The World to Come (2020)
Directed by Mona Fastvold this film stars Katherine Waterston, Vanessa Kirby, Christopher Abbot and Casey Affleck. In rural 1850s American two married women fall in love with each other.
This is a gentle, historic love story that fits in well with the art house style. There is nothing revolutionary here but plenty that is enjoyable if you like this sort of slow burn film. Well made with some really nice use of language.
4/5
Poker at Dawson City (1899)
Directed by James H. White this is an early short film from the Edison catalogue. A bunch of prospectors have a fight over a game of poker.
There is not much of a game of poker here, just a bunch of drunks acting rowdy for the camera. The image quality of this one is pretty poor so I found it hard to make out exactly what was going on. Another on the weaker side of the Edison catalogue.
2/5
Old (2021)
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan this film based on the book Sandcastles stars Gael Garcia Bernal, Vicky Krieps, Rufus Sewell, Alex Wolff and Thomasin McKenzie. A family win a holiday to a tropical island and find themselves trapped on a beach.
This is one of those films where the characters lag far behind the audience on working out what is going on. When the full plot is finally revealed I am not sure it makes sense and has a least one very awkward sexual encounter with some questionable implications. All in all this one did not work for me.
2/5
Skate Kitchen (2018)
Directed by Crystal Moselle this film stars Rachelle Vinberg, Dede Lovelace, Elizabeth Rodriguez and Jaden Smith. A teenage girl befriends a group of girl skateboarders.
A lot of this film is familiar coming of age stuff wrapped up in the New York skateboarding scene. There are no great surprises here just a comfortably familiar set up. I only found a few hints of most of the cast not being professional actors showing through, otherwise well made.
3/5
Skirmish of Rough Riders (1899)
Directed by James H. White this is an early short film. A company of men mill about then fire their weapons and move off.
Like other combat recreations of the Edison catalogue it is a bit hard to work out what is going on here due to the poor image quality. Exactly what the deal is with the dudes in the foreground I have no idea. Another one to skip really.
1/5
In the Earth (2021)
Written & directed by Ben Wheatley this film stars Joel Fry, Ellora Torchia, Hayley Squires and Reece Shearsmith. A scientist and a park ranger head into the woods to make contact with another scientist doing experiments at a remote location.
If you have seen some of Ben Wheatley's previous films this one returns to familiar themes and styles. As a weird, horror film with some darkly comedic moments this film works well, keeping you on edge and off balance through out. I do not think there is a huge amount of depth here but it is definitely unsettling!
3/5
Escape Room: Tournament of Champions (2021)
Directed by Adam Robitel this film stars Taylor Russell and Logan Miller. Once again our heroes find themselves working through another deadly set of escape rooms.
Evidently I watched the extended/alternate cut of this film which completely removes Deborah Ann Woll from the film. I found the ending of the extended cut to be rather abrupt and unsatisfying, there are some fun elements here although the film does not reach the level of the original. A slightly disappointing return in the end.
2/5
