Guilt and mystery

The Unknown Girl (2016)

Written & directed by the Dardenne brothers this film stars Adele Haenel, Olivier Bonnaud and Jeremie Renier. A young Belgian doctor refuses treatment to a girl late at night and becomes filled with guilt when the girl is found dead the next day.

Very down to earth this film is a good exploration of guilt in an every day setting. The grounded nature of the film is refreshing and tense without over doing things. Well made and well acted this is well worth a watch.

4/5

scrapping the barrel not the sky

Skyscraper (2018)

Written & directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber this film stars Dwayne Johnson, Neve Campbell, Chin Han and Roland Moller. A security expert's family get trapped in a burning skyscraper.

Essentially this is a simple mash up of Die Hard (1988) and The Towering Inferno (1974) but without the personality. Fairly functional the plot of this film is pretty predictable and a bit short on personality. Even the stunts are not especially remarkable in this action film.

3/5

Not barking mad

A Dog's Life (1918)

Written & directed by star Charlie Chaplin this film also features Edna Purviance, Syd Chaplin and a dog called Mut. Living homeless on the streets our hero the tramp befriends a stray dog.

Filled with some good comedic set pieces and a little bit of heart this is a clear stop on the road map to Chaplin's later great films. Not as accomplished as his later efforts this is still a good watch. Well made, this is an entertaining comedy.

3/5

The last table

Table 19 (2017)

Directed by Jeffrey Blitz this film stars Anna Kendrick, Lisa Kudrow, June Squibb and Craig Robinson. A bunch of strangers get stuck together at a back table at a wedding.

Somewhat interesting this film is let down a little by the overly glossy ending but otherwise is not too bad of a watch. There is certainly something to be mined from the concept of strangers stuck together at a wedding. There is humour in the script even if some of the jokes are a little on the obvious side.

3/5

Reform the final act please

First Reformed (2017)

Written and directed by Paul Schrader this film inspired by novel The Diary of a Country Priest stars Ethan Hawke, Amanda Seyfried and Cedric Kyles. A Reverend at a small church has a crisis of faith while trying to help a pregnant woman with her depressed husband.

For the first two thirds of this film I found it really fascinating and reminiscent of some of Bergman's films on religion but the final third was a bit too much Taxi Driver for my taste. I can understand the protagonist having a break down just not the path he takes during it. Well acted and a good watch, I just struggle with the last part of the film seeming so out of place.

3/5

Not exactly it

Tag (2018)

Directed by Jeff Tomsic this film stars Ed Helms, Jeremy Renner, Jon Hamm, Jake Johnson and Hannibal Buress. One month every year a group of adult friends play tag together.

Inspired by rather than based on a true story this film hints at having a decent heart to it but falls short in my opinion. The script really needed more work as it never quiet nails down a consistent tone. There is a lot of acting talent on show but in the end this is a pretty pedestrian effort that feels phoned in.

2/5

Not a sight to see

The Tourists (1912)

Directed by by Mack Sennett this short film from the silent era stars Mabel Normand. After missing the train home a woman gets a tour from the local Native American Chief.

Not exactly funny and kind of racist this is not the silent era covering itself in glory. There is not a whole lot to this short so it is well worth skipping in my opinion. Not the best work of anyone involved.

2/5