycle (1902)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early advertisement. A woman shows off her bike to a man who is unhappy with his.

Survives really well for the age of the film. Fairly decent advert, nothing that special by modern standards. Interesting piece of history.

3/5

Lacking companionship

 

Companion (2025)

Written & directed by Drew Hancock this film stars Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quad. A young woman and her boyfriend go to stay at the house of a rich Russian with his friends.

There are a few interesting concepts here but the film tips its hand too early to work as a mystery thriller and does not go deep enough on any of the higher concepts to be thought provoking. Seems like something of a wasted opportunity. Much better versions of this story out there.

2/5

Two women wave

 

The Queen and the Queen Mother on the Palace Balcony Responding to the Call of the Populace (Coronation of Wilhemina) (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. Royalty wave to the crowd.

Very milky in the surviving footage so not exactly easy to make out what is happening. The camera is a bit far away to make out the individuals which also does not help. Not the best in this series.

2/5

Old in old

 

Review of the Royal Netherland Guard in the Costumes of the Middle Ages (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. Guards on parade for the coronation of Queen Wilhemina.

Fascinating to see soldiers in what was out of date costumes even for the day. Decently framed shot and good image quality. A nice piece of history.

3/5

Not a mastiff in sight

 

The 12 Inch Pianist (2025)

Directed by Lucas Ansel this is an animated short film. A familiar joke extended to surreal conclusions.

I really enjoyed this short, it takes a simple concept and stretches it out nicely. The animation style is pretty cool and does not look cheap at all. A very fun short.

3/5

Best left in the chamber

 

1 in the Chamber (2024)

Directed by Diana Wright & Annie Girard this short film stars Mary Elizabeth Ellis and Yara Martinez. A woman is sent to kill her co-worker.

A one note joke extended out to 7 minutes fairly well. Obviously made a bit on the cheap side. Fine for what it is I guess.

2/5

RIP 18

 

Mickey 17 (2025)

Directed by Bong Joon Ho this film stars Robert Pattinson, Naomi Ackie and Steven Yeun. A man signs on to be an expendable in a colonization mission.

Much like some of the director's other films this is a dystopian dark comedy. There is a lot to enjoy here even if the film could maybe do with a just a tiny bit more depth. Pattinson does a great job in multiple roles.

4/5

Could the title be any longer?

 

Arrival of the Queen at the Palace, Amsterdam, Sept 6^th (Coronation of Wilhelmina) (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. People arrive at the palace for a coronation.

A nice elevated shot shows people on parade. Decent for what it is and survives in good condition. A slice of history.

3/5

Not such a famous voice

 

Mr Burton (2025)

Directed by Marc Evans this film stars Harry Lawtey, Toby Jones, Lesley Manville and Aimee-Ffion Edwards. We follow the life of a young Richard Burton as he meets and learns from his mentor.

I am not sure how well this film sticks to real events, from a little reading it does seem it strays a fair amount. Standard British feel good “based on a true story” type film that the industry loves to churn out. Not sure about the lead actor as Burton, never really captures that famous voice.

2/5

Having a Papal sit down

 

Pope Leo XIII Resting on His Way to His Summer Villa (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. The Pope enters the frame and has a sit down.

A serious lack of summer villas in this short film. Fine for what it is I suppose, nothing that special. Another piece of history from Dickson.

3/5

In the streets

 

View on Boulevard, New York City (1896)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. We see a street scene from New York.

Pretty much what it says, a mix of traffic on a street in New York. Decent image quality. Probably more for historical record than entertainment value.

3/5

Not that great

 

Amann, The Great Impersonator (1899)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. Ludwig Amann dons to disguises.

More dress up than impersonation really. Fine for what it is, the historical context is lost a little on a modern viewer. Decent image quality.

3/5

A gem

 

Uncut Gems (2019)

Directed by Josh & Benny Safdie this film stars Adam Sandler, LaKeith Stanfield, Julia Fox and Kevin Garnett. A Jewish-American man's life is falling apart due to poor choices but he has one shot to get out from under it all.

I thought this was a really good look at the degeneracy of a person caught in the grips of a sports betting addiction, you see the protagonist lurch from one desperate roll of the die to another. Always good to see Adam Sandler in a dramatic roll, often they are better than his recent comedies. Well worth a watch.

4/5

Talk about a long title.

 

Psycho Therapy: The Shallow Tale of a Writer Who Decided to Write About a Serial Killer (2024)

Written & directed by Tolga Karacelik this film stars John Magaro, Steve Buscemi and Britt Lower. A writer struggling with his second book and a wife that wants a divorce meets a retired serial killer.

A decent black comedy that has a fair few laughs along the way. There is nothing ground breaking here but it is entertaining. The main cast all do a good job.

3/5

Bad title

 

The Landing of Savage South Africa at Southampton (1899)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. A group of Zulus at Southampton in traditional dress.

Obviously the title of the film is pretty dire. The contents of the film is not too bad, a group of Zulus in traditional dress. Decent if you can overlook the title.

2/5

Out for a Procession

 

Corpus Christi Procession, Orvieto (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. A shot of a religious procession.

Unfortunately the murky image quality kind of ruins this one. An interesting subject and angle you just can not make out much of it. What could have been.

2/5

A argument

 

He and She (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. An older man and his younger wife have a row.

A simple short with a bit of humour to it. The film is rather blink and you will miss it but you still do get a sense of personality from the characters. Really good image quality for the age of the film.

3/5

Fuzzy fishing

 

Brook Trout Fishing (1900)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. River fishing in Canada.

An idyllic scene with the addition of a man slipping on the rocks in the background. Unfortunately the image is fairly fuzzy so it is difficult to make out all the details. Wish it survived in better quality.

2/5

Obstinate pixels

An Obstinate Cork (1902)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. A couple struggle to open a bottle of wine.

Because of poor image quality it is pretty hard to tell what is going on here. No doubt a fun idea, just does not work when the image is so fuzzy. Sort of lost to time unfortunately.

2/5 

Charge!

 

Charge of the Carabineers, Aldershot (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. Massed cavalry charge.

An impressive shot of massed cavalry charging past the camera. Good image quality and you can really feel the size of the body of troops. A fun watch.

3/5

Does it ever change?

 Changing Guard (Berlin) (1897)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. German military on parade passes the camera.

Decent shot, film seems to have survived pretty well. You can pick out a lot of the details on the men passing the camera. Makes you wonder how many were still serving in the army in 1914.

3/5

Not actually surviving

 Duncan Smoking (1891)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson and William Heise this is an early short film. A man smokes a pipe.

Not clear that the films online claiming to be this are actually the film and not a couple of stills from it. As presented it is not a film. Images are poor quality too.

1/5

Prequel to Bridge of Spies

 

The Bridge of Sighs, Venice (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. A bridge in Venice.

There is not a huge amount of action to this short. A simple static shot of a bridge and some gondoliers passing by. Decent image quality.

3/5

Loves company

 

Misery (1990)

Directed by Rob Reiner this adaptation stars Kathy Bates, James Caan and Richard Farnsworth. An author crashes his car in a snow storm and is rescued by an obsessive fan.

I am not sure this film has aged greatly, there is nothing wrong with it but it does not really zing. You can see what the plot is going for, it is a decent look into weirdo fans which are even more common now thanks to social media. Decent effort if very 90s.

3/5

Pope gets carried

 

Pope Leo XIII Carried through the Vatican Loggia on His Way to the Sistine Chapel (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. The Pope waves from his seat.

A seriously long title for a short film. Exactly what it says on the tin with the humanising element of a pause and wave. Historical more than entertaining.

3/5

Nay a Paul in sight

 

Pooja, Sir (2024)

Directed by Deepak Rauniyar this film stars Asha Magrati, Nikita Chandak and Dayahang Rai. A female police office in Nepal tries to solve a kidnapping at a time of political and racial tension.

A pretty good look at life in Nepal and the politics affecting Indian minorities living in the country. Works decently as a police procedural. Well worth seeking out.

4/5

Follow the leader

 

Capuchin Monks in the Vatican City (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. Monks go for a walk with a crucifix in the Vatican.

I thought I had already seen this one but presumably it was another very similar one. Pretty good quality. Decent little short.

3/5

Doing the minimum

 

Minimum (2024)

Written & directed by star Rumana Molla this film also features Geetanjali Kulkarni and Saba Azad. A young woman moves to Belgium in an arranged marriage only to find out her husband is mentally incompetent.

To be honest I think this film should be a lot darker than it actually is, it does not really grapple with the idea of trafficking and slavery on a deep enough level. Things are just a bit too nice and surface level. A shame as there is some potential here.

2/5

Well trodden

 

Road House (2024)

Directed by Doug Liman this remake stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Daniela Melchoir and Jessica Williams. A former UFC fighter works as a bouncer at a troubled bar.

With a bigger budget and bigger stunts than the original there is not much more in favour of this film. The fact that Conor McGregor features so heavily is definitely a point against this one too. Lacks some of the charm of the original.

2/5

Bagged

 

Black Bag (2025)

Directed by Steven Soderbergh this film stars Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender. Two spies married to each other are caught in a web of treachery.

Certainly slick and stylish as you would expect from Soderberg with good performances from the big name cast members. My issue with this film is that it lacks anything of substance and is not nearly as smart as it thinks it is. I am not even sure that the puzzle holds together when you think back on it.

3/5

Work dog

 

The Unwilling Draught Dog (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. Dogs pull trailers for humans.

I enjoyed the pastoral background to this one and the trailer falling over at the end. Could almost be a painting the way it is framed. Very nice scene.

3/5

streets ahead

 

In the Friedrichstrasse (1899)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. A simple street scene from Berlin.

Similar to many films of the period. A nice little jaunt down a busy street, provides a decent amount of viewing variety. Survives in good quality.

3/5

Not in that much of a rush

 

London Fire Brigade, Alarm (1899)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. Horse drawn fire engines go off to a call.

Similar to a number of other films of the period. I would not exactly say this one is full to the brim with action. Fairly decent.

3/5

An Inspector Cooks

 

The Menu (2022)

Directed by Mark Mylod this film stars Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult. An aspiring foodie takes a disinterested date to an exclusive restaurant on a private island.

You can see what this is going for in an Inspector Calls meets fine dining on acid type of thing but I am not sure the script can sustain the concept through to the final act. A lot of style in the direction covers up most of the flaws of the film. In the end falls a bit short in my opinion.

3/5

Gone-do-las

 

Venice, harbour scene with gondolas (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. Some gondolas pass by the camera.

A short shot of Europe's most romantic open sewer. Pretty decent for what it is, the ship in the background is a nice backdrop for the film. Decent image quality.

3/5

Might have been there

 

Maidenhead Junction (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. A train passes through the station.

While I must have been through Maidenhead I do not think I have ever seen the station. A decent little short with some action from the train and people scurrying out the way. Decent image quality.

3/5

On the wall

 

Mirror (2022)

Directed by Siddhant Sarin this documentary focuses on Ritu Saini and Faraha Khan. We follow two women in India who have survived acid attacks.

A gentle, thoughtful documentary on a terrible subject, acid attacks on women. I really like the way the film captures the protagonists as complete people. A thought provoking watch.

4/5

Splashing around 1899 style

 

In a German Bath (1899)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. Women enjoy the baths in Germany.

Times may change but human behaviour does not, you can see a lot of familiar pieces of human behaviour in the actions of the women at the baths. Pretty fun short. Image quality is mostly good.

3/5

First filmed fisticuffs

 

Boxing Match (1894)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson and William Heise this is an early short film. Two men box.

Supposedly the first boxing match ever caught on film. Obviously the camera work is not Raging Bull given when it was made, unfortunately surviving footage is pretty degraded. A little hard to make out what is going on.

2/5

Rigged

 

Away Aloft (1899)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. Sailors climb the rigging.

A simple shot with plenty of action. Pretty decent for what it is. Survives in decent quality.

3/5

Code less than three out of five

 

Code 3 (2025)

Directed by Christopher Leone this film stars Rainn Wilson, Lil Rel Howery and Aimee Carrero. A burned out paramedic takes on his final 24 hour shift.

Nothing really new about this film, it does have a little charm in places at least. The twist at the end does not really work when you think back through the script which is a mark against the film. All just a bit too obvious in my opinion.

2/5

Generational

 

In Flames (2023)

Written & directed by Zarrar Kahn this film stars Ramesha Nawal, Bakhtawar Mazhar and Omar Javaid. In Karachi a young woman falls in love and after an accident is haunted by the supernatural.

A great look at women in a patriarchal society through the use of the super natural. We see how the same traumas exist over generations. Really good performance from Ramesha Nawal as the haunted young woman.

4/5

Castling

 

Panoramic View of Windsor Castle (1899)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. A shot from a train as it comes into the town of Windsor.

The title of the film over eggs the involvement of the castle a bit in my opinion. More a shot of Windsor that includes the castle at the end rather than a panorama of the castle itself. Fine if you can take it on its own merits.

3/5

To care

 

Saba (2024)

Directed by Maksud Hossain this film stars Mehazabien Chowdhury, Rokeya Prachy and Mostafa Monwar. A young woman in Bangladesh cares for her disabled mother after being abandoned by her father.

A great look at the life of a carer and her relationship with her mother. Never melodramatic the film gets to the heart of carer burn out and the loneliness of the situation for both. Well made and well acted.

4/5

No German's in sight

 

Berlin (2023)

Directed by Atul Sabharwal this film stars Aparshakti Khurana and Ishwak Singh. In 1993 a sign language teacher is called in to help interview a deaf man and gets caught in the intrigue between two spy agencies.

As spy thrillers go this one is fine if nothing special. We are definitely not getting the le Carre depth here. Could have done with another draft or two of the script to really make it sing.

3/5

The longest title in early cinema?

 

From War to Peace: First Departure of “St. Louis” from Southampton (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. A ship is launched.

Pretty decent shot of a ship passing the camera. Decent quality on the image, you can see all the people on the ship waving as it passes by. Could benefit from some context and as shorter title.

3/5

He's fallen in the water

 

Man Overboard! (1899)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. Sailors rescue a man who falls over the side of the boat.

Pretty impressive really, a lot of action in such a short film. Far more going on than in most films of the period. Really clear image too.

3/5

India, England and hints of Australia

 

I for India (2005)

Directed by Sandhya Suri this documentary relies heavily on family films. A doctor moves from India to England and we follow the life of his family.

I have to say I have never seen a film do such a good job of exploring the immigrant experience from all angles. Normally you roll your eyes when someone brings out the old family films but this one is fascinating, so well put together. As relevant as ever, it shows how the issue of immigration has always been present.

4/5

Corn

 

The Field (2018)

Directed by Sandhya Suri this film stars Mia Maelzer, Rabi Choudhuri and Vitthal Nagnath Kale. A married woman living in a rural village in India carries on an affair in a cornfield.

Pretty simple in terms of plot, not a surprise given the twenty minute run time. What is really good is the direction, subtle looks and long shots capture a mood like nothing else. I really want to see a full length film from this director.

4/5

Lads out for a walk

 

Procession of Capuchin Monks (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. A procession of monks walk past the camera.

Nice little clip of the lads out for a walk. Good image quality, has survived surprisingly well. Decent for what it is.

3/5

Carriages arrive

 

Coronation of Queen Wilhelmina of Holland (No. 1) (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. Carriages arrive at a coronation.

A simple procession passing by. The camera has a good elevated vantage point to really capture the grandeur of the occasion. Pretty decent short.

3/5

Dancing in Lahore

 

Joyland (2022)

Directed by Saim Sadiq this film stars Ali Junejo, Alina Khan and Rasti Farooq. In Lahore a married second son gets a job at dance theatre and falls in love with a transwoman.

I really enjoy the way this film lets you sit with the characters rather than get preachy or push an agenda. Every character is trapped by the constraints of society's expectations and it works so well. It is impossible to look away as the film heads towards its tragic end.

4/5

Damaged

 

The Tarantella, an Italian Dance (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. People performing what is presumably a traditional Italian dance.

Unfortunately the remaining film is pretty degraded. What we can see is nice but too much is damaged to full enjoy the film. A shame we have lost a piece of history.

2/5

In Paris

 

Place de la Concorde (1897)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. A static view of a spot in the French capital.

Pretty nicely set up, good foreground and background action. Survives in seemingly good quality. A really good example of the street scene genre.

3/5

Is being a realtor really better than being a contract killer?

 

Love Hurts (2025)

Directed by Jonathan Eusebio this film stars Ke Huy Quan, Ariana DeBose and Lio Tipton. A real estate agent gets drawn back into his previous criminal life.

The script of this one is just too over written and by the end you just want them to skip to the inevitable conclusion already. Ke Huy Quan does his best knock off Jackie Chan to try and carry the movie. Bit of a weak effort in the end.

2/5

Pain

 

Novocaine (2025)

Directed by Dan Berk & Robert Olsen this film stars Jack Quaid, Amber Midthunder and Ray Nicholson. A man who can not feel pain tries to save his new girlfriend after she is kidnapped by bankrobbers.

I found this film to be too long on both the introduction and ending, trying to stretch out the concept further than it could go. To be honest the whole thing comes off a bit like a first draft. Nice to see Amber Midthunder and Jacob Batalon both getting more work even if they are underused.

2/5

Tapped out

 

Tapping a Blast Furnace (1899)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. Work at the Elswick yard.

Because of the angle and distance the camera is set up at it is a bit hard to tell what is going on. Maybe if I was more familiar with ironworking it would be more obvious. Not the best of the period.

2/5

Explosion!

 

A Blast at the Solvay Quarries (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. A man directs workers to run away before an explosion at a quarry.

Hollywood loves an explosion, even in 1898. A simple film, fairly well done. Decent framing and image quality.

3/5

Popemobile 1898

 

People Leo XIII in His Carriage (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. The Pope rocks up in his carriage.

Nicely framed so the carriage stops in just the right place. Interesting piece of history. Good image quality.

3/5

All at sea

 

Scheveningen, Dutch Fishing Boats (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. Men get off boats at the beach.

A nice little short with an evocative setting. Good image quality, you can really see the power of the sea. Good for what it is.

3/5

Pew pew pew

 

Firing the Maxim Gun (1897)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. Hiram Maxim fires his Maxim gun.

You get a real sense of the power of the weapon from this short film. The shot from behind the weapon works better than I would expect. Pretty cool really.

3/5

An unwieldy title

 

Panorama of Grand Harbour, Malta, Showing Battleships, Etc. (1901)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. We see the harbour at Valletta in Malta.

Unfortunately some damage to the existing film by the looks of it so not the best image quality, some issues in places. Fine for what it is. Probably more of a historical record than entertainment.

2/5

One of Them Films

 

One of Them Days (2025)

Directed by Lawrence Lamont this film stars Keke Palmer and SZA. Two friends have less than a day to get their rent money together or be evicted.

Lots of familiar elements in this film, possibly not done with female leads before. Not a bad effort but lacks much to recommend it on. The script could have done with a bit more content in it.

3/5

The original Roma

 

A Camp of Zingaree Gypsies (1897)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. A snippet of life in a Roma camp.

Shows off traditional dress and lifestyle. Obviously hard to get a lot from this given how short it is. Still an interesting slice of history despite the brevity.

3/5

Between two worlds

 

Muna (2023)

Directed by Warda Mohamed this short film stars Kosar Ali and Raha Isse Farah. A teenage daughter of Somali immigrants wants to go on a school trip.

A slightly depressing look at the life of a young woman caught between cultures and places. Manages to do a fair amount with the short run time which is pretty impressive. Not sure it is ground breaking, still interesting.

4/5

A better form of boxing

 

Upside Down Boxers (1899)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. Two men perform upside down boxing.

A fairly silly little short, pretty fun. Good image quality and action. A nice little distraction.

3/5

On the course

 

French Military School Exercise (1897)

Directed by William K. L.Dickson this is an early short film. Men on part of a training course.

A fair amount of action as a large group of men tackle an obstacle. Pretty decent image quality for the age of the film. Might lack a bit of personality.

3/5

Boom boom boom

 

Battleship Odin Firing All Her Guns (1900)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. A battleship goes boom boom.

Fairly impressive, probably would have been more so with sound. Image quality and framing are decent. A nice little piece of history.

3/5

Memento x Zombies

 

Die Alone (2024)

Written & directed by Lowell Dean this film stars Douglas Smith and Carrie-Anne Moss. A man with amnesia looks for his missing girlfriend in a zombie apocalypse.

Essentially this wants to be Memento in a zombie film but comes with too many plot holes and a twist that is a bit too obvious. I can appreciate what the film was going for even if it does fall short. A rare occasion where Frank Grillo does not show up as the bad guy.

2/5

Monster Monster

 

Nosferatu (2024)

Directed by Robert Eggers this remake of a rip off stars Nicholas Hoult, Lilly-Rose Depp, Bill Skarsgard and Willem Dafoe. A vampire seeks control over the life of a young married couple.

Masterfully adapted there is a lot to enjoy here I am just not sure this film is ever more than its source material. I love how well the film brings the classic German expressionism into modern cinema. Really good but maybe just short of great.

4/5

Pew pew

 

Hiram Maxim and His Quick-firing Gun (1897)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. The inventor of the Maxim gun demonstrates how it works.

Fascinating to see Maxim himself showing off his weapon. Really good image quality. A piece of history captured on film.

3/5

Weeeeee

 

Fun on a Sand Hill (1899)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. People play on a sandy hill.

A charming little short of people having fun. There is a nice mix of children and adults enjoying the simple pleasure of sliding down a sandy hill. Good image quality.

3/5

Oh dear

Ten Pickaninnies (1908)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson and William Heise this is an early short film. Three African Americans performing a dance.

Part of the legacy of slavery and racism. Even the image quality of the version I saw was not great. Not worth seeking out in my opinion.

1/5

A punt

 

The Grand Canal, Venice (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. A shot of the grand canal in Venice.

Not as impressive as some other canal scenes that I have seen from the period. Fine for what it is. Pretty decent image quality.

3/5

Fun eral

 

Funeral Procession of the Misericordia (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. A coffin is carried in a procession.

As you might expect not a huge amount to this one. Does what it says on the tin really. Decent image quality.

3/5

No bite

 

Amongst the Wolves (2024)

Directed by Mark O'Connor this film stars Luke McQuillan, Daniel Fee and Aidan Gillen. A homeless former soldier befriends a teenager on the run from a drug dealer.

I thought this film was more interesting when it focused in on the issue of homelessness and less interesting when it brought in the crime element. Standard genre entry that could have been something more. Bit of a waste really.

3/5

Call the whole night off

 

Night Call (2024)

Directed by Michiel Blanchart this film stars Jonathan Feltre, Natacha Krief and Jonas Bloquet. A young man finds himself on the wrong side of a crime boss after unwittingly helping rob him.

Familiar crime thriller elements in a decent effort. There is nothing that special here, even any socio-political depth is merely backdrop. Fine for a genre film just do not expect anything more.

3/5

Unwell

 

The Sick Municipal Clerk (1899)

Directed by Emile Lauste this is an early short film. A doctor treats a sick man.

This film relies on being able to read the writing on two objects which is in Dutch. Given how it is hard to follow this one it is not one of the better films of the period. Not one I would recommend.

2/5

Does he though?

 

Doctor Knows What to Do (1899)

Directed by Emile Lauste this is an early short film. A doctor cures a man who appears to be bed ridden.

A simple gag where it is not entirely clear what is going on. I have seen better from the period to be honest. Not my favourite.

2/5

A toll on this house

 

Tollhouse! A Close Shave! (1899)

Directed by Emile Lauste this is an early short film. A man steals a vial from a under a sleeping woman's skirt.

It is a bit hard to work out exactly what the man is up to and there is no Tollhouse in sight. Needs a bit of context really. Image quality is fine for the age of the film.

2/5

Weirdos & water fountains

 

Amsterdam's Tourism (1899)

Directed by Emile Lauste this is an early short film. Tourists pose in front of a fountain.

If you know the fountain in question I suppose this might be a more interesting short. The poses of the tourists are weird, do they have some significance to the location? An odd short to be certain without any context.

3/5

I can't get no sleep

 

Restless (2024)

Directed by Jed Hart this film stars Lyndsey Marshal and Aston McAuley. A middle aged woman gets a new neighbour who turns out to be an anti social yob.

Goes about as you would expect and still manages to hold a decent amount of tension. A really solid genre effort, shows what you can do with a low budget. Good work all round.

3/5

A facsimile

 

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (2024)

Directed by Kenki Kamiyama this animated film has voices from Brian Cox, Gaia Wise and Luke Pasqualino. Civil war in Rohan after the king kills a lord with one punch.

Fits more then anime than it does with Tolkien's mythos in my opinion, the writing is just too modern in feel. As a stand alone piece it is fine, nothing special. Somewhat of a disappointment given all the praise I saw for it.

3/5

Washed tin

 

Flood in YY Neighbourhood (1899)

Directed by Emile Lauste this is an early short film. A man with a hose pipe sprays a large can.

Not exactly a flood really as promised by the title. Fine for what it is, nothing that special. Fairly decent image quality.

3/5

Tram lines

 

A Tram Crowd on Sunday in Dam Square (1899)

Directed by Emile Lauste this is an early short film. People mill around at a tram stop.

Lacks a little bit of action, you would expect more people getting on or off the tram as it appears to be at the stop. Lots of people, little to pick out. Nothing special really.

3/5

Walking by

 

Arrival of the Peace Conference at Haarlem, 4 June 1899 (1899)

Directed by Emile Lauste this is an early short film. A group of delegates walk past the camera.

Not a huge amount to this one, especially when you do not really know who the people are. Image quality is about average. More interesting as a historical record I expect.

3/5

Marken my words

 

The Island of Marken (1899)

Directed by Emile Lauste this is an early short film. Several shots of young Dutch children.

I like the combination of scenarios here, rare to get more than a single shot from a film of this era. The image quality is really sharp in the version I saw. Fun and has plenty of personality.

3/5

No question

 

Orphanage Question (1899)

Directed by Emile Lauste this is an early short film. A group of orphans are paraded by the camera.

A very short clip of kids out of a walk, you do not really get the full scale of the group because the clip cuts off too soon. Pretty decent image quality. Fairly average short, lacks some personality.

3/5

401 blows

 

Lumbu (2023)

Directed by Billy Dosanjh this short film stars Shaan Akhtar, Shipra Jain Khanna and Ethan Kudhall. In 1994 a teenager discovers his father is having an affair.

Not exactly The 400 Blows but still a decent short film. I am not sure it offers anything that new or unique. Still decently made for what it is.

3/5

Locals only mate

 

The Surfer (2024)

Directed by Lorcan Finnegan this film stars Nicholas Cage. A man tries to take his son to surf a beach but a gang tells him it is for locals only.

Not exactly subtle this film is fine for what it is. To be honest I was expecting something a bit more out there given how Cage has gone recently, this is fairly tepid in that regard. In the end not that memorable really.

3/5

Not across the Mersey

Catching the Ferry in Amsterdam (1899)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson and Emile Lauste this is an early short film. A bunch of people get on a ferry.

The people in this short are far more excited to get on a ferry than I would be. While the action is good the shot is too close in to give an idea of the location where it is happening. Pretty decent short, good image quality.

3/5

All at sea

 

Dutch Fishing Fleet (1900)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson and Emile Lauste this is an early short film. A flotilla of fishing vessels at sea.

An impressive amount of boats arranged before the camera. A nice shot with good image quality. Nice to see something a bit different.

3/5

Same again?

 

Captain Deasy's Daring Drive, Ascent (1903)

Directed by Emile Lauste and Walter R. Booth this is an early short film. A man drives a car on railway tracks.

Much like the Descent version of this film there is not a lot going on. It is hard to tell from surviving footage whether you have watched the Ascent, Descent or a mixture of the two. Either way seems to only survive partially.

3/5

Long name for a short film

 

After the Children's Fair in the Circus Carre, 13 September (1899)

Directed by Emile Lauste this is an early short film. People leave the circus.

Not a lot to this street scene, the back drop is not that special. A short clip of people coming of a building and not much more to it. Decent image quality.

3/5

The original Haarlem, no shake

 

Flower Parade in Haarlem (1899)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson and Emile Lauste this is an early short film. A parade of carriages that have been decorated with flowers.

Pretty nice short, decent image quality. A piece of history preserved. Not like anything you would see today.

3/5

All downhill

 

Captain Deasy's Daring Drive, Descent (1903)

Directed by Emile Lauste and Walter R. Booth this is an early short film. A man drives a car down a railway.

Does not appear that daring really. A couple of nice little shots capturing the landscape but that is about it. The title over eggs the pudding slightly.

3/5

Not live

 

Saturday Night (2024)

Directed by Jason Reitman this film inspired by real events has a large cast including Gabriel LaBelle and Rachel Sennott. Lorne Michaels struggles to hold together all the moving parts for the first episode of the show that will become Saturday Night Live.

Much like many Hollywood films on the entertainment industry this one is edging into self indulgence. We never really get to the how the show came to be and there are just too many characters to give them all a fair shake. No idea how accurate the film is, gives the impression of condensing events down a lot.

2/5

Milling about on the river

 

Mills from the Zaanstreek (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson and Emile Lauste this is an early short film. We see a series of windmills from a boat on a river.

No tilting at the windmills here. A nice little scene of life from a bygone era. Pretty enchanting for what it is.

3/5

The old life

 

Home Life of a Hungarian Family (1897)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. A short scene of traditional domestic life in Hungary.

Pretty much what it says on the tin. A nice little scene of a family going about their daily life. Probably staged for the camera but does have charm to it.

3/5

Could've been anywhere

 

The Boulevard of Scheveningen (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. A simple street scene.

The film focuses more on the people milling about than it does anything unique about the location. Fine for what it is even if it could have been filmed anywhere. Solid example of this early genre.

3/5

A city on rails

 

Tram Journey through Southampton (1900)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. A camera is placed on a tram for a short journey through a city.

Not bad for what it is however it is a little on the short side. A couple of nice moments of the city are captured. One for the historians I think.

3/5

Church, state and school

 

Cairo Conspiracy (2022)

Written & directed by Tarik Saleh this film stars Tawfeek Harhom and Fares Fares. The son of a fisherman from a small village gets a scholarship to attend a prestigious religious university in Cairo.

Looking at the conflict between church and religion this is a pretty decent thriller. I thought maybe it went on a little too long once the main conflict of the film is resolved. Does not do a huge amount to rise beyond the sum of its parts.

3/5

Those bright Almodovar colours

 

The Room Next Door (2024)

Directed by Pedro Almodovar this film based on the novel “What Are You Going Through” stars Tilda Swinton, Julianne Moore and John Turturro. A woman reconnects with an old friend who is dying of cancer.

About what you would expect given the subject matter, does not get melodramatic where it could. There might not be much new or original here, still a decent watch. The stand out is Tilda Swinton's performance as a dying woman.

3/5

In Munich

 

September 5 (2024)

Directed by Tim Fehlbaum this film inspired by real events stars Peter Sarsgaard, John Magaro, Ben Chaplin and Leonie Benesch. The ABC sports team covering the 1972 Olympics grapples with broadcasting unfolding events as Israeli athletes are taken hostage.

More the story of telling the story than the story itself. At times the film highlights the issues with reporting on live events but does not really go into great depth on the topic. A pretty good reconstruction of events from the eyes of those watching.

3/5

Seen better days

 

A Bar Room Scene (1894)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. A fight in a bar.

Unfortunately seems to only survive as two stills so not much of a film. A bit hard to make out what is going on from what is left. Not the best.

1/5

More ships

 

Four Warships in Rough Seas (1900)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. Four warships sail in choppy waters.

To my eye the sea looks choppy but not that rough. Still a nice little short capturing warships at sea. Pretty good for what it is.

3/5

Tinted dancing

 

Les Parisiennes (1897)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. Four women dance.

I like the hand colour tinting here, very subtle addition of colour to a black and white film. The image quality is decent as is the dancing. Fun little short.

3/5

Turnips

 

Panoramic View of the Vegetable Market at Venice (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. We see people at a vegetable market.

The camera is a little bit far from the market to be able to pick out all the details of what is going on. Decent image quality on the film. Captures a slice of life from the past.

3/5

Sky rats

 

Venice, Feeding the Pigeons in St. Mark's Square (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. People feed pigeons.

Does what it says on the tin. Not a huge amount to this one, has a little charm and some decent image quality. Solid holiday video.

3/5

In the thicket it

 

The Thicket (2024)

Directed by Elliott Lester this film based on the novel of the same name stars Peter Dinklage, Juliette Lewis, Levon Hawke and Esme Creed-Miles. A young man recruits help to recover his sister who has been kidnapped by a wanted criminal.

Nice to see someone making a western even if there is nothing that new about this one. The snowy landscapes are decent as is the action and the acting. Despite best effort nothing really stands out as anything to write home about.

3/5

Long gone are the reasons to care

 

Long Gone Heroes (2024)

Written & directed by John Swab this film stars Frank Grillo, Josh Hutcherson, Eden Brolin, Andy Garcia and Melissa Leo. A veteran puts together a team to go rescue his niece from Venezuela.

Straight to dvd is written all over this film. While there is a plot it is just something to hang a few limp action scenes on. Not worth seeking out at all.

2/5

Choo choo

 

Irish Mail – L.& N.W. Railway – Taking up Water at Full Speed (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. A train speeds along the track.

Pretty impressively done shot of running parallel with a speeding train. Good image quality and a fair amount of action. Nicely done for the period.

3/5

Out the carriage, into the chair

 

Pope Leo XIII Leaving Carriage and Being Ushered Into Garden, No. 104 (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. The pope gets out of a carriage and sits on a chair.

A rather long title for a simple film. Could have done with moving the camera back a bit to get more in shot but mostly fine. No doubt important as a historical record if not that entertaining.

3/5

I'm just dancing

 

James Grundy, Buck and Wing (1895)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film staring James Grundy. A man dances to the harmonica.

A fun little short with not a huge amount to it. Captures dancing that is recognisable to the modern eye. Nicely done.

3/5

Sunset is a lie?

 

Warships at Sunset (1900)

Directed by William K. L, Dickson this is an early short film. Warships at sea sail in a convoy.

I am not sure the sun is actually setting, otherwise a nice little short. Not much to it but it does cast a striking image. Decent for what it is.

3/5

A lot to talk about

 

Women Talking (2022)

Directed by Sarah Polley this film based on the novel of the same name stars Rooney Mara, Claire Foy and Jessie Buckley. Women in a strict religious community discuss what they should do after sexual assaults by the men of community come to light.

Both depressing and amazing this is a great look at oppressive communities and the impact of sexual violence on women in general. While this is one of those films that would work as a play it never feels constrained by limited locations. About the only thing I did not like was the muted colour filter used.

4/5

Bog people

 

Rumours (2024)

Directed by Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson & Galen Johnson this film has an ensemble cast featuring Cate Blanchett, Charles Dance, Roy Dupuis and Nikki Amuka-Bird. Leaders at the G7 summit find themselves abandoned in the woods as strange creatures roam about.

A rare case of a film with three listed directors that is not a complete car crash. Works well as a satire of how out of touch the world leaders can seem to be. Great final moment of the leaders giving a meaningless speech as the world burns around them.

4/5

The hunt for a reason

 

Kraven the Hunter (2024)

Directed by J. C. Chandor this comic book adaptation stars Aaron Taylor Johnson, Ariana DeBose, Alessandro Nivola and Russell Crowe. A young man uses super natural powers to hunt bad people.

As someone who loved Chandor's Margin Call it is disappointing to see him turning out the latest serving of slop in Sony's attempt to cling onto what Marvel rights they still have. This film shambles through the motions of a superhero film with no emotional depth. Even the action sequences did not draw me in.

2/5

This is a knife

 

Duel to the Death (1898)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. Two women have a knife fight.

Sure this is not the height of Hong Kong action yet it is fairly entertaining. A decent film for the period with good surviving image quality. Well acted by the two stars.

3/5

Not framed

 

Man on Parallel Bars (1892)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. A man on gym bars.

Unfortunately the action does not even stay in frame here. An early lesson in needing to move the camera back. Not the best from Dickson.

2/5

Toasted

 

Rip's Toast to Hudson (1896)

Directed by William K. L. Dickson this is an early short film. I suppose Rip toasts Hudson?

Like many films in this series it is hard to make out exactly what is going on in the scene and who is who. This early attempt at narrative film making did not hit the mark for me. Not really worth seeking out.

2/5

Not a supersonic plane

 

Place de la Concorde (1896)

Directed by Paul Nadar this is an early short film. A street view of a public square in Paris.

A nice entry into the genre, plenty of action as people go about their lives. Even if there is no plot it is a fun watch. Good for what it is, decent image quality.

3/5

The fire

 

Kindling (2023)

Written & directed by Connor O'Hara this film stars George Somner, Conrad Khan, Wilson Mbomio and Mia McKenna-Bruce. A young man with a terminal illness spends his last summer with his four childhood friends.

It would have been very easy for this film to be overly sentimental but it is expertly made. As we get closer and closer to the conclusion the film drips with sadness. A great look at mortality and friendship.

4/5

Brace yourself, fatherhood is coming

 

Sacramento (2024)

Directed by writer and star Michael Angarano this film also features Michael Cera, Kristen Stewart and Maya Erskine. Two men overcome anxiety about fatherhood.

I really enjoyed the off beat nature of this comedy, not everything has to be in your face. There is a lot to enjoy here even if it is not especially challenging Michael Cera. A couple of really laugh out loud moments in the film.

3/5