Early Fashions on Brighton Pier (1898)
Directed by James Williamson and George Albert Smith this is an early short film. People walk about on the pier at Brighton.
I am sure some people get a great deal out of this as a historical record, for the casual viewer there is not a huge amount going on. People mill about without a lot of action. Needs a bit more to it to make it watchable.
3/5
The Inexhaustible Cab (1899)
Directed by George Albert Smith this is an early short film. A cab is filmed with a lot of people.
A simple gag fairly well done. There is not a huge amount to this one beyond the obvious sight gag. Decent for the period.
3/5
Weekend Dad (2022)
Directed by Dorothy Allen-Pickard this is a short film. A man with problems takes his daughter for an evening out.
A slice of familiar life for many families around the world. Does not go anywhere especially deep but I do enjoy the hinted at undercurrent of problems with the father. A decent little short film.
3/5
A Perfect Spy (1987)
Directed by Peter Smith this series based on the novel of the same name stars Peter Egan. We follow the life of a man from his childhood to becoming a spy.
In my opinion telling the story in such a linear fashion compared to the novels non linear structure is a mistake, it takes things far too long to get going in this series. Some of the acting is a bit much at times as well. Not my favourite le Carre adaptation by a long shot.
2/5
Skincare (2024)
Directed by Austin Peters this film stars Elizabeth Banks, Lewis Pullman and Luis Gerardo Mendez. A skincare expert in Hollywood gains a new rival.
While this film is fairly fun once it is clear what is going on it takes a bit too long to get to the conclusion. I found the middle of the film really dragged. Otherwise fine for what it is.
2/5
Afraid (2024)
Directed by Chris Weitz this film stars John Cho, Katerine Waterston and Havana Rose Liu. A marketing expert brings home a new AI assistant for his family to try.
There are a lot of good ideas here, none of which really go anywhere sadly. I really think the script needed a few more drafts to take this somewhere really interesting. Ultimately forgettable.
2/5
Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1 (2024)
Directed by star Kevin Costner this film has a large cast that also includes Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington and Will Patton. In 1859 white settlers get massacred by the local Indian tribe.
When Costner returns to the western genre you have big expectations and this film falls short in almost all regards. There are too many stories, nearly all of them incredible generic and none of them going anywhere interesting. All of the characters are stock characters, there is really nothing original here.
2/5
