The Running Man (1963)
Directed by Carol Reed this film stars Laurence Harvey, Lee Remick and Alan Bates. A woman and her husband fake his death for insurance money.
This is not Carol Reed's best work sadly, a pedestrian thriller rather than the heights of his earlier films. The plot works fine but is nothing to write home about. What is lacking is a bit more tension to really sell this one.
3/5
Beasts Clawing at Straws (2020)
Directed by Kim Yong-hoon this film based on the novel of the same name stars Jeon Do-yeon, Jung Woo-sung, Youn Yuh-jung and Bae Seong-woo. A group of inter connected characters fight over a bag of money.
As Coen brothers knock off films go this one is fine, if not amazing. I did find it a bit hard to keep up with all the characters but for the most part I knew what was going on. Lacking in memorable moments to make it really stand out.
3/5
Scream (2022)
Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett this film stars Melissa Barrera, Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox and David Arquette. Twenty five years after the original Woodsboro murders a copycat is in action.
Despite what could have been a big mistake this film does a good job of capturing the tone of the franchise while bringing in new characters. Not the deepest of films there is still a fair amount of fun to be had here. None of the call backs to previous films felt too much like fan service, not sure if they can milk yet another film out of the franchise after this one though.
3/5
Clean (2021)
Directed by Paul Solet this film stars Adrien Brody, Glenn Fleshler, Richie Merritt and Chandler DuPont. A garbage man struggling with his past gets caught up in violence.
As genre films go this is a pretty standard one, if a little slow to get going. My only real complaint is that once we do finally get to the big action sequence it is too dark to see what is going on a lot of the time. Nothing special as melancholy action films go.
3/5
She Will (2021)
Directed by Charlotte Colbert this film stars Alice Krige, Kota Eberhardt and Malcolm McDowell. An ageing film star goes to Scotland to recover from an operation.
You can see where this film is going with the haunting, psychological side but I am not sure it ever completely gets there. This is a decent watch as long as you do not mind a lack of clear narrative. Possibly not for everyone even if I did enjoy a large part of it.
3/5
Le gouter des bebes (1897)
Directed by Louis Lumiere this is an early short film. Three children eat a meal.
Very simple in terms of content this is a single static shot of kids eating or doing what kids do when they are supposed to be eating. The short does capture a human moment but it is in the home film territory. Not a lot to really say on this one.
3/5
Georgetown (2019)
Directed by star Christoph Waltz this film also features Vanessa Redgrave and Annette Benning. An ageing widow marries a much younger man who seeks to exploit her social status.
It is fairly obvious from the get go what is going on here however this is still a fun movie to watch unfold. Inspired by real events it really does shake your head how much the main character gets away with for so long. My only disappointment is that the domestic violence of the real events seems to be down played in this fictional version.
3/5
