Some accidents in the writing

 

Accident Man: Hitman's Holiday (2022)

Directed by George & Harry Kirby this film stars Scott Adkins, Ray Stevenson, Perry Benson and Sarah Chang. A hitman in Malta has to protect the son of an Italian crime boss from other assassins.

I have not see the film this is a sequel to but that provided no problem in following this film. Some of the character stereotypes come across as a bit questionable and you can see the cheapness of the film in places. Mostly the action sequences are well done despite budget constraints, the plot is nothing special.

2/5

Bit blunt

 

Sharp Stick (2022)

Written & directed by Lena Dunham this film stars Kristine Froseth, Jon Bernthal and Jennifer Jason Leigh. A naive 26 year old starts an affair with the husband of the couple she baby sits for.

I think the protagonist of this film is just far too naïve at 26 for the world she supposedly comes from. The lack of believability is pretty much the down fall of this film from the start. A shame because there is some promise there.

2/5

Stabby stab stab

 

The Assassination of the Duke de Guise (1897)

Directed by Alexandre Promio and Georges Hatot this is an early short film based on a painting by Paul Delaroche. Duke rocks up and gets stabbed.

If you aren't familiar with the subject matter, and I'm not, then it is a little hard to tell what is going on. The back drop is nice but a little of the action gets lost. Decent production values despite the flaws.

3/5

What in tar-nation?

 

Tar (2022)

Written & directed by Todd Field this film stars Cate Blanchett, Noemie Merlant and Nina Hoss. A female conductor faces allegations after the suicide of a former protege.

Covering familiar ground about the only thing unique this film does is have a female protagonist instead of a male one. The film is well made and well acted for what it is, getting plaudits for that, but it does walk a slightly uncomfortable line about what it is saying in a post #MeToo world. I am not entirely sure how I feel about this one in the end.

4/5

Not streets ahead

 

Brooklyn, Fulton Street (1896)

Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. We see several trams pass the camera.

This is another street scene that lacks the backdrop to make it unique or memorable. The foreground action is fine but not with much variety. Not my favourite street scene.

2/5

Horny Blade Runner

 

Wifelife (2022)

Written & directed by James Bird this film stars Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Elena Kampouris. In the near future a company sells robot wives.

Mixing together bits of Blade Runner with The Stepford Wives and adding in a dash of The Matrix this film is much less than the sum of its parts. Too many elements of this film do not make sense which checked me out of the film pretty early on. It even comes off as a little bit sexist in the concept.

1/5

Laddering

 

Belfast, exercices de sauvetage (1897)

Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. Firefighters show off their extending ladder.

As shorts of the period go this is a pretty fun one. We get to see some action and the shot is well framed. A nice change from the street scenes that dominate Promio's work.

3/5