Cold Comfort Farm

 

Cold Comfort Farm 1995

• Director: John Schlesinger
• Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Eileen Atkins, Ian McKellan, Rufus Sewell, Stephen Fry, Joanna Lumley
• Why? The cast
• Seen: 4 July 2026  

 

          Flora (Beckinsale), a young society girl in financial straits, seeks out relatives in the countryside to gain life experience so that she can become a writer. She finds herself on a farm near ruin, populated by several eccentric individuals.

          With this cast one expects great things. Sadly, this is only somewhat entertaining.

 

2* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Superintelligence

 

Superintelligence 2020

• Director: Ben Falcone
• Cast: Melissa McCarthy, James Corden, Bobby Cannavale, Brian Tyree Henry
• Why? McCarthy
• Seen: 2 July 2026  

 

          Carol (McCarthy) is the most average person in the world and a super AI chooses her to help it decide if it should destroy the human race or not.

          It’s silly but fun. Sort of. So much more could have been done with the idea.

 

2* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apex

 

Apex 2026

• Director: Baltasar Kormákur
• Cast: Charlize Theron, Taron Egerton, Eric Bana
• Why? Maybe OK
• Seen: 25 June 2026                     

           Sasha (Theron) loses her lover Tommy (Bana) mountain climbing in Norway. Grieving, she goes to Australia, Tommy’s homeland, for a new adventure. She is pursued by smug male chauvinists, but then she’s hunted by the nice guy, psycho Ben (Egerton).

          Unlikely but exciting and the Norwegian and Australian views are beautiful. Good acting too.

 

3* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amelia

 

Amelia 2009

• Director: Mira Nair
• Cast: Hilary Swank, Richard Gere, Ewan McGregor
• Why? The subject
• Seen: 23 June 2026                   

           Earhart was my mother’s hero so I’ve heard about her all my life.

          Amelia (Swank) loves flying, hates doing adverts to finance her flying, deals with the fame, pomp and circumstance, demands an open marriage and complete freedom of her husband (Gere).

          It’s a straight forward, low key, somewhat tame, even trite, biopic but it’s fun to see.

 3* of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thrash

 

Thrash 2026

• Director: Tommy Wirkola
• Cast: Phoebe Dynevor, Whitney Peak, Djimon Hounsou, Aleya Browne, Stacy Claeson, Danti Ubaldi
• Why? hurricane
• Seen: 20 June 2026                     

 

          Heavy rain becomes a hurricane. Evacuation. Disaster.

          Impressive hurricane visuals. Then the sharks some and there’s a lot of blood.

          Many viewers hate it. Me? Let’s say, I’ve seen better. But it’s kind of entertaining.

 

2 ½ * of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Beautiful Game

 

The Beautiful Game 2024

• Director: Thea Sharrock
• Cast: Bill Nighy, Michael Ward
• Why? Nighy
• Seen: 17 June 2026                     

 

          Mal (Nighy), a retired scout, coaches a football team of homeless guys and they’re going to the Homeless World Cup (a real thing) in Rome. They’re all homeless for a reason.

          Vinny (Ward) is newly homeless, new to the team, and reluctant to take part in the camaraderie.

          Yes, it’s feel-good, but it’s a good feel-good, and especially now when FIFA and the US are being such jerks in the currently on-going Football World Cup, this film is heart-warming, trite at times, but heart-warming. 

 

3 ½ * of 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jesus Christ Superstar 1973

 

Jesus Christ Superstar 1973

• Director: Norman Jewison
• Cast: Ted Neeley, Carl Anderson, Yvonne Eliman, Barry Dennan, Larry Marshall, Josh Mostel
• Why? A favourite musical
• Seen: Many times. Now 13 June 2026             

           After the less than successful version of 2000 seen a few days ago, I feel the need to see this, the ‘real’ film version, again. I’ve seen it many times but the last time was before I started this blog so there’s been no review.

          Now there is.

          Jesus (Neeley) has a weak, shrill and reedy voice but otherwise he’s good. Judas (Anderson) is the strongest character, angry and sorrowful at their losing their way, and pain over his betrayal.

          The visuals are both strong and minimalistic. The anachronisms like 20^th century pound notes, postcards, military tanks and machine guns work in the context.

          The apostles, the extras, the dancers are all very good. Herod (Mostel) and Pilate (Dennan) are terrific.

          I’ve been an atheist since childhood but I’ve long been fascinated by the story of Jesus the man, whether such a person ever existed or not. That’s what Jesus Christ Superstar is about. The man who was caught up in a situation that grew out of his control.

 

4* of 5