The Incredible Shrinking Man

 

The Incredible Shrinking Man 1957

• Director: Jack Arnold
• Based on the book by Richard Matheson
• Cast: Grant Williams, Randy Stuart
• Why? The book and the memories
• Seen: 24 May 2025                     

 

This film made an enormous impression on me when I saw it as a child. I saw it again some years ago and it was just as good seen through adult eyes.

Scott Carey (Williams) accounts a mysterious mist after which he begins shrinking. And shrinking. And shrinking. Radiation and quantum physics, or something. The scenes in the film I remember most vividly from my childhood viewing is his flight from the cat (as my own little kitty sleeps peacefully next to me on the sofa) and his battle with the spider.

Suspenseful, believable existential. And today I finished reading the book. A great book. But with those strong black and white visuals, the film is even better.

 

4½ * of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All the Bright Places

 

All the Bright Places 2020

• Director: Brett Haley
• Based on the book by Jennifer Nevin
• Cast: Elle Fanning, Justice Smith
• Why? The book
• Seen: 23 May 2025                     

 

Teenager Violet (Fanning) is standing on the bridge railing when Finch (Smith) sees her and talks her down. He’s also screwed up and on probation at school.

Another troubled-teen-finds-support-and friendship-with-another-troubled-teen film. Many such films are awful but I really liked the book. Elle Fanning gives perhaps her best performance and Justin Smith is just lovely.

 

4* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Notebook

 

The Notebook 2004

• Director: Nick Cassavetes
• Cast: Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams, Gena Rowlands, James Garner
• Based on the book by Nicholas Sparks
• Why? Ryan Gosling
• Seen: 22 May 2025                     

 

Can adorable young Ryan Gosling and dimply Rachel McAdams save this so-far dreadful romantic film? If there had been one more cliché in there the whole film would have popped like a balloon.

I fast forward most of it but I do like Ryan Gosling so 

 

2* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Call

 

Last Call 2019

• Director: Gavin Michael Booth
• Cast: Daved Wilkins, Sarah Booth
• Why? Possibly good
• Seen: 17 May 2025                     

 

Beth (Booth) is a night janitor with baby-sitting problems. Scott (Wilkins) is a middle-aged man who calls a suicide prevention centre but has the wrong number and ends up talking to Beth.

They talk. He talks, she listens and doesn’t know how to help him.

It’s very emotional, very tense, very well acted.

 

5* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gone

 

Gone 2006

• Director: Ringen Ledwidge
• Cast: Shaun Evans, Scott Mechlowicz, Yvonne Strahovski
• Why? Possibly good
• Seen: 19 May 2025                     

 

Alex (Evans) and Sophie (Strahovski), a young English couple travelling in Australia, are befriended by American Taylor (Mechlowicz). But is he a friend?

The tension builds slowly but it becomes quite scary. Not much depth but it is exciting.

 

2½ * of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Trial of the Chicago 7

 

The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)

• Director: Aaron Sorkin
• Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Alex Sharp, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jeremy Strong, John Carroll Lynch, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Mark Rylance, Ben Shenkman, Frank Langella, Michael Keaton, Kelvin Harfrison Jr, Caitlin FitzGerald, Alice Kremelberg
• Why? The subject
• Seen: 18 May 2025                     

 

Trial films aren’t generally my cup of tea, but this is the Chicago 7, people. I followed this whole thing as it unfolded. Great acting, great film.

 

5* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Cured

 

The Cured 2017

• Director: David Freyne
• Cast: Ellen Page, Sam Keeley, Tom Vaughn-Lawlor, Paula Malcolmson
• Why? Zombies
• Seen: 17 May 2025                     

 

After a zombie virus, a cure is found which works for 75% of the infected. They are released from quarantine into a society that hates and fears them. Legal restrictions are rigid and they suffer from nightmares and memories.

It’s not so much a zombie film as a film about guilt, oppression, victim-hating and how fear creates violence. The story isn’t without flaws but it’s gripping.

 

3½ * of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jesus Christ Superstar (2000)

 

Jesus Christ Superstar 2000

• Director: Gale Edwards
• Cast: Glenn Carter, Jerome Pradon, Renee Castle, Fred Johanson, Rik Mayall, Frederick B Owens, Tony Vincent, Cavin Cornwall
• Why? A favourite musical
• Seen: 16 May 2025                     

 

I don’t know how many times I’ve seen the 70s film and I’ve also seen the version with David Bowie. This one is a filmed theatrical production. They are certainly enthusiastic and Rice and Lloyd Weber’s texts and music are as clever and stirring as ever but the whole thing is almost ruined by Carter in the role of Jesus. He is altogether too white, blue-eyed, flashing white teethed and American jock handsome. Otherwise it’s very good.

 

3½ * of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hansel & Gretel Witch Hunters

 

Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters 2013

• Director: Tommy Wirkola
• Cast: Gemma Arterton, Jeremy Renner, Peter Stormare
• Why? Arterton and Stormare
• Seen: 16 May 2025                     

 

H&G survive the first witch and grown up to become famous witch hunters. Of course it’s bad. What did you expect? It could have been made into a decent story with some meaning. Why would parents abandon their children in a forest? Why does society hate women so?  For example. Only because I like Arterton can I give it

 

2* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful Boy

 

Beautiful Boy 2018

• Director: Felix van Groeningen
• Cast: Stephen Carell, Timothée Chalomet, Maura Tierney, Timothy Hutton, Amy Ryan
• Why? Sounds good
• Seen: 15 May 2025                     

 

David (Carell) tries to understand and help his 18-year-old drug addict son Nick (Chalmet). From hope to despair, from love to enraged shouting, from health to mental and physical deterioration. Based on the books of the two leads, the acting is strong but the flashbacks make it confusing and detract from the heavy emotions.

 

3½ * of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Hole in the Ground

 

The Hole in the Ground 2019

• Director: Lee Cronin
• Cast: Séana Kerslake, James Quinn Markey, Simone Kirby, Eoin Mackey, James Cosmo
• Why? Possible good
• Seen: 14 May 2025                     

 

Single mum Sarah (Kerslake) and young son Chris (Markey) move to rural Ireland. Why in the world would anybody move to rural anywhere? That’s where bad things happen and cute kids start being creepy and ghost-like figures wander around spookily on the roads.

Not bad. Even a little scary in the end.

 

2 ½ * of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wish I Was Here

 

Wish I Was Here 2014

• Director: Zack Braff
• Cast: Zack Braff, Kate Hudson, Jim Parsons, Mandy Patinken
• Why? The title
• Seen: 13 May 2025                     

 

Thirty-something Aidan (Braff), a failed actor with wife, two kids, a dying father who pays for the kids’ expensive Orthodox Jewish private school… How can this possibly be worth watching?

It can’t. The whole thing is irritating. I’m allergic to religion and lame non-funny comedies about dysfunctional families. Time to fast forward.

 

1* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Midnight Sky

The Midnight Sky 2020

• Director: George Clooney
• Based on the book by Lily Brooks-Dalton
• Cast: George Clooney, Felicity Jones, David Oyelowo, Caoilinn Springall
• Why? Chosen by FB group Film Nerds, at my suggestion. I loved the book.
• Seen: 11 May 2025                     

 

After a global apocalypse with few if any survivors scientist Augustine (Clooney) remains alone in an Arctic research station. Sully (Jones) is on a space ship with her crew returning from Jupiter to a dead planet.  Augustine risks life and limb to contact them to warn them to turn back.

Quietly dramatic and emotional with a very strong cast and beautiful visuals, it is a thoughtful sci fi with serious human interest.

 

 

4* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Turtles All the Way Down

 

Turtles All the Way Down 2024

• Director: Hannah Marks
• Based on the book by John Green
• Cast: Isabela Merced, Cree, Judy Reyes, Felix Mallard, Malyk Johnson
• Why? The book is quite good
• Seen: 10 May 2025                     

 

Teen-aged Aza (Merced) with OCD, constantly freaking about germs, and Davis (Mallard), billionaire son with a missing father he hates. It’s better than it sounds. The whole cast is appealing and the story, like all of Green’s books I’ve read, deals with serious teen problems sensitively and realistically. Well, except for the billionaire part.

 

3 ½ * of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Betrayed

 

Betrayed 2020

• Director: Eirik Svensson
• Cast: Jakob Oftebro, Pia Halversen
• Why? The subject, based on a true story
• Seen: 9 May 2025

 

WWII. A Jewish family in Norway, occupied by the Nazis. We’ve seen it before in many forms but it’s Norway, well done and worth seeing.

 

 

4* of 5