Warning
2021
· Director:
Agata Alexander
· Cast:
Thomas Jane, Tomasz Kot, Toni Garrn, Rupert Everett, Alice Eve
· Why? Sci
fi
· Seen: 17 August 2025
An
astronaut is trapped in space. On Earth various characters live their lives
dominated by humanoid robots and Gods in boxes and virtual reality and whatnot.
They seem unconnected.
It’s
kind of interesting, kind of existential, very confusing and really weird.
I kind of like it.
3* of 5
La
nuit venue / Night Right 2019
· Director:
Frédéric Farucci
· Cast: Guong Hua, Carmélia Jordana
· Why? Possibly
good.
· Seen: 15 August 2025
Jin (Hua),
a Chinese immigrant in Paris, drives a night cab and delivers illegal goods for
a Chinese mafia. A stripper Naomi (Jordana) becomes a regular customer and they
decide to try to break free from their destructive lives.
Slow, atmospheric, and very depressing.
3* of 5
Hilary
& Jackie 1998
· Director:
Anand Tucker
· Cast:
Rachel Griffiths, Emily Watson, James Frain, David Morrisey, Celia Imrie
· Why? Good
film
· Seen: Twice before. Now14 August 2025
Hilary
(Griffiths) and Jackie (Watson) are sisters, both musicians, child prodigies.
Jackie
becomes an internationally renowned cellist. Hilary, her spirit broken by a
cruel teacher, ends up on a farm with her flamboyant husband Kiffer (Morrisey)
and two children.
It’s a
complex film about a very complex sibling relationship, about the cost of fame
and sibling love and rivalry. It’s based on the memoirs of Hilary Du Pré and
their brother.
Griffiths and Watson are superb.
4* of 5
Dallas
Buyers Club 2013
· Director:
Jean-Marc Vallé
· Cast:
Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Jared Leto, Steve Zahn
· Why? Good
reviews
· Seen: 13 August 2025
Ron (McConaughey)
is a supermacho, super hetero (he says loudly and often), homophobic electrician
who is told by doctors that he is HIV positive and has a month to live.
He
decides to chase down a cure, legal, illegal, experimental, whatever.
Does McC even deserve an Oscar for this obnoxious, foul-mouthed completely unlikeable role? There were better nominees, Christian Bale for example. Chiwetel Ejiofor, for example. I am unmoved by this film. Evidently, it’s not even remotely accurate despite the Based on a True Story label.
2* of 5
45
Years 2015
· Director:
Andrew Haigh
· Cast:
Charlotte Rampling, Tom Courtney, Geraldine James
· Why? Rampling
and Courtney
· Seen: 10 August 2025 2025
Kate
(Rampling) and Geoff (Courtney) have been married for 45 years. They are
planning a party to celebrate. Then he receives a letter from Switzerland. The
body of his first fiancée Katya, killed in a fall in the Alps 50 years
previously, has been found in a glacier.
Very low-key, very intense and dramatic, brilliant acting.
4* of 5
Vesper
2022
· Director:
Kristina Buozyte and Bruno Samper
· Cast:
Raffiella Chapman, Eddie Marsan
· Why? Dystopia
· Seen: 25 July 2025
Earth’s
ecosystem has collapsed. Young Vesper (Chapman) experiments to find a solution
to starvation.
Slow, gloomy, depressing and though I slept through much of the film, it was intelligent and mesmerising.
3* of 5
Van
Helsing 2004
· Director:
Stephen Sommers
· Cast:
Hugh Jackman, Kate Beckinsale, Richard Roxburgh, Alun Armstrong
· Why? Hugh
Jackman
· Seen: 21 July 2025
Count
Dracula kills Dr Frankenstein to use the monster for his own nefarious purposes
but the monster escapes.
Vampires
and other nasties plague European capitals. Vampire et al hunter Van Helsing
(Jackman) fights the evil.
Yes, it’s ludicrous. It’s not meant to be taken seriously. But how fun is it? Not very. Not even gorgeous Hugh Jackman can arouse much interest. Still, for his sake
2* of 5
