The Heretic

 

The Heretic 2024

• Director: Scott Beck, Bryan Woods
• Cast: Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher, Chloe East, Topher Grace
• Why? Hugh Grant, the subject
• Seen: 15 October 2026               

 

      We’ve known for some time that Hugh Grant is more than an (often enjoyable) rom com star. This film proves that quite convincingly.

      Most of what the amiable scary person played by Grant says here is quite true. The two naïve but earnest Mormon girls (Thatcher and East) seem to win in the end which makes one wonder if the film means us to believe in God after all, or at least the power of faith, misguided though it is.

      Whatever. Grant is magnificent and the dialog captivating.

 

4 * of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Singing in the Rain

 

Singing in the Rain 1952

• Director: Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly
• Cast: Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagen
• Why? A musical
• Once before. Now12 October 2026                  

 

          Another musical I’m watching out of chronological order in my musical marathon because I forgot that I had the DVD. To be honest, I don’t remember liking it. Let’s see if I change my mind.

          Friends, I’ve changed my mind. It’s even worse than I remember. Gene Kelly is all smiley and annoying, the songs are awful, the dances boring and the story, well it could have been interesting but it’s almost unbearably badly written.

          It might be the worse musical I’ve ever seen.

         

 

1½ * of 5 because some of the costumes were fun

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oslo

 

Oslo 2001

• Director: Bartlett Sher
• Cast: Ruth Wilson, Andrew Scott, Jeff Wilbusch, Itzik Cohen, Salim Daw, Dov Glickman, Waleed Zuaiter
• Why? The cast, and I was in Oslo last weekend
• 9 October 2026      

 

          The 90s, in Oslo. Peace talks between Israel and Palestine. Only Israel refuses to even meet with PLO.

          Mona (Wilson) works for the Norwegian foreign office. Her husband Terje (Scott) works for a Think Tank. Together they set up the ultra-secret and unofficial Oslo Peace Accord with an Israel professor of economics and his colleague, and the minister of finance for the PLO and his colleague.

          As we know, it didn’t lead to peace but it’s a warm humanistic film about individuals who at least try. The acting is excellent so the film gets 3 ½ * from me.

          While the crimes against Gaza continue, more than 30 years later.

         

3 ½ * of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Wizard of Oz

 

The Wizard of Oz 1939

• Director: Fleming, Cukor and Taurog
• Cast: Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, Billie Burke, Margaret Hamilton
• Why? A musical
• Several times. Now7 October 2026                 

 

      This film is such a classic that even if you haven’t seen it you no doubt know the story so I won’t go into that. And everyone has heard ‘Over the Rainbow’ which has been covered a million times.

      I’ve seen it several times, long ago before starting this blog. I’d forgotten it was a musical which is why I didn’t start at the beginning of this musical marathon, though it’s clearly the oldest, instead of now as I’m approaching the musicals of the 2000s.

      Does it hold up, this old film from the 30s? Yes, surprisingly well. It’s still quite enjoyable.

 

3 ½ * of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brick

 

Brick 2025

• Director: Philip Koch
• Cast: Mattias Schweighöfer, Ruby O Fee, Fredrik Lau, Salber Lee Williams,  Murathan Muslu, Sira-Anna Faal
• Why? Sounds interesting
• 28 September 2026 

          Liv (Fee) is about to leave her husband Tim (Schweihöfer) but when she opens the door, suitcase in hand, the door is blocked by a solid wall of smooth black bricks. As are all the windows.

          Nothing they do can break or penetrate the bricks, but they succeed in breaking holes in the walls and floors to the neighbours.

          How are they going to survive?

          Some viewers on IMDb hate the film, others liked it OK. I think it’s quite OK. I don’t want to have to explain the logic, or lack thereof, but it’s creepy, tense and entertaining.

 

3* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joe's Palace

 

Joe’s Palace 2007

• Director: Stephen Poliakoff
• Cast: Danny Lee Wynter, Michael Gambon), Rupert Penry-Jones, Kelly Reilly, Rebecca Hall
• Why? Danny Lee Wynter
• 24 September 2026

 

      Aha, it’s a prequel to Capturing Mary. Joe (Wynter) has just been hired to be a doorman for the empty mansion that Mary (Maggie Smith) came to in the other film. The owner, Mr Graham (Gambon), a billionaire, lives in an equally lavish house across the street. He uses Joe as messenger boy, errand boy, dinner companion and…something else?

      Mr Graham allows a young politician Richard (Penry-Jones) and his lover Charlotte (Reilly) to use a room upstairs in Joe’s ‘palace’ as a love nest. Both Richard and Charlotte befriend Joe, liking his politeness and discretion.

      It’s an odd story that doesn’t work as well as Mary’s, probably because Maggie Smith isn’t in it. Still, young Danny does a good job and the story does draw me in gradually.

 

4* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Little Fish

 

Little Fish 2005

• Director: Rowan Woods
• Cast: Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Sam Neill, Martin Henderson, Noni Hazlehurst, Dustin Nguyen
• Why? I remember it as good
• Seen: once before. Now 21 September 2026   

 

          Tracy (Blanchett) is an ex-addict trying to start a new life. It’s not easy and it’s difficult not to fall back into using and dealing. Lionel (Weaving), an old friend, is still using. Sam Neill is a drug baron.

          It’s a tangle of family, friends, bad guys, losers, strugglers, old conflicts, liars, bad memories.

          I don’t remember why I liked this. The acting is strong but the story is confusing and depressing and a little boring.

 

3* of 5