The Bygone (2019)
Co-directed by Parker Phillips and star Graham Phillips this film also features Sydney Schafer and Shawn Hatosy. A young ranch worker tries to help a native American woman escape from a cruel pimp.
As neo-westerns go this film is not too bad but it does have some issues. The film starts with an unprovable claim and builds to a fairly self indulgent climax. Issues with the story aside the plot does touch on some important issues.
2/5
Spinster (2019)
Directed by Andrea Dorfman this film stars Chelsea Peretti, Jonathan Watton, Kate Lynch and Susan Kent. Turning 39 a woman faces the prospect of never getting married or having kids.
As an ode to accepting single life this film is not too bad, it does a decent job of inverting a lot of the expectations of a romantic comedy. When it comes to the comedy part the script is not what I would call dripping with jokes, I think I only really laughed about once. It is nice to see a script that takes a different path to the usual.
3/5
Seberg (2019)
Directed by Benedict Andrews this film based on real events stars Kristen Stewert, Jack O'Connell and Anthony Mackie. Famous actress Jean Seberg becomes involved with the Black Power movement and is investigated by the FBI.
Jean Seberg has a fascinating story but unfortunately this film adds too many fictional elements to the tale. Adding in a sympathetic FBI agent really detracts from focusing on a woman being hounded by her government. It is also a bit disappointing how little the film actually shows about the issues of racial equality.
2/5
Imperial Japanese Dance (1894)
Directed by William Heise and William K. L. Dickson this early film stars the Sarashe Sisters. We see three women do a short portion of the Mikado dance.
Not the best staged dance piece you will ever see, it looks like the dancers are too close together to make sure they all fit into frame. It also seems that the camera is slightly unsteady too. Not the best of pre 1900 cinema.
2/5
Bloodshot (2020)
Directed by David S. D. Wilson this film based on the comic of the same name stars Vin Diesel, Eiza Gonzalez and Guy Pearce. A soldier his brought back from the dead with the aid of new technology and used as a hit man.
Within the plot of this film is a lot of potential for character based stuff but unfortunately most of that is kicked to the side in favour of action scenes. With a bit more thoughtfulness this could have been a really good film. At times the direction of the action sequences is just a little too fast as well to enjoy anything cool happening on the screen.
2/5
Article 15 (2019)
Directed by Anubhav Sinha this film stars Ayushmann Khurrana, Nssar, Manoj Pahwa and Kumud Mishra. A new police inspector has to deal with the murder of two teenage girls in rural India and the disappearance of a third girl.
I really enjoyed this thriller that shows a number of the social problems still facing India today. The plot may be fictional but is rooted in a number of familiar real cases. As a thriller this film holds up well and is of a standard of some of the best out there.
4/5
Luis Martinetti, Contortionist (1894)
Directed by William K. L. Dickson this short film stars Luis Martinetti. We see a contortionist using gymnasts rings.
Despite not even being a minute long this film manages to capture a glimpse of the a mind bending act. How the human body can be so flexible is certainly eyebrow raising. One of the clearer images from 1894.
3/5
