Alger: prier du muezzin (1896)
Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. An Islamic man prays.
There is not a huge amount to this short and it does not help matters that the shot is not centred very well. If there was a bit more going on in the frame I think this would be a better film, the backdrop is just too bland. Not my favourite.
2/5
Dublin, pompiers: un incendie II (1897)
Directed by Alexandre Promio. A group of fire engines have a race.
This short starts off well but the final portion is slightly ruined by other traffic blocking the shot. A decent bit of action for the period. Not bad of a watch really.
3/5
Constantinople, panorama des rives du Bosphore (1897)
Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. We see Constantinople from the deck of a boat on the river.
As this waterborne panoramas go this one is fine, if nothing special. The image quality is only okay. Not a remarkable short, similar to many others in the Lumiere catalogue.
3/5
Something in the Dirt (2022)
Directed by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead this film stars its directors. A man moves into a dirty apartment and is befriended by his neighbour.
This is definitely a strange look into modern life and beliefs. The plot is slow moving and a bit meandering so it does drag a bit towards the end. Not for everyone but enjoyable if you like the off beat and unusual.
4/5
80 for Brady (2023)
Directed by Kyle Marvin this film stars Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno and Sally Field. Four friends travel to the super bowl to watch Tom Brady play.
There is something rather distasteful about seeing four of the greatest actresses of their generation reduced to making a Tom Brady vanity project. The script is pretty mind numbing and strays rather far from whatever true story might have inspired it. Such a let down with the on screen talent in mind.
2/5
Scream VI (2023)
Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett this film stars Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding. Our heroes attend college where ghost face copy cats seem to run aplenty.
In my opinion there is one twist too many in the script which ends up making a lot of the earlier clues just not make sense any more. I see a lot of praise for this one but I thought it was a weaker, tired entry into the franchise. Shave a bit off the end and this is a better film in my opinion.
2/5
Fete Au Village (1896)
Directed by Alexandre Promio this is an early short film. We see a single static shot of a village fete.
Clearly the highlight of this film is the two men leapfrogging at the start. There are a few too many people milling about to really get much of what is going on at the fete. A nice little moment in history.
3/5
