Ruby Jand's Film Blog

Ruby Jand's Film Blog: The Amazing Spider-Man

Ruby Jand's Film Blog: The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Ruby Jand's Film Blog: Spider-Man Homecoming

Stonehearst Asylum

Stonehearst Asylum 2014

Director: Brad Anderson
Seen by this director: Fringe, The Machinist
Based on the story by Edgar Allan Poe
Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Jim Sturgess, David Thewliss, Brendon Gleeson, Ben Kingsley, Michael Caine, Jason Flemyng, Sinéad Cusack
Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:

Kate Beckinsale, David Thewliss, Brendon Gleeson, Ben Kingsley and Michael Caine - many
Jim Sturgess – Cloud Atlas, Heartless, The Other Boleyn Girl, Across the Universe
Jason Flemyng - Many Sunshine on Leith, I Give It a Year, Rob Roy
Sinéad Cusack – V for Vendetta, Waterland, Twelfth Night

Why? Interesting cast
Seen: 18 December 2024

Young Dr Edward Newgate (Sturgess) arrives at the remote Stonehearst Asylum for his practical training. He soon discovers that things are not what they seem. With the help (or hindrance) of the lovely Eliza (Beckinsale) he struggles to figure things out. Who are the lunatics, and who are the sane? Or are they all lunatics?

It’s quite twisty and exciting and spooky. And it raises questions about the treatment of the mentally ill, both in the 19^th century and now.

3* of 5

Neds

Neds 2010

Director: Peter Mullan

Seen by this director: The Magdalena Sisters

Based on the novel: no
Cast: Conor McCarron, Peter Mullan
Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:

Peter Mullan – Sunshine on Leith, The Liability, Tyrannosaurus, Red Riding, Stone of Destiny, Boy A, Children of Men, The Magdalena Sisters, My Name Is Joe, Trainspotting, The Shallow Grave, Riff-Raff

Why? Possibly good
Seen: 17 December 2024

The title refers to non-educational delinquents in Glasgow in the 1970s. John (McCarron) is a good student but he’s bullied by teachers, classmates and his abusive father (Mullan).

He turns to crime and bullying himself.

It’s a film to respect for daring to take on the subject but it does not work for me because the lead does not convince as John. Fatal miscasting. Sorry.

2* of 5

16 December 2024

Spider-Man Homecoming

Spider-Man Homecoming 2017

Director: Jon Watts
Based on book: no
Cast: Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Robert Downey Jr, Marisa Tomei, Jon Favreau, Zendaya, Laura Harrier
Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:

Tom Holland – Wolf Hall, How I Live Now, The Impossible
Michael Keaton – Many
Robert Downey Jr – Many
Marisa Tomei – Many
Zendaya – Dune, The Greatest Showman
Laura Harrier - BlackKklansman, Unforgettable

Why? The series continues…
Seen: 14 December 2024.

OK, let’s see what young Tom Holland can do.

Oh, aliens. That’s new. And Iron Man?

Yes, Iron Man, aka Tony Stark (Downing). Peter Parker (Holland), still a bullied geeky high school fifteen-year-old, though it’s now somewhen in the future, still a mischievous puckish Spider-Man, is now taking part in Tony Stark’s internship program. Young Peter longs to become one of the Avengers.

OMG! Aunt May has become Marisa Tomei!

The story: Spider-Man is trying a to stop the bad guys led by Keaton, who stole alien tech and are selling bad ass weapons to villains.

Conclusion: Holland is better than Maguire, not as good as Garfield, but silly and loveable. Love interest Liz (Harrier) is not much of a character but better than wimpy Dunst, not nearly as good as Stone. Aunt May is very cool, a completely different kind of aunt.

Not Amazing but after a slow start it’s entertaining if you like slapstick. There is just enough serious bits to be gripping toward the end and twists to keep us hopping.

First half 2* second half 4*, so altogether

3* of 5, OK then 3 ½ * of 5

Ruby Jand's Film Blog: The Amazing Spider-Man

Ruby Jand's Film Blog: The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Fragments

Fragments 2008

Director: Rowan Woods
Seen by this director: Little Fish
Based on book by Roy Freirich
Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Forest Whitaker, Guy Pearce, Dakota Fanning, Josh Hutcherson
Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:

All of them – several or many

Why? Interesting cast.
Seen: 12 December 2024.

A man walks into an LA diner and shoots. Two dead, several wounded, the survivors all traumatised. This is the story of the aftermath. The hospital staff, the survivors and witnesses, the police.

Life goes on. One man (Whitaker) has cancer and goes on a wild and dangerous gambling spree. One boy (Hutcherson) goes mute. One girl (Fanning) becomes a holier-than-thou religious fanatic. The waitress (Beckinsale) is a single mother whose baby won’t stop crying because the mother is so tense. A doctor (Pearce) gives his wife medicine that gives her migraines so that she will be grateful to him for giving her medicine to ease the pain.

None of the characters is especially likeable and the stories aren’t especially interesting. The cast can’t do much with that.

2* of 5

If Beale Street Could Talk

If Beale Street Could Talk 2018

Director: Barry Jenkins
Seen by this director: Moonlight
Based on book by James Baldwin
Cast: Kiki Layne, Stephen James, Regina King, Colman Domingo
Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:

Stephen James – Selma
Regina King – The Leftovers, Miss Congeniality 2, Ray, Boyz n the Hood
Colman Domingo – Selma, The Butler, Lincoln

Why? Music, or so I thought.
Seen: 11 December 2024.

Tish (Layne) is 19, Fonny (James) is 23. He’s in jail for a crime he did not commit, she’s pregnant and they’re not married. But they have been inseparable since early childhood.

Her family is loving and supportive, his are not except for his dad. It’s not just a love story but a family drama. It’s also a portrait of racism and oppression. The lead actors are appealing and the story is powerful but the slow pace and the heavily romanticised flashbacks are serious flaws. Cutting half an hour would have sharpened the impact.

3 ½ * of 5

A Monster Calls

A Monster Calls 2016

Director: J A Bayona
Seen by this director: The Impossible
Based on book: no
Cast: Lewis Macdougall, Felicity Jones, Sigourney Weaver, Toby Kebbell
Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:

Felicity Jones – On the Basis of Sex, Rogue One, The Theory of Everything, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, The Invisible Woman, Cheerful Weather for the Wedding, Hysteria, Like Crazy, The Tempest, Cemetery Junction, Doctor Who
Sigourney Weaver – Many
Toby Kebbell – Ser du månen Daniel, Destroyer, Kong Skull Island, The Conspirator, Control, Shakespeare Re-Told A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Northern Soul

Why? The cast
Seen: 10 December 2024.

Conor (Macdougall) is cruelly bullied at school. His mother Lizzy (Jones) is ill. Conor has nightmares about monsters. A monster. Is the monster real?

His stern grandmother (Weaver) wants him to come live with her, he shouldn’t be burdened with caring for Lizzie and their home. He refuses. His dad (Kebell) visits from American but can’t take Conor back with him – there is no room with his new family.

The monster (Neeson) – real or not – tells Conor stories, foolish fairy tales, according to Conor. But of course, the stories are filled with significance.

Like most fairy tales, it’s sad and dark. The acting and visuals are good but it’s a bit trite. And FYI, when you lose your hair from chemo, you lose it all – eyebrows and eyelashes too.

3½ * of 5

The Core

The Core 2003

Director: John Amiel
Seen by this director: Creation, Sommarsby
Based on book: no
Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Hilary Swank, Delroy Lindo, Stanley Tucci
Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:

Aaron Eckhart – Sully, London Has Fallen, The Rum Diary, Rabbit Hole, The Dark Night, Conversations with Other Women, The Pledge, Nurse Betty, Erin Brokovich
Hilary Swank – Freedom Writers, Million Dollar Baby, Insomnia
Delroy Lindo – Cymbeline, The Exonerated, The Cider House Rules, A Life Less Ordinary, Feeling Minnesota, Clockers, Get Shorty
Stanley Tucci - Many

Why? Sci fi. Decent cast.
Seen: 9 December 2024.

We all know that the planet Earth is currently threatened by several world-ending catastrophes but this is probably not one of them. The Earth’s core has stopped spinning so we’re going to be fried to a crisp.

Never mind the science, or lack thereof. Is the film worth watching?

Indeed it is. It’s exciting, the actors make the roles work and the effects are impressive. Altogether it’s very entertaining. Sci fi geeks of the world unite. Watch and enjoy.

3½ * of 5

9 December 2024

The Amazing Spider-Man 2

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2003)

Director: Marc Webb
Seen by this director: 500 Days of Summer
Based on book: no
Cast: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Sally Field, Jamie Foxx, Dane DeHaan
Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:

Andrew Garfield – Under the Silver Lake, Breathe, Hacksaw Ridge, Social Network, Never Let Me Go, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnasus, Red Riding x3, Boy A, Doctor Who
Emma Stone – Zombieland +Double Tap, The Favourite, La La Land, Birdman, The Help, Crazy Stupid Love
Jamie Foxx – Django Unchained, The Soloist, Dream Girls, Miami Vice, Jarhead, Ray
Dane DeHaan – Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, Lincoln, The Place Beyond the Pines
Sally Fields - Many

Why? Andrew Garfield
Seen: 7 December 2024.

It’s not the story that matters, it’s the characters. Peter/Spiderman (Garfield) is haunted by being abandoned by his parents, torn between his love for Gwen (Stone) and his promise to her dying father to stay away from her. Grace is frustrated over their on-again, off-again love affair and eager to continue her science education with a scholarship to Oxford. Max (Foxx) is a geeky electricity genius, ignored by everybody, seen by none, longing for friendship and recognition, transformed by accident into an electric monster – if you can’t love me, fear me. Harry (DeHaan) is Peter’s best friend since childhood, now heir to the Oscorp empire and Peter’s parents’ research, and dying.

Great cast. Strong film. Up among the best of Marvel.

4* of 5

Ruby Jand's Film Blog: The Amazing Spider-Man

Runaway Jury

Runaway Jury 2003

Director: Gary Fleder
Based on book by John Grisham
Cast: John Cusack, Dustin Hoffman, Gene Hackman, Rachel Weisz
Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:

All of them – Many

Why? The cast
Seen: 4 December 2024

It’s possible that I’ve seen the film before. I know I read the book.

A widow sues a gun company after her husband is killed in a mass shooting at his office. Gene Hackman finds jurors who will acquit the gun company. Dustin Hoffman finds jurors who will find them guilty. John Cusack gets himself onto the jury and with the help of his girlfriend Rachel Weisz, they work both sides against each other, demanding millions to vote the way the two sides want them to.

Bought juries, money hungry gun manufacturers, honourable individuals sincerely working for gun control, dirty tricks to expose jurors’ secrets. It could have been such a strong political statement. Instead it’s just a thriller, and kind of boring at that. As much as I respect the cast it’s

2 ½ * of 5

Flow

Flow 2024

Director: Gints Zilbalodis
Based on book: no
Cast: Animated
Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:

Animated

Why? The cat
Seen: at the cinema 3 December 2024

The humans are gone, the water is rising, the Cat loses its home, losing every bit of land, only surviving by hopping onto an abandoned boat. Abandoned but by a beaver-type creature. They are joined by a dog, a lemur, a big bird and more dogs. They face countless dangers but despite hissing, barking, chittering, clawing, pecking, pushing, they can only survive by helping each other.

There is no dialog whatsoever and the animation is stunning.

A lovely and remarkable film. But did the whale survive?

4 ½ * of 5

Nothing to Lose

Nothing to Lose 1997

Director: Steve Oedekerk
Based on book: no
Cast: Tim Robbins, Martin Lawrence
Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:

Tim Robbins – Dark Waters, Then She Found Me, Tenacious D, The Secret Life of Words, War of the Worlds, Zathura, Mystic River, Human Nature, High Fidelity, Mission to Mars, The Shawshank Redemption, Jungle Fever, Jacob’s Ladder, Twister, Bull Durham
Martin Lawrence - Welcome Home Rosco Jenkins, Do the Right Thing

Why? Tim Robbins
Seen: 2 December 2024 2024

Rich, white advertising executive Nick (Robbins) finds his wife in bed with his boss. In shock he drives around aimlessly and ends up with a black guy T Paul (Lawrence) holding a gun to his head, demanding his wallet. Instead Nick guns the engine, drives madly through town and into the desert, scaring T Paul to death.

Buddy film. Black guy – white guy film. Yuppie – slum guy film. It could be a turkey and it kind of starts out that way but Robbins doesn’t disappoint. His spider dance should be considered a classic.

Silly but funny with an appealing cast.

3* of 5

2 December 2024

The Amazing Spider-Man

The Amazing Spider-Man 2003

Director: Marc Webb
Seen by this director: 500 Days of Summer
Based on book: no
Cast: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Irrfan Khan, Denis Leary, Sally Field, Martin Sheen
Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:

Andrew Garfield – Under the Silver Lake, Breathe, Hacksaw Ridge, Social Network, Never Let Me Go, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnasus, Red Riding x3, Boy A, Doctor Who
Emma Stone – Zombieland +Double Tap, The Favourite, La La Land, Birdman, The Help, Crazy Stupid Love
Rhys Ifans – Snowden, Harry Potter, The Boat that Rocked, Elizabeth the Golden Age, Once upon a Time in the Midlands, The Shipping News, the 51^st State, Human Nature, Notting Hill

Irrfan Khan - The Life of Pi, Slumdog Millionaire, Darjeeling Limited, The Namesake

Sally Fields and Martin Sheen - Many
Why? Andrew Garfield
Seen: 30 November 2024.

It just can’t be helped. Andrew Garfield is just so much better than Tobey Maguire. Emma Stone is just so much better than Kirsten Dunst. Rhys Ifans is a better villain than Willem Dafoe. Sally Fields is a better Aunt May than prissy Julie Harris.

The whole film is so much better than Spiderman 1-3. More pizazz, more spark, more oomph, more believable, more fun, more everything.

This is what a Marvel film is supposed to be.

4* of 5

Restless

Restless 2012

Director: Edward Hall
Based on book by William Boyd
Cast: Hayley Atwell, Michelle Dockery, Charlotte Rampling, Rufus Sewell, Michael Gambon
Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:

Charlotte Rampling – Many
Rufus Sewell - Many
Michelle Dockery – The Gentlemen, Downton Abbey, The Hollow Crown, The Turn of the Screw, Red Riding
Hayley Atwell - Blinded by the Light, Christopher Robin, Ant-Man, Cinderella, Testament of Youth
Michael Gambon - many

Why? The cast and good reviews
Seen: 28-29 November 2024

Can the cast make me like this spy film? Let’s find out.

Ruth (Dockery) learns in the 70s that her mother Sally (Rampling) was a spy during WWII and now her enemies are after her. Her life is in danger and only Ruth can help her.

It alternates between the 70s and the 40s. Standard cloak and dagger stuff. And no, the good cast doesn’t make me like it. I’m bored.

2* of 5

Babycall (The Monitor)

Babycall 2011

Director: Pål Sletaune
Based on book: no
Cast: Noomi Rapace, Kristoffer Joner
Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:

Noomi Rapace – Many
Kristoffer Joner– Skjelvet, The Revenant, Böljen, Flykten från Bastöy

Why? Noomi Rapace
Seen: 27 November 2024

Anna (Rapace) and her young son have been moved to protective custody to escape their abusive husband/father. She is overprotective of the boy and puts a monitor in his room. Instead of calming her, however, she hears the sounds of a child being abused.

It’s classified as horror/thriller and it is pretty scary. But mostly sad.

It’s in Norwegian with neither English nor Swedish subtitles but I can follow the Norwegian subtitles well enough and Rapace speaks Swedish.

4* of 5

Night of the Living Dead

Night of the Living Dead 1968

Director: George A Romera
Based on book: no
Cast: Duane Jones, Judith O’Dea, Karl Harman, Marilyn Eastman, Keith Wayne, Judith Ridley, Kyra Schon
Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:

None of them

Why? A classic
Seen: Once before. Now 26 November 2024

The inspiration to every zombie film ever since. Enough said.

4* of 5

You Were Never Really Here

You Were Never Really Here 2017

Director: Lynne Ramsay
Seen by this director: Morven Callar
Based on book: no
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Judith Roberts, Ekaterina Samsonov
Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:

Joaquin Phoenix – Many

Why? Joaquin Phoenix
Seen: 25 November 2024

Joe (Phoenix) is middle-aged, somewhat overweight, has mental issues, lives with his aged mother and earns a living as a hit man and a finder of kidnapped girls. He has violent flashbacks of war and his abusive childhood. Sometimes he puts his head in a plastic bag to practice self-asphyxiation.

It’s visually beautiful, even the scenes with violence but oh, so grim. Not for everyone but compelling. Phoenix is worth another Oscar for this.

4* of 5

25 November 2024

Into the Labyrinth

Into the Labyrinth 2019

Director: Donato Carrisi
Based on book: no
Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Toni Servillo, Valentina Bellé
Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:

Dustin Hoffman - many

Why? Possibly interesting
Seen: 16 November 2024.

Sam (Bellé) was kidnapped at the age of thirteen and now some fifteen years later she suddenly reappears. She is brought to hospital where Dr Green (Hoffman) tries to help her recover her memory.

Meanwhile, a private detective Bruno (Servillo), dying of a heart ailment, decides to find the kidnapper.

Confusing. It’s all in Italian except for the scenes with Dr Green and Sam, who also speaks English though she has been isolated from the world since childhood. Where would she learn English? Never mind, that’s no weirder than the rest of the film.

Weird, yes, also creepy, atmospheric and somewhat fascinating. Wait for that twist.

3* of 5

Spiderman 3

Spiderman 3 (2007)

Director: Sam Raimi
Seen by this director: Drag Me to Hell, The Gift, A Simple Plan, Spiderman
Based on book: no
Cast: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Thomas Haden Church, James Franco, Rosemary Harris, J K Simmons
Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:

Tobey Maguire – The Great Gatsby, Seabiscuit, Wonder Boys, The Cider House Rules, Pleasantville, The Ice Storm
Kirsten Dunst – Many
J K Simmons – Whiplash, La La Land
Thomas Haden Church - The Peanut Bitter Falcon, All About Steve, Sideways

Why? Doing the series
Seen: 16 November 2024.

Most viewers and critics don’t seem to love this one as much as the first two. For me, once again, it’s a matter of casting. I just can’t care about Maguire, Dunst or the others in this mediocre story. Other actors would no doubt lift it, and next it will in fact be Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone.

This one? Same, same. The sand thing is cool, otherwise, no better, no worse than SM1 and SM2.

2* of 5