Sea of Love

 

Sea of Love 1989

• Director: Harold Becker
• Cast: Al Pacino, Elin Barkin, John Goodman, Richard Jenkins
• Why? Al Pacino
• Seen twice before. Now 12 September 2026   

 

          Frank (Pacino) is a divorced alcoholic cop in Manhattan. He and Sherman (Goodman) are put on two similar murders where the 50’s hit ‘Sea of Love’ is playing on repeat. They suspect that the murderer is a woman. They set a trap.

          And Frank falls for Helen (Barkin). A suspect. So is she the killer or not?

          Not a bad thriller. Pacino is good.

 

3* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sisu

 

Sisu 2022

• Director: Jalmari Helander
• Cast: Jorma Tommila, Aksel Henning, Mimosa Willamo
• Why? Recommended by film nerd friend MP
• 10 September 2026

 

          The Finnish word ‘sisu’ has no single word translation into English. Nor Swedish for that matter but everyone knows what it means. We even use it ourselves. In English, according to Wikipedia, ‘extraordinary grit, stoic determination, and perseverance in the very face of extreme adversity.’ Other possibilities: gutsiness, ballsiness.

          It’s 1944 in northern Finland. The German occupiers (with the support of many right wing Finns, it must be said) are retreating, destroying everything as they leave.

          An ex-soldier Korpi (Tommila) discovers gold. On his way south he encounters nasty Nazis.

          Grim? Of course, but our hero turns out to be a superhero who can, and does, kill a dozen Nazis without even blinking.

          Unrealistic? Violent? Action-packed? Ridiculous? Gory? All of the above. But funny and entertaining, especially the women, But why are the Germans speaking English?

          Finnish films are weird. Usually. But cool.

 

3* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Farewell, Herr Haffman

 

Farewell Herr Haffman 2021

• Director: Fred Cavayé
• Cast: Daniel Auteuil, Gilles Lellouche, Sara Giraudeau, Nikolai Kinski
• Why? Recommended by EÖ
• 5 September 2026 

 

          Joseph Haffman (Auteuil), a Jewish jeweller in Paris, sends his wife and children to the Free Zone. He turns his shop and the flat upstairs over to his employee Francois (Lellouche) and his wife Blanche (Giraudeau). Unfortunately, Joseph doesn’t get away to join his family before the Nazis start arresting all the Jews. Francois and Blanche help him hide in the cellar. Then Francois asks him a very peculiar favour.

          An unusual picture of the Nazi occupation of Paris, with good actors.

 

4* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Curse

 

The Curse 2015

• Director: Antoni Solé
• Cast: Mark Gantt, Reg Wilson, Nikol Kollars, Anna Andres
• Why? According to Ginza, Colin Morgan is in it. Somehow I doubt this.
• 2 September 2026 

 

          Ancient texts, professor/translator, mysterious stranger, the Queen of the Underworld, nasty FBI agent. It all adds up to not much. And no Colin Morgan.

 

1* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

 

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind 2019

• Director: Chiwetel Ejiofor
• Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Maxwell Simba, Lily Banda, Aïssa Mäiga, Noma Dumezweni
• Why? Ejiofor, group watch with FB group Film Nerds
• Seen: 30 August 2026                 

 

          Trywell (Ejiofor) and Agnes ( Mäiga) are farmers in Malawi. They want to send their son William (Simba) to school and their daughter Annie (Banda) to university, but harvests are failing, food and money are scarce and there is political unrest and violence.

          William is a bright boy. He figures out things. He builds a windmill, pumps up water, and his family and the village are saved. That’s not really a spoiler, we sort of knew that it would end well from the beginning.

          Based on a true story.

          Ejiofor is always terrific. They’re all good.

 

4* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9 to 5

 

9 to 5 (1980)

• Director: Collin Higgins
• Cast: Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Dabney Coleman
• Why? In Dolly Parton’s memory. Also it’s a classic.
• Seen: once before. Now 28 August 2026         

 

          Judy (Fonda) has never had a paying job before. It’s her first day. Violet (Tomlin) is her supervisor and knows more about the company than anybody, especially the bosses. Doralee (Parton) is Frank’s (Coleman) secretary. He hits on her, tells everybody he’s having sex with her so the others shun her, calls all the women ‘girls’, promotes an incompetent man before Violet, orders Violet to bring him coffee and run private errands for him.

          Good start. Sadly it becomes very silly and only manages towards the end to make some good points. It could have been so much better.

          But Parton, Tomlin and Fonda are great.

 

3 ½ * of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gone Baby Gone

 

Gone Baby Gone 2007

• Director: Ben Affleck
• Cast: Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan, Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris, Amy Ryan, Amy Madigan, Titus Welliver, Michael Kenneth Williams, Edi Gathegi
• Why? Dennis Lehane, author of the book
• Seen: 27 August 2026                 

 

          A little girl is missing. Private eyes Patrick (Affleck) and Angie (Monaghan) are hired by the girl’s aunt Bea (Madigan) to use their local contacts to find the girl.

           It gets complicated and grim.

          Angie isn’t given the role she deserves. She’s a much deeper character in the book.

 

3* of 5