The Batman

 

The Batman 2022

• Director: Matt Reeves
• Cast: Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Jeffrey Wright, Colin Farrell (why cast him then disguise him into unrecognizability?), Paul Dano, John Turturro·       
• Why? It’s Batman
• 15-16 November 2025 

       It must be said. No one can be a better Batman than Christian Bale. With that said, Pattinson does a decent job as the brooding burdened Bruce Wayne/Batman. There are some good visuals, some dramatic moments, some emotional moments. But it’s too long and at times boringly slow. 

3* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dogma

 

Dogma 1999

• Director: Kevin Smith
• Cast: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Linda Fiorentino, George Carlin, Chris Rock·       
• Why? I remember liking it
• Once before. Now 13 November 2025 

       Two exiled angels, Loke and Bartleby (Damon and Affleck) find a loophole that will get them back into heaven. Meanwhile, a branch of the Catholic church, headed by George Carlin (nice touch, that) wants Jesus to be a pal, not hanging on a cross. Meanwhile, an employee at an abortion clinic, Bethany (Fiorentino), struggles with her loss of faith. Meanwhile the voice of God, Metatron (Rickman) summons Bethany to a mission to stop Loke and Bartleby because if they enter heaven the world will end.

       It’s clever and pokes delightfully vicious fun at organised religion.

       The Catholic church tried to stop the release of the film. Others regard it as deeply religious. As an atheist, I just think it’s funny and we should take the jokes about religion seriously. 

4* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Pale Blue Eye

 

The Pale Blue Eye 2022

• Director: Scott Cooper
• Cast: Christian Bale, Harry Melling, Timothy Spall, Toby Jones, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Gillian Anderson·       
• Why? Christian Bale
• 12 November 2025 

       Augustus Lander (Bale) is a detective called in by the Military Academy to investigate the death and mutation of a cadet. He takes on a young cadet to glean information, Edgar Allen Poe (Melling). Yes, the poet.

       The cast is admirable, the visuals beautiful but the story is slow, sometimes even plodding. And unlikely. 

3* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

American Beauty

 

American Beauty 1999

• Director: Sam Mendes
• Cast: Kevin Stacey, Annette Bening·       
• Why? Recommended by somebody
• Once before. Now 11 November 2025 

       I don’t really remember the film, only vaguely that it’s creepy. But someone, probably AF, said it’s really good and almost everyone agrees. Lots of 10* and the critics love it. It even got a bunch of Oscars.

       I’m waiting. So far it’s awful. White suburban American family who all hate each other and the dad (Stacey) lusts after his daughter’s friend. Yuck.

       I really dislike this film. 

1* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hampstead

 

Hampstead 2017

• Director: Joel Hopkins
• Cast: Diane Keaton, Brendan Gleeson, Lesley Manville, James Norton, Adeel Akhtar·       
• Why? Recommended by fellow film nerd LH
• Once before. 10 November 2025 

       Emily (Keaton) is a widow living in a luxury flat she can’t afford because her cheating husband left her with debts and no money. She meets a squatter Donald (Gleeson) in Hampstead Heath who is being evicted by a development corporation. They take it to court.

       I like Keaton but the only film of hers that I like is Reds. This is of an entirely different calibre but it’s enjoyable. Also, it’s based on a true story 

3* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cargo

 

Cargo 2017

• Director: Ben Howling and Yolanda Ramke
• Cast: Martin Freeman, Simone Landers, Susie Porter, Kris McQuade, Anthony Hayes, Caren Pistorious·       
• Why? Martin Freeman
• Seen: 7 November 2025      

       We don’t realise this is an Australian zombie film in until about half an hour in. Then we learn that it takes exactly 48 hours for one bitten to turn into a zombie. They even have wrist bands counting down the hours.

       Andy (Freeman) is bitten. He has 48 hours to get his baby Rosie to safety. His only hope is to get her to an aboriginal group who have so far succeeded in fending off the zombies.

       It’s more than a zombie film. It’s about racism, human values and love.

       Freeman is, as always, terrific. They all are. 

4 ½ * of 5   

 

 

 

 

 

The Fever

 

The Fever 2004

• Director: Carlo Gabriel Nero
• Cast: Vanessa Redgrave·       
• Why? Vanessa Redgrave
• Seen: 6 November 2025      

       Some viewers hate this film (1*) because it criticises capitalism, quotes Marx and blames the rich western world for the poverty in the third world.

       That’s what’s good about it.

       Redgrave plays an unnamed woman, wealthy and cultured, who eventually sees the reality of poverty and suffering in the world when visiting an unnamed country at war.

       It’s an unusual film because much of it is narrated directly by the woman into the camera.

       It works for me. 

4 * of 5