When you only have one shot

Little Tich and His Funny Feet (1901)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blache this film stars Harry Relph. We see the famous music hall act of Harry Relph under his stage name Little Tich.

One of the many early films that captures a small portion of a vaudeville act this is an entertaining short. There is not a huge amount to this one minute film but what there is gives an idea of what must have been a longer act. A single static shot is all we get here so there is no a lot to say on the direction.

3/5

A Star Is Born Again

A Star Is Born (2018)

Directed by star Bradley Cooper this remake also features Lady Gaga and Sam Elliott. A country music star with a host of problems falls in love with a sing-songwriter he discovers.

This is the fourth version of this film that has been made and unfortunately I have not seen any of the previous ones. What we do get here is a good film exploring the flaws of the central characters. I do feel like the romance element is a little rushed at the start but over all this is a well made effort.

4/5

A jumped up German corporal

The Captain (2017)

Written & directed by Robert Schwentke this film inspired by real events stars Max Hubacher, Milan Pechel and Frederick Lau. In the final days of WW2 a German deserter finds the uniform of a captain and assumes the man's identity.

A very odd story with a protagonist who reflects the path taken by so many under the Nazi regime. It is really disturbing to watch a character you are initially sympathetic to turn into a complete monster. Well made and acted, certainly worth a watch even if it does stray slightly from history.

4/5

Holiday video 1897 style

Bathing in a Stream (1897)

Directed by Alice Guy-Blance this is an early short film. We see a group of kids messing about in a stream.

I suppose today a short clip like this is something every family probably has in their home video collection but at the time it would have been highly unusual. There is not really a plot here but it is an early use of location shooting. As a historical record I am sure this is interesting but otherwise not so much.

2/5

No joy at the sea side

Two for Joy (2018)

Written & directed by Tom Beard this film stars Samantha Morton, Billie Piper, Emilia Jones and Daniel Mays. A widow with depression takes her two children to stay at a caravan park for the weekend.

There is a lot that was familiar in the setting of this film and I really enjoyed the plot of different characters struggling with their past. The story builds to an inevitable climax of tragedy that you can not look away from. Well made and well acted.

4/5

The alternate universe before series entry

Juliet, Naked (2018)

Directed by Jesse Peretz this film based on the novel of the same name stars Rose Byrne, Ethan Hawke and Chris O'Dowd. A woman accidentally becomes pen pals with the reclusive musician her boyfriend is obsessed with.

As romantic-comedies go this is a pretty good one that avoids the well trodden genre cliches. I actually enjoyed this film a fair amount and while it could have been a little deeper it is a lot of fun. Well worth a watch if you are in the right mood.

3/5

Not divine

The Water Diviner (2014)

Directed by star Russell Crowe this film also features Olga Kurylenko, Jai Courtney and Yilmaz Erdogan. After WW1 an Australian farmer goes to Turkey to find the resting place of this three sons who died in the war.

As much as I am a fan of Russell Crowe unfortunately there are moments in this film that really show this is his first time directing. A little melodramatic at times as well as featuring some spiritual nonsense I am not a fan of either. Not bad for a directorial debut but lacking in some areas.

2/5