Hounds of War (2024)
Directed by Isaac Florentine this film stars Frank Grillo, Robert Patrick and Rhona Mitra. A mercenary seeks revenge after his team is sent to die.
Not much thought or talent went into this one, the plot is pretty brain dead and the action uninspiring. I would guess most of the budget went on the big name stars. Skip this one if I were you.
2/5
Swede Caroline (2024)
Directed by Fin Bruce & Brook Driver this film stars Jo Hartley, Aisling Bea and Ray Fearon. The bitter battles over veg growing competitions covered in a fake documentary.
For what it is this is fine, it captures a slice of rural England in a comedic manner. There are no real surprised and things do maybe drag on a little bit too long. Still a fun diversion none the less.
3/5
One Life (2023)
Directed by James Hawes this film based on real events stars Anthony Hopkins, Johnny Flynn, Helena Bonham Carter and Lena Olin. An old man remembers the days before WW2 when he helped Jewish children escape Czechoslovakia for England.
As Holocaust films go this is a decent, if not stand out film. I get the impression the subject of the film would have much rather not had a film made about him. Manages not to be overly melodramatic but is a bit surface level.
3/5
The Drawing Lesson (1903)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A man holds a drawing lesson which goes awry.
A mixture of slapstick comedy and Melies camera tricks. Decent little short but nothing special. Solid entry in the Melies catalogue.
3/5
A Miracle Under the Inquisition (1904)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A woman is burned alive by the inquisition then an angel swoops in to save the day.
A fun little piece with a plot and nice backdrop. The usual Melies production standards are on show and the camera tricks involved work well. Good example of a film of the period.
3/5
The Ballet Master's Dream (1903)
Directed by Georges Melies this film features its director and Ziz Papillon. A man goes to bed and dreams of a dancer.
An enjoyable mix of dance and theatrical backdrops. A riff on similar other films from Melies. Pretty fun really.
3/5
A Spiritualist Photographer (1903)
Directed by Georges Melies this is an early short film. A man turns a woman into a drawing and back again.
Classic Melies stuff here combining camera tricks with a bit of stage magic. Nothing massively new if you have seen any of his stuff, still decent. A solid genre entry.
3/5
