The Climb (2019)
Written & directed by stars Michael Angelo Covino and Kyle Marvin this film also features Gayle Rankin. We follow the turbulent friendship of two men over a number of years.
I really enjoyed the direction of this film, each section is made up of nearly only one single long shot. The content of the film is a fairly decent look at friendship but it is always the direction that stands out for me. Both funny and thought provoking.
4/5
Sutro Baths, No.1 (1897)
Directed by James H. White this is an early short film. We see a bunch of people having fun at the public baths.
Over a hundred years may have passed since this film was made but it serves as a reminder that people have not changed that much. Unfortunately the image quality is not the best here so it is difficult to make out some of the details. Another early film which resembles a modern home video.
2/5
Silk Road (2021)
Directed by Tiller Russell this film based on real events stars Nick Robinson, Jason Clarke and Alexandra Shipp. We follow the creator of a dark web site for selling drugs and one of the law enforcement officers chasing him.
I think this film takes some liberties have been taken with the real events but the film is still fairly interesting. In the end I think the film gets a little biased when it comes to painting a positive light on some of the characters where there was no need to do so. A warts and all version might have been better.
3/5
Luxor (2020)
Written & directed by Zeina Durra this film stars Andrea Riseborough and Karim Saleh. A British aid worker on holiday in Luxor reconnects with an old flame.
If you are into so sparsely dialogued films about internal conflict this is the film for you, otherwise you might find it a bit if a struggle. For me the characters were kept at arms length just a bit too much. What I did enjoy was the backdrop of the many ruins that Luxor has to offer.
3/5
Rams (2020)
Directed by Jeremy Sims this remake of Rams (2015) stars Sam Neill, Michael Caton and Miranda Richardson. Sheep farmers in an Australian valley are faced with losing their sheep as disease comes to the valley.
I really enjoyed the film this one is based on and this remake does a really good job of putting an Australian twist on the material. The script really captures the connection between farmers and their livestock. Both charming and in the end ultimately heart warming.
4/5
12 Hour Shift (2020)
Written & directed by Brea Grant this film stars Angela Bettis and David Arquette. In 1999 a hospital nurse who is part of an organ stealing ring has a very bad night.
As black comedies go this is a fairly simple one. There is the requisite funny moments but nothing of depth or surprising. Failed to really hold my attention even if there is nothing wrong with this film.
3/5
Foster Boy (2019)
Directed by Youssef Delara this film inspired by real events stars Shane Paul McGhie and Matthew Modine. A high level corporate lawyer is assigned to the case of a foster child suing a company for neglect.
No doubt there is a powerful story in here somewhere but the writing is pretty terrible. I am not a lawyer and even I can see the terrible law in the court portions of this film. Not worth watching at all.
1/5
